War of the Empires: Difference between revisions

Directionland was thrown into crisis when the Federation’s first missive to the Directian embassy in '''[[Jalbarra]]''' asserted a historic claim on '''[[Kingsvalley]]''' and demanded an immediate Directian military withdrawal from the border. A commonly cited paraphrase from the embassy file reads: <blockquote>''“Kingsvalley rests upon lands pledged to the Southern Crown; withdraw your banners and yield the valley, or we shall take what is owed.”'' </blockquote>In Ironwood, the warning '''accelerated negotiations''' already underway among Directionland’s cities, duchies, and kingdoms. Less than a cycle later, financial backing from '''St. Stylinson''', '''Gandry''', '''Simonville''', and '''St. Niam''' helped finalize the '''Great Unification''', electing '''King Ethian IV''' as the first Emperor of Directionland and establishing a bicameral government.

For roughly 150 cycles, the frontier resembled a '''cold war''': SFK patrols massed along the line, posturing and trading insults, while Directionland fortified crossings and urged de-escalation. '''Ruulran''', historically friendly with Directionland, watched uneasily and declined to mediate.

Parliamentary diaries describe the breaking point in plain terms. One afternoon, as the '''Imperial Parliament''' sat in Ironwood, a dust-covered courier forced his way to the floor and delivered the message that would echo through every account of the age: <blockquote>''“Federation forces have engaged the Imperial Army—'''we are at war'''!”'' </blockquote>

The SFK struck first at '''Kingsvalley''', brushing aside local militia and drawing Directionland’s nearby field forces toward '''St. Stylinson''', the nearest major stronghold and the empire’s former de facto capital. Contemporary analysts long treated the Kingsvalley push as the main blow; post-war staff studies call it what it was—'''a feint'''. (Kingsvalley would gain later notoriety for a much later portal event; at the time its fall was mostly strategic misdirection.)

While Directian columns re-concentrated in the center, an SFK task force sailed up the '''western shore''' and launched a surprise assault on '''Grelian'''. With only city guards to resist, '''Grelian fell quickly''', and '''Gandry’s''' command staff—then guarding Directionland’s eastern frontier—hurried their entire field army west to relieve the desert settlement.

The third stroke followed at once. A larger SFK army, '''hidden for weeks in the mountains''', descended into '''Gandry'''. With Gandry’s soldiers committed to Grelian, the kingdom could not recover: '''the Grand Sanctum of Alessa burned''', foundational archives were lost, and '''Grand King Ultimer III''' and his family were killed in the sack of the royal seat. By the end of the campaign’s opening phase, '''Kingsvalley, Grelian, and Gandry''' were under occupation—and Directionland faced invasion from '''south, west, and east'''.<blockquote>''“Dear Theodren, King—''

After years of deadlock, '''Imperial Engineers from St. Niam''' unveiled the '''TNT trebuchet''', a revolutionary siege weapon. Its rapid deployment '''collapsed entrenched SFK positions'''; within weeks the strategic picture inverted, opening the way for a general Directionlandic advance.

* '''United Empire of Directionland''' — Centralized empire (capital '''Ironwood''') with a professional army and a growing engineering corps centered on '''St. Niam'''.

* '''Southern Federation of Kingdoms''' — Coalition ruled in wartime by '''King-Emperor Larsi'''.

('''Ruulran''', though a historic partner of Directionland, '''refused to intervene'''—a decision that permanently chilled relations between the realms.)

* '''Regional doctrine:''' Pre-war '''Gandry''' cultivated war-wolves and a proud martial tradition—undone by the occupation and subsequent collapse.