Dystopian Heretic War

* Houses Raine and Ma'Rhegar pledge loyalty to the Heretic Empire

**Pyrrhic Enlightened victory (Phase II)**

* Re-fragmentation upon Skye Hart's seizure of the Heretic Empire
* Tensions from the conflict carry on in Tiranian Empire Uprising

*Details:*

* Extinction of the Heretic Empire
* Heretic Empire briefly revived by Mistress Skye Hart, later defeated
* Vanessa Hart thrown from her airship during Battle for Aurelia, succeeded by Skye Hart,
* Skye Hart is imprisoned at Rarsaw Penal Institution after the Battle for Aurelia
* Subsequent beginning of many localized hostilities throughout several regions in Aurelia, including Castillion, Ryalis, Isling, and Harpeia
* Devastation to large areas of Aurelia

### Battles and events

Assassination of Lord Tarron **·** Battle of Royale **·** Liberation of Ryalis **·** Skirmish of the Wall **·** The Rarsaw Prison Break **·** Massacre at Northwall Fortress **·** Battle at the Dreadfort **·** Liberation of Misbah **·** The Assassination of Vanessa Hart **·** The Battle of Aurelia

The **Dystopian Heretic War**, also known as the **Conquest of Aurelia**, **The War**, and the **Great War** was a major multi-theater civil war in the Continent of Aurelia that erupted in the wake of the assassination of Lord Tarron. In essence, the war was a three-way battle for the Heretic Empire fought alongside two independence movements. The conflict was orchestrated by Skye Hart, the de facto ruler of the Heretic Empire, who poisoned Lord Tarron, and sent a letter to Katelynn's mother, Gabriella, claiming that it was the lords of Ryalis who had poisoned Katelynn's father. Upon Lord Tarron's death, his heir apparent, Katelynn Tezzar, takes over Royale City. However, the revelation that she is an Enlightened and Lord Tarron and Gabriella have been protecting her since she was given to them both by Lady Luxianna. However, over the course of the escalating conflict, several smaller factions became involved in the fighting as well.

Taking advantage of the absence of the True Enlightened and using their economical, technological, and military superiority for most of the war, the Heretic Empire was able to wreak worldwide destruction and widespread loss of life upon the other nations. The war officially began in 234 AD with the infamous genocide of the Enlightened Race, whose temples and settlements were falsely presumed to be unassailable to outsiders due to the Enlightened possessing the sole means of getting to them. Following the near destruction of the Enlightened Race, the Heretic Empire launched a massive coordinated invasion on the western countries of Ryalis and Castillion. Over the course of the next several years, the Heretic Empire slowly advanced into the Ryalis countryside and established several colonies on the mainland. On the seas, the Heretic Empire also initiated raids on the indigenous tribes on Brightcrown Island, and ravaged the Isle of Reva, which devastated those that lived on the islands. By 236 AD, the Heretic Empire had effectively eradicated nearly 97% of the Enlightened Race, virtually annihilated the Isles of Isling and Harpeia, and controlled most of the Aurelian continent to the point of near victory. The last strongholds able to defend themselves were the Country of Castillion, Province of Shandoria, and the cities of Infinium and Shimochichi.

Upon the True Enlightened's return in 236 AD, the Heretic Empire undertook a far more aggressive plan of attack, taking bigger risks to deliver devastating blows to their opposition and render any possible intervention from Katelynn too late. This strategy resulted in colossal setbacks for the Heretic Empire when the True Enlightened became involved. Notably, the Heretic Empire launched a massive invasion of the Ryalis, after they realized that Katelynn was taking refuge there, and suffered a crushing defeat at the last second when Katelynn managed to intervene. Similarly, an effort to breach the walls of Infinium utilizing a giant airship armada was also thwarted. Despite these setbacks, several victories were also won, including the surrender of Castillion and the infiltration and Fall of Shandoria, leaving the cities of Infinium and Shimochichi as the last remaining strongholds to Heretic Empire global hegemony. In an effort to turn the tide of the war, an army assembled from the remnants of the soldiers from Royale and members of the Resistance attempted an invasion of the Heretic Empire from within their own stronghold in Misbah during mid 236 AD. The invasion ultimately failed, with nearly all members of the invasion force captured or killed by the Heretic Empire.