The War of Manaeyra
The Conflict
Prelude
For nearly four centuries the Myodancers ruled over the peoples of Manaeyra. Their ability to manipulate the streams of Myo and bend it to their will made them superiorly powerful compared to the rest of the population. Their cities grew fast and through the network of Myo Academies their researches brought continous progress in myotics and technology.
They soon believed themselves to be the rightful rulers, chosen by nature to unify their world. Common people were simply classified as unworthy and of lesser importance. They had no real chance to fight back. About once every decade some noble lord or lady tried to put an end to the Myodancer reign by sending their armies to their gates. None succeded and many of their names are long forgotten.
Even though the Myodancers were the absolute authority during their reign and desicions were made mainly to their own advantage, the population did not suffer too much. Although people were partly enslaved and had to work hard for their masters, they also profited from their achievements and newly gained comforts. Food supplies, for the most part, were at a steady level and advances in alchemy kept lowering the mortality rate.
However, this didn't last forever. In the beginning of the very early 6th century, when the greed of some high ranking Myodancers kept increasing taxes and workload during a period of harsh weather conditions lasting for several years, the population reached its limit of what was bearable.
In early 518 A.S. Erian of Kalruy, a mighty Myodancer and envoy of Mytaria, desolated a small town in Aspeca due to the inhabitants' inability to pay their taxes after a long and cold winter. If it wasn't for the interference of Erian's disciple Nyeva, who couldn't bare her master's cruelty any longer, the whole town probably would have been murdered. Yet, with Nyeva's help, most of the inhabitants were able to escape and finally made it to Buglinn, a big fortified city in the south of Aspeca providing them refuge. Word of what happened quickly spread and the enraged population of Aspeca reacted with riots all over the country.
As soon as lord Kayvaan of Buglinn, who wasn't fond of how things developed over past couple of years, heard about the terrible event from the surviving refugees, he held a council of war with lord Juurgeon of Prifurt and some trusted advisers and skilled fighters to prepare for a rebellion against the Myodancer regime.
In the meantime, Erian sent out his troops, crushing the riots with brute force, and even ordered public mass executions to break the spirit of the people. However, this only strengthened the will of the oppressed population and countermeasures are taken. About one month later a small group of freedom fighters from Buglinn - including Nyeva - reached Lichterhaal (a slavers town), overthrew the local rulers and freed the (mostly Ugknat) slaves. Nearly simultaniously, a rebellion arised in Torburg, a military stronghold of the Myodancers, quickly ending with Torburg's rulers falling off power through internal coups. The once feared Torburg soldiers pledge their loyalty to the leaders of the rebellion, who sent them out to help the Buglinn-Prifurt alliance fighting off Mytaria's forces.
The freedom fighters, who liberated Lichterhaal, escorted the freed Ugknat slaves back to their clans and arranged a cooperation treaty with their leaders. They gathered all their best warriors, teamed up with the Torburg army and attacked the powerful city of Rimerock, the source of the myodancers' success story. When the great Kara Myra academy finally fell, Mytaria's forces briefly lost their morale and were pushed back to the east of Aspeca by the army of the alliance. But everybody knew, this was only the beginning of a long lasting war for freedom and independence.
Deployment
519 AS - Manaeyra at War
After the retreat of the Myodancers, Mytaria secretly sent out parts of their army on ships to Mangora in the south, as well as to Gilberthal in the north of Manaeyra, where they started a series of conquests. The inferior tribes of Gilberthal were forced, one by one, to submit to the Myodancer forces and pledge their loyality to them. With united forces they then marched south towards Fukuroi and Algoran.At the same time, resources are gathered, especially wood for ships and war machines, through extensive exploitation of the environment around Mangora. Thereby several clans of Ugknat came under distress and started to put up a fight. During the whole summer bloody battles took place in the thicket of the tropical jungle, until finally the Myodancers prevailed.
Meanwhile, the army of the alliance managed to conquer the research city Pirilliat at the big lake near Shardstorm and thereby dealt another painful blow to the Myodancers. Also, in Algroan, after months of besieging, the city of Grunhaal is relieved of its previous myotic rulers, freeing Algoran completely from the influence of the Myodancers. Algoran hereafter declared its independence.
In Kaheli, the desert land of the south, envoys of Mytaria arranged a pact with the Arkesi of Haarglen, who agreed to unite Kahli in the name of the Myodancers, as long as he can keep his role as active ruler.
520 AS - The Confederation of the Free Folks
Fukuroi was attacked by the Myodancers at two fronts, trying to subdue their dangerous beast riders and integrate them into their army.The Arkesi of Haarglen followed through with his promise in the meantime and overthrew - with the support of Mytaria - the Arkesi of Zulfurt and occupied his lands.
In Algoran the menace from the wars in the north and south were seen clearly as the threat they were and counter actions were taken. By skillful and intensive negotiation Thuul Yavana Tastaraan, Algoran's ruler, achieved a participation of the Varaz, who were interested in a play of power with the Myodancers to demonstrate their own superiority. With the fighting forces of Urtak on their side, Thuul Yavana joined the alliance, under the condition that Algoran's independence remaines untouched. The Confederation of the Free Folks was born.
522 AS - Mytaria under Siege
It took the Confederation two years to defend and secure their borders from the advancing Myodancers and their allies. Due to intependent actions of the Ugknat clans Fukuroi finally managed to push back the northern invaders. To show their gratitude Fukuroi now joined the Confederation as well. Using the gained momentum all available troops of the Confederation were sent towards the walls of Mytaria. They cut off Mytarias access to the sea and started besieging the city. For the next 14 years however, despite heavy losses on both sides, Mytaria held its ground.534 AS - Mytaria ends the Siege
With a clever strategic manouver Mytaria's troops broke through the naval blockade and gathered new resources and reinforcements. The Confederation had to pull back and the acts of war were temporarily ceased.542 AS - The Fall of Prifurt
Despite several attempts of negotioation the rulers of Mytaria remained stubborn, continuing to oppress the population in their territories and waging war against the Confederation from afar by using their influence in Gilberthal, Kaheli and (recently) Ulmaret. The Confederation was struggling hard to defend their borders. With an unexpected sudden strike against Prifurt the Myodancers conquered the city and thereby defeated a valuable member of the Confederation. Again, Aspeca became the center of war with countless battles for strategically important positions. Smaller victories and defeats occuring on both sides. The end of the war still seemed to be far away and the outcome remained uncertain.560 AS - Mytaria under Siege II
A breakthrough in the research of runesmithing allowed the Confederation the large scale use of myotically strengthened weapons. Mytaria's troops were pushed back to the east. For the second time the great capital of the Myodancers was besieged by the Confederation, yet Mytaria came prepared and the city held its ground again. For the next 25 years.573 AS - Raal's escape from Mytaria
Raal Iryakari, one of the big hopes of the Myodancers, escapes with a group of close friends from Mytaria and joins the army of the Confederation. For the next eleven years he traveled by their order from front to front, where his deeds become the stuff of several legends.585 AS - The Declaration of the Golden Age
Mytaria has fallen. Under the instructions of high general Raal Iryakari the Confederation finally managed the unthinkable: Mytaria's walls were surmounted and the regime of the Myodancers defeated. The Confederation elected, with a vast majority, Raal Iryakari to be the envoy of the Free Folks and the Guardian of Justice. Mytaria, the city of Myo, was renamed to Oitaria, the guarding city. The Council of Oi Tara, a publicly elected comittee, was introduced and became responsible for establishing the new political system. The Golden Age, an age of peace among the peoples of Ora'a, was proclaimed.Dimroch and Bayriill (with exception of the Marvlon river delta around Mangora) became official territories of the Ugknat, who from now on could be seen more and more in the settlements of the Oraniri as well.
Slavery completely vanished from Aspeca, Bayriill, Fukuroi and Kaheli, still remained to be common practice in independent Algoran and arnachistic Ulmaret.
Some of the Varaz enjoyed the different ways of life on the continent Manaeyra and stayed in settlements of their liking in Algoran, Kaheli and western Aspeca.
People with myotic powers are still obligated to undergo the strictly controlled education at the academies to prevent tragic accidents (as have happened in the past). However, after they pass their final examination, they are free to make their own decisions and career choices. The academies are now even opened for the common public, with some longer waiting periods to manage the countless applicants.
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