Lore:The War of Calamities

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The War of Calamities refers to the War between Téafor's jevrethor and najiros forces, and the Anointed Kingdoms. This war occurs between 1069 - 1075 MA, due to (in large part) the events of The Naji War and The Whitecrown Insurrection.

Many in Althas consider this war to be the most devastating in its history.

Before the War

In 1069 MA, Téafor had his agents smuggle delavresi, among bags of wheat or other supplies, into The Anointed Kingdoms. The following locations were where the explosives had been placed:

Leáfa, a half-Nefethnim who was the widow to the King Jeneath's deceased brother, was of particular help in the smuggling of these supplies. However, she was unaware of the delavresi being smuggled, only imagining they were supplies for usurpers and agents.

The Fiery Dawn

In the early winter of 1070 MA, not long after the new year begins, Leáfa's treachery is discovered and captured by King Jeneath. Knowing he may soon be found out, Teafor launches his force's initial assault ahead of schedule, beginning with the detonation of the explosives that had been smuggled into the various regions:

Hédansael does not meet the same fiery end: Gréne, a jevrethor and a young member of The Vanguard, became an agent of Téafor (although more of an unwitting asset than a zealot) until she learned of the Nemnesheth stored in the fortress. When she reported the nemnesheth there to Téafor, he told her that they were in place to exterminate jevrethor if they became too rebellious or dangerous. Feeling betrayed, Gréne confronted Heofon and then had the Nemnesheth destroyed (along with her own life). This removed the last major obstacle to Téafor’s plans as the nemnesheth was the only real weapon that could have prevented the war.

Following the detonation of these explosives, Téafor’s forces attack immediately from all sides. His forces include many jevrethor, as well as many najiros that have come to worship the jevrethor. Nefethnim rise up to assist Téafor’s forces after the detonations and Anointed sieges as well; the largest of these Nefethnim forces are in Gorandel and Narthendar.

The following are the events that occur:

  • The main force, led by Five of the Six Sorcerers, overrun North Narthendar, the capital of South Narthendar in South Narthendar and besieged Mundríce.
  • Another part of the force swept east and attacked northern Lamniemalos.
  • Hidden forces emerged from the forest in western Driesefair and marched on the capital of Ecretei.
  • Thalom Sebairos, riders from Thalomvob, come to Gorandel's aid in eastern Gorandel, assisting Gorandel’s southern flank.
  • Forces emerge from the mountains in southern Anorthile. However, these groups include smaller numbers of jevrethor. Less damage was done to Anorthile initially.
  • Small groups attacked Nosmalos and Vishethas, but no major battles take place in these regions.

The Emergence of The Vrällim‎

In summer of 1070 MA, after the fall of Randell in North Narthendar, Vanguard forces retreat to a fortified position in the foothills of Voshellas. Unbeknownst to them, a large army of Vrällim‎ (Thovairozil that survived The War of Kings) had gathered within the deep caverns and emerged from the mountain, taking The Vanguard completely off-guard in a surprise attack and decimating them entirely.

The Vrällim‎ army marched towards the ruins of Randell, where Téafor and the main camp of his host were still settled. Téafor's Night Stone had called to them, and there they pledged their undying loyalty to him. The Vrällim would join within many of Téafor's armies.

The Second Siege of Mundríce

In mid autumn of 1070 MA, Mundríce falls and the darkness of the Night Stone canopy spreads south. The forces now sweep south into Driesefair and the capital, Ecretei, was besieged. Nandorthel, the capital of Gorandel, also fell under siege.

However, The Vanguard were not completely caught off guard this time: jevrethor and najiros still loyal to The Anointed Kingdoms were prepared and helped to slow Téafor’s advance.

The Foreign Army

In mid 1071 MA, the Sixth Sorceror sneaks a force into Nosmalos. During a surprise attack, he and his forces seized many ships in the harbor. They sailed south towards the open sea before turning East, heading for the continent of Dritameshi. There they bolster their strength (as they have had to launch their attack ahead of schedule) by enslaving the local foreign population. The voyage takes 2 months, 3 weeks in Dritameshi, and then 2 months back to reach Althas again (in particular, Vithile).

Once the Sixth Sorceror's forces land in Vithile, a force from Gorandel and Anorthile form a defense in the narrow canyon that leads out of that region. They would hold the Sorceror's forces for 5 days before being forced to retreat when the Sorcerer's Jevrethor launch a flanking maneuver using a mountain pass to the northwest.

The Waning Years

In the early spring of 1071 MA:

  • Nandorthel and Ecretei fall.
  • The King of Driesefair and his son was slain, and his two daughters, Nosmerian and Ecrathair.
  • The newly crowned King of Gorandel, as well as his younger brother, was slain.
  • The lines of Driesefair and Gorandel were broken.
  • Many refugees from the fall of Gorandel flee by ship down the river and out to sea. A small portion flee to the islands west of the mainland. Most flee south and establish the city of Vrathiro (the “Fated” city) in Vithile.
  • Northern Lamniemalos falls and Léomael in the south was besieged. The newly crowned Queen of Lamniemalos (the last remaining child of the late King) personally commands the defense.
  • Assassins kill the King of Nosmalos. The daughter of the King falls ill. Many suspect she was poisoned.

Téafor and the rest of the Six Sorcerers set up their headquarters in the conquered Ecretei. The remnants of the Driesefair forces fall back to Ironrend.

The Siege of Hédansael

In late fall, a large portion of Téafor’s main host pushed southeast and besieged Hédansael.

As the War proceeded onwards, the dark shadows spread by the Night Stones enveloped more lands. Where The Anointed still stood, the darkness brought only fear But where The Anointed had fallen, the darkness brought many horrors: pestilence, death, a deep and deadly sleep, or (in many regions) enslavement. The "Enslaved" ones swell The Sorcerers’ ranks. Also, terrible beasts emerged under the Night Stone's command: beasts not seen since the first Wars.

In the new year of 1072 MA, the siege on Hédansael was a struggle for Téafor's forces, and the flanking force of the Sixth Sorcerer struggled to make it's way north or penetrate Anorthile due to the lack of naji and jevrethor in that force. The Sixth Sorceror sends forces to sweep south to reinforce that army and secure the crossings before sending forces north to form a pincer movement against The Vanguard.

However, in late Spring, the Rúnwitan lead an alliance of Thevelnim forces from Vossôthos, cutting off Teafor's forces and driving the Sixth Sorcerer away from the river and north towards the low mountains surrounding the lake near Nandorthel. They secure the river crossings with the help of Thalom Sebairos forces, trapping the Sixth Sorcerer's army between the two major rivers of central Gorandel. The magical battles that erupt across Gorandel devastate the region.

In midsummer, Anorthile completely purged its lands of Téafor’s forces and begins gathering all of its armies to march north. Nosmalos and Vishethas gather all their remaining fleets to sail their armies to the mainland.

In early winter, a leviathan appears at Nosmalos and attacks the main harbor. It destroys several ships before it was brought down.

On the first day of spring in 1073 MA, the great host of Anorthile marched north with a company of jevrethor at the front: the siege on Hédansael was broken and The Vanguard established a defense in the narrow mountain pass to the west of Hédansael; it had been raided during the assault by a force Téafor had sent around Heofon’s flank. Another portion of their forces turned south to supplement the jevrethor forces there.

This Anorthile force marching north put pressure on the Sixth Sorceror's forces. The Sixth Sorcerer, however, pushef north despite this as well, pressuring the northern half of the Vossôthos Thevelnim forces. He broke through and retreated with what remains of his forces (roughly half its strength) into Driesefair. The Anorthile forces then turned their attention to Hédansael. With the addition of their strength to Heofon's, the siege was broken.

The Vanguard then established a defense in the narrow mountain pass to the west of Hédansael. They then sent a force to supplement the Thevelnim and Gorandel remnants currently fighting to secure central Gorandel.

NOTE: In the later half of the year, while the Enslaved army under the Night Stone is kept away from The Anointed, the Nefethnim joined the jevrethor and naji on the front lines.

The Siege of Léomael

The forces of Nosmalos sail into Léomael. The newly crowned King of Nosmalos and his brother drive the advance north, breaking the siege, and The Queen of Lamniemalos died in the battles north of the capital; the line of Lamniemalos was broken.

The King of Nosmalos and his brother slay the sorcerers in northern Lamniemalos and destroy the Night Stone that was wielded there. However, they were slain in the battle. Their sister, who only recently recovered from her illness, took command. The forces of Nosmalos reclaim the western range of Lamniemalos. The people of northern Lamniemalos, who were freed from the Night Stone’s shadows, swell Nosmalos’s ranks.

The forces of Vishethas land on Gorandel’s western coast in midsummer of 1073 MA and drive the Sorcerers’ forces out of the region, but were halted at the forest’s eastern edge. The various forces were deadlocked into the winter. The destruction of the Night Stones in various regions caused the shadows to begin to recede.

The Six Sorcerers begin gathering all the enslaved peoples from Gorandel, Driesefair, and Narthendar to Ecretei, preparing for a great battle. The intent was that the methusal would nearly exterminate each other in the coming offensive and the najiros and jevrethor would be able to take control of Althas.

The Miracle of the North

The Battle for the North

In 1074 MA, Téafor sent a large host of the Night Stone enslaved army and Nefethnim north. The Nefethnim were stationed in the east to form the front line, and the Enslaved held in reserve until the Queen of Nosmalos was dead.

That same year, Nosmalos’s hosts were prepared to attack North Narthendar.

Realizing his flank was exposed, Téafor sends many of the enslaved hosts he had gathered to swell the ranks of his northern forces. It was intended that these forces stay away from the eastern region where the Queen of Nosmalos was stationed (her influence would free them) until the Queen was killed by Téafor's faithful najiros and jevrethor followers.

Nosmerian and Ecrathair, worried that all hope was lost, turned to the divine. They prayed to Driomi and sought out the council of the Dragon Guardian, who's rumored haven was Voshellas. The two trekked to the mountain peak, Nosmerian dying in its foothills from previously-inflicted wounds. Ecrathair, alone, attempted to hike to the summit. In her final hour, dying from exhaustion, the Dragon Guardian climbed down to meet her, to reassure her that their prayers have been heard, and that peace would come to the land.

In Summer 1074 MA, The Dragon Guardian comes down from his peak, disguised in a mortal form. The shadows over Narthendar waned. The Enslaved are freed from their control, as the Night Stones' power is crippled. When he realized what had happened, Téafor suspected the two sisters to be behind this; these are the beginnings of legends fabricated in belief that the two sisters of Driesefair not only "destroyed" said Night Stone, but survived the War and gave birth to lost heirs of the Driesefair Throne.

Realizing that the Narthendar people were freed from their enslavement, the Nosmalos host sweeps into North Narthendar while the freed armies sweep in from the rear. The remaining forces of Téafor in North Narthendar were overrun and forced south. However, the Queen of Nosmalos was slain early on and the line of Nosmalos was officially broken.

While his forces fell in the North, Téafor had launched a surprise attack on the King of Anorthile stationed in southern Gorandel, beyond the shadow’s influence. The King repelled the attack but was killed in battle.

The Battles for Ecretei

With the Sorcerers’ forces greatly reduced, most pinned in the north or held up in the south, the forces of Vishethas decided to try and sweep into Ecretei from the west. In early winter of 1074 MA, the forces of Vishethas and the remnant of the forces of Driesefair, led by the King of Vishethas and his sons, march east.

In early 1075 MA, the forces of Vishethas break through the eastern edge of the forest in western Driesefair, but with losses. The King’s sons were slain.

Joined by the remaining forces of Driesefair and many freed peoples from Gorandel, the King's host marched east towards Ecretei. However, Téafor sallied forth with his trusted najiros and jevrethor and the King was slain. With their King slain, the forces flee south from the shadow, joining with the forces held up in southern Gorandel. The last of the Anointed lines were now broken.

The March of Hope

With the deaths of the last of the Anointed, a champion appeared in Anorthile and rode to the host in southern Gorandel (once commanded by the King of Anorthile). He was like none they had seen, clothed in white mail shining with light and a high helm of white gold on his brow. And as he rode forth, the darkness receded. And when the hosts saw him they cried out “Shalfatheon ovre Driomi!” (“The One's Salvation”). However, many didn’t know Noralar nor how they spoke it.

With the Anointed lines fallen, only Heofon and this new champion could supply the same protection from the shadow as the Kings did. Encouraged by the appearance of this mysterious champion, whom the people called Drioshafi, Heofon ordered the remaining forces of the Anointed Kingdoms to strike on the first day of Summer of 1075 MA. The southern host, led by Drioshafi with the Vasomi and jevrethor at the front, battled north through Gorandel.

Heofon’s host gathered to strike west out of the mountain pass that they held. Seeing the approaching assault from all sides, Téafor and the Six Sorcerers used their powers of magic and the powers of the Stones and transformed the usually creeping shadows into a tremendous and terrible storm of hail, wind, and lightning. They used the powers of enslaved najiros to sustain the magic, causing the deaths of many. The front of the storm struck south and devastated large areas of the already battered Gorandel heartland.

The shadows and the storm sent out by the Six Sorcerers, however, could not spread over the forests of Vossôthos and Thalomvob, nor could it spread further north. This was due to the protection of The Guardians that dwelled in the Gorandel and Narthendar regions.

Many who had remained in the region now fled south or west to seek refuge. The host was shielded by the jevrethor at the front, but the host still suffered casualties. However, Drioshafi took the front and rode swiftly. And even beyond Drioshafi's influence the storm began to give way before the hosts as The Guardians marched with the hosts from all sides in secret, having taken their human forms.

The Battle for Nandorthel

In midsummer of 1075 MA, the southern host reached Nandorthel, and the northern border of Gorandel, and engaged in a hard battle for the river crossings (the city being held mostly by Nefethnim. Heofon’s host broke through the forces west of the mountain pass and struck the enemy in the flank. The two hosts joined on a final march through Driesefair to Ecretei.

The Final Battle for Ecretei

The collective hosts of the Anointed Kingdoms and The Vanguard assaulted Ecretei in early fall of 1075 MA.

The Vasomi form The Vaugard of the southern host, with their jevrethor and najiros supporting Drioshafi's advance. Their western flank is covered by the remaining Thevelnim forces, along with the outcast jevrethor and najiros, of Vossôthos led by the Rúnwitan. The Vanguard are led by Heofon and a numher of mighty jevrethor. Behind the protection of their Naji are the Thalom Sebairos. The northern host is more limited in najiros in general, and so form a defensive line at the main river of Narthendar that they hold until near the time of the final battle.

Téafor's army is mostly made up of Vrällim‎, as well as a fair number of Nefethnim, some 10,000 strong. The remains of their army are led by only the most trusted jevrethor and najiros. Behind the Vrällim‎ in reserve are all of The Enslaved that remain. Within the walls of Ecretei are many lesser jevrethor and najiros as well as enslaved najiros who are tasked with casting far-reaching protective spells and sustaining the city's defenses.

The Vanguard, as well as Anorthile’s host, struck from the south and west while forces from Narthendar struck from the north. Many terrible creatures appeared in this battle, including a leviathan rising from the river. However, The Guardians appeared and held back the worst of the creatures while the collective hosts fought through Téafor’s forces.

Heofon and the Vanguard pushed through the city. Heofon battled Téafor and the Six Sorcerers. The battle concluded in a tremendous blast in the palace area of the city where they battled. The Stones were destroyed and the Sorcerers, including Téafor, were dead. Heofon’s body was never found in the rubble. The War of Calamities ended.

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