Wars of Broken Gold

The Wars of Broken Gold were a civil war that broke apart the Aurian Empire in 1300PE

## Origin

1300-1306PE: The Dovisa Family were extremely influential in the Aurian Empire in this era. Their estates in the Gan Tarak trading area and their huge trading fleet left them incredibly wealthy. In ceturies past the Dovisa had been royalty in the Tarak area but had cooperated with the Tatrak conquest. The family was also now effectively allied with the northern Venthron household through the marriage of Lord Amarak Dovisa's eldest daughter to Lord Abel Venthron's second son.

The Venthron family were Danns from an ancient bloodline in Rak Danning. This son Tolic Venthron as he would not inherit the Venthron estates and lordship had pursued a successful career in the military. The lack of any truely dangerous enemy meant that opportunities for advancement in the Yellow Protectoran were currently based on money, connections and more organisational effectiveness than strategic brilliance. In this environment Tolic had thrived and was granted the rank of Major-General setting him up as the heir apparent for the role of Commander in Chief.

The Dovisa also had been locked in a trade war with the Garinov family based in Kolaran. The Garinov lacked the ancient name and herritage of the Dovisa but had proven incredibly effective as merchants and administrators. Money was the new nobility of the Empire not blood and in this they were the most noble of all the western houses of the Empire. In the past the conflict between the two houses had been hotly contested even unto bloodshed, piracy and posioning. Yet in 1305 the Dosiva heir also called Amarak Dovisa, whose first wife had died in childbed with his third child, remarried a Garinov daughter 12 years his junior. Her uncle Jershon Garinov was placed as Admiral of the home fleet in Gan Tarak waters and he became a regular visitor to the Dovisa Grand House.

To finish the picture it should be noted that the Dovisa second son Karlikov Dovisa was now standing as one of the Senators of Gan Tarak and he was married to a woman from another poiltically influential house whose father was the Senator for Cthol Tarak and her cousin the second senator for Gan Tarak.

The third son had taken the mage name of Goldbinder and was a Sarrif of the Sapphire Wizards' Guild. Though it should be noted he handled significant Dovisa holdings in the Protectorates and signed off on their overland caravan ventures.

The second Dovisa daughter was engaged to a Seamark Anton Severly in the Blue Protectoran and his family contained merchant lords and other high ranking Blue officers.

The third daughter was hoped to be engaged to the younger son of the Emperor Kolar Reagov himself.

Lord Amarak also had three younger siblings. His brother Havic who had gone into banking in his youth and married a Waveworl heiress from Kolaran, which made him richer even than his noble brother. His sister Edina who had also married a noble from Rak Danning Jarius Firehand who was a veteran of the Northport War as well as being an influential figure in his families extensive ancient holdings. Finally his youngest brother Darian was married to a Lindenlark of the Westriding in the Protectorates. Darian had used the immense political influence of his wife's family in the area to become the preeminent trademaster for the Riding and used that to increase his own personal wealth and presiege whilst also gathering in record amounts of taxes. He borrowed heavily from his brother Havic's bank but used these loans to make both his brother and he much much richer. Darian then turned his wealth to the aquisition of land and it is thought that he personally owned almost a tenth of the ridining in his own name by 1306PE

Havic, Edina and Darian all had children many of whom were in positions befitting their station, married into noble houses or pursuing lives of trade, the military or the church. The only one that will be specifically mentioned here though was the second son of Havic, Rayan Dovisa as he rose into the higher echelons of the Audit Corporation. This proved important in what would follow.

1308PE: In 1308PE the throne sent a Audit Corporation representative (who was also the cousin of the Empress), with a Red Protectoran escort, to the Dovisa Grand House in Gan Tarak. After extensive investigation, the auditor, under the authority of the Imperial Vizier of the time Eldon Drakohov, officially sanctioned the Dovisa house on behalf of the throne. This sanction was a political slap for the family and ended all hopes of the youngest child becoming engaged to the Emperor's son. It also resulted in extensive fines and some of their assets being seized. Land was confiscated, a part of their trade fleet was simply taken and reassigned under a new name and the progress of many of the house seemed to be in jepardy. In particular, Tolic Venthron who had been on the cusp of rising to Commander in Chief of the entire Yellow Protectoran, Karlikov Dovisa who was an influential Senator and could have potentially had an opportunity to rise the Emperor's personal councils in the Dome of Debate and Rayan Dovisa who though not from the direct line had leaned heavily on his family name to get his position of influence in Tor Honarik. This sanction by the throne caused outrage and anger and many of the small folk in Kolaran, Gan Tarak, Rak Danning and the West Riding saw it as Imperial high handedness. Tensions began to rise and at an alarming rate.

## Events

### Kidnapping

1310PE: The Empress Lastania Reagov visited Kolaran in the west and then did a tour down the western coast. It did not go well. The north was an area that had bled in the Northport War and Dovisa House Sanction of two years earlier had caused hard winters and mismanagement. A lot of money had been lost and several lives.

A small riot in Kolaran during the Empress' procession resulted in her bringing that portion of her visit to an early end. She also summoned her son the heir to come on the rest of the tour with her in change of a personal bodyguard of Red Blades as she claimed the Blue had proven themselves inept. This won her no love from the naval troopers.

She did not have a much better recention in Tatrak but made the mistake of insisting on a large public event in any case and threatening local nobles to ensure its safely with overly rigourous protection. This resulted in most of the commoners not being able to attend leaving the events poorly manned and clearly unpopular. This only further drew up resentment and to enforce the safety the Blue Protectoran mobilised entire legions of troopers. Resentment continued to build and many of these poeple owed their alliegance to the Dovisa house or one of its close allies.

Finally the Empress arrived in Gan Tarak with the year beginning to wane and here she lit the fire that would become the Wars of Broken Gold. Some claim it was her own notion others that she had been directed from the very start to make the move by the Emperor or the Vizier. While visiting with Lord Amarak Dovisa she took his youngest daughter without his leave under guard and declared she would now be living in the Imperial Palace in Tor Honarik. As Renala (only a girl at this time) had been intended to marry her own son before the sanction this could have been allowed without question as a move towards preparing the two youths for eventual marriage but it was clear that plan was no longer in play. Instead the Lord of the Broken Tower (The Dovisa house sigil) realised his daughter was being taken hostage against his good behaviour. It is likely historians claim that he also realised that the crown's sanctions whether just or not would almost certainly continue as they were financially in terrible straits. So this move seemed focused on allowing them to control and mistreat him while guarenteeing his cooperation by keeping a knife to the throat of his spurned daughter. Lord Dovisa refused the Empress' offer. At this point she could have withdrawn considered the point lost but hurt the house in other ways their star after all was falling since the sanction, several of their family having to distance themselves in order to not be teainted with the stain of imperial disfavour. However she did not.

Using her extensive bodyguard she seized Renala by force and took her at sword point from her father's home. Then with all the pomp and circumstance she had arrived with she paraded out of the city... a city gone quiet with reflected fury.

The private councils of the Dovisa family were not revealed but what was certain was that as the Empress travelled east to Gilgan her party was ambushed by overwhelming forces. Leading these forces was Renala's brother-in-law Anton Severly and he was accompanied by a wizard the girls own brother Goldbinder. The Empress' Guard resisted the ambush when it was sprung resulting in the deaths of many as archers and crossbowmen volleyed into their ranks. The two wizards accompanying the party were killed one by arrow fire the other by some magical means unclear in the records. Onceit became clear the ambushing force contained overwhelming numbers of armed and highly organised fighters the bodyguard attempted to take the Empress and the heir and flee back down the road. Yet they found there more troopers wearing the sigil of the Broken Tower. Leaving the road they headed out over rough terrain but the Empress was not dressed or suited for a breakneck chase. Worse they found the ambushers had common folk irrgulars scattered to the south adn north of the road. Indeed it is claimed it was a group of village born trappers and hunters who brought the remnant of the royal party to bay.

The empress was taken prisoner along with the heir to the throne Prince Gabor Reagov and taken as captives back to Gan Tarak. The Wars of Broken Gold were begun.

### Full Fury

Fallsal and Icesal 1310PE: The Emperor's reaction - Full Fury

The Emperor Kolar Reagov reacted predicably to the kidnapping of his wife. In order to show no weakness he mobilised what he called the 'Full Fury' of the Empire. Some theorise that if he had provided a way for the Dovisa to back down from their outrageous position without the almost certain obliteration they were now faced with they would have taken it. However neither the Emperor nor his advisors were in any mood or position to show leniency or weakness.

The Red Protectoran were mobilised for war assembing 23 legions for the march west. They mustered in six locations including Tor Honarik, Tor Kalash, Tor Celer, Tor Armakan, Grandstone and Watchton. This hoast took a long time to assemble with months of marching, assembling the wagons and horse to enable to move and attach the necessary seige workers, sarrifs and clerics to the legion groups. The united Red force was given the name the Full Fury by the people based on the Emperor's oft repeated quote.

Meanwhile the Black Protectoran legions 9 through to 16 were ordered to take miliatry control of Middleholm and Gilgan by force in preparation.

The Yellow Protectoran units along the border were left at their post to secure the Empire but the core in Rak Danning were given fateful orders to arrest Tolic Venthron Amarak's son in law and Jarius Firehand Amarak's brother in law.

Blue legions at sea were not sent recall orders as it was believed they would not be needed and Blue units in Gan Tarak, Tatrak and Kolaran were sent orders to secure Dovisa holdings both in Gan Tarak itself where the Dovisa Grand House was situated and in Kolaran where many Grand Houses were closely linked.

This proved to be a critical error. The Emperor misjudged the personal loyalty of the people to their local lords rather than the Empire as a whole. The actions of his Empress were condemned and Amarak contacted his wider family immediately to warn them of what he had done. It was possible if the Emperor had mobilised the the Venthron family elsewhere or bribed them as the possible heirs to help bring the Dovisa downfall it might have worked but trying to arrest Tolic and Jarius ended that. The northern Yellow Protectoran Legions turned against the Emperor Kolar and his loyalist forces. Rak Danning became controlled by the Venthron and Firehand families who were now bound to the fate of the Dovisa. Some historians have posited that if the Emperor had focused all his efforts on Rak Danning he could have taken these key figures and prevented the breaking of the Empire. Instead though he split all his forces and attention far and wide.

The landward Blue Protectoran reacted even worse than the Yellow. The Kolaran Blues did not react and pretended not to get the orders. The Gan Tarak forces who were half related to, paid by, protected by and patronised by the Dovisa family openly revolted and when the legions from Tatrak came to Gan Tarak they were set upon and defeated in a battle beneath the walls of Gan Tarak. Trade continued to the west but now the coastal waters came under teh sway of the Dovisa.

The Black Protectoran moved in to take military control of major cities in the Protectorates. Unfortunately for loyalist forces they moved too violently and news came in about Dovisa allied victories in Rak Danning and Gan Tarak. In Middleholm it went harshly but successfully, though blood was shed and some of the soldiers went out of control when they took power. There were killings, thefts and other abuses of power as people took the chance to settle scores in particular General Jorlov Vadik and Lancemark Krathe Stoneshoulder. Some of the worst offenses were: the looting of the Wave Lane granary, tannery and storage; the rape of the ladies of the Southlander house; the killing of the Trademaster of the city when he physically resisted the usurping of his authroity and the seizing of his goods. So Middleholm was held by the loyalists but it became hostile in the some moment.

Gilgan was worse. When the Cavalry moved on Gilgan to seize control the Trademaster resisted the move calling it unlawful as Gilgan had made no move against the Empire. The military split some listening and agreeing with the Trademaster but others unable, afraid or simply unwilling to negociate or go against their orders. This resulted in sudden legion on legion battle but the 7th Legion under Lancemark Igor Goldof sided with the Trademaster who was a close ally of his and they absoluely smashed the loyalist legions. The seven had a large number of dwarves in their ranks and this led to the dwarven quarter of the Gilgan rising to stand with the trademaster as well.

Risal 1311PE: Amarak Dovisa having realised what the Emperor was doing declared the Empire needed to allow Gan Tarak to secede and rule itself once more. He proposed a Trading Council to help rule the city under his Lordship. The Grand Admiral Forrel Waveworl was taken into custody by his family his father Andre Waveworl and his sister Emily Dovisa. He very quickly decided he would prefer to declare for the new Gan Tarak city-state as Admiral of State. Kolaran declared soon after not to secede but to demand the Empire allow the Dovisa proposal as an open ally. Though Rak Danning declared its reemergence as a city-state with Abel Venthron as Dann (lord) and declared itself also in support of the Dovisa Proposal claiming the Empire had lost its rights when it turned on its own people.

Lifesal 1311PE: The Red Protectoran Legions combined into the Full Fury start moving through the Protectorates securing major cities, roads and fortresses. The Dovisa faction starts to be called the Broken Tower due to the Dovisa device being a broken tower on a field of Gold. Lord Forge Bogatey Amarak's uncle (His mother's brother) fortifies his seat at Hunger Hill in the Huntersholm Protectorate and raises a Broken Tower banner above his tower. This forced Black and Red Protectoran Legions to break off from the Full Fury and invest the castle.

Tatrak was surrounded landwardly by Broken Tower forces and then infighting within the city led to a seaward assult landing and the city was taken for the Broken Tower without horrendous bloodshed within two weeks. Cthol Tarak after some negociation officially raised the Broken Tower over its harbour and declared itself part of the city-state of Gan Tarak. Dovisa envoys were sent to the Mesa, Dardon Point and Torak. Many thought that if they were not given the reception they got by Cthol Tarak then those cities might be treated to some of what Tatrak got.

Sunsal 1311PE: The conflict builds as the seige of Hunger Hill continues, the spread of military control over the Protectorates spreads with at least a cohort of either Black or Red troopers being left in each major town or city. Ziffic and Tinon are taken bloodlessly and fortified as forward command centres. Yet Torak seeing them taken and military law enforced decalred for the Broken Tower. Forces from the Gan Tarak Trading area move east in numbers and reinforce Gilgan and Torak heavily. Scouts sent too close to enemy forces were taken or killed by both sides. Yet no major battles or skirmishes were fought.

Rayan Dosiva was noted as distancing himself from his uncle's revolt and even from his father who certainly seemed to condone Amarak's actions. He made very public disavowals of his wider family and their treasons. Though he was carefully watched and in many ways was considered a hostage during the 1st year of the war.

Breesal 1311PE: The Blood in the Hills ambushes took place as the Full Fury had to split its forces to move through the Gilgan mountains. Again the Emperor made the mistake of trying to do achieve too many aims at once. Sending six legions riding north into Weatherdark. Many of the others marched south to Torak but the Marshal of the Empire Salvador Garinan took the majority through the mountains. They could not travel together due to the terrain and were forced to split into cohorts and columns. The Broken Tower forces under the once Lancemark Tobias Dosiva, now in command of all thier mountain forces, ambushed the attackers en route. Yet Tobias focused his forces on one of the disparate bands at a time, defeating them in detail. The Blood in the Hills was a terrible series of defeats for the loyalist forces. It took the power out of the attack against Gilgan and resulted in huge delays to reassembling the concentrated force of the Full Fury.

On the other hand the Black Legions 12 aned 13 along with the Red Legions 14, 26, 27 32 and 33 met the Broken Tower's forces in the field east of Torak and decisively broke them. In what was called the Battle of Broken Shields. Commemorating the lance charge of the 12th and 13th which proved so devastating.

Fallsal 1311PE: Despite Torak being heavily reinforced many of the inhabitants feld after the Battle of Broken Shields. Their courage hanging by a thread when the force arrived at Torak their newly promoted acting General (Was a Lancemark) Riva Kovol made the snap decision to not seige the city but move to an almost immediate and brutal assult on the walls. It worked as many of the soldiers defending the city turned their cloaks going from the Broken Tower to the loyalists under their red banners. The city fell as fighting broke out within the walls allowing the enemy to throw up ladders and gain footholds in a dozen areas. Worse one of the groups to turn had control of a major gatehouse and opened one of the city's two main gates.

In contrast the main force now reassembled around Gilgan laid in for a seige but Gilgan positioned as it was in a Mountain pass could not be surrounded. So the Garinan needed to send legions around through the mountains to try to cut off Gilgan's western approaches. Like with the Blood Hills ambushes Tobias and his forces bled these forces and utterly destroyed some of them to the last man.

It should also be noted that in this time the first careful opposition to the war was raised in the Senate. Again the Emperor mistepped and decided on a too aggressive and split response. Instead of splitting the detractors apart and bringing them down individually they were rounded up wholesale. Many were excecuted publically and other were stripped of rank and possessions. This caused no little outrage and solidified opposition against the war but in the same moment drove it underground. Rayan Dovisa offered or was pressured to help infiltrate these Broken Tower sympathisers.

Icesal 1311PE: The cold and the difficulty of reinforcement, forced the loyalist red forces to pull back from Gilgan breaking the 50 day seige.

A force of loyalists was defeated as they tried to ford the river north of Haven Lake. Tolic Venthron masterminded the plan and three of the Broken Tower forces uniformed in gold were captained by his sons Jamerson and Rikard and his wife's cousin Jarius Firehand. All three successfully threw back the loyalist forces.

Risal 1312PE: The Gilgan, Rak Danning, Kolaran, Gan Tarak trading areas as well as the West Riding of the Protectorates were defacto a separate nation by this month. The combat lines had been drawn and due to the failed assilt on Gilgan through the Blood Hills and the failures at the northern fords the Full Fury's momentum had ground to a halt.

Salvador Garinan had pulled back to Torak and the First Lance to Middleholm and the mustering now focused on these two rallying points as well as a new force at Silverscale hoping to take the eastern reaches of the Rak Danning Trading Area where the Broken Tower grip was weak.

Rayan after long months working revealed the identity of Broken Tower sympathisers in Tor Honarik resulting in several public arrests and affirming him as a loyalist despite his name. It started to be proposed that at the end of the war he could be used to head the new Dovisa house allowing for the culling of the traitors, whilst maintaining the loyalty of their small folk.

Lifesal 1312PE: Battles rage across the line of dispute running through the Empire from the south west to the north east. Both sides are able to receive heavy reinforcement, have multiple strongholds that provide succor and safe lines of retreat. Food stores are plentiful across the Empire except along the line of dispute itself. Large strongholds such as Middleholm, Gilgan, Rak Ranning, Harken Hall, Riven Roost (In the West Riding) and Seven Bells (In Weatherdark) are not engaged.

Sunsal 1312PE: Marshal Garinan changed the appraoch in the later part of the war. Instead of attempting to break through all lines simultaneously he brought the High Ranger and Green Protectoran into play with the loyal legions at Silverscale and commanded they push west. This led to record low levels of imperial troops in the hostile Oakland woodland. Garinan surrendered this prong of the offensive to the Emperor's cousin Konan Reagov under the title Master General of the North. In Middleholm they merely reinforced and ceased their efforts to push into the West Riding. Here the Marshal left General Jorlov Vadik in charge. This was deeply unpopular with the people of Middleholm but fortunately for Jorlov the Marshal had the sense to reassign Lancemark Krathe Stoneshoulder away from the front. Krathe was the most vicious of the loyalist officer corps and his men the 3rd and 4th Legions called Ash and Pain were assigned to defeating Broken Tower forces opperating in loyalist territory. If Garinan hoped this meant his attrocities would no longer affecct the war he was grievously mistaken.

The second offensive was not aimed at Gilgan which had failed so spectacularly last Icesal and so instead went below the mountains along the river Sirene. This the Marshal of the Empire took command himself. With a huge level of reinforcement the normally well fortified border with Torash was stripped to a skeleton garrison.

The two armies moved onward with a slow deliberation that had been sadly lacking in the previous ambitious multipronged attacks of the previous year. Tholisa Mesa having never officially joined with the Broken Tower stood open to the Marshal of the Empire when he arrived as if such were never in doubt. Yet the emissaries of the enemy were not to be found suggesting that the city was not willing to burn its bridges with the western forces either. The loyalist forces gain lots of ground in both the north and south.

Breesal 1312PE: A period of major battles as the loyalist forces needed to act before the cold set in especially in the northern campaign. The Master General Reagov strikes to take Rak Danning but though he has greater numbers and brings his forces in with effective and deliberate strategy he is outclassed by Venthron and Firehand fighting on their own territory. The loyalists were beaten in the Battle of the Broken Woods as it took place at the forest of Dann where the Broken Tower forces had taken shelter to await the army. The loyalists though beaten are able to use the imperial road to retreat south and east into loyalist held territory and so they are not utterly shattered. Still, the defeat was unexpected and alarming. It had become clear that the generals of the north had the full loyalty and power of that region. Something else that became clear in this battle in particular was that more Sarrifs had allied with the renegades than first thought.

The wizards allied to the legions that had joined Venthron and Firehand in their rebellion had gone it appeared with their legions rather than their Guild. Though the Sapphire Wizards' Guild though declaring its loyalty to the crown had been careful not to condem those wizards who opperated with the rebels. They proclaimed that they were politically a non-entity (A total nonesense of a statement) but that under the rules of the Cullstone Policy and the organisational rules laid down under Emperor Peter I that they merely answer to officers like any soldier.

It also became frustratingly clear that the church's refusal to declare the rebels as excommunicated had allowed some clerics to ally themselves to the military might of the rebels. Particularly in offering healing and succour to the wounded. The Emperor tried to force the Cardinal to endorse his authority and excommunicate all those in the west who did not immediately rise up against the Dovisa and their allies. The Cardinal politely but utterly refused. He delcared that the Church of Celer was not a political body (Again clearly a pointless statement) and that the church would offer knowledge, protection and healing to any harmed by the war.

From the Mesa the southern army rode west to take Cthol Tarak they defeat the initial force in their way breaking them quickly with overwhelming numbers. Encouraged the Marshal pressed on to the city which was allowing the retreating army into its gates and so had not closed them. The army flooded in killing the retreating Broken Tower forces as they fled. Yet it was a trap and in a slaughter that later became known as the Battle of Broken Gates Admiral Southlander's (Father of Kleet Southlander) plan completed. From the walls and houses surrounding the gate well armed forces broke out against the now funnelled and strung out loyalist forces. Well in the vanguard Salvador Garinan was cut off from his main force and captured. Many of his elites were killed or taken in the city and once the trap errupted some of the attackers pulled back while others tried to break through. In the end the city was held and the gates closed with the remnant outside. Though successful the ambush true to its risky nature led to a bloody cost on both sides including many civilians and a fire that ravaged a large section of the southern city.

These campaigns and battles led to the Broken Tower forces being clearly pushed into their places of safety. They had retreated backward in both north and south. Yet their victories in the key Battles of the Broken Wood and the Broken Gates shattered the loyalist aggressive forces. As a result Emperor Kolar had to pull back.

Fallsal 1312PE: Amarak Dovisa delcared that he reluctantly accepted that the division with the Empire was unsurmountable and declared the Empire broken. He announced that Kolar Reagov had violated the trust of Celer and his people in attempting to steal his children and turn the blade of Aurian against Aurian. As a result he declared himself Emperor of the Broken Aurian Empire. He explained that he too had a heritage that went back to Anarik the Warmaker's younger brother. His wife (Inga Dovisa) also traced her line back to a daughter of Carlson the Waymaker. So technically the Empire now had two symultaneous emperors.

### Broken Empire

Fallsal 1312PE: From this time there was a period before war could be properly rejoined as the Broken Tower forces did not aggressively strike out towards the loyalist held lands and the loyalists had to rebuild their forces. This period of the Wars of Broken Gold and the Auriran Empire was called the Broken Empire. Some historians call the entire period of the wars the Broken Empire others suggest that the period only began once Amarak Dovisa crowned himself in 1312PE.

Icesal 1312PE: Kolar reacted with expected rage and made General Jorlov Visak his new Marshal of the Empire and fully endorses his very harsh and aggressive command style. He cracked down heavily on open sympathisers but found that the Senate was not working properly as a large number of the Senators he now allowed represented places that were no longer under his control. There were no taxes to pay for them no people that they could claim to control at least not effectively. Some began to suggest that maybe having two separate Auriran Empires was a relatiy he might need to accept at least in the short term. Kolar unsurprisingly found this unacceptable. Though he did not delcare a new offensive. Several key generals not to mention his wife and heir were in Dovisa custody. So he allowed the separation to continue and sent negociators to arrange for the exchange of prisoners. He also invesitgated alternative methods for resolving this situation looking outside of the Empire and beyond a purely miliatry solution.

Risal 1313PE: By now the 'new' Emperor over the Broken Tower section of the Empire has set up his Trademaster Council in his new capital of Gan Tarak. He also set up lesser councils in Kolaran, Gilgan and Rak Danning. He was quick to award lands and powers to his allies who had loyally supported him in the war. Then Venthron and Firehand families were given lands around Rak Danning that had belonged to loyalist merchants and nobles. Around Cthol Tarak the Southlander lands were heavily expanded especially those of his graddaughter's husband Kleet Southlander. He had been only a captain, if a successful one, in the Blue but now he became one of the most senior noble landholders of the region. His father was already a military commander and significant land owner.

The two empires continue to exist for some time in an uneasy armistice. There were some exceptions such as the Vile Seige being conducted by Krathe Stoneshoulder. This seige was of the incredibly fortified fortress of the new Emperor's uncle Forge Bogatey and unfortunately his hold at Hunger Hill was well inside the Reagov-Empire held lands of the Huntersholm protectorate. Due to the circle of Priestesses and the djinn of the tower the city could not be forcibly taken by any means the Empire could manage.

The Broken Empire and the Vile Seige lasted till 1315PE. During this time both Empires reluctantly traded with each other. Skirmishes took place in the dividing line lands. Constant espionage as well as open/hidden negociations continued throughout. Both Empires tried to involve Elygia and Saracan in their dispute. Free Country utterly refused to treat the twi sides differently. Dusken did likewise. Though Northport was offered a hidden and private treaty by Dovisa which offered them something they wanted enough to openly side with the Broken Tower side of the Empire. A small fleet under Captain Hilly Waxilla actually sailed and fought alongside the naval power of the Broken Tower. Though of course due to the manner of the split naval power was a matter of trade not war.

All attempts to negociate the return of the Empress or the heir fail as the Dovisa make the recognition of their new empire a key demand. Kolar will not countenance that especially as it was clear by then that Dovisa had no intention of killing his key bargaining chip. Indeed the Empress and the heir were in lovely accommodations in the Dovisa Great House. They were very carefully watched and guarded, but they were only watched and guarded. Yet it was this refusal to trade these key hostages and the clear lack of such hostages on the loyalist side that may have prompted the unleashing of the Knight Stalkers.

1313PE: The Knight Stalkers take Amarak Dovisa(grandson), sometimes called the heir, the son of Amarak Dovisa(son) and the grandson of the Broken Emperor Amarak Dovisa. Taken with him were his young wife, their son also called Amarak and their daughter. On their way being escorted back to the loyalist hearthlands they passed through Middleholm and became the prisoners of the Marshal of the Empire, Jorlov Vadik. Vadik either ordered or lost control of his men resulting in the family being tortured. One of Vadik's men revolted at what was being done attempted to sneak out the children in the fighting the daughter was shot by an arrow and killed as were three of the rescuers. However two men broke away from the barraks and disappeared into the city. Broken Tower sympathisers in the city then assisted them in getting the boy out of the city. Jorlov assigned the manical Krathe Stoneshoulder to find the fugitives but all of them were surprised when instead of pushing west for the Empire the fugitives threw off the scent by pushing north-east instead. Hidden in a wagon full of hay the young prince was taken into Huntersholm and through the seige lines into Hunger Hill where his great great uncle still held out defiant.

Krathe was insensed by the deception, his own seige lines being breached and by once again losing out to Hunger Hill and its Lord. Losing all sense of military discipline he forcibly took command of the prisoners making their way to Tor Honarik. Instead of bringing them to the Emperor he matched them to Hunger Hill and threatened to excute them in sight of the city. Despite the young prince's appeals to save his parents his great great uncle would not surrender the city or the boy for Krathe's promise of better treatment for all should they surrender. Yet Krathe would not be stayed and broke all the laws of gods and men. He brought a Quorum of Death Priests to the city the clerics worked with a Soulcrafter called Insanial. Krathe sacrificed the boy's mother to the soulcrafter and he used her soul to summon an Entropic Reaver from the Abyss. The Reaver went in to kill the boy but found him defended by the djinn of the tower. The reaper however freshly empowered by the blood of a mother slew the djinn and broke the circle of priestesses.

The wizards and clerics then used their power to break into the damaged and weakened city. The Ashes and Blood legions led the assault into the city after such a long seige. They went berserk raping, pillaging and plundering the fortress and the walled town. The reaper had followed the bloodline of the mother to find her son, but found the young child's great great uncle standing in its way. A life for a life has ever been a law in the tomes of Death and politics mattered nothing to the creature. So it fed its scythe on the older man and departed, the young child still alive. Preserved by the surviving priestesses they fled with the young seven year old. Yet Insanial had felt the departure of his summoned reaper and so the quorum of Death Priests were able to follow. The priestesses let their younest flee with the child and they faced the unwounded, supported priests. The lucky ones were killed some were taken alive but their sacrifice was not in vain as the boy and his protector escaped. Krathe took Hunger Hill but it was now only a burned hulk of a town that stank of death and corruption. Worse he now only had one of the four prisoners that had been hoped for. In some way he was seen as one of the most victorious generals of the wars, he had taken the untakable town but what he had done in 'winning' the Vile Seige forever tainted him, his family and his legions (3rd and the 4th Black Protectoran) the Ashes and Blood.

The Emperor and his commanders were furious but it was impossible to centure Krathe openly without admitting to complete loss of military control and giving up the victory of breaking the last resistance in their own lands.

However the seige appalled the Church of Celer and they began to speak out openly in support of the Broken Gold faction in the civil war and increased their offering of succor to their forces. The public's opinion swung against the crown of Kolar. Importantly, the great grandson of the Dovisa emperor was taken by his priestess protector to the Vormach in secret and even when it was revealed and the the Empire demanded the boy be turned over the church openly and adamantly refused.

1313-14PE: The Blinding of Auria the Emperor, rather than disavowing the Vile Seige and Krathe's use of the darkest of means to achieve victory, doubled down. He turned on the Church of Celer in an attempt to force the Cardinal's hand. He removed the Theonists from his councils, and promoted the building of temples to other aspects of Knowledge and other Avatars. The church was not outlawed, but their services were policed by Protectoran troopers. The crown recinded the rights of the Cellan Guard and the Golden Knights of the church as well. No churchman could leagally go under arms in the eastern Empire and the clerics had to submit to being watched and overseen by Sarrifs. Some priests resisted, which resulted in many churches and temples being broken into and some being razed. The 16th and 17th Green Legions as well as the 33rd Red Legion were also stationed near Ironhold the fortress at the entry way into the Vormach valley. This was very unpopular though and resulted in many small folk and some loyalist nobles in the country turning against the Emperor.

1314PE: Seeing his chances slipping away the Emperor reinitiated the war. He did so on a different level than he had previously. He surrounded himself with new advisors and allies after removing his previous Imperial Vizier for the man's objections to his increasing radical commands. The Lady who was called only Obscura became his new religious advisor and his appointed an old cronie as his new Vizier who would disagree with him less. Finally he organised his military solidly under the Marshal of the Empire Jorlov Vadik and promoted Krathe Stoneshoulder to First Lance of the Black. Now it was total war with nothing held back and dark forces were unleashed both in the hearts of the warriors and in the arcane and divine abilities of some who fought. Unsurprisingly, this violent and ignoble appraoch was reciprocated by their enemies.

Lifesal 1314: The Tatrak Offensive was launched after months of mustering. A full eighteen thousand marched from Tholis Mesa. These legions were made up primarily of Red and Yellow Legions but included the 41st Blue Legion which had been organised of loyalist Blues who had fled the land controled by Broken Tower forces. There were also three Black Protectoran Legions who formed a powerful cavalry detachment.

Within the Empire there were lots of skirmishes, minor rebellions and attacks. Many sympathetic or rumoured to be sympathetic are hounded and hunted. This was opposed and comdemned by the church of Celer and the clerics of Celer began to refuse to serve with the Aurian miliary. The Emperor Kolar called his unlawful considering the accords written for inclusion of clerics and wizards in military units. The First Lance Stoneshoulder (Someone known for his irreverance for the church) was tasked with bringing the clerics back into compliance.

In the North Konan Reagov made another push with the northern hoast now reinforced with Green Protectoran Legions. Reagov was very successful taking control of town after town and bearing down on Rak Danning and the north of the West Riding.

Sunsal 1314PE: The southern forces under the Marshal of the Empire close on Cthol Tarak. They took in as much of their harvest as they could and their fleets put out to sea to guarentee the port could not be closed. Jorlov beseiged the city and took control of srrounding town who surrendered in accordance with their instructions. Many of the small folk had fled north most by sea. A huge force under 'Emperor' Amarak's son Amarak marched from Gan Tarak south to releave the seige but would be a month in arriving.

In the north the Danns the old nobility of the region rose again. This later bacme known as the 'Rising of the Danns', something they had apparently had planned in secret for many years. In each area the local men rallied to the banners of these lords. These forces were marshalled under Abel and Tolic Venthron as well as General Jarius Firehand. The loyalist forces slowed their advance and prepared places of strength in their occupied territory and then diverted their offensive thrust entirely south into the West Riding.

There were three battles in the West Riding: two at Westlane and one north of Larkstone. The first battle of Westlane was a probing attack and a victory for Reagov the second was an attempt to storm the walls of Westlane, which was a failure but one that caused heavy damage to the fortifications and the defenders. Finally the main forces of the local nobles gathered and marched to releave Westlane from Larkstone. Yet Reagov discovered the move and in a surprise move he marched his forces south leaving only the smallest token force to hold the Westlane siege. he Larkstone forces were not prepared and the battle was a rout leading to the capture of Darian Dovisa and the death of his son Tobias in the fighting. Westlane surrendered after news of the battle reached them.

Breesal 1314PE: Larkstone was invested as were other strongholds in the West Riding such as Rivenroost and Water-Rise. The seiges were maintained strictly but assaults were not ordered by Reagov reluctant to accept the sheer cost of life and the risk such moves would have brought. The forces of the West Riding did not seem eager to muster and engage in pitched battle especially not with their leader Lord Dovisa being under guard in Middleholm.

The Hidden Fleet a combined fleet of imperial ships (who had curcumnavigated the continent to come around to the west and a mercenary fleet from Elygia and the islands. The fleet came north and struck at the fleet offshore of Cthol Tarak. The battle was bloody with many ships being sunk, many boarded and captured and many burned. In the end to the surprise of most the Hidden Fleet was victorious despite being outnumbered.

Cthol Tarak had to now defend from the sea as well as land and the Blue Army marching past Tatrak had to hurry its pace. Previously it had been thought that the fortified port cities of Cthol Tarak, Tatrak, Gan Tarak and Kolaran could not be effectively put under seige but with this unexpected defeat that had changed completely.

Fallsal 1314PE: The Battle called the The Waste of Wraiths. The forces of the Empire partially broke away from the city walls of Cthol Tarak in order to engage the Blue army out from under the enemy battlements. Vadik marched them north himself and engaged the army under Emperor Amarak and his son. The forces met in the field with absolutely no quarter given on either side. No negociation preceded the combat. The Blue army of the Broken Tower/Dovisa forces hammered into the Imperial army. The left of the imperial line broke under the pressure but the centre held despite heavy losses. A key moment in the battle was that before the centre broke that would have allowed the Blue vanguard to potentially take the Imperial Standard and maybe the Marshal of the Empire himself. This was prevented by a massed charge of cavalry which shattered the tip of the attack preventing it from getting to the command centre.

Still, it seemed the battle would go to Amarak and his westerners. Yet the Imperials revealed a willingness to use something they had not previously. Magic was a part of every major battle often countered or defended by wizards from the other side. Yet the imperial forces revealed something they had not expected, wielding their increased magical might without reservation. Not only were barbarian shamans alongside the sarrifs but there were also clerics of the temples of Death present. In particular three casters known as the Grim Feast. These revealed themselves of Liches and revealed that the legion they had been supporting they had encouraged to bond with shades. These dark packs turned the 19th Red Legion into the Wraiths their stylised black shield clasps being used to signify these pacts. These creatures could not be fought effectively by the mortal fighters and resulted in a mass break in the Blue's lines. The so called "Broken Emperor's" bodyguard broke under the assault. Yet the wraiths had no interest or even understanding of the value of imprisoning such an important figure. He was slaughtered where he sat on his horse. The battle turned on this use of terrible soulcraft and divine death magic. Yet unsurprisingly the wraiths were not controllable by any save the Grim Feast themselves. So many loyalists fled from and were killed by the Wraith Legion.

The result of the battle was a decisive victory for the Red army over the Blue. Though the 19th split off from the main army and camped separately from them. The three cleric/liches liaised. with the Marshal of the Empire via a specialist force of sarrifs and the Paladin of Justice Devid Tanaraf. Even the victorious army was traumatised by what had happened in the Waste of Wriaths and if they had not been so fearful of them it was discussed if the army would have moved to destory the 19th legion. However it became clear they may not have been able to do so.

Cthol Tarak surrendered immediately on the condition the Waste of Wraiths not be unleashed on them or be allowed anywhere near the city.

Now that the 'false' Emperor had fallen the Emperor knew he had a serious chance to change things. The thousadnds dead at the Waste of Wraiths the arrival of the Hidden Fleet and the victories in the West Riding all put the Red or Eastern side of the conflict in the assendancy. Kolar realised this was his chance and many say under the pleading of his advisors offered terms to the enemy.

With the Dovisa Emperor and his direct heir dead on the field of the Waste of Wraiths, he offered amnesty to the west. As long as his son and wife were returned unharmed and their commanders bent the knee and acknowledged no further claims to the throne.

Icesal 1314PE: There was a truce for the winter of 1314PE. Neither side wished to continue the offensive in the bitter conditions. Even in the south the winter was unusually cold and there was a general disgruntlement over the prosecution of the war and the waste of wraiths. Negociators were recieved by the Dovisa family in Gan Tarak and by the Venthron in Rak Danning. With the death of Amarak Dovisa and his eldest son the Dovisa were prepared to offer an armistice and to return the living Empress and the heir to the throne to seal that peace. However their terms were more bold than the Emperor expected: Secession. Gan Tarak, Rak Danning, Tatrak, Gilgan and Kolaran would revert to city states with a mutual defence treaty, but they would surrender any claim to the title Emperor and cease to be part of the Aurian Empire.

Early 1315PE: Auria agreed to an armistice. Most historians believed this was due to the cost of the war to date, lack of support in the Aurian Senate and in the army and the danger of using measures such as the 19th legion or the Red Wraiths as they were now being called. The Emperor found himself anxious to have his son and wife back and believed he could secure them then return to reclaim what he wanted at a later date.

Sunsal 1315PE: The exchange was made and the war was officially ended with an agreed armistice. The crimes of treason were officially rescinded and active opperations ceased. Though the West Riding and Cthol Tatrak became armed camps. The Empire did not recognise the independence of the city states, but the lack of hostilities and direct operations was enough.

### Ending the Armistice

Risal 1316PE: The Cardinal died and his successor was ordained as Kagan I. The Empire believing this an opportunity to force the church into giving up the Dovisa heir Amarak Dovisa (Grandson to the Broken Gold Emperor). The ambasador sent to force the issue was allowed entry into Ironhold but not permitted entry into the Valley itself. The Cardinal did not even come to speak with the Emperor's voice. The Emperor's demands were not even responded to. Rather than reply to his demands for the Dovisa heir to be turned over to him (as a hostage to guarentee the return of the Broken Gold city states to the Aurian Empire. Instead the Theonist (A man who had himself been dismissed from the Emperor's councils during the Blinding of Auria) brought his own demands on behalf of the Cardinal. The Emperor was called to repent his heresy against Celer and Celer's church. He was instructed to revert the ban on the church's miliary in the Empire, return a Theonist to his council and remove the Dark Lady Obscura from his councils. He also required that the Empire disavow the actions of First Lance Krathe and the soulcrafter Insanial for their crimes in the Vile Seige and either see justice publically enacted upon them or better yet turn them over to the Vormach to be Tried by the Book.

Lifesal 1316PE: The Emperor refusing to show weakness in the face of the new beligerant Cardinal of the Cellan church radically turned over the Cathedral of Tor Honarik to Obscura and her cohorts. The priests and priestesses still there were put out of the holy site, the treasures of the cathedral looted, its guardian djinn slain. It was also reported that members of the Order of the Codex were working in the cathedral at the time and that they were killed. Insanial was present in the battle and though the different stories told of the assualt differ, all agree that unholy undead and/or demonic forces were involved. When word of this spreads churchs of Celer become armed camps or are abandoned throughout the Empire. Tor Celer itself was put under seige. Many of the clerics flee to the city states or to the Vormach. As long as they were not carrying anything valuable the orders were they be allowed to pass. This continuation of the Blinding of Auria wracked the country and was the beginning of the end for the Emperor. He had immense power and forces at his command but some of his most loyal followers were still devout to the Avatar of Knowledge to the Scion of the Book. Celer had been the central god of Auria for over a milenia and people could not forget their faith so quickly.

Sunsal PE: The Seige of Tor Celer continued with increasing amounts of force brought to bear. Unsurprisingly, the city was extremely hard to take: Great walls, immense magical defenses, the Cellestine Cathedral itself, The Tome and a very devout populace. Several loyalists turned (Either under duress or volluntarily it was difficult to say). In particular the 4th Red Legion declared themselves Cellan Guard in outright violation of the edict banning church men from wielding arms in Auria. (This was later followed by many others across Auria decalring themselves Cellan Guard and arming themselves in the name of the church.)

Breesal 1316PE: With sympathetic revolts breaking out across the Empire and especially on the borders near the Broken Gold City States, the Emperor needed to end the Seige of Tor Celer before it became too embarrassing. First Lance Krathe was given command of the seige with his legions the Ashes and Blood. The beseiging army Red Protectorans and Black all were described by the moniker for the duration of the seige. These were the successors to the forces that took Hunger Hill in the Vile Seige. The message was clear, everything was being brought to bear. The Sarrifs attached to the besieging army were placed under the command of Insanial and as the weeks passed word was passed around the Empire that the Red Wraiths had been called. The Empire had not unleashed the 19th legion since the horror of the campaign to take Cthol Tarak and the death of the Dovisa Emperor. Skirmishes and probes were frequent but with the powerful magical defenses a city like Tor Celer could bring to bear it was simply not possible to bring it down and due to its large assortment of magic wielding inhabitants the ability to starve the city out was simply not available. So the Empire gathered an overwhelming force to take the city in an overwhelming strike. There were several Senators who suggested that rather than force the attack once it was made overwehelming clear there was no hope the Theonists should be permitted to surrender the city and accept exile to the Vormach. This was officially offered, though records held by the church claim that it was offered at sword point and under the absolute demand that all their sacred relics and the treasury of the Cellestine Cathedral be turned over to the Empire. It was refused in any event.

Fallsal 1316PE: The hammer blow falls with a devestating and coordinated strike from the Empire's forces. Knight Stalkers within the walls of Tor Celer assassinate one of the Theonists and two of the senior officers of the defenders including the Blademark of the 4th Red Legion. The Red Wraiths led the Ashes and Blood in their assult but they were certainly not the only forces from the Abyss present in the battle. Insanial and his wizards and the liches known as the Grim Feast were all present. Undead forces were used to absorb the initial attacks of the defenders and to provide uncaring shields for the attacking forces. Insanial once again summoned Entropic Reavers to assist in the attack. Yet this time their target was one of the strongholds of Knowledge on Karandia. The First Lance's willingness to use Death's minions and the powers of Soulcraft were well recognised by now and indeed they had been waiting for this momnent though the loss of the most powerful cleric at the start of the battle was a terrible blow. Still many clerics were able to bring planar allies of their own and their own magical powers to bear in the fighting. The battle was utterly terrible many of the survivors on both sides were traumatised for many years afterwards and some until their deaths. The end result was the deaths of the theonists, the capture and excecution of many bishops and priests as well as rebellious sarrifs and many of the officers of the 4th Legion. Though their standard bearer was not taken. The Cellestine Cathedral was taken and though looted it was not desecrated as had been the Cathedral in Tor Honarik. The populace were chastised thouroughly as the city was utterly sacked. The Tome one of the greatest libraries in the world was preserved as two librarians gave their lives to bring forth a manifestation of the will of Celer. The Tome became manned not by clerics but by the Angel of Knowledge and with this creature a host of the faceless Forgotten Order. The Library was left unmollested and unentered by any as a result. One of the Liches of the Grim Feast was destoryed when its soul was found and crushed.

This event was seen by historians as the key trigger for the beginning of the War of Red, Blue and Gold

### War of Red, Blue and Gold

Fallsal into Icesal 1316PE: The War of Red, Blue and Gold begins as the Cardinal known as the Spear of the Oppressed declared the Emperor an anathema. He claimed the sacking of Tor Celer was more than a political act but that it showed the Emperor had been completely overidden by the evil of the Temple of Death. He called all faithful to resist Emperor Kolar and all his forces with every breath they had. The Emperor marched on Vormach presumably to repeat there what had been done to Tor Celer but this soon became impossible.

The Dovisa and Venthron Families had not been idle in the the interveneing yeaes and now their raised war banners again. The Dovisa raising blue banners in the west and the Venthron raising Yellow or Gold Banners in the north. Technically united by the young prince currently under guard in the Vormach. Armies of Red were raised centrally to oppose them but these were hardly the elites to replace the tremendous losses of recent years. Green Protectoran troopers, the remnants of of loyal Yellow and Black Protectoran forces were also included in this so called 'Red' army under Marshal of the Empire Jorlov Vadik. So the Blue united under Grand Admiral Hindel Doyle and the Gold under Commander in Chief Tolic Venthron. Suddenly the Empire had a war on three fronts and unsurprisingly revolts broke out across the Empire in resonse to the Blinding of Auria.

Risal 1317PE: A revolt broke out in Cthol Tarak as the Blue army marched on the city. The Red Imperial Fleet was engaged in two magor skirmishes, which they lost but not decisively. Within the month the Red fleet in the Shining Sea was fleeing to the south. It was recorded that the manuvers of the 3rd Fleet under Admiral Southlander (Kleet's father) discovered the flight and harried them. The city fell quickly to the Blue offensive as it could not effectively be defended with a utterly hostile internal population.

The Empire had heavily reinforced the West Riding but the Venthron or Gold forces did not attack the West Riding. Cutting south they marched straight into the Middlehaven Protectorate. Unprepared, the Red forces in the outlying towns were overun without difficulty most surrendering before any slaughters took place. This part of the war was fought at the most professional level the Yellow and Red units using orthodox military tactics. In the past the loyalist forces had almost always had the advantage of numbers but this time they did not. This left the Red Empire's Commander in Chief the Master General Konan Reagov stranded in the West Riding cut off from reinforcement. To his credit he responded quickly pulling out his forces realising that the West Riding would not be held especially with Larkstone already in enemy hands. Reagov united his forces and marched east into Weatherdark but it was too late.

Lifsal 1317PE: Middleholm had enough forewarning to prepare for the coming of the comoing of the Gold Army. However this was complicated when the city revolted at the treatment. When the soldiers tried to put out of the city as many useless mouths as possible people simply refused. There were some armed invidents and in the end the city general retreated into the academy and the Black Lance Keep. Yet the city turning on the Red forces meant the battle for Middleholm was already lost. The army under Jarius and Joran Firehand was greeted with open celebration in the streets of Middleholm. The city's resistance had been headed by a hidden priest of Celer called the Cloaked Clerk and a detachment of the city's troops who announced themselves as Cellan Guard. When the Firehands arrived at the head of no fewer than fifteen Yellow Legions he was at the gate to greet them. Of note was that he demanded that Jarius agree in writing that the faith of Celer would be instated as the religion of the city and that land would be set aiside for a Cellen Guard Chapter House inside the city as the price of the army's entry. This was agreed to immediately as the cost of a seige to such a large and well defended city could have been catastrophic.

Tolic Venthron had symultaneously split off from the main force and marched west to meet the Red army marching east under Reagov.

Breesal 1317PE: The Red and Yellow Forces meet just outside of Weatherdark forest. THe Yellow push agressively into the Red forces and push their middle back. Yet Reagov led a sortie from the woods on the right flank of the battle. Bringing a lightning quick cavalry strike into the Yellow's left. It was successful and broke the lines. The line was turned and for a while it seemed the attack would turn the whole battle. Though an unnamed archer (Later many random veterans would claim it was them) shot and killed Konan Reagov. This caused a huge blow to the Red's morale and some broke and many then surrendered.

The Yellow push down from the north and the blue swung east along the Sirene River. The Raven Duke of Mesa had been hiding clerics of Celer for some time, not to mention his paladin son was a Golden Knight trapped in the Vormach. As the Red Fleet was harried out of the Shining Sea taking casualties every week.

Fallsal 1317PE: The Empress sickened and died in the Palace in Tor Honarik. Riots exploded in the streets of the capital but these were controlled militarily and quickly brought under control. Though the belief that her sickness and death were a sign that the Emperor had lost the favour of the Avatars due to his treatmeant of the Church of Celer. Some blamed the Dark Lady Obscura and there were three assassination attempts that became known. All of these were thwarted and if anything her influence was increased as a result. Most believe that it was only under her influence and at her suggestion that the Emperor made the fateful decision to pull all loyal forces back into the crown lands or the Tor Honarik Trading Area. He then turned all these forces on smashing the Vormach declaring Renis decree null and void and that the Vormach was part of his Empire.

He became obsessed with ending the Cardinal's opposition believeing if he could destory the Spear of the Oppressed and instal a new Cardinal who would do as he asked the war would turn. The army he assembled he called the Full Fury as he had when sending his first armies against the secessionists. Yet this army gained a darker name of the 'Blasphemous'.

End of 1317-Start 1318PE: The advancing armies of Yellow and Blue occupy the Empire outside of the Tor Honarik Trading Area. This should not have been possible but more and more the cities and towns accepted the approaching armies and as almost no cities were sacked the word spread.

Risal and Lifsal 1318PE: The Blasphamy once assembled attacks Ironhold. The Ashes and Blood were present as was their accursed leader Krathe who was the officer in charge and the Soulcrafter Insanial. The attack on such an well situated fortress was still seemingly hopeless even with the huge numbers that had been assembled. Yet as Insanial attended in person as did the Red Wraiths under their leaders the two remaining members of the Grim Feast. It gave the attackers the opportunity to break into the fortress. To begin the Blasphemy's assault Insanial and his myterious acolytes conmpleted a ritual well beyond range of the walls. It is uncertain what he used to fuel the ritual but as a result a thousand undead warriors rose under his command and this was not all. Obscura had sent one of her personal bodyguards to the Blasphemy. This woman was able through the sacrifice of two individuals in an exchange of some kind. This allowed her to breed through infecting them. Now these three wights, along with the liches and their wraiths faced the fortress. Insanial and Obscura's acolytes then exercised control over the raised undead and the assault began. Unsurprisingly Insanial also summoned his Entropic Reaver.

The details of this incredibly complex battle or series of battles were covered in detail in the Dancing of Djinn. For this record it sufficed to say that Ironhold was eventually broken at great loss to both sides and that once beyond Obscura used a great tomb to raise Skeletal Abominations with which to assult the holy valley. Realising that now Ironhold had been broken the Vormach was sure to be destroyed the Cardinal invoked some of the greatest wielding of direct divine power ever seen on behalf of the Avatar of Knowledge. Typically this Avatar had done his work with subtlety and preferred an approach of non-intervenion. Yet this time the gate of Vora-Sul was opened and through it came the Djinn. Not one djinn, as would typically guard a major temple, but an entire Dancing of Djinn. Reports vary, but even discounting the most excitable there seems to have been eye-witnesses to numbers in the hundreds led by Marid generals and some claim the palace of the Cardinal was defended by an Angel of Knowledge, though which is uncertain. As a result the Red forces were utterly wasted the Ashes and Blood scattered, Krathe himself killed, the Grim Feast destroyed along with most of their wraiths the once proud 19th Red Legion. Insanial imprisoned and his Entropic Reaver was banished. The Wights managed to murder the Dovisa heir but were either killed or imprisoned as a result. So this information was not immeadiately shared. Seven Golden Knights who had surived the Wights' attack on the prince make an oath to avenge him. One of these was Taras Firehand the cousin of the youth's father. This attack was a huge gamble and its result spelled the end of Emperor Kolar.

Risal and Lifsal 1318PE: The Blue army suffered their first major defeat outside Tor Zeric when the city pretended to be willing to surrender and welcome them but once the army walked within range they ambushed them utterly slaughtered their leadership and brought in a hidden mercenary Elygian Army.

The Yellow on the otherhand under the Firehand and Venthron commanders had taken Ziffic and Tinon and the Huntersholm Protectorate.

Breesal and Fallsal 1318PE: The Gold army continued to make gains and was joined by the newly raised army the marched into the capitol lands. The Emperor rallied his final forces around Tor Honarik and the Gold forces bypassed Tor Armakan. Neither the wizards nor the Green Protectoran forces from Oakhome attacked their flank. The Dancing of Djinn had been too catastrophic. Yet it looked like there would have to be a more mortal, if equally devestating, battle if Tor Honarik or Tor Kalash would have to be taken by storm. All this changed when a small team infiltrated the palace with help from Auriran nobles in the Senate and amongst the Palace Guard. The seven Golden Knights along with the group called the Wounded Dream came into the royal wing and found the dark lady Obscura with the Emperor and both of their bodyguards. The actual truth around these events is hazy but afterwards it was claimed she was trying to feed on or control the Emperor and in doing so she killed him and his son. While the Wounded Dream imprisoned or killed her.

This resulted in Tolic Venthron announcing himself as Emperor when he marched into the city. There was no one in a position to refuse him.

## Aftermath

The long term consequences of the Wars of Broken Gold were many and varied.

* Human cost casualties numbered in the region of 1 to 2 million deaths.
* Financial costs - proabably beyond real counting as land, ships, castles, employers, crops, treasure and artifacts of incalculable value with lost especially in the taking of the Cellestine Cathedral and the sacking of Tor Celer.
* Political Consequences - The end of the Reagov line and the commencement of the Venthron line that would stand for centuries. The division and reunification of the Empire. Most importantly Rak Danning and Gan Tarak were allowed to cede from the Empire and then it was the Empire centred on these cities that became the new leaders of the whole Empire. It took over 10 years to reinterate the Empire and to get the Senate and Audit Corporation running on a national scale again.
* Religious Consequences - the Blinding of Auria and the subsequent rise of the militaristic cardinal the Spear of the Oppressed resulted in the most combatative religion of one of the aspects of the Avatar of Knowledge ever seen. Seeing the unleashing of the Perennials in the Dancing of Djinn and the forced refounding of the Golden Knights and the Cellan guard in Auria put the church in a position of supremacy over the wizards of Tor Armakan who were seen as corrupt and Insanial was seen as a key example of what was wrong with them. This pushed the Sapphire Wizards' Guild into enacting the Soulcrafting study ban that would not be lifted for centuries. When it was lifted much of the learning and lore was lost and unreclaimable.
* Military - The extremely effective use of Perennials and Demons in these wars especially to take fortresses and walled cities with magic users among the defenders could not be missed. The Protectorans needed refounding especially the Red Protectoran which was tarnished by the creation of the Red Wraiths and the failure of the Red Blades to secure the Emperor and his family's safety.