The War

[whitesword]

In early 784, no one is exactly sure of the date, the long expected war between the Kingdom of Icefia and the nation of the Scaled Elves began anew.  No one truly considers it a new war; the parties are the same as the Wyvern Crusade, not ten years in the past.  Even the leaders of both nations remain unchanged.

The Kingdom had been speaking of the Scaled Elves as renegades for generations.  Their nation had never been officially recognized by the Kingdom and the border was only clear where a river or glacier made determination easy.  This rejoined conflict would have seemed a desire of only the Kingdom except for the events of 783.

In late 783, from the far northwest, that poorly defined no mans land, a place in truth neither side had ever seemed to care about, word came of a rich seam of ore and precious stones.  A call for volunteers to defend the find and claim it for the kingdom was answered by hundreds of mercenaries and adventurers.  By the end of 783 a fortress encampment of more than 5000 was established in the mountains.  Even in the unbearably cold Icefian winter stones began to make their way out on sledges.  Barbarians and Chosen attacked the caravans but as the winter subsided the defenders found themselves coming into contact with Scaled Elven patrols on a regular basis.  They appealed to the Crown for aid and it was given.

The Army began to increase its presence in the west, adding elite units from the Guardian and Diamond Brigades to the border regions.  It was only a matter of time before an incident.  In Smofena an entire Eynamaga failed to report as scheduled.  Two days later all fifty men and women were found dead near their positions.  Most shot with arrows, some cut down by swords and a few torn apart by wyvern jaws.  The following day the High King summoned the lesser monarchs and declared war against the Scaled Elves.

[Asinjin]

Is there a newspaper in Messada?  How does one get the news typically?

[whitesword]

Glad you asked.  There are no "news papers" but news generally is distributed in two ways.  First, "callers" roam the streets moving in prescribed patterns announcing major events.  If one wants to know details you simply pay them a few coin.  Since the start of the war they have been busy.

Second every few blocks there are large wood blocks, about 6' high and 3' square.  Fliers with announcements such as temple events, marriages, births and other personal news is posted and remains for the day.  Most individuals only post in their area.  The more important event  the wider it will be posted.  Anyone can post anything not blasphemous, criminal, obscene, threatening or treasonous.  Wanted posters are commonly displayed on these blocks as well.

Now back to our regularly scheduled war.

[Asinjin]

Are there recruiters in Messada?  How pushy are they?

[whitesword]

At first there did not seem to be a war going on at all.  Little changed right away but after a few weeks the absence of the legions garrisoned near the cities became more noticeable.  Fewer men were seen on the streets, women had more money to spend but less food was available in the markets and there was less need for laborers and craftsmen as the women made due with what they had, reluctant to make major decisions without their husbands.  Many young men volunteered and craftsmen followed the legions knowing their services would be needed.

The High King gathered six Othueyn, Warhosts or Legions in the Common Tongue, into three armies, Eynaeclos  in the language of the Court, the largest formations seen since the end of the War of Technology and marched west.  For weeks there was no news but on the day before the Day of Magic the elves attacked the northern army and were repulsed.  As winter comes harder and faster in the north and west after that engagement the armies were forced to encamp.

This is all that has occurred in the war as we begin. However, in the Kingdom's cities a different war has also begun.

[whitesword]

If by recruiters you mean for the military there are some but they are not very aggressive.   The Brotherhood of the Unbroken Sword on the other hand is very aggressive and constables are constantly being asked to remove them from bars and meeting halls but for everyone who wants them removed there is another appalled that anyone would disrespect a veteran.

[Asinjin]

I did mean recruiters for the military.

Are there prisons in the city?  Where are the very bad offenders taken?

[Zunder]

Is crime on the rise since so many men are gone?  Petty stuff, like break ins, theft, etc?

[whitesword]

Is crime on the rise since so many men are gone?  Petty stuff, like break ins, theft, etc?

See the next thread. This one is just supposed to discuss the events of the war. I should have put it under the general Icefia heading.

[Asinjin]

Are people free to speak out against the war in public?

[whitesword]

Yes and while the subjects are less enthusiastic than before there have only been demonstrations by the followers of Quan Yin and Hemator as of the date of the campaign start.

[whitesword]

On the 23rd day of Bastion Sun word reaches Phiam of a great victory.  Admiral  Erdran Tolist, the longest serving and most decorated sailor in the history of the Kingdom, detached a third of his Eagle battle cruisers and half his Hero class corvettes and penetrated the ice floe near Dethembrais.  There his fleet smashed the weak eleven patrol fleet and has established a blockade.  Most now expect the war to end by spring.

[whitesword]

Late Smofena - Early Pramon 785:  A major battle has taken place.  In the frozen north where the Northern Army was encamped, the elves, driven to desperation by the blockade, attacked under cover of darkness.  Hundreds of their best wyverns, fighting the killing cold, descended from the sky to attack the Kingdom's horses. 

Over the course of two weeks, two elven armies, totaling nearly 90000, attacked the Northern Army in wave after wave.  The Kingdom's forces have been driven out of the Elven lands in the north and have fallen back to the mine encampment.  Icefian losses are unknown but rumors place the dead at over 30000.

[whitesword]

In a daring surprise attack High General Eldsmith's Army of the Coast made a frontal assault on the Elven fortress immediately to the west of Port Pinceer.  Correctly surmising the fortress garrison had been reduced to support the elven attack in the north, Eldsmith laid siege to the fortress on 7 Wavery.  Reports however indicate that his men are unable to take the fortress.

Two weeks later the Eldsmith's trap was sprung.  The elven reinforcements coming along the Old Coast Road found themselves subject to a precise naval bombardment.  When they attempted to take shelter inland two of the Kingdom's Marine legions, led by their notorious High General Anthony Bleedingblade, attacked from the north.  Eldsmith's siege had forced the elves to draw in their garrison and allowed Bleedingblade's troops to land unopposed behind the fortress.  The fortress was put to the torch on 23 Wavery and the Old Coast Road open to the Army with only minor fortifications between them and Portet.  A long march by the Army of the Coast has begun.

[whitesword]

On 24 Wavery the largest naval battle since the War of Technology took place off the southern coast of the continent: The Battle of Broken Wings: The Icefian Navy hemed in and destroyed the elven fleet.  The battle takes its name from the High Admiral Summers' use of the Eagle class battle cruisers’ globe guns against the Scaled Knights and the riderless wyverns supporting the elven fleet.  Less than two dozen of over 300 wyverns survived the battle.  The elven fleet has been broken.