War of the Last Cycle

<infobox theme="war">
<title style="width: 320px;"><default>War of the Last Cycle</default></title>
<image><default>File:WarOfTheLastCycleBanner.png</default></image>
<panel style="width: 320px;">
<label>Time Span</label>
<default>308 TE - 319 TE</default>
<label>Location</label>
<default>DrakeslandWestern Drakaes</default>
<label>Result</label>
<default>Victory for The Old GuardFull Result
*Establishment of the Second Drakaen Köntrybund
*Deaths of Delta and Kawaii II
*Restitution of the Amarillian Royal House in the Mainland
</default>
<header>Belligerents</header>
<group layout="horizontal">
<label>Vareists</label><default>
* Regnum Drakaes
** Vareist Schol.
** Directorates
** Takavia
** Loyal Taernsbia
</default>
<label>Cultists and Allies</label><default>
* D. Autarchy
** Arthholds
** Kish
** Yoakumaen
** Haisley’s Mercs
* Hiici'ho Uprising
** Altryae
** Raiyuna
* N. of Taernsbia
** White Dove
</default></group>
<group layout="horizontal">
<label>Reformists and Allies</label><default>
* Old Guard
** Aurica
** Smegsland
* Amarillo UF
** Republic
** KingdomThe Kingdom of Amarillo did not directly participate in the War of the Last Cycle. However, Liliana de Kibris, Consul of the Republic and later leader of the United Front, signed deals that affected the Kingdom with and without the Queen's approval. Either way, the Kingdom of Amarillo was involved in diplomatic affairs with clamiant factions and the conflict with Pasifa.
** F. of Torél
</default>
<label>Minor Factions</label><default>
* D. of Velenu
* Solonists
* Children BRM
* Ferenor
* Kelp
* Andliria
** Pasifa
** Sakuni
</default></group>
<header>Leaders and Commanders</header>
<group layout="horizontal">
<label>Vareists</label><default>
* Kawaii II
* Lazarus Umara
* Haine I
</default>
<label>Cultists and Allies</label><default>
* Delta Drake
* Ilara Canalopin
* Kuiper Ignis
* Lennard Polio.
* Ephor Malen
* Captain Haisley
* Se'hya Tekaya
* Ahiyu'h Chy'pha
* Neurion IV
</default>
</group>
<group layout="horizontal">
<label>Reformists and Allies</label><default>
* Aurica I
* Natalis "The Fox"
* Garold Smegsint
* Garsone Smegs.
* Cónsul Liliana
* Virrey Soronaca
* Legate Velasco
* Dariush Alefhadi
</default>
<label>Minor Factions</label><default>
* Hovar Atreiyen
* Hernan of A.P.
* Fluffy
* Clover Rokalim
* Solir Alvar
* Luis de Etruia
</default>
</group>
<header>Strength</header>
<group layout="horizontal">
<label>Vareists</label><default>
* : 53,225
</default>
<label>Cultists and Allies</label><default>
* : 59,315
* : 27,295
* : 13,520
</default>
</group>
<group layout="horizontal">
<label>Reformists and Allies</label><default>
* : 52,205
* : 33,195
</default>
<label>Minor Factions</label><default>
*Velenu : 17,500
* : 10,590
* : 10,410
*Children BRM : 3,500
</default>
</group>
<header>Casualities and losses</header>
<group layout="horizontal">
<label>Vareists</label><default>
* : 25,415 killed and wounded
</default>
<label>Cultists and Allies</label><default>
* : 38,541 killed and wounded
* : 19,075 killed and wounded
* : 2,370 killed and wounded
</default>
</group>
<group layout="horizontal">
<label>Reformists and Allies</label><default>
* : 26,516 killed and wounded
* : 525 killed and wounded
</default>
<label>Minor Factions</label><default>
*Velenu : 14,380
* : 6,050 killed and wounded
* : 3,977 killed and wounded
*Children BRM : 700 killed and wounded
</default>
</group>
<group><header>Campaigns and Theatres</header>
<label>Battles</label>
<default>Fifteen Battles
Southern Theatre:
*Siege of Rosewood
*First Battle of Velenu
*Second Battle of Velenu
*Battle of Thosalmo
Northern Theatre:
*Siege of Etruia
*Romantello Skirmishes
*Scourge of Takavia
*Incursion of Puerto Amarillo
*Liberation of Puerto Amarillo
Central Theatre:
*Raid of the Smegsland
*Battle of the Raanskald Coast
*Battle of Westheim
*Siege of Wraithia
*Siege of Kawaiipolis
*Battle of Varasopolis</default>
<label>Related Wars</label>
<default>Gardenian Civil WarTaerni War of SuccessionSolonist Holy War
</default></group>
</panel></infobox>
The War of the Last Cycle, from 308 to 320 TE, was a composite full-scale armed conflict that took place in the Drakesland between several factions in Western Drakaes, that put an end to the Respublik's establishment and led to the formation of the Second Drakaen Köntrybund. It is the largest Drakaen internal war and the last event that took place in the server's history of Drakaes. It supposed the return of old factions and characters such as Vareism and the Dragon's Cult. Related conflicts within the war are the Gardenian Civil War, the Taerni War of Succession or the Solonist Holy War. 
Following his coronation, Autarch Kawaii II began a set of deep reforms to restore Vareism as the state's philosophy. The fast attempt of conversion led to the followers of the Dragon's Cult to proclaim Delta Drake Canalopin as rightful Autarch of Drakaes. In response, Autarch Kawaii II reformed Western Drakaes into the II Regnum Drakaes. In the mean time, two Gardenian factions were fighting over the control of the Exarchate and in Taernsbia a succession crisis srpouted following Neurion III's passing. Several years into the war, a new Autarch arose, Aurica Smegsint-Canalopin, which rejected both Vareism and the Dragon's Cult. The situation escalated into three theatres across the western Drakesland with several military campaigns. 
In the south, the two Gardenian factions, the Dogedom of Velenu and the Lyrcor Uprising faced each other in Rosewood, where the lattest triumphed in 310 TE, forcing the Velenitians to a forced retreat to their city. The Autarchy made its first apperance during the Battles of Velenu, on 312 TE. Together with Lycror, they began occupating most of the city. After retreating back to their controlled harbour in Thos, the Autarchy, allied with Neurion IV's Nodinum and marched to meet their arimes. Together, they repelled an ambush from the Vareist's forces in the Battle of Thosalmo, in 315 TE. Afterwards, the Autarchy retreated from the south and sailed to Wraitihia.
To the north, Amarillo had stayed neutral until 314 TE, when the Solonist uprising led to the formation of the Amarillian United Front by Consul Liliana de Kibris. In 316 TE, the Vareist forces gathered in Etruia repelled a Solonist attack and entrenched themselves in the coastal city. That same year, the Old Guard allied itself with the Amarillian United Front, after a meeting in Varasopolis and concesions from both parties. The increase on grain confiscated by the Vareists to feed their troops led to a religious peasant uprising in Takavia, in 317 TE, forcing the Regnum to keep garrison in their northern territories instead of facing the Solonists.The central theatre began with the failed attempt of capture of Autarch Kawaii II in Banshelia by the Autarchy and the rise of the Old Guard in Aurica, on 315 TE. The garrison of Banshelia, led by Lennard Poliorcetes, reinforced by a mercenary company, chased Kawaii II through Urubia while Autarch Delta left Taernsbia and joined the rest of the troops of the Autarchy in Wraithia. During winter of 317 TE, the Autarchy launched a campaign to the east, attacking the Smegan Highlands and reaching the outskirts of Smegsville, before being repelled by the Aurican armies. After the deafeat, Autarch Delta and Princess Ilara Canalopin inflitrated in Puerto Amarillo and furtively took over the city.
During the spring of 318 TE, the forces of the Regnum broke Lennard's Siege of Kawaiipolis and faced the army of the Autarchy on the battlefield. Kawaii II was killed during the battle and his armies disbanded. Soon after, the troops of the Old Guard broke into Wraithia after a siege, also on 318 TE. The following year, Autarch Delta would fall with Liliana's fleet on Varasopolis. After a counterattack from the Smegan airforce and the arrival of Soronaca de Poprhyropolis and the rest of the Amarillian fleet, she was defeated and died, on 319 TE.
Following Delta's and Kawaii II's death, the Regnum and Autarchy collapsed, with only some regiments holding small strongholds, that would be erradicated during the years 319 and 320 TE. Once the Old Guard had ensured the peace in most of the exarchates, a council was celebrated in Varasopolis where the territories controlled by the faction would reform into the Second Drakaen Köntrybund on 320 TE. A coronation for Autarch Aurica was celebrated in the city thus putting an end to the war.
==Etymology==
The name of the War of the Last Cycle, labeled by contemporary scholars and historians in the Drakesland, stands for the clash between Vareism and the Dragon's Cult, main factions of the war.
One of the main beliefs of the followers of the Dragon's Cult is The Cycle. This would be a representation of time in a circular way, with cycles of events, of life and death itself. The Dragon, warden of this cycle is the main entity or God worshipped for the cult and, therefore, the cultists desire for the cycle to keep going. The Vareists, opposing the Cultists, want to destroy the Dragon and the Cycle.
The war therefore it is a theological pursuit of the continuation or ending of the Cycles of Life and Death of Drakaes itself. A victory from the Cultists would mean the continuity while a defeat would mean that the Last of the Cycles would be over.
==Prelude==
The causes of the war can be traced back to the victory of Kawaii II in the elections to Autarch of Zie Western Drakaes, during the Winter of the year 308 TE. His campaign was highly focused on a renaissance if Vareism as a state religion. Opposing him, there were candidates of different religious and national identities. However, Kawaii's victory meant a clear shift towards a more extremist view on rationalism and the Final Society as core pursuits of the Drakaen State.
After his victory, he called for a senate meeting, where he launched a vote to hand over the absolute legislative power to the Autarch, de facto disbandinf the senate. During the session, senator Kuiper Ignis, member of the religious sect known as the Dragon's Cult, theistic and opposed to vareism, attempted to end with the Autarch's life. Failing the attack, he escaped the Drakeskeep and Varasopolis, disappearing to an unkown location. The Drakaen authorities added Kuiper to the list of enemies of the state.
Later that year, Kuiper made public his location, revealing that he had travelled to Kish where he was calling all the oppositors to the tyrannical Autarch to end his reign.
==Combatants==
The composite nature of the war led to the appearance of different factions with different interests. While most of the Western Drakaes was still loyal to Autarch Kawaii II by fall of 502 TE, with only the cultists gathered at Kish openly opposing the Autarch, two nationalist factions in Gardenia had rosen, the Dogedom of Velenu and the Hi'icho Uprising. These minor factions did not fight for the control of the Drakaen state but had their own national disputes instead. These strategically allied with some of the major claimants, the Regnum Drakaes, the Drakesland Autarchy and the Old Guard, in order to defend their interests. We have the examples of the Nodinum of Taernsbia allying with the Autarchy for support in the Taerni succession dispute or the alliance between the Amarillian United Front and the Old Guard, for mutual interest and strength.
It is for the previous reasons that historians and scholars divide the combatants of the War of the Last Cycle between Major factions and minor or "nationalist" factions. The major factions are the three that fought for the Autarch's title, Regnum, Autarchy and Old Guard, and whose core interests clashed with each other. The minor factions are the ones whose core interests and reach were limited to certain parts within the Drakaen state, such as the Solonist Uprising, the Amarillian United Front or the Gardenian and Taerni nationalist factions.
===Major Factions===
It would be wrong to think that the major factions were unified groups of interest fighting for a common goal. Even though the three main factions: the Regnum Drakaes, the Drakesland Autarchy and the Old Guard, each supported a different claimant ot the autarchy, Kawaii II Poliorcetes, Delta D. Canalopin and Aurica Smegsint Canalopin, respectively, they were formed by different groups of interest that had different beliefs and objectives, usually related to personal ambitions and goals of their leaders. 
The main divide between these three major factions was not the political ambition of the claimant for the autarchy, but a set of ideals that each side thought Drakaes was based on. These ideals were a mix of pan-drakaenist nationalism and philosophical and religious beliefs. While the Regnum Drakaes justified its legitimacy on the rational mind and a return to the alleged Vareist roots of the nation, the Autarchy seeked a divine legitimacy through the Dragon, their praised diety. The Old Guard however, claimed its legitimacy from the people, claiming that "no god nor ideal makes Drakaes, but the people does". 
====Regnum Drakaes====
De facto, the state of the Second Regnum Drakaes is not the oldest faction. However, it is considered that it is the direct legal successor of Zie Western Drakaes. This faction it is also known as "Loyalist", for the previous reason, or "Vareist" for its state philosophy or ideology. The faction was born following the asseccion of Delta to Autarch of the self proclaimed Drakesland Autarchy in autumn of 310 TE. Internally, all the political and religious reforms that define the Regnum Drakaes took place between the years 308 and 311 TE, with little additions to their status quo during the following years.
Their core trait is the restoration of the Vareist philosophy, that hadn't been state mandated in the Drakesland since the Fall of the Concordat on 77 TE. Even though this religious philosophy had been influential during the Drakaen Köntrybund and more accepted in some towns and cities of the region of Aurica such as Smegsville and Varasopolis, by Kawaii's election, most of the population was either secular or followed regional religions, such as Dy'lonism or Virconic Solonism. Some point out that it was the traditional non-religious sectors of the Drakaen society that embraced Vareism right before and after Kawaii II's election. In the Regnum Drakaes we can see reflected the ways of Neu Vareism, a new age Vareist current that implemented many elements from Vareism-Almirism and Awaken Vareism. From Varas' teachings it kept the "deconstruction of divine authority" or the ideal of the "final society", a final stage for the Drakaen society that would be reached collectively through empirical knowledge. Kawaii II's Neu Vareism however, it implemented theistic elements such as the "mystical path" and "the dieties". They defended that entities known as dieties held the monopoly on esoteric knowledge, posing as gods, above humanity. Neu Vareists would promote meditation or even hallucinogen as a way to tap into the spiritual world. Their claimed rationality made them clash with the Autarchy 
Politically, the Regnum Drakaes is an authoritarian evolution of Western Drakaes, in a fashion closer to Arnin's Regnum Drakaes. The first and more drastic reforms came immediatly after Kawaii II's victory for the twelfth autarchy. In a senate meeting during spring of 308 TE that was only ceremonial for the arrangements of the coronation that same summer, Kawaii II asked the senate for its dissolution, which was accepted. The assessination attempt of the Autarch could have been a key element to convince the senators in their last vote. Following the dissolution of the senate, Autarch Kawaii II began passing acts that supposed the begining of an authoritarian state, with a reduction in religious freedom. Among the key reforms, there are the "Anti Sectarian Act" commonly known as "Heresy Law", which prohibited public worship of dieties, punished with imprisonment and exile, or the "Religionshemmender Act" which denied any follower of "heretical dieties" of public services. If found guilty of following a religion, a citizen could be confiscated of their belongings. Kawaii II also reorganised the Drakaen Army, removing and replacing officers to ensure their loyalty and vareist beliefs. Anti Vareist tendencies within the army had to be reported to the officers.
During 310 TE, before the Autarchy had been born, Kawaii II also re-estructurated the territories and symbols within Drakaes. He got rid of the Exarchates, de facto, stripping the power away from the Exarchs and assembling the Directorates, four subdivisions of the Drakaen state that were based strictly on geaographical location. Kawaii named a director at the head of each of these. Not every director chosen was a known vareist so it is believed this reform was motivated to ensure local loyalties. The Directorates and their Directors were the following:
*Directorate of North Drakaes. Consisting of Amarillo and Takavia. Led by Lazarus Umara.
*Directorate of West Drakaes. Consisting of Taernsbia and Arthholds. Led by Nodin Neurion III.
*Directorate of East Drakaes. Consisting of Aurica and the eastern regions. Led by Garoldi Smegsint.
*Directorate of South Drakaes: Consisting of Gardenia and Alegard-Alabasta. Led by Venipher Velaran.
This reform did not satisfy the elites of the Arthholds, Amarillo and the Gardenian nationalists, whcih were not represented by any Director. Some of the directors would either die during the war or join other factions. It is the case of Neurion III who died on 311 TE, not even a year after being named Director. Garoldi Smegsint, even if he had been traditionally a Vareist, was one of the main instigators of the Old Guard faction, which was formed in 316 TE.
====Drakesland Autarchy====
The Drakesland Autarchy was the first faction that contested the Autarch's position by naming its own. Gathered at Kish, well-known members of the Dragon's Cult endorsed Delta Drake Canalopin who ascended as Autarch and contested Kawaii II's claim in 310 TE. This faction is also known simply as 'The Autarchy' or 'Cultists', especially by people external to the group.
The Autarchy is considered the most diverse major faction due to the different nature of the groups that composed it. The group that orquestrated the asseccion of Delta as Autarch and also stated the religious agenda of the state was the Dragon's Cult, a group of followers of the Dragon and the Drakaen Pantheon that were being perseccuted since 308 TE. Kish, however was a city within the Republic of Amarillo. Even if it wasn't culturally Drakaen nor Amarillian, the elites of Puerto had some reach into the area. The local elites, though, saw the rise of the Autarchy as an opportunity to achieve more autonomy and gain influence in the Drakesland.
====Old Guard====
The Old Guard is the faction or group that endorsed and supported Aurica Smegsint Canalopin's claim to the Autarchy on 316 TE. This faction is also known as "restorationist". Aurica's claim was backed by most of the Kingdom of Aurica, which was related through family bonds with the claimant. Most probably, she was chosen by Garoldi Smegsint as claimant and wasn't a decision that came from Aurica.
Contrary to the religious justification of the previous two major factions, the Old Guard was ligitimised on people's support and Drakaes' identity being that same people support. They did not reject religion nor embraced Vareism but rather pledged for a areligious state based on the continuity of Maria's Autarchy of the Canalopin dyansty.
===Minor Factions===
Other than the major three factions, there were almost a dozen of factions and parties that were involved in the conflict and disputes. Most of them had limited regional or national interests, but some were as religiously motivated as some of the major factions.
===Foreign Involvement===
The War of the Last Cycle, even if was only fought within the Drakesland and territories controlled by the Drakaen state, it brought attention from foreign powers which intervened in more or less measure, to the conflict. Some non-Drakaen nations supported and sent volunteers to minor factions, which had contacts through lineage or religious community.
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Category:Drakaes
Category:Wars
Category:Lore
Category:Traveler's Era