Valar-Akhatai War

A many centuries long war with temporary truces, open conflict, cold wars. The war, as known today started somewhere around year 550 when still new Valar Empire openly started to raid Akhatai territories to both rescue their citizens and to punish the slavers.

Prelude

For hundreds of years, since around 250AR the Akhatai were conducting slaving raids against the independent kingdoms of the current Valar Empire. Around 400AR two cities were created east of these territories, Melisto was a keep on the hill next to Danta river, Saedra was a larger town and castle on the northern end of Sable Peaks. Before the start of the conflict the Akhatai were steadily escalating their slaver runs and raids on villages and towns in Valar Empire borderlands, they had two cities as staging grounds for the raids, even though the rest of the surrounding territory was a wilderness.
After the Emperor Tibor abdication in 550AR the control over the empire moved to the Council of Valars and the High Lord. As one of their first acts, the Council of Valars proclaimed to stop the slavers of Akhatai for good, they launched a massive campaign against Akhatai.

Conquest of Farflare

The quick mobilization of VE military and surgical strikes using the voluntary help of The Convocation managed to quickly secure Melisto keep and launch further conquest in the direction of Saedra and Sunstruck Lands. Part of VE forces sieged Saedra for the next two years after which the city capitulated. Rest of the forces progressed in the direction of city of Imlathar in Sunstruck Lands.
Melisto was renamed as the Ashen Keep and surrounding lands became the city of Terdaal, current capitol of Farflare. Saedra was sacked and nearly raised to the ground. The castle was taken by Valar forces and renamed as Sable Garrison.
Shortly after the offensive reached the city of Imlathar on Meri river the Akhatai forces finally mobilized and launched a counterattack, they managed to impede the progress of VE military and make the siege of Imlathar impossible. With area denial strategy thanks to their heavy weaponry the VE stayed it these lands for another 3 years but without the forward progress and with secure base in both conquered towns the Council of Valars ordered a retreat. The conquered lands were named the Farflare and in 572AR it became the new Valarie, the title of Valar given to Sylvie Vogt, a hero of the campaign and a member of very influential noble house in Vergas. This ended the campaign bu started the lengthy cold war between Valar Empire and Akhatai.

Siege of Farflare

In 610AR Akhatai staged a significant Wyvern Chariot and Skyship raid into VE territory, at the same time the Akhatai armies launched an offensive into Farflare Both border keep were occupied, major cities were besieged and Ensborough was occupied. Countryside of Farflare was ravaged and Akhatai raided nearby Valaries. Over ten years until the campaign resolution significant amount of VE populace was enslaved and resettled into Akhatai, most of these were not recovered during the counteroffensive.

Sacking of Imlathar

In 680AR, only few years before the signs of the Third Incursion were apparent, the Akhatai staged a massive assassination and sabotage campaign against VE in an effort to bait them into action. This was however a grave mistake, as they were unaware of the newest addition to VE arsenal - Crawlers and their smaller Wagon counterparts, armed with recently invented of Lighting Lances, with these weapons VE pushed deeply into Sunstruck Lands, sacked Imlathar and executed High Prophet Kadrum Khan, then leader of Akhatai forces. The campaign lasted for total of three years as VE forces attempted to push further into Akhatai territory. The conflict came to an abrupt end when the coming of the Third Incursion was clear, the VE forces retreated and abandoned Imlathar. The VE and Akhatai agreed to the ceasefire.

Long Quiet

After the Third Incusion the war entered into the longest cold period lasting to this day. Akhatai changes strategy, most raids are performed by covert groups like Second Borns and many are captured by domestic gangs in VE like Skin Rippers in Farflare. Both Valar Empire and Akhatai are expanding their militaries in hope to be prepared for the next hot period.
With Fourth Incursion signs looming in 933AR there are still groups in both nations looking to reignite this ancient conflict.

Conflict Type

War

Start Date

550AR

Belligerents

Valar Empire

• Valar Empire

Akhatai

• Land of the Prophets

Strength

Standing Army:

• Infantry - 3 battle groups, total of 30 divisions
• Cavalry - 1 battle group, total of 5 divisions
• ~300 Crawler type mobile siege machines
• ~1000 Wagon type mobile siege machines
• ~150 arcanists of Order of Hydra

Significant numbers of volunteers join the army during hot periods of the war.

Current standing army:

• Infantry - 5 divisions of Praetorians - profesional troops, and 20 divisions of Enforcers - trained slave forces
• Cavalry - 5 battalions of Wyvern Riders
• Special Forces - Wyvern Chariots crewed with Thesali - saboteurs, elite soldiers
• ~ 100 battle mages ~ 100 Wyrm Riders - a young or adult True Dragon with a elite soldier rider.

Casualties

Over the length of the conflict:
At least three hundred thousand soldiers, at least four million civilians, unknown amount of these were enslaved and resettled into Akhatai

Over the length of the conflict:
At least five hundred thousand soldiers, at least three millions civilians, 24 True Dragons.

Objectives

Capitulation of Akhatai, permanent cessation of slave raids, dissolution of Akhatai as a nation

Free access to VE populace for chattel slavery, dissolution of VE as a republic.