The Orcish War
At the outset of the year 826 AF, a great war that lasted 100 years and a day errupted between the Kingdom of Arden and the Tribes of the Orcs. Detailed below are the key events and the year they took place that led to and concluded the conflict.
799 AF - Explorers from Arden stretch far to the East, and first contact with the Orcish Tribes is made. The explorers are met with caution but soon a common interest in shared knowledge, beliefs and trade is set up. News is bought to the Kingdom of Arden, and official trade routes are given the go-ahead. Due to the rugged terrain between the two nations, these are limited, but a tentative alliance is made.
815 AF - Cultural differences between the Orcs and the people of Arden are more-widely known. Declaring the Orcish religions and spirituality is wrong, the Church of the Holy Light sends missionaries to convert and spread the word of the Holy Light. Orcs are wlecoming to these preachers, but the relationship between nations is strained.
826 AF - War Begins - The Orc Chieftains call for a diplomatic meeting to prevent the spread of the Holy Light in to Orcish culture. Nobles of Arden, along with several reknowned Bishops of the Holy Light visit the Orcs for negotiations. Unfortunately, these break down swiftly, and in the confusion, the High-Shaman Throm'gar is killed. Losing the most reverred spiritual leader, the Orcish Chieftains unite and declare war against Arden.
828 AF - Two years after the declartion of war, a series of Greenskin raids devastate several of the cattle-farming villages on the border of Eastfold. In response, Eastfold bolsters its patrols and defences.
828 - 833 AF - Raids continue for five years, growing in size and power over time. The Orcish attacks are brutal and unyielding, leaving a trail of death wherever they strike. The Nobles of Eastfold plead for assistance to the King's Court and other Provinces, but this is ignored and brushed off as something Eastfold will have to handle by itself.
834 AF - The Battle of Rangemore - The largest force of Orcs and Goblins yet seen is sighted ravaging the counrtyside in the southern parts of Eastfold. The direction of the horde appears to be going to Rangemore. A slap-dash defence is formed. 3,000 men are gathered to defend the town, but soon realise they are greatly outnumbered as a force of ~11,000 Greenskins attacks. The town is all but destroyed. The Greenskin army is reported as heading North.
835 AF - The 1st Siege of Marikstead - The Orcish forces from the South are joined by another as they attack Marikstead. Roughly 23,000 Greenskins lay siege to the city for 4 months. A call to arms is sent across Arden, and with food running low, the siege is eventually broken as a force sent by King Marten III is sent to relieve the defenders. 18,000 Men-at-arms led by Knights from across the realm break the Orcish siege and reclaim Marikstead.
838 AF - The King's first son, Aethal (known as the Prince of Thorns), musters an army and sets out on a campaign across the eastern wastes and in to the Orcish Tribelands. The next 10 years sees many battles outside of Arden, as the Prince leads his forces to victory time and time again.
842 AF - Battle of Mor'lal
845 AF - Battle of the Grey Fields
846 AF - The Wildwood Skirmish
846 AF - Battle of Blackrok
847 AF - Battle of the Howling Hills
848 AF - Siege of Or'Lagrim - After 10 years of decisive victories in the Orc lands, the Prince of Thorns lays siege to the greatest Orc settlement, Or'Lagrim. Underestimating the defence and cut of for supplies and reinforcements, the Orcs nearly wipe out the attackers after a viscious counter-attack. The Prince of Thorns is captured, but word of this does not reach Arden. With the Prince thought dead, defences in Eastfold are increased to prepare for any Orcish counter-attack.
851 AF - Greenskin raids start again, smaller this time, but more numerous. Defences are strained from the brutality of the attacks.
855 AF - The Death of the King - King Marten III dies at 82 years old from a sudden illness. With the Prince of Thorns still presumed dead, the throne falls to the younger Prince Averus. Crowned at 18 years old, he is dubbed King Averus the Young by many within Arden.
856 - 867 AF - A period of unsettling calm comes to Arden. No Greenskin attacks are reported for a number of years, and Scouts and Spies report no movement from Orcish territory for some time.
868 AF - Several smaller settlements within Eastfold are attacked, rumoured to be Orcs. No evidence points to these having come from Orcish lands.
869 AF - The Ride of the One Hundred - A large Orc warband numbering 8,000-9,000 is spotted heading towards Eastfold. Knights of the Holy Light from all over Arden answer the call to defend the lands. A total of 100 Knights ride East to meet the invading force. Hopelessly outnumbered, the Knights perish, but manage to deliver a crippling blow to the leadership of the Greenskin force. The warband fragments in to several smaller forces and raid Eastfold. The damage is still bad, but not nearly as severe as the full force would have been.
872 AF - The Church of the Holy Light declares the war a religious crusade against the falsehoods of the Orcs. Many across Arden take up arms to fight for their beliefs against the Greenskin invaders.
873 AF - The Battle of Aetherstone
880 AF - The death of the Young King - Word reaches King Averus that his brother, The Prince of Thorns, is alive and has been held captive of the Orcs for all these years. With an elite bodyguard, King Averus arranges a nuetral meeting to bargain for his brothers life. After arriving at the agreed location, there is no sign of the Prince of Thorns, and it becomes apparent that the Young King has been betrayed. The Orcs attack and the King and all of his bodyguard are killed. With no direct heir, Arden falls to chaos as regeancy of the crown is left to the Nobles of the King's Court.
881 AF - The 2nd Siege of Marikstead - With Arden weakened with no reigning monarch, the Orcs attack. Roughly 15,000 Greenskins descend on Mariksead. the siege lasts 6 month, with many parts of the city left in ruins. A relief force eventually drives the invading Greenskins off, but not after suffering heavy losses.
884 AF - Still undecided on the heir to the throne, Arden is attacked time and time again over the next 15 years, with Eastfold becoming all but a warzone.
885 AF - The Battle of Bretonhill
887 AF - The Siege of Brindel
894 AF - The Battle of Glynarthen
906 AF - The Siege of Delastari - A large Orc Warband ventures in to the Forest Realm of the Wood Elves. Met with a foe they have never faced within the mystical woods, the Orcs are driven off with ease.
912 AF - A New King - After 32 years of debates and searching, the true heir to the throne is found. Having been linked directly to the Great Hero Arden, and after visions of several members of the Church of the Holy Light, King Mattheus II is crowned at 22 years of age. The new King instantly arranges peace talks with several Orc Chieftains.
926 AF - The Arden-Orc Peace Treaty - Raids continue for several years, as do talks of peace. A treaty is agreed between King Mattheus II and the Chieftains of the Orcish Tribes after many negotiations. Peace returns to Arden.
799 AF - Explorers from Arden stretch far to the East, and first contact with the Orcish Tribes is made. The explorers are met with caution but soon a common interest in shared knowledge, beliefs and trade is set up. News is bought to the Kingdom of Arden, and official trade routes are given the go-ahead. Due to the rugged terrain between the two nations, these are limited, but a tentative alliance is made.
815 AF - Cultural differences between the Orcs and the people of Arden are more-widely known. Declaring the Orcish religions and spirituality is wrong, the Church of the Holy Light sends missionaries to convert and spread the word of the Holy Light. Orcs are wlecoming to these preachers, but the relationship between nations is strained.
826 AF - War Begins - The Orc Chieftains call for a diplomatic meeting to prevent the spread of the Holy Light in to Orcish culture. Nobles of Arden, along with several reknowned Bishops of the Holy Light visit the Orcs for negotiations. Unfortunately, these break down swiftly, and in the confusion, the High-Shaman Throm'gar is killed. Losing the most reverred spiritual leader, the Orcish Chieftains unite and declare war against Arden.
828 AF - Two years after the declartion of war, a series of Greenskin raids devastate several of the cattle-farming villages on the border of Eastfold. In response, Eastfold bolsters its patrols and defences.
828 - 833 AF - Raids continue for five years, growing in size and power over time. The Orcish attacks are brutal and unyielding, leaving a trail of death wherever they strike. The Nobles of Eastfold plead for assistance to the King's Court and other Provinces, but this is ignored and brushed off as something Eastfold will have to handle by itself.
834 AF - The Battle of Rangemore - The largest force of Orcs and Goblins yet seen is sighted ravaging the counrtyside in the southern parts of Eastfold. The direction of the horde appears to be going to Rangemore. A slap-dash defence is formed. 3,000 men are gathered to defend the town, but soon realise they are greatly outnumbered as a force of ~11,000 Greenskins attacks. The town is all but destroyed. The Greenskin army is reported as heading North.
835 AF - The 1st Siege of Marikstead - The Orcish forces from the South are joined by another as they attack Marikstead. Roughly 23,000 Greenskins lay siege to the city for 4 months. A call to arms is sent across Arden, and with food running low, the siege is eventually broken as a force sent by King Marten III is sent to relieve the defenders. 18,000 Men-at-arms led by Knights from across the realm break the Orcish siege and reclaim Marikstead.
838 AF - The King's first son, Aethal (known as the Prince of Thorns), musters an army and sets out on a campaign across the eastern wastes and in to the Orcish Tribelands. The next 10 years sees many battles outside of Arden, as the Prince leads his forces to victory time and time again.
842 AF - Battle of Mor'lal
845 AF - Battle of the Grey Fields
846 AF - The Wildwood Skirmish
846 AF - Battle of Blackrok
847 AF - Battle of the Howling Hills
848 AF - Siege of Or'Lagrim - After 10 years of decisive victories in the Orc lands, the Prince of Thorns lays siege to the greatest Orc settlement, Or'Lagrim. Underestimating the defence and cut of for supplies and reinforcements, the Orcs nearly wipe out the attackers after a viscious counter-attack. The Prince of Thorns is captured, but word of this does not reach Arden. With the Prince thought dead, defences in Eastfold are increased to prepare for any Orcish counter-attack.
851 AF - Greenskin raids start again, smaller this time, but more numerous. Defences are strained from the brutality of the attacks.
855 AF - The Death of the King - King Marten III dies at 82 years old from a sudden illness. With the Prince of Thorns still presumed dead, the throne falls to the younger Prince Averus. Crowned at 18 years old, he is dubbed King Averus the Young by many within Arden.
856 - 867 AF - A period of unsettling calm comes to Arden. No Greenskin attacks are reported for a number of years, and Scouts and Spies report no movement from Orcish territory for some time.
868 AF - Several smaller settlements within Eastfold are attacked, rumoured to be Orcs. No evidence points to these having come from Orcish lands.
869 AF - The Ride of the One Hundred - A large Orc warband numbering 8,000-9,000 is spotted heading towards Eastfold. Knights of the Holy Light from all over Arden answer the call to defend the lands. A total of 100 Knights ride East to meet the invading force. Hopelessly outnumbered, the Knights perish, but manage to deliver a crippling blow to the leadership of the Greenskin force. The warband fragments in to several smaller forces and raid Eastfold. The damage is still bad, but not nearly as severe as the full force would have been.
872 AF - The Church of the Holy Light declares the war a religious crusade against the falsehoods of the Orcs. Many across Arden take up arms to fight for their beliefs against the Greenskin invaders.
873 AF - The Battle of Aetherstone
880 AF - The death of the Young King - Word reaches King Averus that his brother, The Prince of Thorns, is alive and has been held captive of the Orcs for all these years. With an elite bodyguard, King Averus arranges a nuetral meeting to bargain for his brothers life. After arriving at the agreed location, there is no sign of the Prince of Thorns, and it becomes apparent that the Young King has been betrayed. The Orcs attack and the King and all of his bodyguard are killed. With no direct heir, Arden falls to chaos as regeancy of the crown is left to the Nobles of the King's Court.
881 AF - The 2nd Siege of Marikstead - With Arden weakened with no reigning monarch, the Orcs attack. Roughly 15,000 Greenskins descend on Mariksead. the siege lasts 6 month, with many parts of the city left in ruins. A relief force eventually drives the invading Greenskins off, but not after suffering heavy losses.
884 AF - Still undecided on the heir to the throne, Arden is attacked time and time again over the next 15 years, with Eastfold becoming all but a warzone.
885 AF - The Battle of Bretonhill
887 AF - The Siege of Brindel
894 AF - The Battle of Glynarthen
906 AF - The Siege of Delastari - A large Orc Warband ventures in to the Forest Realm of the Wood Elves. Met with a foe they have never faced within the mystical woods, the Orcs are driven off with ease.
912 AF - A New King - After 32 years of debates and searching, the true heir to the throne is found. Having been linked directly to the Great Hero Arden, and after visions of several members of the Church of the Holy Light, King Mattheus II is crowned at 22 years of age. The new King instantly arranges peace talks with several Orc Chieftains.
926 AF - The Arden-Orc Peace Treaty - Raids continue for several years, as do talks of peace. A treaty is agreed between King Mattheus II and the Chieftains of the Orcish Tribes after many negotiations. Peace returns to Arden.
Conflict Type
War
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
826 AF
Ending Date
926 AF
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