The Sundering

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**The Sundering**, or **The Great War** was a global conflict that lasted from 1925 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries, including all the great powers, fought as part of two opposing military alliances: the Alliance and the Compact. Many participating countries invested all available economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities into this total war, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. Aircraft played a major role, enabling the strategic bombing of population centres and delivery of the only two nuclear weapons ever used in war, (until the FVRC's use during the Gondarian invasion). It was by far the deadliest conflict in history, resulting in 80–100 million fatalities. Millions died due to genocides, as well as starvation, massacres, and disease. In the wake of Compact defeat, Bakia, Kenshi, and Batavia were occupied, and war crime tribunals were conducted against Compact leaders.

Increasing diplomatic and religious tension between the great powers of Al'ard reached a breaking point on 28 June 1925, when a Esmeldi-Dytovan named Éamonn Pearse assassinated High Prelate Clovus II, leader of the Corinite faith and a native of Dytov, while traveling through Cathfola. Esmeld was a semi-independent protectorate under Dytovian administration, the suppression of Bana Ortho religious rights by Dytovian sponsored Corinite authorities motivated Éamonn Pearse to carry out the assassination. Outraged, Dytovian authorities announced the immediate annexation of Esmeld and martial law, this would spark the Esmeld war of resistance, as the later Esmeldi genocide.

The annexation of Esmeld sparked a quick reaction from the neighbouring Skalan Empire, who claimed the unilateral annexation violated the Dytovian-Skallan Treaty of mutual non-expansion. Dytov responded that the matter was domestic security action against terrorism, and thus did not violate the terms of the treaty, but Skallan, seeing an opportunity to expand into the Rassto Territories, declared war. This war declaration, prompted Dytov's closest ally, the Bakian Republic to join the war in defence of Dytov. This in turn prompted Tisorzag, Skallan's strategic ally, to declare war on Bakia, sparking the major clash that would ravage Revachol for the next 20 years.

The war would take on an increased religious dimension as the Corinite church convened to replace the murdered High Prelate. The Corinite Advocate, and 2nd highest ranking Church official, Balphus IV called for the beginning of a new crusade against the heretics and enemies of Corin. Kenshi, a staunchly Corinite country used this as an opportunity to enter the war on the side of the Compact and claim territory in Western Azul and Portla.

In 1928, the war would expand into Western Ardenica, as the Lilac Kingdoms of Chamia, Dampia, Ervia, Boulia and Savia launched an invasion of Dytov, to help relieve pressure off the struggling Skallan forces. This in turn provoked Gondar, Lalia, Mayar, and Boginia to officially join the war, and invade the Lilac Kingdoms.

As war raged across most of Al'ard, the Sorbian continent remained largely peaceful, with Perinost and Aveen overtly supporting the Alliance forces, but remaining officially neutral. This would change in 1932, when Batavia, despite being a Ravelian state, launched a surprise invasion of Aveen, while Kenshi invaded the Perinosti and Aveen colonies of Phrae, Ainiho, Mesa, and Gard.

This provoked a new and brutal phase of the war, eventually however, momentum would turn against the Compact forces. Noryeagar and much of Bakia were occupied in 1941 by Tisorzag and the United Province, while Tyrrhus sued for peace. Dytov, while winning on most fronts, was nevertheless exhausted and riven with internal discontent, decided to abandon the Compact and join the Alliance in exchange for guarantees to maintain its pre-war territorial integrity. This agreement would become known as the **Betrayal of Esmeld** by Esmeldi forces. By 1944, Batavian forces had been forced off of the mainland Sorbian continent, and Alliance forces were advancing upon Bantam.

The war would finally conclude in 1945 with the dropping of the Perinosti atomic weapon **Lone Ranger** on the Kenshi city of Soto-ishi. The Sundering changed the political alignment and social structure of Al'ard, and set the foundation for the international order for the rest of the 20th century and into the 21st century. The Association of Independent States was established to foster international cooperation and prevent conflicts. The damage done to the Laliac Kingdoms would lead to the eventual Vanguardist revolution, and establishment of the FVRC, while the Skallan Empire would eventually collapse and be subsumed by the resurgent Empire of Adamar. The lasting instability in Dytov would eventually lead to the Great Dytovian Refusal and the collapse of Greater Dytov. In the wake of Revachol and Sorbian devastation, the influence of its great powers waned, triggering the decolonization of Azul and Portola. Most countries whose industries had been damaged moved towards economic recovery and expansion.

### History

#### Assassination of High Prelate Clovus II

Dytov was a Corinite state the ruled over a large and diverse Ravelian population, and no area was more resistant to Dytovan-Corinite rule than Esmeld. Long in the Dytovan sphere of influence, Esmeld maintained a degree of independence, able to largely exercise its own government functions, with foreign oversight from Dytov. However many within Esmeld were concerned about the growing pressure of Dytovian culture, and especially the spread of Corinism within the country. These fears seemed to be proven true when Dytovian native, High Prelate Clovus II initiated a national tour of Dytov, convinced to end his tour with a visit to Esmeldi capital of Cathfola to preach to a small enclave of Corinites in the city, seemingly without being aware of the tensions on the ground, or the fact that Esmeld was technically independent from Dytov. Éamonn Pearse was a 19 year old factory worker and devote Bana Orthoist and Esmeldi native, present in Cathfola during the High Prelate's visit. Early in the morning on June 28th 1925, Pearse was dismissed from his factory job to be replaced by a Dytovan/Corinite worker. Enraged, Pearse walked through the city to the Church of Corin's Holy Light, where the High Prelate was meant to visit. Finding the High Prelate outside the Church, greeting a small group of Corinites without security, Pearse pushed through the crowd and struck the High Prelate five times on the head with a crowbar, killing him. Pursued by authorities, Éamonn Pearse jumped from the Grattan Bridge to his presumed death.

#### Occupation of Esmeld

Following the assassination of High Prelate Clovus II, the Dytovian government, gripped by national outrage, announced the immediate annexation of Esmeld and martial law within its borders. Lacking any notable conventional military forces, Esmeld was overwhelmed by Dytovian divisions within a few weeks. This also initiated the beginnings of the Esmeldi Genocide. Beginning as an ad hoc series of massacres, the lynching of Esmeldi citizens by both Dytovian civilians and security forces became common place, though not yet a matter of government policy. The industrialization of state sanctioned genocide would not occur until years into the war.

#### War Breaks out in Eastern Ardenica

Although a majority Corinite nation, the Skallan Empire had a long rivalry and history of conflict with Dytov. Peace had been maintained by the two nations based on a mutual treaty of non-expansion. Skallan government officials argued that the annexation of Esmeld constituted a violation of this agreement, while Dytovian diplomats argued that as Esmeld was already a protectorate of Dytov, the change in status of Esmeld did not constitute a legal violation of the treaty. Regardless, the Skallan Empire was motivated to take advantage of the situation, and press a perceived military advantage to quickly secure some desired territory in the Rassto region. On September 1st 1925, Skallan military forces launched an invasion of Dytov. The Skallan Forces made initial gains into the Rassto region, but struggled to push through Dytovian fortifications to enter deeper into Dytovian territory. The conflict became a long line of flexible meeting engagements, characterized by overstretched supply lines and disease.

#### War in Revachol

Mirroring the rivalry of Skallan and Dytov, the continent of Revachol was split between the Ravelian Tisorzag Empire and the Corinite Bakian Republic, who had for centuries shared a history of conflict and rivalry. The Bakian Republic, an ally of the Federation of Dytov, quickly announced their joining of the war, this was followed the next day by a diplomatic release from the Tisorzag Emperor announcing their joining of the Skallan Empire in the "enforcement of international law and peace." Bakian and Tisorzagian forces quickly mobilized along the border. The more modern and better led Bakian forces outpaced Tisorzag, and quickly made gains, capturing the contested Banyoles region. However the adoption of early machine guns and artillery by both sides led to heavy casualties. Momentum stalled, and the war quickly turned into a stalemate consisting of lines of fortified trenches along the extent of the Bakian/Tisorzagian border. This status quo would remain for almost the entirety of the war, punctuated by mass assaults and a devastating loss of life on both sides.

#### Crusade of Balphus IV

One of the most controversial moments of the war, and arguable catalyst for expanding the war into a global sectarian conflict and sparking the expansion of the Esmeld Genocide among others, was the call for a Corinite Crusade by Advocate Balphus IV on Nov 21st 1925. The death of the High Prelate had paralyzed the Corinite leadership, leaving a power vacuum that was exploited by the Corinite Church's second most senior figure, the Advocate Balphus IV. The Advocate was a position meant to represent the ambition, independence, and ferocity of the faith, but also as a voice of opposition in Church matters, to argue the opposing point of view to the High Prelate, but not to ever lead directly. Regardless of this breach of precedent, Balphus IV capitalized on the global outrage in the Corinite community to call for a Crusade, something unheard of for centuries. While Skallan was a majority Corinite empire, the ruling nobility had long maintained a secular policy to government affairs, and often clashed with the Corinite Church establishment. Balphus IV and many of his supporters saw this as an opportunity to both launch a war against Ravelians, and to reaffirm Corinite Church authority in political matters across Al'ard. Almost immediately this call for Crusade sparked civil rest across Al'ard, including the Kanev Uprising in Skallan, and mass Corinite demonstrations against the Skallan Empire, severely hampering its military capabilities. It also resulted in the Abermian Civil War, with the Abermian Empire collapsing into religious violence between Ravelian North Abermia and Corinite Inner Abermia. This Crusade would also encourage Kenshi to fulfill its long held territorial ambitions in Azul and Portola.

#### Founding of the Compact

During the Corinite Holiday of the Eternal Sun on 21 June 1926, the President of Bakia, President of Dytov and Prime Minister of Kenshi met in a secret meeting is Susa, overseen by Advocate Balphus IV, to formalize the **Compact of the Sun** between the three leading Corinite Nations, and facilitate Kenshi's participation in the war.

#### Kenshi Theatre

While Kenshi oversaw a vast colonial territory, including Nagahara, Kuta, Federated Baska, and Balbasi, it had ambitions to expand its territory throughout all of Portola and Western Azul. Following the announcement of the Compact of the Sun, Kenshi launched decisive invasions of Acas, United Alba, Veras, Amar, and the United Province colony of Pretval. This invasion provoked international condemnation, especially from Perinost and Aveen, and officially brought the United Province into the war, opening a new front in Revachol.

#### Northern Revachol Front

The founding of the Compact and Kenshi invasion of Pretval, brought the United Province into the conflict on the side of the Alliance, opening up another front for Bakia. However, the call for Crusade had motivated the devoutly Corinite Noryeagar to quickly invade and occupy Hofeni and support Bakia in a long occupation of the United Province. In response, Lahr and Mauland would join the Alliance, and support the defence of Tisorzag and the protection of the Hjaettul Sound. Tyyhrus would join the Compact in 1927, but was primarily focused on the suppression of its own non-Corinite minority population, rather than sending military forces to aid the frontlines.

#### The Lilac Front 1928

By 1928, Dytovan forces were steadily advancing through Skallan territory, and the cause of the Compact seemed certain of victory. Fearing the outcome if the Corinite forces succeeded, the Lilac Kingdoms of Chamia, Dampia, Ervia, Boulia and Savia launched an joint invasion into Southern Dytov, to try to quickly force Dytov out of the war while they were distracted in Skallan, and secure their Northern borders from Corinite attack. While this succeeded in taking Dytov by surprise, the Lilac Kingdoms were not expecting the speed in which Gondar, Lalia, Mayar, and Boginia mobilized and launched their own invasion. While it was expected this would eventually occur, Lilac strategists expected several months to secure territory in Northern Dytov first. It is suspected that Gondar, Lalia, Mayar, and Boginia were already in the process of preparing their own invasion of the Lilac Kingdoms, when the Kingdoms had invaded Dytov. Western Ardenica would quickly become a tangled mess of marching armies, with clear frontlines almost impossible to distinguish,