Scouring of Ili-Fien

Commanders| Prince Leondras †* Mennor Enkell

Scouring of Ili-Fien was a war fought in 300 A.K by the forces of the Royal Army and Fianna. The War was a brutal one and resulted in an holocaust of all the Fianese peoples.

## Background

In 294 A.K, King Jiri began to make questionable decisions that began to alter the fate of Edelmaa. The period from 294 to 300, is called the Fall of the Second Good King (First being Levi), or the Period of Madness. The climax of the Period of Madness was the Scouring of Ili-Fien, but before the Scouring, Jiri's behavior was already odd. Jiri became more and more wrathful and was very bitter of his injury. His injury was such a touchy subject that heads even rolled because of it. Some say Jiri wished to maim Rexton Scale, as Jiri was envious at him, as Rexton's leg wounds healed. Jiri became friends with a fellow cripple David Lange and one unknown Lannes Hay, both of whom lost their legs in the Borian War. David was a brigadier under the command of Mennor Enkell and Lannes was a corporal serving in the Royal Army.

Not many were allowed to see the King, only his friends, high-ranking officers and family. Jiri's son Conraquis asked if Jiri wished to remarry and it is said that Jiri spit at Conraquis. Jiri rarely left the ruins of the Royal Keep except at night when he retired back to his new home in the Cainwall Castle. Not much is known of this sudden change in mood, except that it is most certainly linked to Charles Perickard's threats and the Explosion of the Royal Keep.

In 300, the most audacious order came down from the unseen King. This interaction was the last interaction anyone has had with the king, who has shut himself inside the Castle Cainwall and as a result began the Realm Division. The message was written most certainly by the king, as experts see from his hand writing. It was directed towards his most trusted Generals, The Three Hawks of Jiri: Lothbrok Voorst, Mennor Enkell and Hamina.

My dear Hawks. It is to you whom I shall write in these dire times. Times when *we*feel hunted by the terrifying foe hidden in the lands of my father. The nakedness of the situation is the very thing I am scared of. What more is there to do? Have I not pleased or eased my mind? Why do they burn so, the words that were uttered by the wretched Charles. The clock he placed upon my crown and throne. The bomb he planted into my kingdom with that divination. When I see myself in the looking-glass I no longer see a man fit to fight. I see a man broken in battle.
But I shall declare. For I might be broken physically, yet my mind stands. I might never wield a sword, but my brain can wield an army. I shall no longer play cards with Charles, the game is changed. Now we play war. If he wants the graveyard full, we shall fill it. No matter the cost, as long as the State stands, the crown stays on a man and the man sits on a throne. I've left you all a note in the Dragon Academy officer room. It should have some thing to make you busy for a while. Do that, and we shall see who outwits who, Charles.
This odd message lead the three generals to find another message that read:

It is Ili-Fien. I landed there for my first time and so will the Man of Reckoning! Scorch the island! Leave nothing standing. Poison the waters, cut the trees, burn the houses and kill the cattle. We shall destroy the pointless island, for that is the base of operations for any future invaders.
And so from March to July 300 A.K, the three Hawks planned the invasion of Ili-Fien. All of whom laughed how they were certain they overdid the plans. Even though, they were the most loyal generals, even they questioned the decision to scorch the Hidden Island. They knew the uproar this would ignite in the populace of Edelmaa. In 20 July 300 A.K the Invasion force set off.

## Order of Battle

### Royal Army

Hamina was by that point too old to be an efficient field general, and thus did not take part in the invasion. Instead Mennor Enkell was very enthusiastic to pillage some lands. Mennor however, was set to be the rear guard. This was a prank made by Hamina. Lothbrok was also unable to take part in the invasion as he was still the royal adviers and regent. He was one of few, who were allowed inside Cainwall.

The generals chosen to this mission were all noobs from the Dragon Academy. The Three Hawks saw this as an opportunity to rack up some experience on their lower officers. However, some back-up veteran generals were sent to advise the newbies.

All and all, the Royal Army deployed 702 men. These men would do the landing and try to conquer the island. However, just in case they should require reinforcements, Hamina deployed extra 500 Royal Army soldiers in to the port of Fon, who would be ready to sail if need be. As for why not send them immediately? Well they thought of it, but they came to the conclusion that the land in Ili-Fien is so poor that maintaining a force over 700 men would be very hard without proper beachhead. So the plan was to land, and because the balance of power is pretty much on the side of the Royal Army, they though that might as well make a spearhead into the Ili-Fien palace with the 700 men.

### The Fianese

The Fienese got wind of the invasion rather fast. David Lange told foolishly the plans to his confidant Onofrio, who was a native Fianese. Onofrio ratted the Royal Army out, and the Fianese began to prepare like crazy. The military attaché from Franzia to Fianna said: "Never have I seen unity between peoples to fight a common enemy. Not even the Worvians could muster this in the Revolutionary War".

## War

The Worvians quickly managed to secure a beachhead at the northern most tip of Ili-Fien. This was bad news for the Fianese and they sent Pippos Spania to fend them off. This failed miserably and the entire force of Pippos was destroyed. The Fianese hastily formed the Second Army lead by Torrino Àjallo, who was sent to the Trident River, a location the Worvinas have to cross. Torrino's force consisted of three mercenery groups and 300 Fianese men. The force was about 600 men strong and was the highest quality force the Fianese had. The army engaged the Worvians in a spectacular victory at the Battle of Trident River, during which the Prince of Workhold, Leondras Baathúr was killed by a sellsword Marrius Gonvelsia. The battle was an incredible victory against all odds, but the Fianese lost 270 of the natural Fianese soldiers and the remaining sellswords left the entire island as they realized the dire situation of the Fianese.

At the Castle Fianna, Marecias Antonios, Torrino Ájallo and Belisari Darenia devised their heil mary, their last shot at defence. The City of Iivas the eastern most city. The Worvians, now defeated in the west headed east and towards Iivas. The Worvians marched with 600 men, whilst the Fianese mustered a force of only 200 men. The Defence of Iivas was grueling and downright abysmal battle. Both forces fighting ferociously like demons, no surrendering, no mercy and no retreat. Worvians desiring revenge for their Prince and Fianese literally fighting for survival. Lead by Marecias and Torrino the city army fended the attacks of the Worvians for 9 hours. 9 Hours that would be known as the Blood Hours when almost all the men involved died. All of the civilian populace died during the battle, which numbered around 2000 people. Overall 2600 men died during the battle including Torrino Ájallo, Marecias Antonios and Belisari Darenia. After this battle all of Ili-Fien was burned and destroyed.

## Aftermath

All of Ili-Fien was destroyed. Everybody killed, all buildings and trees destroyed. Only one thing stands in Ili-Fien as of today, the Statue of Lion Prince, Leondras Baathúr. In the statue, Leondras is stepping on the "Bastard Princekiller" Marrius Gonvelsia, the man who killed Leondras. 300 people went to diaspora as the result of this war most likely to Olia.

Scouring of Ili-Fien is also considered the first crisis of the Realm Division.