Bazeth Incident

The Bazeth Incident was an international confrontation between the nations of Holy Kingdom of Staslov [HKS] and Sonderia. It was sparked from an encounter between the Sonderian, Ilyena Yelhorn-Konishi (TheToxicMelon), and the Staslovian, Vōlō Tyrudas (HugeIndividual) at the HKS capital of Bazeth in the summer of 19VE. What started as a fiery argument quickly grew into a brawl between the two and various others, only ending when Konishi and his king, Istimar Yelhorn (Teradhor/Warbrand), returned to their home nation.
Following the skirmish, the Staslovians, desiring retribution, undertook a raid on Astrapol, inflicting minimal damage, before returning. This then resulted in a Sonderian counter raid on Bazeth, which soon resulted in heavy combat between the two armies. With the resource exchange eventually shifting in the Staslovians favor, the Sonderians retreated back to Astrapol, leading to a Staslovic “victory” and marking the end of the incident.
Although the incident has not yet resulted in any major consequences for either of the participants, it is likely to serve as the pretext for future conflicts between the two nations.
== Background ==
=== Rathnir ===
Despite the large distance between the two nations, both the HKS and Sonderia have a shared history that originates from the Rathnir nation of Fjellheim. The majority of HKS citizens either had arrived, or have direct descendants from the nation itself, while many current day Sonderians, such as Yelhorn-Konishi and King Yelhorn, have ties to the Fjelli city of Jelvik. This city was formed by the earlier members of the Sonderian people, who had immigrated from Serafini into Fjellheim around the final years of Rathnir. 
Due to their separate histories, the Sonderians had a vastly different culture and level of discipline compared to the members of Fjellheim, which slowly grew into an issue overtime. Various incidents and arguments occured between the two peoples, most often involving the Jelvik district leader, TheToxicMelon, who many times faced accusations of harassment. Each disagreement ranged in their severity and varsity, yet their frequency displays the gradual disintegration of trust between the two groups.
The discontent in Jelvik eventually seeped over into other towns with the nation as well, such as Amulek, Havenport, and Minas Frost just to name a view. This led the then King Tonok to quell the infighting with the appointment of Jelvik’s then mayor, Warbrand, to Tonok’s second in command. However, this failed to stifle the growing resentment. These tensions would eventually boil over in a religious dispute over the placement of a Sonderian church for religion of Cervonism in the Fjelli city of Iarok, a firm bastion for The Church of the Violet Sun. This led to a minor battle breaking out between the religious communities of the two cities, ending in a Cervonist defeat. Following this, the relations between the Sonderians and the Fjellis are not widely documented, though it is speculated the two remained together, though with a shared underlying disdain.
=== Abexilas ===
Upon their subsequent entries into Abexilas, both the Sonderians and the Fjellis largely went their separate ways. The Sonderians eventually settled in the flat, forested, valley of eastern Norvinia, while the Fjellis founded their new home on the island of Mikh'oth in Talasi, becoming the Holy Kingdom of Staslov.
While the distance between them was quite large, the two new nations still kept up minor relations, with envoys and travelers moving between the two. While tensions were still present, it appeared that these new young nations could, at the very least, humbly accept the other. Such notions, however, were not to last.
== Incident ==
=== Confrontation ===
In the summer of 19VE (June 18, 2024), Konishi arrived in the HKS at the port city of Staslovia, donning diamond armor. According to his account, the reason for his visit was to simply explore the island, and find the town owned by an old friend he knew from Fjellheim, Sigrid, Dutchess of the Swamp (Fortnite Style/Fempress). After journeying across Mikh'oth for a period, he eventually arrived in the capital of Bazeth, encountering the Staslovic High Council member, Tyrudas, currently in the process of recruiting a new member into the nation. 
Having known of Konishi’s family history, as well as noticing his armor, Tyrudas immediately assumed him to be a threat and demanded the Sonderian to leave immediately. Konishi’s exact response is unknown, though he obviously refused the request, probably not taking the situation as serious as the Staslovian. Tyrudas, however, saw this only as confirmation.
Not carrying his sword at the time, Tyrudas then pulled out his bow and placed Konishi in his crosshairs. After trying and failing to convince the Sonderian once more, and believing there to be no other option, he proceeded to fire. The arrow hit, the show of hostility immediately putting the threat to flight from Bazeth. His mission complete, Tyrudas continued with the recruitment. Meanwhile, Konishi, either for retribution or thinking escalation was inevitable, contacted the King of Sonderia, Yelhorn. 
Yelhorn immediately geared up for a fight and headed for the HKS. Upon meeting up with Konishi, the two reentered Bazeth in search for violent justice. Quickly, they found Tyrudas and his recruit and targeted the two. A small scuffle began, where the council member struggled to hold off his attackers, while his recruit was quickly killed. Luckily for him, the noise generated by the fight aroused other nearby Staslovians, including the current sitting king, Teg Staslov (Tegneren123123). But despite now having an advantage in numbers, the surprise of the attack left many of the locals ill equipped, especially when compared to their heavily armed and experienced counterparts. As such, both Yelhorn and Konishi held their own, reducing the enemy mob to just Tyrudas, Vōlīhk Staslov (locked), Rith Vereth (TheOwlMan), Tobok Lāp'iwe (Tonok) and Teg. Having done such damage, and seeing little purpose in continuing the fight, the two then withdrew to Sonderia, finding their revenge adequate. In their eyes, the ordeal was now dead and buried. However, to the Staslovians, it was just beginning.
=== Raid on Astrapol ===
Following the skirmish, the five survivors in Bazeth nursed their wounds and pondered their next move. Lusting for blood, Vōlīhk furiously demanded Teg to raise his legion and march on Astrapol, the largest city in Sonderia. It was believed that raiding the city would inflict the most possible damage and that the perceived initiator of the ordeal, Konishi, could be captured or killed. Longing for blood himself, Teg agreed.
Raising his forces from the Bazeth city and nearby towns, Teg quickly mustered a small militia. The troops equipped themselves with the best kit they had available, mostly consisting of diamond armor and knockback swords. As fast as they had equipped themselves, the king immediately sent them toward Astrapol, longing to lure Yelhorn into a major defeat. Because of its quick mustering, however, the legion was poorly coordinated, with some troops struggling to keep pace with the march to the Sonderian city. As such, upon their initial arrival, many members of the legion would randomly arrive at different points in the engagement.
Upon the vanguard’s arrival into Astrapol, they found the city empty, both of civilian and troop presence. Such a development was quite a surprise, causing Teg to make his legion to search the streets for any Sonderians. Soon they found one, or so they believed. Xavier Asteri (The_Palad1n), a laborer of Dragon Mart and a member of Sonderia, happened to be strolling the street at the time of the Legion’s arrival. Why is unknown, though it is known that upon seeing him, the Staslovians immediately attacked him. Asteri stood little chance, suffering major injuries and barely escaping with his life. Still unaware of their misjudgement, the Legion continued to stroll the streets for their next victim. Their next, however, would not go so lightly.
Basilleus Porhygenitus (Tritas_II), a Sonderian parliament member and local tavern owner, realizing the growing force on his city’s doorstep, immediately took to action. With a bow, he began to harass the legion, slowly retreating back to his castle. Longing for a fight, the legion followed, beginning a short siege of Porhygenitus's estate. The troops and the politician then proceeded to engage in negotiations, though the exact details have been lost. Eventually though, either through his sly tongue, or realizing the legion that the no Sonderian counterattack was coming, Porhygenitus convinced the legion to lay down its weapons and to all have drinks at his tavern. Within minutes, the bar was filled with the cheers of Staslovians, with tensions dissipating. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
The following events are not entirely clear. The broad strokes is that after a period at the bar, the Staslovains left and quickly found combat now in the shape of a small counter attack lead by an enraged Yelhorn, with familiar faces like Porhygenitus and Asteri. Regarding how the Sonderian king learned of the Staslovians, or which side initiated the third confrontation is unknown. What is known is that the fighting was largely one sided due to the Staslovian numbers, though the Sonderians and their king fought gallantly. After beating back the minor counterattack, and believing no further attacks were likely to occur, Teg and his officers decided that they had done enough, and returned to the HKS. Similar to how Yelhorn and Konishi perceived the events earlier, they likely thought the whole situation was now over. Unbeknownst to them, however, Yelhorn was far from finished. An army was now forming within Sonderia, preparing themselves for a final confrontation to end the debacle once and for all.
=== Battle of Bazeth ===
As the Staslovic Legion returned to the HKS, Yelhorn made his play. Having gathered well equipped troops with potions and golden apples, he quickly moved his army into Bazeth. His goal was to pull the Staslovians away from Astrapol, as he hadn’t learned of their departure yet. The Sonderian troops were quickly sent throughout the city, guarding every entrance and exit into the capital. But despite what he might have had in mind, it quickly fell apart once Tyler Staslov (Tyler Ninja Blev), a captain in the Staslovic legion, noticed the Sonderians outside of his home.
Having just returned from the raid, Tyler was in the process of removing his kit, when he spotted the growing Sonderian army outside. Immediately, he sent word to Teg, and the officers of the legion. The king and his advisors were utterly shocked and gobsmacked at finding a response. Seizing the initiative, however, Tyler had already devised one.
In his correspondence, the captain suggested the legion consolidate at his residence, before launching a counterattack. Teg agreed to the strategy, and upon reorganizing his troops, immediately sent them to the home. Yelhorn, the ever clever soldier, quickly realized the Staslovians’ plan. Once the final soldiers entered Tyler’s residence, the Sonderian king ordered his army to surround the building and brace for the expected attack. 
Meanwhile, within the home, the Staslovians prepared themselves for the climactic battle, some even using a few potions that had been stored in the capital. All the while, Tyler went amongst the troops to boost their morale and to coordinate out his battle plans. In order to avoid taking excessive casualties, he, along with the best fighters, were to distract the best fighters within the Sonderian ranks, such as King Yelhorn. While distracting them, the more inexperienced troops were to largely play defense with their knockback swords. Upon hearing the strategy, most of the troops agreed, and steeled themselves for the fight ahead. Just beyond the walls of the residence, Yelhorn’s troops still stood guard, screaming orders, and ensuring the force held firm. Then the door’s of the residence burst open.
The Staslovic troops furiously launched into battle, initially shocking the Sonderians. However, surprise quickly faded once blades connected. As the two forces clashed, the fighting grew more chaotic and unorganized, with small groups of soldiers chasing down individual enemies, Staslovians using the nearby buildings to treat their wounded, and multiple instances of friendly fire. The fighting was, in short, brutal.
At first, the battle was largely evenly matched, with both sides fighting the other to a stand still. Because of Tyler’s strategy, the home advantage of the Staslovians, and the travel time of Sonderian reinforcements, though, attrition quickly shifted against the Sonderians. Many troops suffered armor failures, and many golden apples and potions were used in order to stay in the fight. The exact nature of the combat is more difficult to say, as both sides claim to have caused more casualties against the other. A famous example is Tyler’s supposed kill count, with many saying he personally killed tens of Sonderian soldiers, despite little evidence of such. But no matter who inflicted more losses, the attrition made Yelhorn notice the writing on the wall.
With the battle holding little weight, and not wishing to waste more resources on such a pointless fight, the order to pull back was given. Commanding his reverses to stop funneling into the city, the king retreated with some of his army, only leaving behind those who wanted to shed more of the enemy’s blood. Such a sight came as a delight to the legion, who upon mopping up the remaining Sonderians, erupted into cheers at their victory, chanting “Staslov Strong!” until their voices gave out.
== Aftermath ==
Following the final confrontation in Bazeth, both sides immediately began to spin the debacle to their advantage. The Staslovians, noting how the Sonderians were better equipped, viewed the battle as an incredible victory, and a humiliation to Sonderia. Many participants were known to constantly brag about the defeat, portraying the Sonderians as incompetent fighters and savages for attacking their capital. The Sonderians, on the other hand, tried to spin the incident as a minor affair that had little to no major impact. They would call the Staslovian perspective arrogant and exaggerated, with some even believing that the battle was a victory for the Sonderians. As such, good factual information for this event is difficult to uncover.
However, when viewed from an objective lens, the results of the incident favored the Staslovians, though not to a decisive extent. 
In order to quickly funnel his troops into Bazeth, Yelhorn’s army paid a heavy financial price, both for their initial journey, as well as the constant need to supply fresh replacements. Exact figures are uncertain, but the excursion cost between $5,000-7,000. In comparison, the Staslovic raid on Astrapol cost roughly $1,200, largely due to the minimal combat in Astrapol, resulting in no need for reinforcements.
The Sonderians are also believed to have suffered a larger destruction of kit compared to the Staslovians. As previously stated, Yelhorn’s forces were much better equipped. As such, their uses of potions and golden apples when fighting an inferior force causes a loss by default. The loss of armor is more difficult to determine, as both sides both dealt heavy damage to the other throughout the engagement. It is known that some Staslovians were able to trade out their more damaged sets for fresher ones during combat in Bazeth, while the Sonderians were stuck with what they brought. It is also known that some Sonderians suffered losses of their armor as well, though it is likely some Staslovians did too. Either way, the excessive use of potions and golden apples pushes what could’ve been roughly equal losses again to the Staslovians favor.
Yet the most controversial figures are that of casualties. Both sides' claims vary wildly, thus making finding exact numbers difficult to determine. The only certainty is that both sides suffered their heaviest losses during the Battle of Bazeth. Who inflicted the most casualties, though, is largely up in the air, with the numbers coming down to word of the Sonderians against the Staslovians. But whatever the true casualties are, overall, the entire debacle meant little in the grand scheme. 
While the peaceful era of Abexilas’s early years was coming to an end, conflict and conquest were still largely unpopular. As such, neither side suffered any losses to their territory or any crippling damages financially. In essence, the Bazeth Incident was merely just a desperate show of force by two nations with a troubled history, appearing to only heighten tensions.
The long term results are still unknown, though currently, the HKS and Sonderia have completely served communications with each other. With contempt between the two at a new high, it is likely they will interfere in the other's affairs going forward, and eventually meet again on the battlefield. All that can be speculated is what other nations will find themselves in the crossfire of these new arch rivals of Abexilas.