History of the Wars of the Mid-18th Century AC

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OOC Disclaimer: While the rough events of this in-universe book are accurate, it is not written completely objectively, and some creative liberties have been taken.

Prelude[edit]

The middle of the 18th century was rife with conflict, as the wounds inflicted upon the Essharan Empire by the Invasion of Barsburg began to heal. In the aftermath of that great conflict, the Osronan region played host to several independent Kingdoms, and their conflicts shaped the course of the Essharan peninsula in a way that would impact for decades.

War with Theria and Ilburg 1731-1736[edit]

Following rising tensions between Osrona, Myllenoris and Theria, as well as years of bandits operating from the ruins of Ilburg, conflict breaks out in the region in 1731. While Theria undergoes several bloody internal coups, an alliance between Osrona and Myllenoris is formed through the marriage of Lord Regulus ven Grimmore and High Lady Asta Hargrave, Osrona and Myllenoris turning their attentions north and south respectively. Ilburg is accused of harbouring Witches by High Lady Asta, and Myllenoris marches to purge it from the settlement, joined by the Osronan Church of Celestialism, led by Stellus Inante akh Salis, whilst Osrona declares war on Theria. Even as King Alexander rei Petrakis II takes the throne from his mother, Queen-Regent Serea Petrakis, attempts at peace talks break down in 1732.

The attack on Ilburg is repelled by the bandit encampment, and shortly afterwards so is the Osronan attack on Theria, though the battle is close. Ilburg gains fame from its unexpected victory, and takes a step further towards becoming a kingdom, allying properly with Theria to stand against the Osrona-Myllenoric bloc, which shortly afterwards signs the Osronan-Myllenoran Treaty of 1733 AC and become proper allies, the signing specifically becoming infamous due to it taking several days before the King himself signs. It is at this time that Starfall Tower is built as a joint military base for the two Kingdoms.

The Therian-Ilburg alliance is quick to seize the advantage afforded by their success at repelling the Osronan-Myllenoran Alliance; Theria strikes at Baleford Bridge and is repelled by the joint First Light-Greycloak defense in 1735. Peace with Ilburg is achieved by Myllenoris and Osrona weeks later, and the two kingdoms turn their full focus on Theria, despite the Northern city's outlawing of occultism and witchcraft. While Osrona continues plans to siege Theria, the outlawing is satisfactory to Myllenoris, who in 1736 withdraw from offensive actions against the Theria, which weakens to Osronan-Myllenoran alliance.

Grimmore Spire -a prominent supply line- is attacked a few weeks later by a group of Therians led by the dragon Vartuul, and while repelled by the Osronans, Marie Petrakis specifically slaying the dragon, the war officially comes to a close after the Osronans offer a peace treaty to the Therians. Peace returns to the region, but it is short lived.

War of Cabbages and Kings 1736-1741[edit]

The day that the War of 1731-1736 ends, King Alexander II Petrakis marries Nebula Winterbourne, a member of the Twilight Troupe that had been made royal courtiers by Serea Petrakis some years earlier. Shortly afterwards, High Lady Asta Hargrave and Lord Regulus ven Grimmore appear uninvited. The exact circumstances of the reception are still largely disputed, but by the end of it, the Knight Hrist lies dead, war is declared, and Lady Asta and Lord Regulus both escape Osrona, fleeing back to Myllenoris.

What ensues next is known as the War of Cabbages and Kings, the former due to the common belief the war began due to Nebula Winterbourne's refusal to accept a traditional Myllenoran wedding gift; a head of cabbage. The latter, however is a reference to the initial war demands: Myllenoris demanded the immediate abdication and exile of King Alexander II in favour of his cousin, Marie Petrakis.

Preparations and the Battle of Starfall[edit]

Shortly after the events of the Reception, Myllenoris gathered to itself allies. In the first stage of the war Theria, Ilburg and Alabastre all joined the Myllenoran cause in the alliance that served as the predecessor to the Essharan Coalition. Each had concerns about Osrona; Theria and Ilburg were concerned with Essharan expansionism, and Alabastre was both hired specifically by Myllenoris and wished to press claims on the lands west of Baleford Bridge. As such, in 1737 AC, the Myllenoran Alliance marched on Starfall Tower, intent on taking the physical embodiment of the Osronan-Myllenoran alliance for their own. After Myllenoran demands -including the sacrifice of two hundred living people- were rejected unilaterally, the battle began. While the fighting was intense, the end result was disastrous for Osrona -several ranking Osronan Magi were captured, Stellus Pericles Vitalis was slain in battle by his longtime rival, Sythaeryn Vartuul, and Starfall Tower was captured by Myllenoris.

In the aftermath, Alabastre -apparently swayed after a meeting with Queen Nebula Petrakis- declares neutrality after Osrona cedes the claimed land west of the Baleford Bridge to them. Romani cos Montclaire is named the new Stellus, and Del mer Joyau the new Arch Priest. Shortly afterwards, in 1739 AC the Arch Priest makes a impassioned speech, labeling the Primordial Aschea and all who followed her religion as demons. While perhaps unsurprising given the context, this declaration only furthered hostility between the two warring groups. Adding to this is the capture of Stellus Romani shortly afterwards, who becomes a prisoner of Myllenoris.

Battle outside Osrona, Battle within Osrona[edit]

The Myllenoran alliance -now calling itself 'The League'- advances on Osrona shortly after. They bring with them revised demands, which are once again rejected by the Osronan King. The following battle is a decisive defeat for Osrona, the League's offensive sweeping through the Kingdom right to the very walls of Osrona, where preparations begin for a siege. The approaching Myllenoran offensive in 1740 AC puts pressure on Osrona's populace - the loss of a second battle and the capture and subsequent death of both Serea Astor, Lightbringer since her son's coronation, and Knight Siegfried Lohengramm, as well as King Alexander II's subsequent speech in which he appeared to abandon Stellus Romani to his fate in Myllenoris out of a misguided attempt to save his life, declaring him no longer Stellus and appointing Del mer Joyau in his place, followed shortly by the official disolution of the Osronan Triumvirate - eventually exploding into open conflict during an announcement by King Alexander II, where Queen-Consort Nebula Petrakis is revealed as a witch following an accusation by Ophelia cos Montclaire, who had recently been relieved of her diplomatic duties, after the Queen declared her a traitor. By the end of the battle, Nebula -declaring herself daughter of Annabelle Lockwood, Supreme of the Moonfall Elysium Coven- escaped after murdering Marie Petrakis, and King Alexander, who had been revealed to have been under the witch's influence, was taken captive by the church. Even so, the war continued, neither side willing to come to the table and discuss peace.

Internal Tensions in the Essharan League[edit]

In the meantime, the League was dealing with its own internal issues. Following Asta's declaration during the circumstances surrounding Serea and Siegfried's deaths that she planned to conquer Osrona rather than replace its leader, the stability of the alliance came into question. Ilburg went through a regime change; its new ruler, Basten Forger, made the extreme decision to not only withdraw from the League, but join Osrona's efforts to defend against the League's onslaught. Myllenoris meets this with a decisive response: if Ilburg does not back down, it too will fall to Myllenoris. It is here that the new system of Osronan government intended by Myllenoris post-war is announced: A Democratically elected leader will be elected to a reconstituted Triumvirate of Faith, Military and Elected after a transitional period where a representative of each member of the League - now shifting its name to the Essharan Coalition following several meetings - will govern the city as an occupation council. This plan is said to have been initially proposed by Regulus Grimmore, who had been serving as High Lady Asta's advisor for years by this point. The city of Alabastre, too, appears to withdraw from the Coalition, though this ends up a temporary stance. Finally, the mad experiment of Greycloak Bathalamew Otho, who botches a ritual with a piece of Chiron results in the destruction of the site where Aschea first stepped into Myllenoris, resulting in his immediate execution. The negative effects reverberate through the Teraphim for the rest of the war.

The Sack of Osrona[edit]

Finally, in 1741 AC the Siege of Osrona comes to a terrible end. The forces of the Coalition assault the city, winning a decisive victory that turns to complete chaos when a final duel between King Alexander and High Lady Asta unexpectedly results in the death of the Myllenoran High Lady. In the process of slaying her, King Alexander appears to directly attack the Crown of Aschea, the physical remains of the Teraphim's god. The Teraphim go beserk as a result, turning a bloody victory into a brutal sack of Osrona. Thousands are slaughtered as the Teraphim, turned savage, slaughter as many Osronans as they can throughout the night, murdering men, women and children even as the other forces of the Coalition take their spoils and retreat from the city. In the aftermath, Regulus Grimmore is also said to be dead, dying with his bonded wife, and Lord Basten Forger is slain by High Priestess Ella Gracia of Myllenoris. Mistseer Finley - later revealed as Finn Ghede, descendant of a Elysium Coven Warlock - becomes the new High Lord of Myllenoris, Osrona falls under occupation, the Royalist forces fleeing to the Village of Nysea, and the War of Cabbages and Kings ends.