War for Zhaliya
The war that created Zhaliya and the Lasting Peace
The Cadrial Empire was known for rarely fighting fair, preferring to first attack when their opponents are vulnerable. While some people might say that this is a dishonorable way of waging war, the Cadrians simply thought of it as waging war intelligently, using your opponents weaknesses against them no matter what these weaknesses might be. This tactic won them many wars, except the War for Zhaliya.
The Conflict
Prelude
As Zhaliya first started to gain power and influence, they naturally caught the eye of their neighbor to the north, the Cadrial Empire. The sovereign of the empire at that time understood that Zhaliya posed a great threat to the Cadrial Empire. Nalmis believed that if allowed to grow any stronger, Zhaliya would swiftly conquer the Cadrial Empire and the surrounding lands, and she was determined to destroy Zhaliya before this happened.
Deployment
In order to destroy Zhaliya before it became too powerful, Sovereign Nalmis employed the use of Wilders mercenaries to raid and pillage the Zhaliyan border, sowing chaos. As the Zhaliyan government was occupied with the mercenaries, Nalmis moved her army into position to strike a decisive blow against Zhaliya.
Battlefield
Early in the war, battles were fought exclusively in Zhaliya. As the Zhaliyans started pushing back, more and more battles were fought in the Cadrial Empire. Eventually all battles were happening in the Empire. In total, was waged across eastern and middle Zhaliya and the south and middle of the Cadrial Empire.
Conditions
Most of the war was fought in savannas and deserts both of which provide little cover or water. Crouching to sneak through the long savanna grass was a tactic employed by both sides. Both sides also had difficulty making sure that their troops had enough water throughout the war.
The Engagement
The Wilder mercenaries were very effective at their task, raiding villages, burning farms, and employing hit and run tactics masterfully. As the Zhaliyan government and military was busy trying to deal with the mercenaries, the Cadrial Empire invaded eastern Zhaliya. With the Zhaliyan government unprepared and preoccupied with the mercenaries, the Cadrial Empire had an easy time defeating the few forces that faced them and moved swiftly towards the capital. As they lay siege to the capital, even many of the courtiers thought that this would be the end. Sovereign Ilrina Vethnis and the elven nobles were firm though and refused to give any ground to the Cadrians. The city held out for reinforcements from the military to arrive as even the sovereign herself sometimes took an active role in protecting the city using her magic. Also during this time Sovereign Ilrina and the elven nobles began working on a special project: clockwork weapons.
The city was able to hold on just long enough for reinforcements to arrive and start pushing the Cadrial Empire back. With the careful choosing of battlegrounds and the advantage of knowing the land well, the Zhaliyan army was able to win several major victories, boosting morale and putting the Cadrial Empire on the defensive. The Empire responded by being more cautious and luring the now more confident Zhaliyans to attack them on their terms. By this time though, the elves were ready to reveal their creation to the world and the first clockwork weapon set foot on the battlefield.
It was a relatively inelegant and unimpressive clockwork, but it marked a turning point in the war. As it led the Zhaliyan armies to more victories and even a few tough defeats, Sovereign Ilrina and the elven nobles were busy working on a second clockwork weapon. Unlike the first, this clockwork was focused more on offensive capabilities than defensive ones. By the time that the Cadrians had finally destroyed the first there were two other clockwork weapons in the field. The Zhaliyan army had also pushed the Cadrians back to the border through the use of careful tactics and clockwork weaponry. As Zhaliyan forces began to push into the Cadrial Empire's territory, Sovereign Ilrina began planning a clockwork that would end the war. She, along with the elven nobles, also continued to create clockwork weapons.
While in Cadrian territory, the Zhaliyan army did less well as they were unfamiliar with the lands and the local people were hostile towards them. The clockwork weapons and the losses suffered so far by the Cadrian army only went so far and there was plenty of fighting back and forth in the western Cadrial Empire. Two more clockwork weapons were destroyed but five more took their place and Sovereign Ilrina along with a small group of highly trusted elven nobles started work on Ilrina's secret project. Unlike the others, Sovereign Ilrina insisted on working on both the secret project and the clockwork that all elven nobles were working on everyday. The clockwork weapons began to take their toll on the Cadrians. While the Cadrians were getting better at destroying the clockwork weapons, taking one down was quite a feat and costly to the Cadrians. Additionally, the elves tried to account for all of the major weaknesses of the last clockwork when creating a new one. Led by clockwork weapons, the Zhaliyans were beginning to push deeper into the Cadrial Empire.
About halfway through the siege of Rialas, Sovereign Ilrina cracked under the pressure of working on two clockwork creations at once and ruling the Empire. During the middle of work on the elven nobles' newest clockwork she lost consciousness. Although she recovered physically relatively quickly with the aid of clerical magic, she was put on strict bed rest by her physicians. Still she continued to rule and receive regular updates on both projects even if she could not participate. Her most trusted advisor, Armil, took charge of Sovereign Ilrina's secret project and took on some of her workload as sovereign during this time.
The Zhaliyan army captured Rialas and start advancing up the Nirial River towards the Cadrial Empire's capital as the Cadrians fought with newfound desperation. After a week or so of this, Sovereign Ilrina's secret project was complete: a clockwork assassin. It traveled night and day through the most desolate lands until it neared the capital. It snuck over the walls and into the palace, murdering many members of the royal family including Sovereign Nalmis, then snuck back out and to Zhaliya. The surviving next in line sent a letter of surrender to Sovereign Ilrina almost immediately after hearing the news.
The city was able to hold on just long enough for reinforcements to arrive and start pushing the Cadrial Empire back. With the careful choosing of battlegrounds and the advantage of knowing the land well, the Zhaliyan army was able to win several major victories, boosting morale and putting the Cadrial Empire on the defensive. The Empire responded by being more cautious and luring the now more confident Zhaliyans to attack them on their terms. By this time though, the elves were ready to reveal their creation to the world and the first clockwork weapon set foot on the battlefield.
It was a relatively inelegant and unimpressive clockwork, but it marked a turning point in the war. As it led the Zhaliyan armies to more victories and even a few tough defeats, Sovereign Ilrina and the elven nobles were busy working on a second clockwork weapon. Unlike the first, this clockwork was focused more on offensive capabilities than defensive ones. By the time that the Cadrians had finally destroyed the first there were two other clockwork weapons in the field. The Zhaliyan army had also pushed the Cadrians back to the border through the use of careful tactics and clockwork weaponry. As Zhaliyan forces began to push into the Cadrial Empire's territory, Sovereign Ilrina began planning a clockwork that would end the war. She, along with the elven nobles, also continued to create clockwork weapons.
While in Cadrian territory, the Zhaliyan army did less well as they were unfamiliar with the lands and the local people were hostile towards them. The clockwork weapons and the losses suffered so far by the Cadrian army only went so far and there was plenty of fighting back and forth in the western Cadrial Empire. Two more clockwork weapons were destroyed but five more took their place and Sovereign Ilrina along with a small group of highly trusted elven nobles started work on Ilrina's secret project. Unlike the others, Sovereign Ilrina insisted on working on both the secret project and the clockwork that all elven nobles were working on everyday. The clockwork weapons began to take their toll on the Cadrians. While the Cadrians were getting better at destroying the clockwork weapons, taking one down was quite a feat and costly to the Cadrians. Additionally, the elves tried to account for all of the major weaknesses of the last clockwork when creating a new one. Led by clockwork weapons, the Zhaliyans were beginning to push deeper into the Cadrial Empire.
About halfway through the siege of Rialas, Sovereign Ilrina cracked under the pressure of working on two clockwork creations at once and ruling the Empire. During the middle of work on the elven nobles' newest clockwork she lost consciousness. Although she recovered physically relatively quickly with the aid of clerical magic, she was put on strict bed rest by her physicians. Still she continued to rule and receive regular updates on both projects even if she could not participate. Her most trusted advisor, Armil, took charge of Sovereign Ilrina's secret project and took on some of her workload as sovereign during this time.
The Zhaliyan army captured Rialas and start advancing up the Nirial River towards the Cadrial Empire's capital as the Cadrians fought with newfound desperation. After a week or so of this, Sovereign Ilrina's secret project was complete: a clockwork assassin. It traveled night and day through the most desolate lands until it neared the capital. It snuck over the walls and into the palace, murdering many members of the royal family including Sovereign Nalmis, then snuck back out and to Zhaliya. The surviving next in line sent a letter of surrender to Sovereign Ilrina almost immediately after hearing the news.
Outcome
The Cadrial Empire shrunk significantly after the end of the war, giving up all of its lands south of where the Alask river meets the Nirial River. Zhaliya's growing power drew the notice of other sovereignties who began to fear that Zhaliya would try to conquer the world. To prevent this they created the Agreement of the Lasting Peace.
Aftermath
After the loss of so much territory, the Cadrial Empire had a hard time keeping the empire united. The Cadrial Empire began to break apart, but the new sovereign, Kodral, fought hard to keep all the territories under one banner. After a long period of civil wars in the Empire, she was successful but declared the Cadrial Empire was dissolved and New Cadrial rose up in its place. The establishment of the Lasting Peace allowed sovereignties to focus more on trade, infrastructure, and culture.
Historical Significance
Legacy
The most influential part of the War for Zhaliya's legacy is the Lasting Peace. Without wars between the major sovereignties, focus has turned to other matters while politicians speculate who will be the first to break it. Sovereigns have had to find other ways to assert their power through subtler and non violent means. Many sovereignties like Zhaliya and Duvi have flourished under these conditions, trading sovereignties have found the Lasting Peace to be particularly beneficial. Other sovereignties have weakened and seen their power erode during this time like the Ostarian Empire which has lost territory in the south and is in the middle of a revolution.
Technological Advancement
This was the first time that so many and so advanced clockwork weapons were seen on the field of battle. Before this time, no sovereignty had ever had as many people with extra-planar blood as Zhaliya did. As the war waged on, the elves became better at creating them and covering the weaknesses that the Cadrians exploited. Their biggest weakness continued to be joints.
Conflict Type
War
Start Date
121 AE
Ending Date
134 AE
Conflict Result
Zhalian victory, the Cadrial Empire greatly weakened, and the Lasting Peace is formed
Belligerents
Cadrial Empire
Strength
Casualties
Objectives
stop the Cadrial Empire's invasion and gain power and respect as a sovereignty
stop Zhaliya's expansion and growing power before Zhaliya becomes powerful and ambitious enough to conquer Cadrial
Entry for WorldEmber 2020
In response to the prompt Write about a conflict in your world known for being unprovoked or unfair.
Serves the Cadrial Empire right! I'm glad the Zhaliyans ended up winning. Really interesting description of the war. Also, I feel you on the timeline woes.