War of the Philosopher-Kings

### Performers

Republic of New Arendur, Final Empire, Republic of Nadezhda, Kingdom of Dao, Kingdom of Aurum, Empire of Aglazdere, Empire of World's End, Kingdom of Atlantis, and Empire of Löthur

### Location

Worldwide

*“Do not seek to find hope among your leaders. They are the repositories of poison. Their interest in you extends only so far as their ability to control you. From you, they seek duty and obedience, and they will ply you with the language of stirring faith. They seek followers, and woe to those who question, or voice challenge. Civilization after civilization, it is the same. The world falls to tyranny with a whisper. The frightened are ever keen to bow to a perceived necessity, in the belief that necessity forces conformity, and conformity a certain stability. In a world shaped into conformity, dissidents stand out, are easily branded and dealt with. There is no multitude of perspectives, no dialogue. The victim assumes the face of the tyrant, self-righteous and intransigent, and wars breed like vermin. And people die.”*

-Unknown

## Background

The closest Terra has come to world war was the conflict between Arendur and Ragnarok. Arendur had Caprakan on its side, and Ragnarok had Alba Coralis on its side. In addition, Atlantis, Guilddon, and the Land of the Fey have warred with Arendur. The war ended before it could escalate further.

Tolumvire, now ascended, is the only influential entity with a vested interest in a world war. His plan to guide the rise of Philosopher-Kings (called Project Republic by Angon of Nallval, Grand Vizier of Aglazdere) serves this purpose. On the surface (and this was now Angon understood it), it was to create an alliance of enlightened nation-states. Tolumvire, however, has not given up on his Great Crusade, in which a sorcerer-king conquers the world and creates an arcane utopia. Bolgar of Ragnarok had steadfastly refused to carry out this goal, so Tolumvire has resorted to trying to mould individuals and nations in his image.

Tolumvire knows from experience that one leader cannot fight the entire world. In his mind, however, the chaos of a world war could produce conditions where one power rose from a shattered earth and imposed its rule upon the defeated. To this end, he plans to urge the Philosopher-Kings to try and conquer the world. His hope is that at least two of them will try this, and pull the world into chaos. As a further unknown factor, it is possible that King Raine of Atlantis will be overthrown by a Philosopher-King, who will form their own side.

As a former Philosopher-King himself, Tolumvire knows that Arendur has its own claim to rulership. At the same time, he knows that Arendur is unable to win, and that he himself, as a demon lord, cannot hope to rule on the Prime Material Plane. He will thus choose to maintain a side but not enter the combat. As the war continues, he will realize that there is only one war that matters, the Long War, waged against the Dark, by which he means extra dimensional entities that threaten Terra.

## Overview

### Spark in a Powder Keg

History will remember the first day of the war as sparking when Janissaries from Aglazdere engaged in an operation to free the Heir of Atlantis from Sunken City Prison. During the rescue, they fired upon and killed warriors from Atlantis, and even wounded their King, Raine.

Raine declared war, and made his opening war by diverting the ocean into the Great River, flooding huge parts of Akkhe and destroying much of Al Basazar. The Padishah, not one for half-measures, one-upped him by dropping seismic bombs into the ocean, triggering a chain of earthquakes and warping ocean currents. Many lives were lost in Atlantis, and the resulting tsunamis and earthquakes killed many in the Isles and the shore of the Final Empire. Raine, knowing that Aglazdere controls the land and the skies, is operating on a strategy of; “if Aglazdere will not come to the ocean, we will bring the ocean to Aglazdere.”

The Final Empire entered the war on the side of Atlantis, its ally. The Twin-Emperors began to direct the founding of a company of Bladesingers, and ordered their secret police chief to steal Flight Crystals from Aglazdere. Their intent was not to build sky ships, but instead to create a sea navy of battleships the like of which the world had never seen. Other than this, the Final Empire did not yet commit any ground troops.

### Forming Alliances

In the next Holy Council, both Padishah Rick and Twin-Emperor Silvius made their case for their side and asked for allies. The Land of the Fey and Atlantis affirmed their support for the Final Empire, while Akkhe and Skycity Alliance affirmed their support for Aglazdere. No other powers offered explicit support. Queen Mercy of Guilddon presented a proposal for a mediated peace, which was supported by Ragnarok, Gandoral, and the Reich Nördlich. Other than the Reich, none of the northern and central countries showed any interest in peace, which was a disquieting sign.

After the formal declarations of alliance, Gandoral threw in its support with the Final Empire, seeing no chance of peace. The representatives from the Isles confirmed their support as well, out of self-preservation. On Aglazdere’s side, both Caprakan and Amron expressed interest in an alliance.

The Kingdom of Dao maintained a posture of aggressive neutrality, with King Onaxx stating that he did not mind the carnage of war and that he would resist any interference with his nation or its people. The Empire of Lothur, seeing an opportunity offered a mutual defense, but Emperor Niles Andarme was rebuffed, with Onaxx saying that he was not responsible for defending anyone else. The Conglomerate of Ledge, though maintaining a posture of neutrality, sent Immortal Guardian Jack Hinamen to pledge the defense of the Vault of Night. King Onaxx, seeing value in this, accepted.

Growing increasingly isolated, Emperor Niles Andarme of Lothur is able to secure a mutual non-aggression pact with the only neutral country willing to entertain the notion, the Empire of Shangare.

Away from the Council, another alliance was forming. At the request of Marshal Abi Eodauga of Nadezhda, the powers of the north gathered for a meeting in the capital of Guilddon, a supposedly neutral land. He invited Ymir of Jotunheim, Franz Forrawyn of the Reich Nördlich, and Clodovicus of Alba Coralis. He also secretly invited Warmaster Mudagog of Darguzze, but did not bring him in for the initial meeting. The Marshal suggesting forming their own alliance to carve out an empire in the southeast, immediately earning the support of Ymir. After extensive negotiations, Emperor Clodovicus also agreed to join the alliance. Queen Mercy, who was the hosting the mercy, and Franz Forrawyn both abstained. At this point, Abi Eodauga revealed Warmaster Mudagog, who pledged the support of Darguzze. Seeing himself alone and surrounded, Franz Forrawyn grudgingly acquiesced, forcing a ashen Queen Mercy to nod her assent as well.

### Attack on a Divided Land

At the next Holy Council meeting, Abi Eodauga declared war on Aglazdere and the Final Empire, as well as their allies. He affirmed that no neutral power would be harmed. Idas Gharna from Rhomduil added her support to the Marshal’s Northern Alliance, swelling his army to nearly 25,000 men, the largest of any Philosopher-King. The three remaining neutral powers, Arendur, Ragnarok, and Celymnaia were each presented a case by the warring sides.

Prince Ramander delivered the reply for all three powers, expressing scorn for the three so-called Philosopher-Kings. He declared that Arendur not only intended not to pick a side, but would join the war as its own power. The declaration prompted derision from most in the room, which was quickly halted when King Bolgar and Emperor Lothaire Parvaiz pledged their support to Arendur. The three leaders had met themselves in Tolumvire’s realm, and confirmed their plan in advance.

Ever-willing to stoke the fires of war, Tolumvire took his own turn to speak. He affirmed his support for the alliance between Arendur, Celymnaia, and Ragnarok, saying that as the philosopher-king of Arendur, he had the right to his own side. He added that he himself would remain apart from the war, leaving the mortal leaders of Arendur - Ramander, Curtin, Jotunheim, Forester, and others - to determine their own conduct. He went on to state that he was here to speak on behalf of Princess Cordelia of Aurum, who had been denied a chance to represent her own nation. He proclaimed that she was the philosopher-king of her own land, which her family had kept hidden from the outside world, but that she would now emerge onto the world stage as her own power in the world. He added that Cordelia had told him to inform the council that she was dedicated to preserving peace, and deplored the war. Tolumvire added that the Arendurian side did not intend to ever fight the Kingdom of Aurum, and that they were joining the war to defeat the “instigators” - Rick and Silvius, and by extension, Abi Eodauga. At Tolumvire’s request, Bolgar of Ragnarok confirmed that if anyone attacked Aurum, he would come to their aid.

### A Chance for Peace

Queen Mercy and Fuhrer Franz Forrawyn were reluctant members of the Northern Alliance. Queen Mercy abhorred the war, and wanted to work to a peace, while Franz Forrawyn hated Abi Eodauga, and was determined to stop the mage world war. The two leaders, already allies, and met to cement their union. The final agreement was a marriage pact, which would undercut the power of the Council of Guildmasters by making Franz Forrawyn the Kaiser of Guilddon. The Reich Nördlich would protect Guilddon, and in return, gain access to its navy and shipping routes. Franz Forrawyn made clear that though he wanted world peace, he would not refrain from attacking the heart of the Northern Alliance - Nadezhda. Queen Mercy feared the notion of a regional war, but did not see a better way out.

Of her own accord, Queen Mercy intended to make a personal overture to the Final Empire. Her intended pact was as followed: Guilddon and the Reich Nördlich would attack the Northern Alliance on behalf of the Kingdom of Aurum. In return, King Raine of Atlantis would need to pledge not to attack Guilddon, and the Twin-Emperors would need to accept a peace settlement with Aglazdere, mediated by Queen Mercy herself. Her hope was that with a unified southeast and a fractured Northern Alliance, the war would come to an end.

### Battle in the First World

Despite the Kingdom of Dao's insistence on neutrality, battle lines were being drawn across alternate planes of existence, with multiple nations - Arendur and the Final Empire chiefly among them - taking an interest in Dao's Vault of Night. Trident, an organization devoted to conquering the Great Wheel and opposed to Dao at all costs, would begin reaching out to other Philosopher-Kings in an effort to form potential alliances.

Control of the Vault of Night would mean a great deal to both the Final Empire and Arendur. To the Final Empire, it would represent unfettered access to the panes of existence, and cement their hegemony over the world, while for Arendur, it would restore their briefly held identity as the multiverse's axial city.

Beset by demonic invasion and deeply concerned by the militarization of planar travel, the Conglomerate of Ledge declares that it will protect the Kingdom of Dao at all costs.

### Rise of World's End

In Alba Coralis, events were turned on their head when Arthur Coralis, the bastard son of Emperor Clodovicus Coralis, rose to take the throne. He broke the country's allegiance to Nadezhda, declaring their freedom. Emperor Arthur would go on to become the seventh Philosopher-King, but following his first Holy Council meeting, he would go on to resign in disgust. The throne would go to Prince Ramander of Oranor, who would use his illusions to disguise himself as the new ruler. Ramander would go on to put down a rebellion against his rule, consolidating power and emerging as a check to Nadezhda's growing influence. Renaming his country World's End, he would go on to create a vast army of undead to protect his northern border.

At the next Holy Council meeting, the so-called Emperor Arthur would declare his commitment to peace in the north, and declare war on Nadezhda. Seeing their opportunity, Franz Forrawyn of the Reich Nördlich and Mercy of Guilddon switch sides to World's End, declaring war on Nadezhda as well.

## Alliances

### Northern Alliance (Nadezhda)

The principal goal of the Northern Alliance is attack Aglazdere and the Final Empire while the two countries are locked in war with one another, and carve out a great empire.

* Nadezhda: Abi Eodauga of Nadezhda wishes to carve out a great empire, and believes that the monstrous humanoids that he has made his allies will be valuable troops to accomplish this goal.
* Darguzze: The orcs of Darguzze have no desire to invade the wintry territory of the northern countries. If given resources, weapons, and free reign, they would be eager to migrate southwards on behalf of Nadezhda.
* Jotunheim: Ymir, the King of Jotunheim, is a close ally of Marshal Eodauga of Nadezhda. His giants will serve closely with Nadezhda’s forces.
* Rhomduil: The Drow in Rhomduil have a greater affinity with the people of the north, and contempt for the other two powers. They will offer their help gladly.

### Remnants of Arendur (Arendur)

The Remnants of Arendur are waiting out the war to prepare for the Long War against the old ones, as well as to interfere in various war zones as suits their interests.

* Arendur: Though Lord Forester is uninterested in the war, Tolumvire is its principal architect, and wants only to see the Philosopher-Kings ready Terra for its confrontation with the old ones. Even Lord Forester knows that the war will give certain countries an opportunity to stamp out the Arendurian survivors, and is prepared to fight to defend his people.
* Ragnarok: Ragnarok is not interested in the outcome of the world, and as long as Tolumvire makes no attempt to conquer the world, King Bolgar understands the importance of the Long War. HIs main objective is the destruction of Ledge, the existance of which has stopped him from using the Demon Army ever since the mending of the timelines. King Bolgar is also in a position to maintain peace in a critical area; namely, the border of Aglazdere and the Final Empire, as well as the area through which Nadezhda’s forces will attack.
* Celymnaia: Emperor Lothaire Parvaiz is opposed to the idea of a Philosopher King, but recognizes the threat of beings from beyond the Prime Material, and would be willing to commit his strength to fight the Long War. He also appreciates that Tolumvire is currently not trying to impose his will upon the world.

### Pact of Three (World's End)

The Pact of Three was formed with the express goal of bringing down Abi Eodauga and bringing peace to the north. In addition, they wish to see a peaceful resolution to the war as a whole.

* World's End: World's End was formed in opposition to Northern Alliance, and Emperor Arthur wants to see Abi Eodauga brought down. In addition, Emperor Arthur wants to ensure that his nation is a strong position after the war is over, to serve as a bulwark against the old ones.
* Guilddon: Guilddon wants peace, and is surrounded by Nadezhda’s allies. However, once World’s End turns on Nadezhda, Queen Mercy will ally with them in a bid to take down Abi Eodauga and end the war before it consumes the war.
* Reich Nördlich: The Fuhrer allied with Abi Eodauga against the demigod of winter, but he despises him, and dreads the idea of a mage war. He is already allied with Guilddon, and once World’s End turns on Nadezhda, he is willing to accept such an alliance. He will attack Nadezhda in a bid to take down Abi Eodauga and resume the persecution of mages in the north.

### Central Powers (Aglazdere)

The Central Powers see the Final Empire as the principal aggressor, and see the war as principally defensive. They are surrounded on all sides, and plan to dig in.

* Aglazdere: Aglazdere has a desire to expand into more fertile land, and achieve status as a great power. It sees the Final Empire as a dangerous neighbor, and wants to eclipse it as the dominant power of the southeast.
* Akkhe: Akkhe has no interest in supporting any side, and is confident of its ability to defend itself against a weakened victor. Nonetheless, Akkhe is content to defend its neighbor due to shared mutual interests and a dislike of outsiders. Akkhe’s contingency plan is for Aglazdere to lose the war. In that circumstance, the Pharoah will offer safety and asylum to the leaders and citizens of Aglazdere, in return for the Philosopher’s Stone. The Pharaoh reasons that with the Stone, he and his people will be impregnable.
* Amron: Amron is in no position to provide military support to any side, but King Onesimos sees Aglazdere as nation closest to the dream of the Scholars, with regards to their understanding and imitation of god. In addition, they share a border, providing a practical advantage to their alliance.
* Caprakan: Caprakan would support Aglazdere in the hope of benefitting from Aglazdere’s scientific resources. The Node Controllers have no particular reason to support Nadezhda, and distrust the Final Empire. In addition, they do not see what the Final Empire could possibly give them. In addition, as they are close to Atlantis, they see themselves as a possible target after the war is over. The Node Controllers want to benefit from the fact that if Atlantis diverted resources to attack them during the war, the Final Empire would be open to attack from Aglazdere.
* Skycity Alliance: Skycity Alliance has an affinity with Aglazdere due to Padishah Rick being a Gnome, and a shared interest in scientific advancement. The Gnomes see a chance to achieve dominance of the skies, as well as setting up an exchange of research. They hope that an eventual Aglazderian triumph will pay huge dividends.

### Ocean Powers (Final Empire)

The Ocean Powers see Aglazdere as the primary aggressor, and wish to see an end to the war. By overthrowing Padishah Rick of Aglazdere, they believe they can bring peace and unity to the southeast.

* Final Empire: The Final Empire sees Aglazdere as a dangerous and aggressive ally, and wishes to maintain peace in the southeast region.
* Atlantis: Atlantis supports the Final Empire due to preference and territorial proximity. It has no interest to try and invade the Final Empire’s mainland, and is interest in gaining maritime concessions in return for support. If Atlantis is not granted these concessions, it will remain neutral, as no other power has much to offer it.
* Isles: The Isles will take the side of the Final Empire, as they are stuck between the Final Empire and Atlantis. They will not be able to provide much to the fight.
* Land of the Fey: The Four Kings are interested in peace in his sphere of the world, and finds the Final Empire the least objectionable. In addition, they want no enmity from Atlantis. The Land of the Fey will provide little in the way of support, but will provide a buffer against Caprakan.
* Gandoral: Gandoral is too far removed from the conflict to see a benefit to taking a side, but due to proximity with the northern capital of the Final Empire, and to the Land of the Fey, it will ally themselves with the side it sees as least objectionable.

### Southern Alliance (Löthur)

The Southern Alliance sees the war in the north as a threat to their stability, and does not want to see any of the other Philosopher-Kings come into power.

* Löthur: Löthur does not want to deal with the chaos that a war to the north would bring, and believes every other Philosopher-King would represent an exestential danger to their newfound unity.
* Shangare: Shangare is uncomfortably close to both Aglazdere and the Final Empire, and chooses to ally with Löthur for protection, as it does not benefit from the chaos nearby.

### First World (Dao)

The First World wishes to maintain control of the Vault of Night, preserving its status as an axial city.

* Dao: Dao neither desires war nor shies away from it, knowing that its archenemy, Trident, will work with anyone to claim the nation's unparalleled control of planar travel.
* Ledge: Currently beset by a demonic invasion, Ledge is concerned that other powers might weaponize planar travel and endanger Ledge's survival, and considers the protection of Dao to be in its best interest.

### Lost Nation (Aurum)

The Lost Nation wishes for peace, and for independence from the affairs of the world.

* Aurum: Aurum was dragged into war with a world that was not aware of its existence, and wishes only for peace and its own independence from foreign affairs.

### Regenade Kingdom (Atlantis)

The Renegade Kingdom briefly broke away from the Ocean Powers after the assassination of King Raine and the ascension of the last Philosopher-King, Philoktia.

* Atlantis: Atlantis breaks away from the Final Empire when King Raine is assassinated by the final Philosopher-King, Philoktia, who abandons the War and rouses the Great Old Ones from their slumber.

## Major Conflicts

* Sunken City Breakout (August 15, NW 23): A group of prisoners are smuggled out of Sunken City Prison, Atlantis, by a Janissary company of 50 men. King Raine and a company of 20 Raine Knights engage the Janissaries on the shore, and are forced to retreat. Lorn Longstaff is killed in the fighting. Atlantis declares war on Aglazdere. The Final Empire declares war on Aglazdere.
* Flooding of the Great River (August 18, NW 23): Using the Throne of Atlantis, King Raine sends a great storm and torrent of seawater into the Great River of Akkhe, overflowing its banks, and flooding the city of Al Basazar. The majority of Akkhe’s crop harvest is destroyed, sending the nation into a famine. Many lives are lost in Al Basazar, and an incalculable amount of supplies and businesses are wiped out. Akkhe declares war on Atlantis.
* Alban Civil War (August 28-September 19, NW 23): In Alba Coralis, Emperor Clodovicus’ illegitimate son Arthur seizes power and breaks off the alliance with Nadezhda. Abi Eodauga and he battle in the throne room, and Abi Eodauga retreats. Nadezhda declares war against Alba Coralis. Emperor Arthur abdicates power and gives his throne to Ramander, who adopts his identity. The new Emperor Arthur quashes a rebellion against his rule, losing many lives before the war has even begun, and throwing his country into chaos. He renames his country World’s End, and begins the process of transforming his highest nobles into Vampires, and their troops into Vampire Spawn.
* Aglazderan Ground Offensive (October 13-January 4, NW 23-25) : A force of 3000 Janissaries from Aglazdere, led by Commander Volkan, and 500 Shangarite Auxiliaries led by General Manas Rao, advance on the western border of the Final Empire. They are met by an equal force of 3000 men, led by General Fax Gallengrand. Padishah Rick leads a section of sky ships to back up his men, prompting Emperor Silvius to conjure a great storm wall through which the ships cannot safely pass. Volkan quickly finds himself pressured to take the offensive, hoping to triumph through the superior discipline and firepower of his troops. Gallengrand, recognizing this, falls back, drawing the enemy deep into the Final Empire. The Janissaries, accustomed to war in the wastes, are daunted by the endless tracks of nearly uninhabited forest and taiga. Gallengrand and his men fight with ingenuity and tenaciousness, though they take horrific casualties. The war front grows static in the mountains of the Final Empire, with no end in sight.
* Attack of the Storm Giants (October 31-November 19, NW 23): At King Raine's command, 100 Storm Giants led by Lord Arikkaos attack the shores of Caprakan in response to Caprakan's declaration of alliance with Aglazdere. They are met by a rag-tag army of 400 men organized by Node Controller Yggdrasil, who has additionally bound many psychic constructs to his command. The Storm Giants smash through the army and seize many psionic artifacts to bring back to Atlantis.
* Winter Assault (November 1-February 22, NW 23-24): A host of 5000 soldiers from Nadezhda led by General Dolom Tkerekin, including a large contingent of slave-mages led by Marshal Abi Eodauga, invades the northeast of World’s End. They are joined by a contingent of 600 Dark Elves from Rhomduil, led by Archon Welvog Tare. The defenders, numbering 3500 men led by Emperor Arthur and Duke Petrus of Savaria, rally, but are still disorganized and demoralized by the civil war. Abi Eodauga and his mages conjure a great winter storm, blanketing the land in winter and darkness. Duke Petrus’ Savarian troops, who number a little under a third of the defenders, are able to cope, but Emperor Arthur’s contingent of Livossan troops are overwhelmed. Guilddon and the Reich Nördlich declare war on Nadezhda. A force of 2000 soldiers from the Reich led by Reise Forrawyn, and a contingent of 1000 Hexenjägers led Franz Forrawyn, comes to the assistance of World’s End. Ships from Guilddon, their crews numbering 2500 fighting men, also come to assist, largely in the form of bringing supplies and reinforcements. Time is on the side of World’s End, which has the advantage of fighting on home soil, as well as seaborne supply lines. Emperor Arthur and his vampiric nobility toil to create more and more Vampire Spawn, who fear neither the enemy nor the winter. Despite Welvog Tare's cautionary words, Tkerekin ops for an all-out assault aimed at capturing the capital of World’s End. Counting on the aid of giants from Jotunheim, his men break through the enemy lines, intentionally overextending themselves. Tkerekin spares the civilians in his path, treating them with courtesy and stirring the seeds of rebellion in their hearts. Emperor Arthur’s intended plan of a guerilla war crumbles, and the Nadezhdan forces plough deep into World’s End, bringing relentless winter with them. The war devolves into a chaotic, frozen nightmare.
* Siege of Ah-Xoc-Xin (November 20-26, NW 23): The Storm Giants of Atlantis, led by Arikkaos, lay siege to the capital of Caprakan, Ah-Xoc-Xin, battering its crystal walls with a barrage of thunderbolts. They slay hundreds; even bring down three Node Controllers, but the city holds form. The Giants retreat to the sea, taking a vast horde of loot with them.
* Invasion of the Great River (November 23-April 2, NW 23-24): An invasion force from the Final Empire masses to attack Aglazdere. Using the Final Empire’s magitech navy, empowered with forge-cores stolen from Aglazdere and replicated, they sail to the now flooded Great River. The force is composed of 1500 soldiers from the Final Empire, led by Lord Vitreous, 1000 soldiers from the Isles, led by King Sarvesh, and 5000 soldiers from Atlantis, led by Captain Lloyd, Admiral Aric Vere and King Raine. Within Akkhe, they are assailed by the a force of 3000 soldiers, many of them undead, led by High Priest Nefankha. The Akkhite soldiers are joined by a force of 2500 Janissaries from Akkhe, led by Grand Vizier Annakiya. The invasion stalls, as none of the troops - especially the Atlanteans - are able to adapt to the hellish desert. They take appalling casualties, and begin to quarrel amongst each other. Lord Vitreous attempts to assert his authority, but finds himself sidelined by King Raine, who commands the largest force of soldiers. The islander troops become nearly mutinous, having been dragged into a hellish desert war far from home. Even amongst the Atlanteans, conflict strikes, with a faction led by Lloyd and the Raine Knights begins advocating for a faster strike, abandoning troops seen as dead weight. King Raine manages to enforce a semblance of unity, commanding the three armies to press on in their entirely. Lost deep in the desert of Akkhe, with only the overflowing, stagnant river as their guide, the invasion advances at a glacial pace, with no end in sight.
* First Darguzze Wave (December 5-February 15, NW 23-24): Darguzze and Rhomduil declare war on World’s End. A force of 6000 warriors from Darguzze led by Warmaster Mudagog, composed mostly of orcs, attacks the eastern border of World’s End. The defenders, numbering 2700 men led by Count Cosimo Abbascia, are just as chaotic and disorganized as their counterparts on the northern border. They take catastrophic casualties during their first battles, and Abbascia ramps up the pace at which Vampire Spawn are created. While other Counts are content to turn their soldiers in Spawn, Abbascia sets upon his own people, transforming civilians into undead with impunity. Unlike Tkerekin’s force, the Orcs show no mercy to their enemies, leaving the common folk trapped. The distinction between attacker and defender becomes meaningless for them. The invaders penetrate deep into World’s End, but Abbascia’s brutal tactics begin paying off. The war devolves into a lurid bloodbath where the distinction between friend and foe becomes hopelessly blurred.
* Destruction of Ledge (December 3 - December 6, NW 23): A numberless coalition dedicated to the destruction of Ledge amasses its forces. It includes all the demons under the Tyrant's sway, Tolumvire of Arendur and the demons that serve him, and Sharra and the Ragnarok Demon Army. The Immortal Guardian of Ledge, Jack Hinnamen, seeing defeat, takes the long view. He accepts no allies, and tells two of his mercenary companies, the Steel Wolves and the Hunters of the Tyrant, to abandon them and attack Tolumvire's home plane of Numorea instead. Ledge, having never faced an attack like this, falls in three days. Its inhabitants are massacred and devoured, and the last line of defense against the Abyss is destroyed. Tolumvire prepares to press on into the First World, but an array of circumstances align against him. The Demon Army abandons him, as all King Bolgar wished to do was open the floodgates to his forces, not give Tolumvire control of the Vault of Night. At the same time, the Final Empire coordinates two attacks, one from the Northern Final Empire on the city of Arendur, and another from the Southern Final Empire in temporarily alliance with the Steel Wolves, the Hunters of the Tyrant, and Dao's Royal Army, on Tolumvire's home plane of Numorea.
* Battle of Forester's Town (December 24-25, NW 23): Brennen begins plotting an assault on New Arendur, with an eye towards claiming its store of scientific and arcane research. He reaches out to his allies in Gandoral and the Land of the Fey, and concludes that he will attack Forester’s Town, and work his way to the lost city from there. The Final Empire, Gandoral, and the Land of the Fey declare war on Arendur. A force of 1000 men from the Final Empire, led by Twin-Emperor Brennen and General Warrizek joins forces with 200 Dwarves from Gandoral led by Prince Bariddin. and 500 fey creatures led by King Odilon Roy. New Arendur musters a force of 800 men led by General Arcanus, along with 50 mages of the Illuminated and an unknown number of chimera led by Doctor Curtin, and 100 rangers led by Francis Forester. Atop the Tower of the Illuminated, Jotunheim uses the portal to summon and bind the demon lord Tolumvire, who emerges upon his dracolich. The war swiftly becomes one fought in the minds of its combatants, as the fey, the Illuminated, and Tolumvire weaves a net of illusions and psionics, setting back time to give the Arendurians a tactical advantage. The demon lord brings to bear his control of time and fate, swaying causality in the favor of the Arendurian defenders. In the face of adversity, the fey are the first to retreat, and both the Dwarves and the imperial forces take heavy casualties. Brennen takes to the field, slaughtering a large number of enemy mages, and badly wounding Doctor Curtin. Tolumvire of Arendur engages him on dragonback, and the two mages clash. Brennen kills his dracolich, but is wounded and forced to retreat along with the majority of his men. This buys time for a civilian evacuation. Brennen and Tolumvire, having left their duel unfinished, clash again, this time on the ground. Brennen is able to defeat him and banish him to the Abyss. Brennen realizes that the Arendurians are determined to fight to the death, and that he may pay too high a cost for victory. He retreats and returns to the Northern Dome with loot, glory, and the majority of his men.
* Occupation of Numorea (December 31 -January 31, NW 23-24): Immanently after the Battle of Forester's Town, an alliance attacks Tolumvire's home plane of Numorea with the intention of preventing from ever trying to claim the Vault of Night. General Slightly leads of force of 4900 men from the Hunters of the Tyrant, General Sigivald leads a force of 2500 men from the Steel Wolves, Commander Lloyd Hamaad leads a force of 5000 men from the Royal Army, and from the Final Empire, Grand Master Uristophor leads 1000 men from Operation Vault of Night, This massive invasion is met by those few demons that serve Tolumvire - a meagre collection, having lost the help of the Ragnarok Demon Army and the demons that destroyed Ledge - Tolumvire himself, weakened from his death at the hands of Brennen, and Master Voidwatcher's 300 men from the First World Expeditionary Force. The demons are quickly routed, the First World Expeditionary Force retreats, and over the course of a month, the Sixteen Towers are occupied with minimal casualties. The invasion, however, is undermined by conflicting goals: the men from Ledge want revenge, the men from Dao want only to prevent anyone from menacing the Vault of Night, while the men from the Final Empire want the Vault of Night for themselves, and are only allied with King Onaxx's faction in order to destroy Tolumvire. Disaster strikes when Lloyd Hamaad betrays Operation Vault of Night, intending to get them killed. Instead of taking the oppertunity, Tolumvire dispatched the First World Expeditionary Force to save the soldiers from the Final Empire. Voidwatcher cuts a deal with Uristophor to change sides. Desperate to survive, Tolumvire binds himself to an oath to help the Final Empire claim the Vault of Night, at which point King Bolgar of Ragnarok, satisfied with the outcome, dispatches the Ragnarok Demon Army to save him. The men from Dao, satisfied with the outcome, flee, leaving the men from Ledge to take heavy casualties before they themselves flee. Some of the demonhunters refuse to give up, and Tolumvire calls upon his new allies to help them root them out in return for the use of Numorea as a staging ground.
* Moor's Sister Rebellion (January 4-January 4, NW 24-25): In response to the cruelties of war and of the draft, the town of Moor's Sister in the Final Empire rebels against the central government. Led by their captain of guards, Sven van Easlehaur, and protected by the archmage Glendiel Varas, they achieve their independence.
* Dragonflight of Aurum (January 9, NW 24): Twin-Emperor Silvius of the Final Empire manages to reach an accord with Princess Cordelia of Aurum, forming an informal alliance between the two nations. Cordelia leads a small force of 100 warriors on dragonback to the aid of the Final Empire. The dragonflight breaks the Janissary ranks, killing Commander Volkan and forcing them to retreat. The Final Empire, which had been fighting on the defense, rallies and retakes lost ground. Padishah Rick takes the lightest ships of his sky fleet and arrives in time to prevent a catastrophe for his men. The fleet engages the dragonflight, which threatens to be a zero-sum battle in which even the winner will take appalling casualties. With both sides of this, the Padishah and the Princess close in to one another, Cordelia intending to strafe over the Barbatos on dragonback and destroy the ship, Rick intended to kill Cordelia with one well-placed shot. Rick fires first, missing Cordelia and killing her dragon instead. Cordelia, able to fly, escapes, and both sides retreat.
* Burning of Utgard (January 10-16, NW 24): In Jotunheim, King Ymir finishes rallying his giants to assist Nadezhda in their war with World’s End. Back in Xiclotl, Brennen uses the research given to him by the Illuminated to create a giant-killing spell, and readies a force of 2000 men to invade Jotunheim. Striking them unprepared, he forces a battle at their capital, and kills King Ymir. As the remaining giants scatter, Brennen digs in, fortifying the city for his men. Over the coming weeks, he travels throughout the city, hunting the remaining the giants, killing many and capturing others for arcane experiments.
* Second Darguzze Wave (February 3-March 18, NW 24): A force of 3800 troops from Darguzze, primarily Gnolls led by Godhand Arken Woemask, invade the northwest of Aglazdere. The heavier ships of the sky fleet, which were not deployed against the dragonflight, fly to scorch the earth and thin the force. Nonetheless, the ships cannot hold ground, forcing Annakiya and the defenders of the Great River - of whom 1700 remain - to abandon Akkhe and protect the border. They are joined by a force 600 Bouldercloaks from Amron, led by General Ayondra. Aglazdere is able to stop the invasion in its tracks, but at the price of horrific military and civilian casualties. Arken Woemask is killed by Annakiya.
* Victory at the Eastern Front (February 15, NW 24): In the east of World’s End, Count Cosimo Abbascia and the defending force is able to break the orc army, killing Warmaster Mudagog. Victory is theirs, but the province of Narick is left a wasteland populated by undead and scattered, demoralized civilians.
* Fall of Scarbantia (February 22, NW 24): The Nadezhdan force, having managed to conquer the province of Savaria, pushes on to the capital. After a bloody urban battle, the Nadezhdans take the capital house by house. Duke Petros is slain in the battle, and Arthur retreats along with the remainder of his troops. Abi Eodauga and Dolom Tkerekin receive word of the fall of Jotunheim, and realize that they will not receive any support from the giants. Friction develops between Tkerekin and Tare, as the latter - the more cautious strategist - finds himself embroiled deep behind enemy lines, for a cause he cares little for. Free of Duke Petros’ interference, Emperor Arthur transforms the northern Counts into vampires, raising a new force of spawn. His force, now mostly composed of undead, turns on the exhausted Nadezhdans, driving them back from the ruined capital. They are joined by Cosimo Abbascia and another force of spawn from the east, turning the tide of the war and driving the Nadezhdans from World’s End. Welvog Tare and the Dark Elves retreat to Rhomduil.
* Invasion of the Vault of Night (March 1 - April 13, NW 24): Using Numorea as a staging ground, Grand Master Uristophor leads 900 men from Operation Vault of Night, Master Voidwatcher leads 250 men from the First World Expeditionary Force, and Commander Nym Duskryn leads 400 men from Trident, with the blessing and help of Tolumvire of Arendur, on an invasion of the First World. They are met by Commander Lloyd Hamaad's 4000 men from the Royal Army, and a series of vicious interplanar battles begin. As with the invasion of Numorea, disunity between the invading force proves its downfall. Emperor Lothaire Parvaiz of Celymnaia, an ally of Tolumvire, acts without Tolumvire's knowledge or permission - save for an understand that Tolumvire does not want the Final Empire to claim the Vault of Night - to invade the Final Empire. Enraged by the betrayal and determined to save his homeland, Uristophor leaves the First World. It is at this point that King Onaxx of Dao at last emerges to fight. Voidwatcher makes a stand, but discovered that Trident is equally enraged by Arendur's perfidy, and seeing victory slip away, Trident turns on the First World Expeditionary Force and abandons them on the battlefield, before leaving the First World. King Onaxx kills every Arendurian to a man, and only Voidwatcher is able to escape and flee in disgrace.
* Surrender at Ashkethis (March 16, NW 24): When the Aglazderan troops abandon the Great River, Raine splits his forces into two. He sends Aric Vere and 1500 of his own Genasi, as well as Vitreous and the 1000 imperial soldiers, to attack the city of Ashkethis, to draw Akkhe’s defenders away from him. Aware that Akkhe has no interest in defending Aglazdere, which abandoned them, he leads the remaining 1500 Genasi, including Lloyd and the Raine Knights, as well as the surviving 600 islanders, led by King Sarvesh. As the imperials and Genasi war with the surviving 2000 defenders of Ashkethis, Vitreous makes it clear to Aric Vere that he has no plans to continue the war. He tells Vere that if they were fight amongst themselves, they would both lose, and that even if Vere and his men escaped, they would not be able to pilot their ships. He is able to convince Aric Vere that he was abandoned by King Raine, and both the imperials and the Genasi surrender to the Pharoah of Akkhe. They are allowed to leave in peace. Knowing that he cannot ever return to the sea, Aric Vere agrees to take asylum in the Final Empire.
* Wild Hunt of the Final Empire (April 13-August 29, NW 24): Lothaire Parvaiz of Celymnaia releases a horde of beasts and men to rampage in the north of the Final Empire. An army is thrown together, consisting of 500 soldiers from Thunderdome, led by Brigadier-General San-Janis and Colonel Luminar. They are ill-prepared, and large portions of the Final Empire are ravaged by beasts. San-Janis and Luminar are slain in the fighting.
* Wild Hunt of Rhomduil (April 13- June 19, NW 24): Lothaire Parvaiz of Celymnaia releases a horde of beasts and men to rampage in east of Rhomduil. Welvog Tare and 900 defenders are able to keep them at bay, but take enough casualties to functionally end their participation in the war.
* Sack of Ta-al Kayji (April 1, NW 24): Raine and his forces are able to make it to Aglazdere, where they overcome Ta-al Kayji’s token defense and sack the city. He learns that Vitreous and Aric Vere have abandoned him, leaving him and his men trapped in Aglazdere. Cutting his loses, he commands his men to attack Al Basazar. The city’s defenders, along with many civilians, are massacred. The attack is a diversion, allowing Raine, Lloyd, and the Raine Knights to flee to the sea. Realizing that they have been abandoned, the islanders and Genasi realize that they will eventually be surrounded, and surrender. Their surrender coincides with the return of the sky fleet’s lighter ships. Padishah Rick accepts their surrender, and takes them into slavery. He commands them to work to rebuild Al Basazar and Ta-al Kayji. Upon completion, they will be granted their freedom. Meanwhile, having returned to Atlantis, Raine offers a pardon to any soldiers who surrendered. Of the 1000 remaining Genasi under Aric Vere’s command, 600 return to Atlantis, while the remaining 400 remain loyal to Aric Vere, and accompany him to the Final Empire.
* Northern Reconquest (July 23-August 29, NW 24): Vitreous and his 1000 soldiers, along with Aric Vere and his 400 Genasi return to the Final Empire. They are able to drive back the Wild Hunt, and reclaim the lost territory.
* Fall of Guilddon (July 2-October 17, NW 24): King Raine, seeking to take revenge against the man he believes to be Khamsa, declares war against World’s End. He brings a force of 4000 Water Genasi, including his Raine Knights, led by Lloyd. Going through the northern passage, he attacks Guilddon in a decisive sea battle, taking advantage of the kingdom's depleted fleet and cutting off the supply chain to World’s End and the Reich. He overruns the island nation and takes Queen Mercy as a hostage, and uses the Throne of Atlantis to create storms around the island. The soldiers from the Reich and from Guilddon have no way to sail home.
* Siege of Torzhestvo (May 1-August 14, NW 24): A fully-fledged invasion force assaults Nadezhda. They are composed of 3000 soldiers - mostly spawn - from World’s End, led by Emperor Arthur and Count Cosimo Abbascia, 2500 soldiers from Guilddon led by Guildmaster Orval Royce, and 2800 soldiers from the Reich Nördlich, led by Fuhrer Franz Forrawyn and General Reise Forrawyn. The Nadezhdans regroup, numbering 6700 men led by Abi Eodauga and Dolom Tkerekin. The troops from Guilddon are daunted by the bitter winter, but the spawn and the troops from the Reich are unconcerned. Emperor Arthur pushes for as many battles of attrition as he can, knowing that any captured Nadezhdans can be turned into vampire spawn. Dolom Tkerekin realizes that he has to stake everything on a decisive battle, and that the troops from Guilddon are the weakest link in the invasion force. The two sides clash on the ice, in the largest single battle of the war. For a moment, it seems as if the Nadezhdan strategy will pay off, but Dolom Tkerekin is unexpectedly killed in the fighting. The defending troops lose their coordination, and are forced to retreat to their capital of Torzhestvo. The invading force lays siege to the city. Abi Eodauga risks everything on another decisive battle. He expects to duel Emperor Arthur, who evades him. He finds himself instead in a battle with Franz Forrawyn, whose Hexenjägers cut a path through his mages directly to him. Forrawyn kills Eodauga, taking his kill collar for himself. He uses it to kill every mage in Nadezhda, throwing the tide in battle in favor of the attackers, who take Torzhestvo for themselves. The remaining members of Nadezhda’s armed forces and Council of Ministers surrender to Franz Forrawyn.
* Sky Campaign (October 10-April 10, NW 24-25): At the behest of Padishah Rick, a force of 2000 soldiers from Skycity Alliance led by First Mayor Arikas, make their way to attack Aurum. The Aglazdere sky fleet, still preoccupied with driving off the Gnoll invasion, is unable to join them. The gnomish flying cities clash with Aurum’s defenders, who number 2900 soldiers, led by Princess Cordelia. Aurum, unused to contact with the outside world, is badly battered by the gnomish weapons of war, although the Citadel remains standing. From his banishment in the Abyss, Tolumvire offers his aid to Cordelia, promising her that he can give her the power to save her people. Cordelia refuses.
* Great Plague (October 30-May 3, NW 24-25): The corpses of the beasts from the wild hunts in Rhomduil and the Final Empire spread a virulent plague. Rhomduil is less affected, but the Final Empire, which was the worse ravaged, begins to fall to the infection. Entire villages are guttered out, and the plague reaches the army as well. Among others, General Fax Gallengrand succumbs to the illness and perishes.
* Utgard Death March (October 5, NW 24): Franz Forrawyn suggests attacking Brennen directly, to put pressure on Raine. It becomes increasingly clear that the FInal Empire has no hold on Raine, who is fighting his own wars. As Raine prepares to invade World’s End, Guildmaster Orval Royce suggests an alliance with Brennen. Franz Forrawyn refuses, and advances his army of 2200 men, led by Reise Forrawyn, including his Hexenjägers. The skeleton crew of soldiers in Utgard abandon Jotunheim and regroup in the northern Final Empire, conceding the fortress as a base of operations for Forrawyn. Emperor Arthur refuses to help him, and retreats to defend World’s End. Orval Royce threatens to capitulate to Brennen and turn on Forrawyn, who asserts his authority as Mercy’s consort. He upbraids the soldiers of Guilddon for their surrender and betrayal of their ally. Orval Royce’s soldiers are split in their loyalties, but those loyal him, desperate to save their Queen and having nothing to lose, turn on the forces of the Reich. Franz Forrawyn and his men defeat the rebels and kill them, but take high casualties in the process. Orval Royce is subjected to execution by blood eagle, and the survivors of Guilddon are forced to march back to any place that will take them in. It is clear that most of them will die in the winter.
* Third Darguzze Wave (October 26-January 20, NW 24-25): An army of 7000 warriors from Darguzze, mostly Hobgoblins led by Tyrant Skraz, marches on the Final Empire. Wracked by plague and spread thin, with its top general fallen, the Final Empire is unable to put anything more then a pathetic defense. Emperor Silvius is forced to leave Thunderdome to fight with his men, ending the storm wall on the western border. Whole swathes of territory fall to the hobgoblin legions, which show no sign of stopping.
* Last Stand of the Hexenjägers (January 1, NW 25): The remaining 2100 men led by Franz Forrawyn and Reise Forrawyn take the ships from Orval Royce’s slain army, and undertake a perilous voyage to the northern Final Empire. Many men perish in the voyage, leaving a force of 2000 men to fight Brennen’s garrison of 2200 men, led by General Warrizek. Faced with the potent magical defenses of Xiclotl, Franz Forrawyn realizes that while his 500 Hexenjägers might be able to pierce through, his main army will suffer from a full out assault. Knowing that his Hexenjägers alone will not be able to capture and hold the city, he nonetheless leads them directly into Xiclotl, knowing it will probably mean his death, but that unless Brennen defends the Northern Throne, he will have a chance to destroy it. Leaving the remaining 1500 of the army in reserve under the command of Reise Forrawyn, the Hexenjägers pierce through the enemy battle lines, shrugging off magic and abandoning any chance of escape or survival. They reach the Dome, and force entry. They clash with Brennen and his guards before the Northern Throne, and overcome them. Knowing that Franz Forrawyn will destroy the Throne, Brennen immolates himself upon the Throne, destroying everyone in the Dome - including himself - in a unstoppable conflagration that leaves him, Franz Forrawyn, and the Hexenjägers dead. With Warrizek and his men still controlling the city, the Throne remains safe for another claimant. The possibility of war between Warrizek’s men and the soldiers from the Reich emerges, but Reise Forrawyn takes up negotiations. She offers an alliance, a new nation independent from other ties. With Guilddon fallen, and Atlantis fighting with World’s End, a possibility for a unified, peaceful north exists. Most importantly, the Throne will be protected from any claimant who might wish to seize it. Warrizek accepts, and the nation of the Reich is formed, with Reise Forrawyn as Kaiserin and Warrizek as General of the Imperial Army.
* Fall of Karres (January 2-February 18, NW 25): King Raine’s 4000 man strong army reach the islands of Karres in World’s End. Raine uses the Throne of Atlantis to summon a storm, wrecking the fleet of World’s End, and storms each island, massacring their populations. Somewhere within the chaos, former Duke Fabius is presumed to have perished, for he goes missing and is never seen again. Raine and his men make landfall in the south of World’s End, intending to press their invasion.
* Sack of Al Mandera (January 16, NW 25): With the Final Empire crumbling around him, Emperor Silvius calls upon King Bolgar of Ragnarok for deliverance, imploring him to bring his clerics to heal his people and help fight the hobgoblins from Darguzze. Seeing an opportunity, Bolgar accepts in a backhanded way, choosing instead to attack the city of Al Mandera in Aglazdere. He leads a force of 1500 men, principally knights and priests led by High Priest Freimund, backed up by a small coterie of dragons led by Commander Otokar, and his summoned demons, led by Sharra. The defenders of Al Mandera, numbering 2600 men led by Grand Vizier Annakiya, and including the majority of the sky fleet. The attack comes with surprise and ferocity, overwhelming the defenders. King Bolgar duels Annakiya, defeating her and forcing her to flee. Aglazdere has no counter to the demons and dragons, and is forced to retreat, through the warleader Commander Otokar is brought down by a well-placed canon shot. Bolgar does not pursue the Janissaries, opting instead to sack the city and destroy Aglazdere’s war machines, including the nation’s supply of forge cores and fuel for sky ships. Bolgar retreats, telling Silvius that he has ended the War of the Philosopher-Kings, and that from that point, the Final Empire must reap what it has sown.
* Last Flight of the Sky Pirates (January 4, NW 25): Upon learning of the Sack of Al Mandera, Padishah Rick realizes that the age of sky ships has come to an end. Without new forge cores, every sky ship that falls will never be replaced, and the ships he has only have on them enough for one last flight. In a last grand, theatrical gesture, Padishah Rick commands his men on the western border of the Final Empire to turn and attack the hobgoblins, freeing up the imperial soldiers to do the same. He leads the sky fleet to their aid, and the hobgoblins find themselves surrounded and bombarded. Their assault is broken. Observing the Final Empire as a plague-ridden, hollowed-out land, Rick uses his remaining fuel for the return voyage, getting only so far as the border between the two nations. His sky fleet lands, never again to fly.
* Reckoning of World’s End (February 18-April 20, NW 25): Raine’s army of 4000 Genasi begins its invasion of mainland World’s End, where the nation’s 3200 defenders, led by Emperor Arthur and Count Cosimo Abbascia await them. World’s End is primarily a nation of the undead, with scattered villages few and far between. The defenders fight with the reckless abandon of the undead, but Raine’s army presses on. The Genasi soon realize that the land they are conquering is of no value, not to them, and certainly not to the undead armies of World’s End. Raine is committed, so inch by inch, he pushes on and gains ground.
* Mutiny of the Barbatos (January 25, NW 25): On the border of Aglazdere and the Final Empire, Padishah Rick finds himself a ruler without a mandate. With his sky ships fallen and his armies guttered, he has no way to hold power. Already hated by his people for his role in the War of the Philosopher-Kings, he has lost all support due to his quixotic attempt to save the Final Empire. Rick is given a chance to flee, but determined to continue Project Revival, attempts to make it back to Aglazdere to face his people. Though his Janissaries are still loyal to him, the crew of the Barbatos is not, and mutineers, killing his guards and capturing him. They hold a sham trial of the Padishah on the border between Aglazdere and World’s End, and demand the Philosopher’s Stone from him, intendending to use it as a bargaining chip to give to their preferred next ruler. Rick reveals that he does not have it; that it is held by Annakiya. Furious and despairing, the crew of the Barbatos put their former captain to death. Back in Aglazdere, Chancellor Finley MacClellan is chosen to be the new Padishah. When he attempts to take the Philosopher’s Stone, he discovers that Annakiya and the Meadowguard have left Aglazdere for the wastes, taking the Stone with him.
* Unification of the Frostfell (March 19-July 30, NW 25): The forces led by Reise Forrawyn and General Warrizek, numbering 3000 men, begin the slow work of the reunification of the north. Making Hauptstadt their capital, they draw the representatives of the Reich’s civilian leaders, the remaining generals in Nadezhda, and the tribal leaders of Jotunheim. Through bloodless negotiation and many concessions, Reise Forrawyn is able to cobble together the semblance of a nation. All parties present realize the need for unity in this time, and recognize the possibility of the fulfillment of Franz Forrawyn’s dream - a peaceful, unified north, cleansed of mages. In a world ravaged by Philosopher-Kings, none can deny the compelling power of this idea. No longer just the leader of the Reich, Reise Forrawyn crowns herself the Kaiserin of the Reich, with Warrizek as her principal military leader. Her armies, the scattered dregs of the north, number 10,000 men, an amount equal to those of World’s End at the start of the war, but now rivaling Atlantis for the largest army still standing.
* Second Battle of Scarbantia (April 17-20, NW 25): Increasingly lost within the depths of World’s End, King Raine finds himself trapped in a war with no end in sight. Word is brought to him of the fall of the Final Empire, and the death of Padishah Rick. Taking the opportunity, Emperor Arthur reveals to Raine that he is not, in fact Khamsa, but Prince Ramander. He tells him that the War of the Philosopher-Kings is over, and that after a fashion, he has already won. Cheated of an opportunity for revenge against Khamsa, yet gratified by the destruction of Aglazdere, Raine retreats from World’s End, and takes his men back to Atlantis. He takes Queen Mercy with him as a prisoner, locking her away in Sunken City.
* Deliverance of Aurum (April 5-10, NW 25): Cut off and alone, Aurum finds itself assailed by the ships of Skycity Alliance, who have become to claim the floating nation for themselves. Tolumvire offers Cordelia his aid again, telling her that she is the last Philosopher-King still standing. Abi Eodauga and Rick are dead, he tells her, Silvius the broken sovereign of a shattered kingdom, he himself banished to the Abyss, and Arthur a facade for Prince Ramander. Seeing no end to the bloodshed her people will have to face for her role, Cordelia decides to damn herself for her people’s sake. She accepts Tolumvire’s aid, and binds the essence of the demon lord into a sword of fell power. Wielding the sword, she rallies her forces and routes the Skycity Alliance troops, saving her people. Mayor Arikas and Chief Engineer Velhik are slain in the battle. Tolumvire urges her to seize the opportunity and win the war, but the corrupted Cordelia, recalling the story of Yera McDonald, chooses instead to fall upon her sword. The sword, containing the imprisoned and banished demon lord, is fashioned her grave marker and kept under guard, preventing Tolumvire from weaving further schemes by his compelling and corrupting rhetoric.
* Lorelei Uprising (September 14, NW 25): Wearied by war and burdened by the tyranny of King Raine, a faction of Atlantean nobility and military rise up in support of Queen Lorelei the Reborn. They win out, and King Raine is slain amid the ruins of Sunken City. Lorelei destroys the Throne of Atlantis, rousing the Deep Ones from their slumber and destroying the Kingdom of Atlantis.

## Outcome

World's End is declared the winner of the War of Philosopher-Kings, but it is a pyrrhic and hollow triumph. Emperor Arthur - in reality, Ramander of Oranor - is is only a stand in for the true Philosopher-King, Khamsa. The country is populated almost entirely by undead, who Arthur believes to be the true form of man. He has given in utterly to his vampirism, becoming a soulless, blood-hungry beast. Emperor Arthur and Grand Duchess Gwendolyn Livossa-Coralis remain the nation's representatives to the Holy Council.

The Final Empire is destroyed. The few forces that remained in Xiclotl departed under General Warrizek's command to join the Reich. The northern throne remains unoccupied, but under constant guard by soldiers of the new country. The southern half of the Final Empire crumbles under the strain of warfare and is guttured out by plague. Its few survivors flee. Twin-Emperor Silvius, the only surviving Philosopher-King, departs to become a wandering hermit. Forces from Ragnarok capture the southern capital without resistance, cleansing the plague and securing the southern throne so that no one might claim it. The Final Empire is removed from the Holy Council.

Aglazdere exists in a twilight state, with the cities of Al Basazar, Ta-al Kayji, and Al Mandera destroyed. The nation has no way to raise new Janissaries, and its sky ships are permanently grounded. The prisoners of war taken from Atlantis flee, and there is no power to stop them. Finley MacClellan is chosen Padishah, and Matthias Peynirci named Grand Vizier, but their authority is not recognized beyond the nobility of Varas. The inhabitants of Aglazdere fracture along the lines of cities and trade caravans, some even living in the grounded sky ships. Aglazdere is removed from the Holy Council.

Nadezhda is conquered and forced to surrender to Franz Forrawyn, it's slave mages killed, and its way of life scattered. Along with the Reich Nördlich, the remnants of Jotunheim, and the soldiers from Xiclotl, they form a new country named the Reich. Its constituent countries are removed from the Holy Council, with Reise Forrawyn and General Warrizek representing the Reich.

Arendur in the form of New Arendur remains as it did before. Tolumvire's corporeal form is banished to the Abyss, and his mind trapped within a sword held in Aurum. Tan Blackhand and Doctor Curtin remain the nation's representatives to the Holy Council.

Aurum is irrevocably changed, and now known to the outside world. With Princess Cordelia dead, a military government arises in her place. The King and Queen remain imprisoned, leaving the country with no representation in the Holy Council.

Dao remains much the same, but weakened by the casualties taken in the war. The kingdom becomes more unwilling and incapable of projecting force across the planes, turns inwards, and focuses on its own defense and self-sufficiency.

## Civilian Toll

All the battleground of the War suffered horrifically, but some countries were decimated beyond their ability to survive.

* Akkhe: When the Great River flooded, the water overwhelmed countless homes and destroyed the majority of the nation's agriculture. The resulting famine, followed by Atlantis' invasion, killed nearly every person in the country.
* Final Empire: Waves of invasions by Aglazdere, Darguzze, and Rhomduil - all armies that lived off the land and left scorched villages in their wake - followed by the Great Plague left the Final Empire an eerily empty expanse dotted with empty ghost towns. What survivors remained fled to Ragnarok and Shangare, taking what little they had with them.
* World's End: Invasions at the hands of Darguzze and Nadezhda ravaged the land, but the worst of the harm done to the people of World's End was perpetrated by their newly vampiric overlords. Those civilians who were not turned into Vampire Spawn on sight were herded into camps to be used as blood bags, or hunted for sport.
* Aglazdere: Though Aglazdere was able to repel invasions by Darguzze, Atlantis, and Ragnarok and remain intact, the flooding of the Great River followed by the sacking of Al-Basazar and Ta'al Kayji ruined Aglazdere's economy and sparked a vicious famine and the partial breakdown of civilized society.
* Nadezhda: The invasion by World's End was shocking in its brutality, with entire populations fed to the Vampire Spawn to satiate their hunger, towns stripped of their supplies to feed and supply living troops, and countless civilians put to the sworn by the Hexenjägers for increasingly minor infractions. The subsequent execution of the slave mages tore the heart of the nation's infrastructure and economy, which collapsed, unable to sustain itself. The demoralized survivors were completely reliant on their conquerors to rebuild what little was left.
* Guilddon: The Atlantean invasion saw countless slain and the destruction of Guilddon's port cities, the source of the nation's supplies. The loss of their fleet in the North consigned the island to starvation and the breakdown of the economy, forcing them - like the Nadezhdans - to abject reliance on the new Reich for survival.

## Order of Battle

### Northern Alliance

Nadezhda:

* Marshal Abi Eodauga (KIA)
	+ General Dolom Tkerekin (KIA)
		- 7150 men-at-arms from the Nadezhdan Armed Forces (2400 KIA)
		- Captain Khariton Markov (POW)
			* 150 men-at-arms from the Pale Spear (25 KIA)
	+ Brigadier General Osip Pavlovsky
		- 800 slave mages (800 KIA)
	+ Minister Ricardas Rok (POW)

Darguzze

* Warmaster Mudagog (KIA)
	+ 6000 Orcs from the Ghost Fangs (5800 KIA)
	+ 400 Ogres from the Ghost Fangs (370 KIA)
* Tyrant Skraz (KIA)
	+ 4500 Hobgoblins from the Legion of Qogor (3950 KIA)
	+ 2100 Goblins from the Legion of Qogor (1300 KIA)
	+ 400 Bugbears from the Legion of Qogor (150 KIA)
* Godhand Arken Woemask (KIA)
	+ 3800 Gnolls (2850 KIA)

Jotunheim

* King Ymir (KIA)
	+ Lord Vostr-Hirraldyng
		- 500 frost giants from the Army of the Jötnar (475 KIA)
	+ General Proto (KIA)
		- 275 men-at-arms from the Crimson Star Horde (150 KIA)
		- 210 men-at-arms from the Copper Wolves (55 KIA)
		- 120 men-at-arms from the White Phoenix Clan (40 KIA)
		- 70 men-at-arms from the Knife Riders (30 KIA)
		- 60 men-at-arms from the Pale Dragon Warriors (25 KIA)
		- 55 men-at-arms from the Blood of the Jackal (15 KIA)
		- 50 men-at-arms from the Grave Swamp Kin (15 KIA)
		- 45 men-at-arms from the Fangs of Steel (15 KIA)
		- 40 men-at-arms from the Cobalt Pygmy Tribe (7 KIA)
		- 35 men-at-arms from the Frostcrawlers (15 KIA)
		- 30 men-at-arms from the Wild Ones (5 KIA)
		- 10 men-at-arms from the Ivory Devils (3 KIA)

Rhomduil

* High Priestess Idas Gharna
	+ Archon Welvog Tare
		- 600 men-at-arms from Mydra Tura (50 KIA)
	+ 150 men-at-arms from Oben Menzan (80 KIA)
	+ 125 men-at-arms from Erym Drauthe (5 KIA)
	+ 100 men-at-arms from Undraen Gara (30 KIA)
	+ 75 men-at-arms from Llammydr Yuelhein (15 KIA)
	+ 50 men-at-arms Adan Baera (10 KIA)

### Remnants of Arendur

New Arendur

* Tolumvire (WIA)
* Grand Master Jotunheim
	+ Master Curtin (WIA)
		- 50 mages of the Branch of the Sword (10 KIA)
		- Unknown number of chimera
	+ Master Tan Blackhand
	+ Master Arazon
	+ Master Grundelthum Sunder
	+ Master Voidwatcher
		- 10 mages from the College of Conjuration (10 KIA)
		- 300 men-at-arms from the First World Expeditionary Force (300 KIA)
* General Euphrosyne Luciana Arcanus
	+ First Captain Beatrice Lynwood
	+ Colonel Iris Belkaria
	+ Colonel Flavius Luteus Scaevola
	+ Colonel Luke Elgin
	+ 700 men-at-arms from the Arendurian Army (270 KIA)
* Mayor Francis Forester
	+ 100 men-at-arms from the Forester Town Rangers (30 KIA)
* Commander Nym Duskryn
	+ 50 Breakers from Trident (10 KIA)
	+ 150 Seekers from Trident (30 KIA)
	+ 200 Founders from Trident (100 KIA)

Celymnaia

* Emperor Lothaire Parvaiz
	+ Great Druid Hildegard Ó Maoil Eoin
		- 20 white dragons (1 KIA)
		- 3800 men-at-arms (650 KIA)
		- Unknown number of wild animals
	+ The Master of the Wild Hunt (KIA)
	+ The Torment Beast (KIA)
	+ The Bleak Behemoth
	+ The Blood-Eyed Swine (KIA)
	+ The Burnt Bone Wolf

Ragnarok

* King Bolgar
	+ High Priest Freimund
	+ Commander Sharra
		- Unknown number of demons from the Order of the Valkyries
	+ Commander Otokar (KIA)
		- 6 dragons (3 KIA)
	+ Commander Lordus Leadbelly
		- 500 men-at-arms of the Order of the Varangians (50 KIA)
	+ Captain Gintaras
	+ Captain Vissarion Adomaitis
	+ Captain Imeda
	+ Captain Dardan
	+ 1500 men-at-arms from the Order of the Einherjar (200 KIA)

### Pact of Three

World's End

* Emperor Arthur Coralis
	+ Duke Petros of Savaria (KIA)
		- 10,000 men-at-arms from the Army at the End of the World (6700 KIA)
	+ Count Cosimo Abbascia
		- Over 3000 vampire spawn (unknown casualties)

Guilddon

* Queen Mercy (POW)
	+ Guildmaster Orval Royce (KIA)
		- 4500 men-at-arms from the Royal Armed Forces (2500 KIA)
		- 200 ships (70 sunk, 130 lost)

Reich Nördlich

* Fuhrer Franz Forrawyn (KIA)
	+ General Reise Forrawyn
		- 2000 men-at-arms from the Reichsarmee (500 KIA)
	+ First Captain Jeremias Furst (KIA)
		- Colonel Jonas Simmon (KIA)
		- Colonel Rein Rothenberg (KIA)
		- 1000 men-at-arms from the Hexenjägers (1000 KIA)

### Central Powers

Aglazdere

* Padishah Rick (KIA)
	+ Grand Vizier Annakiya (WIA)
		- 35 men-at-arms from the Meadowguard (8 KIA)
		- Under 150 homunculi (unknown casualties)
	+ Admiral Oscar Barnabas (KIA)
		- 22 sky ships (22 destroyed)
	+ Commander Volkan (KIA)
	+ Commander Callias
	+ 7000 men-at-arms from the Janissary Corps (3200 KIA)

Akkhe

* Pharaoh Akhenaten
	+ Grand Vizier Mera-hba-sahu
	+ High Priestess Neferey
	+ High Priest Nefankha (KIA)
	+ 5000 men-at-arms from the Host of the Immortals (3000 KIA)

Amron

* King Onesimos
	+ General Ayondra
		- 600 men-at-arms from the Bouldercloaks (150 KIA)

Caprakan

* Node Controller Yggdrasil
	+ 400 men-at-arms from the Caprakan Army (300 KIA)
	+ Unknown number of psychic constructs

Shangare

* Emperor Kuldeep
	+ General Manas Rao
		- 500 men from the Shangarite Auxiliaries (50 KIA)

Skycity Alliance

* Mayor Arikas (KIA)
	+ 1000 men-at-arms from Windemere (300 KIA)
* Chief Engineer Valhik (KIA)
* 440 men-at-arms from Openshaw (100 KIA)
* 350 men-at-arms from Ballater (90 KIA)
* 280 men-at-arms from Ballachulish (105 KIA)
* 270 men-at-arms from Grimsby (55 KIA)
* 225 men-at-arms from Onryx (40 KIA)
* 195 men-at-arms from Arkala (35 KIA)
* 170 men-at-arms from Xynnar (55 KIA)
* 150 men-at-arms from Tenby (60 KIA)
* 130 men-at-arms from Accrington (30 KIA)
* 110 men-at-arms from Swindmore (20 KIA)
* 80 men-at-arms from Eanverness (10 KIA)

### Ocean Powers

Final Empire

* Twin-Emperor Silvius
	+ General Fax Gallengrand (KIA)
		- 5000 men-at-arms from the Southern Imperial Army (3100 KIA, 700 defected)
	+ Lord Vitreous (AWOL)
		- 15 ships (6 sunk)
	+ Grand Master Uristophor
		- 20 mages from the College of the Arcane (7 KIA)
		- 1000 men-at-arms from Operation Vault of Night (300 KIA)
	+ Captain San-Janis (KIA)
		- 50 men-at-arms from the Bladesinger Corps (12 KIA)
	+ Colonel Luminar (KIA)
		- 200 men-at-arms from the Arcane Magic Division (60 KIA)
* Twin-Emperor Brennen (KIA)
	+ General Warrizek (defected)
		- Captain Seris, 1st Company
			* 250 men-at-arms (90 KIA, 160 defected)
		- Captain Kahoor, 2nd Company
			* 460 men-at-arms (170 KIA, 290 defected)
		- Captain Gargura, 3rd Company
			* 350 men-at-arms (150 KIA, 200 defected)
		- Captain Zole, 4th Company
			* 390 men-at-arms (95 KIA, 295 defected)
		- Captain Potturg, 5th Company
			* 390 men-at-arms (160 KIA, 230 defected)
		- Brigadier General Vockers, Cinder Brigade
			* 350 men-at-arms (200 KIA, 150 defected)
		- Brigadier General Farrrun, Spark Brigade
			* 180 men-at-arms (70 KIA, 110 defected)
		- Brigadier General Arras, Ash Brigade
			* 130 men-at-arms (65 KIA, 65 defected)

Atlantis

* King Raine
	+ Captain Lloyd
		- 200 men-at-arms from the Raine Knights (134 KIA)
	+ Admiral Aric Vere (defected)
	+ Admiral Silke
		- 13,000 men-at-arms from the Marines (3300 KIA, 1500 POW, 400 defected)
	+ Commander Harm
		- 300 men-at-arms from the Shock Squads (190 KIA)
	+ Lord Arikkaos
		- 100 Storm Giants (23 KIA)
	+ Commander Covnos Nahrogath
		- 300 men-at-arms from the Royal Guard (20 KIA)

Isles

* King Lamprecht (POW)
	+ 800 men-at-arms from Justary (150 KIA, 235 POW)
* King Sarvesh (POW)
	+ 700 men-at-arms from Stei Skain (110 KIA, 155 POW)
* King Tatanka (KIA)
	+ 350 men-at-arms from Lothuca (30 KIA, 135 POW)
	+ 150 bronze dragonborn from Lothuca (20 KIA, 45 POW)
* King Aronne (POW)
	+ 200 minotaurs from Sceorus (70 KIA, 10 POW)
	+ 100 shifters from Sceorus (30 KIA, 15 POW)

Land of the Fey

* The Winter Queen
	+ King Odilon Roy
		- 8700 men-at-arms from the Army of Saa Belanore (100 KIA)
	+ Unknown number of Fey

Gandoral

* High King Brandril
	+ Prince Baraddin (KIA)
		- 700 men-at-arms from the Dwarven Alliance (70 KIA)

### Southern Alliance

Löthur

* Emperor Niles Andarme
	+ The Commander of Thousand Heights
		- 30 men-at-arms from the Griffon Knights (10 KIA)
	+ General Duvark Greysteel
		- 700 men-at-arms from the Army of Stormhold (200 KIA)
		- 200 men-at-arms from the Reaver Knights (75 KIA)
		- 200 men-at-arms from the Redmunt Knights (50 KIA)
	+ Commander Wulf Cordon
		- Sturth Redmane
		- 300 men-at-arms from the Ignis Company (150 KIA)
	+ Grand Master Varro Eder
		- 200 men-at-arms from the Black Rose Convent (60 KIA)
	+ Commander Bronze Grogbeard
		- 300 men-at-arms from the Artillery Regiment (150 KIA)
	+ Commander Sytra Luftgryn
		- 150 men-at-arms from the Army of Torthyr (25 KIA)

Shangare

* Maharajah Vikas Adhya
	+ Captain-General Jhanda Bhate
		- 1000 men-at-arms from the Ahadis
		- 600 men-at-arms from the Artillery Division
	+ Kuldeep
		- 70 thugees
	+ 1500 men-at-arms from Rasure
	+ 1300 men-at-arms from Garhima
	+ 700 men-at-arms from Bikavall
	+ 500 men-at-arms from Gire
	+ 400 men-at-arms from Atarah
	+ 300 men-at-arms from Inasing
	+ 100 men-at-arms from Kozhama

### First World

Dao

* King Onaxx
	+ Queen Auradine
		- 250 ogres from the Royal Guard (150 KIA)
	+ Speaker Zaphira Hamaad
		- 6 High Priests of Aldinach (4 KIA)
		- 100 men-at-arms from the Speakers of the Void (20 KIA)
	+ Commander Lloyd Hamaad
		- 150 men-at-arms from the Princess Guard (100 KIA)
		- 300 illusionists from the Royal Army (40 KIA)
		- 600 kineticists from the Royal Army (450 KIA)
		- 4000 men-at-arms from the Royal Army (1500 KIA)

Ledge

* Immortal Protector Jack Hinnamen
	+ General Slightly of the Hunters of the Tyrant
		- 4900 men from the Hunters of the Tyrant (3300 KIA)
	+ General Sigivald of the Steel Wolves
		- 2500 men from the Steel Wolves (1750 KIA)

### Lost Nation

Aurum

* Princess Cordelia (KIA)
	+ General Simon Braddock
		- 1300 Aasimar from the from the Princess Guard (350 KIA)
		- 900 Air Genasi from the Princess Guard (330 KIA)
	+ General Joseph Bloodworth
		- 700 Aarakocra from the Princess Guard (340 KIA)
	+ General Bradley Smythe
	+ General Sebastian Bell
	+ General Kester Stainthorpe
	+ 100 cloud drakes (16 KIA)

## Hot Iron and Cold Iron

The warchief's soul - it either rages with the fire of life, or is cold with death

Cold iron defeats hot iron more often than not. By a count of three or four to one.

* Hot Iron:
	+ Alphius Kreiton, King of Aurum
	+ Aric Vere, Admiral of the Atlantean Navy
	+ Arken Woemask, Godhand
	+ Arikas, Mayor of Windemere
	+ Badem, Commander of the Faithful
	+ Barradin, Prince of Tharn Tarum
	+ Brandril, High King of Gandoral
	+ Camron Marz, General of the Arendurian Army
	+ Clodovicus Coralis, Emperor of Alba Coralis
	+ Cordelia, Princess of Aurum
	+ Curtin, Warmaster of Arendur
	+ Dolom Tkerekin, General of the Nadezhdan Armed Forced
	+ Fax Gallengrand, General of the Southern Imperial Army
	+ Franz Forrawyn, Fuhrer of the Reich Nördlich
	+ Hildegard Ó Maoil Eoin, Great Druid of the Celymnaian Heartland
	+ Jhanda Bhate, Captain-General of Shangare
	+ Jotunheim, Grand Master of the Illuminated
	+ Lloyd, Captain of the Raine Knights
	+ Lloyd Hamaad, Commander of the Royal Guard
	+ Mudagog, Warmaster of the Ghost Fangs
	+ Nefankha, High Priest of the Cult of Sobek
	+ Odilon Roy, King of Saa Belanore
	+ Osip Pavlovsky, Brigadier General of the Slave Mage Internment Camps
	+ Petros, Duke of Savaria
	+ Proto, General of Jotunheim
	+ Reise Forrawyn, Kaiserin of the Reich
	+ Sigivald, General of the Steel Wolves
	+ Simon Braddock, General of the Princess Guard
	+ Volkan, Commander of the Faithful
	+ Vostr-Hirraldyng, Lord of the Army of the Jötnar
	+ Ymir, King of Jotunheim
* Cold Iron:
	+ Angon of Nallval, Grand Vizier of Aglazdere
	+ Annakiya, Grand Vizier of Aglazdere
	+ Ayondra, General of the Bouldercloaks
	+ Brennen of Alara, Twin-Emperor of the Final Empire
	+ Callias, Commander of the Faithful
	+ Cosimo Abbascia, Warmaster of World's End
	+ Euphrosyne Luciana Arcanus, General of the Arendurian Army
	+ Francis Forester, Mayor of Forester's Town
	+ Khariton Markov, Captain of the Pale Spear
	+ Lorn Longstaff, Captain of the Raine Knights
	+ Rick, Padishah of Aglazdere
	+ Skraz, Tyrant of Qogor
	+ Slightly, General of the Hunters of the Tyrant
	+ Warrizek, General of the Northern Imperial Army
	+ Welvog Tare, Archon of Mydra Tura
* Able to shift as necessity demands:
	+ Bolgar, King of Ragnarok