Di'Aamascene Civil War

### Outcome:

Secession of 5 independent states from the Accords and the establishment of an autonomous zone in the south.

## Di'Aamascene Civil War

Belligerents| Fulcrumite National Liberation CommitteeLemetiate of Lyrinae

Soeslateral Socialist Republic**Supported By:**Treaty of TraditionPCJKAZKarostain EmpireLemetiate of JabeyrackDuchy of CamariaRepublic of Volaysia | Imperial Surveyors

Leaders| Günther LatilianesJane Harmann

Elise Hawthorne | Seiran Aquilon †

The **Di'Aamascene Civil War** was a period of major civil unrest, violence, and factional warfare in the Di'Aamascene Accords. While fought between seven major factions, the decentralized and heavily-armed nature of the Di'Aamascene Accords meant that many towns--small and large--rebelled independently or switched sides, however these were often not considered major belligerents by contemporary scholars.

The war would eventually end with the 1930 Ceasefire and subsequent Adalwolf Conferences which saw several states secede from the Di'Aamascene Accords and receive recognition in exchange for war reparations.

## Background (1926-1928)

> ***Origins--*** ...and in every advancement the Accords made, instability followed. Often, individual towns had little federal support, and only knew the forces of the capital as tax collectors. In stark contrast, local ideological opposition was more than willing to provide military support...
>
> Viva Aquilon: The Tactics, History, and Impact of the Di'Aamascene Civil War, by Kreidler, M. (1942)

### Causes and Origins (1926-1927)

Ever since the initial documents that created the Di'Aamascene Accords were signed, the country had been riddled with political turmoil and internal strife. The ability for incorporated regions and cities to raise their own militias coupled with the fact that the region was divided religiously, ethnically, politically, and economically meant that political violence was simply a fact of life for citizens living in hotly-contested areas, with various paramilitaries and militias conducting raids and attacks on other towns and cities. Importantly, a political faction known as the Khilseith Guild emerged in late 1924, composed of elven nationalists, ethnonationalists, monarchists, and other radicals. The Guild quickly gained traction among the political elite and wealthy, with both moderates and radicals joining for various reasons. Eventually, the capital and many major cities were under the thumb of the Guild. As Airolian expeditionary forces sent to the SRJ eventually made their way back to their former homes, many saw the instability present and began to establish underground Johninian Socialist militia groups.

### Major Political Upheaval (1927-1928)

#### Jabeyracki Regent Rises to Power

*Main article on Regent Veeldin's rise to power: Rise of Veeldin*

Modern historians attribute the start of the large uptick in violence and attacks to the rise of Regent Veeldin of Jabeyrack, whose initial policies were overtly pro-elf and anti-orc, and the ramifications it had on the Khilseith Guild, which had previously been mostly unified. Many moderates, lesser nobility, and the Prince broke away from the Guild after it announced its support for the Regent, causing a miniature civil war within the Guild. For the next several months, violence and the scale of attacks continued to grow, with forces on both sides clashing on the streets of major cities, further radicalizing the populace and planting the seeds of fear and hatred, which in turn further empowered smaller paramilitaries and rebel groups.

#### Bending the Knee

In what is viewed as the second-most important moment during this time period, the Advisory Body and Seiran Aquilon successfully lobbied for the country to join the Kingdom of Polmaria as a member state. This act was *highly* divisive, both among the government and the populace, and caused mass protests and demonstrations nationwide. Seiran Aquilon also began replacing all of the capital's guards with those loyal to her, and shut off all access in the months that followed. Soon after, militant Liamists and Airolian veterans would form the Lyrinae Independence League and begin guerilla attacks against federal forces. Liamist organizations began to announce themselves and call for revolt or a change in power, further exacerbating the situation.

### Military Organization

The military organization of the various factions varied greatly throughout the war, with a trend of increased organization closer to the war’s end, but the belligerents’ armed forces were generally composed of militias, city guards, and foreign volunteers, with small shock battalions acting as the federal militaries of the factions. The Accords itself would be especially reliant on these militias to supplement federal troops after the disastrous Siege of Lyrinae, which saw the loss of a majority of federal forces.

Several other nations, namely the Second Kingdom of Polmaria–Jabeyrack and Volaysia especially–the Free State of Katavia and (later) Katavian Autonomous Zone, Treaty of Tradition and People’s Concurrence of John, Karostain Empire, Republic of Ospalar, various Liamist states, Union of O’Lear, Tarnist Republic of Kanoria, and others would intervene on the behalf of or otherwise provide military aid to one or more factions involved in the war. The troops, material, and assistance provided were instrumental in replenishing factional resolve and combat ability.

By the end of the war, the Accords and the various splinter states would face severely devastated and stunted populations, population growth, and age demographics–with far more elderly and teenage citizens than adults–due to the reliance on unorganized local militias to compose factional militaries and paramilitaries. The later intense pollution brought on by fissures opened by the Cataclysm would kill a further 2-4 million and keep population growth largely stagnant until 2046.

## Warfare (1928-1930)

> ***Conflict--*** ...though it can be said that a civil war was indeed inevitable in the history of the Accords, it can be equally said that the events that lead to such a conflict were highly unlikely. Such a combination of assassinations and foreign support may have seemed impossible to some...
>
> Viva Aquilon: The Tactics, History, and Impact of the Di'Aamascene Civil War, by Kreidler, M. (1942)

### Political Asssassinations (1928)

Almost immediately after the Accords joined Polmaria, Al'theron Aquilon, important politician and member of the Khilseith Ascendancy, was assassinated by Jabeyracki assassins following a mass relocation of monarchist assets from the metropolises to the western territories. This resulted in the Ascendancy renouncing any support they had for Jabeyrack and caused many moderates to switch sides, appalled that one of the government's leaders was assassinated by a foreign power. After Volaysian agents covertly assassinated the then-King of the Ascendancy, a general by the name of Syllen Tordynnar took charge and had began ramping up the offensive actions taken by the Ascendancy.

### Lyrinae's Seccession (1928)

*Main article: Secession of Lyrinae from the Accords*

Despite skirmishes being fought prior and many citizens having been killed by various paramilitaries, modern historians consider the secession of Lyrinae in late 1928 to be the true start of the Di'Aamascene Civil War. Lyrinae, an important religious site to the state religion--Liamism--, declared itself an independent Lemetiate and ordered all federal soldiers and officials out of the city by taking the ambassador hostage after a takeover by Liamist Airolian veterans, collaborators, fundamentalists, and militants with the general support of the deeply religious city and neighboring regions. With this, the other factions were forced to confront the fact that a quick and easy victory by taking the capital was no longer possible, and so, eventually, all of the various factions besides the federal government declared their official independence, thus officially marking the start of a drawn-out civil conflict instead of a period of violence undertaken by paramilitaries.

### Further Bloodshed (1928)

*Main articles: Siege of Lyrinae, Aquilon Offensive*

   As with the rest of the lead-up to and events within the civil war, the secession of Lyrinae was yet another domino causing further chaos and bloodshed in the rest of the country. Westist cells in the country staked their claim of land, seeking to establish a human apartheid government and to expel foreign influence. Nearby, ex-Fulcrumite forces along with Johninian *émigrés* declared the Fulcrumite National Liberation Committee and announced their desire to secede from the Accords. Conflict between Fulcrumite and Westist forces emerged immediately.

What remained of the federal government--now run from Aeiliam--, in an effort to keep some semblance of authority and legitimacy, started besieging the newly-independent Lyrinae, which kept Lyrinae and itself from mounting any large offensives until the end of the siege.
Both Westist and Fulcrumite cells managed to secure a large amount of territory in the south in the midst of the chaos the country was engulfed in, and had soon begun openly fighting one another. With the FNLC and Lyrinae both on the brink of defeat, they made an alliance, and Fulcrumite troops had moved in to encircle the besieging forces around Lyrinae (the city). In the span of a short few weeks, the federal army around Lyrinae was wiped out, having fought to the last man. Meanwhile, the Ascendancy made a daring push to Aquilon-- one that was successful, splitting the Reyquinal Dynasty in half and the encircling the capital.

### The Aquilon Massacre (1929)

*Main article: Aquilon Massacre*

Simultaneously, crowds of pro-theocracy and Lyrinae-sympathetic civilians gathered in the capital, which was under the control of the Advisory Body. Fearing the safety of their positions and systems, military forces were ordered to disperse the crowd, and multiple protestors were shot and killed in the process. This event caused a skyrocketing amount of unrest, which was only further exacerbated by the Ascendancy besieging the city.

### Landings in Alpirsbach and Engelsbrand (1929)

*Main article: Volaysian intervention in the Accords*

Around a week after the Aquilon Massacre, Westist groups had become organized enough to commit to offensives. Marines landed in the Ascendancy-controlled city of Alpirsbach, and successfully took control of the southern half of the city. However, simultaneously, Volaysian marines landed in Engelsbrand, one of the few cities under Westist control, and took it with minimal resistance. Feeling the pressure of foreign intervention and constant war with the other factions, the leader of the Westists in the Accords, Leutnan-Kerstan Alwen Cyrus, made the decision to commit to an all-or-nothing offensive against the Ascendancy.

### Battle of Fort Kirchzarten (1929)

*Main article: Battle of Fort Kirchzarten*

Lacking support from abroad after the last Westist strongholds in Camaria had fallen along with their fleet, the offensive ended up having less than half of the proposed amount of soldiers. Despite this, Cyrus ordered it to continue, believing it could turn the tide of the war. The Westist 3rd and 5th Divisions (Both were roughly company-sized, with only around 200 soldiers in each. Many of those soldiers were conscripts or reservists, with little to no training.), along with the 2nd Marine Platoon, made a bold offensive into Ascendancy defenses. The Battle of Fort Kirchzarten, as it became known, is notable due to it being the first battle in the civil war that made use of Tarnist "golems", magical suits that are near-impervious to bullets. The shock and awe, along with the poor quality of Westist weapons, meant that the offensive was shattered, with a 76% casualty rate among the total forces.

Around this time, various factions began to pledge support to Clan Baxter of the Union of O'Lear, and diplomats successfully established close ties with the noble family. Unbeknownst to the very same leaders, Clan Baxter had begun a plan to unite the country from the shadows.

### Polmarian Intervention and the Aeiliam Assent (1930)

*Main articles: Polmarian Intervention in the Accords, Aeiliam Assent*

As the civil war continued to spiral out of control, the other Polmarian states began to focus more on Di'Aamascene affairs. Jabeyrack pledged to send divisions of soldiers to Westists territory, assist Volaysian soldiers in the region, and establish an interim government. Simultaneously, Councilman Drenvas of the Jabeyracki Margov made a speech in the Aeiliam Affairs Hall to the different leaders and ambassadors of every faction except the faction. This meeting, which would come to be known as the Aeiliam Assent, ended in an agreement between all of the leaders for a temporary cease-fire in Westist territory for the sake of joint attacks and crushing the Westists.

Baxter-allegiant agents planted within the city also managed to copy secretive documents brought by various leaders, which would prove instrumental to their future plans.

### Operation MORIBUND (1930)

*Main articles: Siege of Conflans, Operation MORIBUND*

Shortly after the Aeiliam Assent, the ex-Triumvirate and later ex-Camarian Westist leader Olson Crenar arrived at a port in Conflans, the Westist capital. Using his seniority, Leutnan-Kerstan Alwen Cyrus was deposed and Crenar declared himself the leader. Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Solterre, a combined Fulcrum-Ascendancy-Federal force operating under Alais Keygeiros of House Keygeiros prepared to move towards the Westist capital before the end of the year. During the battle for Solterre, Alais would die to Cyrus igniting explosives in the tent they were both in, which caused a major split in who should lead the operation for multiple days. Eventually, it was settled that Jean-Pierre Exelian, a Fulcrumite coordinator, would take command. This delay, while not fatal, did mean that the coalition would be unable to reach the capital before Polmarian forces would.

In the coming days, Dornstetten and Conflans would both be entirely encircled by coalition forces. By the time Polmarian forces had reached Conflans' city limits, over a thousand Westist soldiers had died or been captured, and Westist command was running out of options. Crenar, having seen the writing on the wall, much like his predecessor, decided to recall as many soldiers to the capital as possible and hold out. Both sides dug in for a grueling siege, and more arms and ammunition were being sent to Polmarian lines from the mainland.

The Westist response to this situation would prove fatal.

### Baxter Espionage and Counterintelligence (1928-1930)

*Main article: Baxter involvement in the Di'Aamascene Civil War*

> ***Baxters--*** Indeed, the Baxters were critical to the eventual ceasefire that ended the war.
>
> ...many family members directly assassinated key leaders in order to force a peace. It is difficult now to ascertain which tales are real and which are apocryphal...
>
> Viva Aquilon: The Tactics, History, and Impact of the Di'Aamascene Civil War, by Kreidler, M. (1942)

Beginning in 1928, Clan Baxter had planted agents within many of the factions in the Di'Aamascene Civil War. While this itself was known to the higher-ups of the factions who pledged their support to Clan Baxter, the principal objective of these agents remained a secret. Augustus Baxter, knowing the strategic importance of having a unified ally on the mainland and within Polmaria, had ordered the various agents to begin manipulating the splinter states and their leaders, and to, if necessary, force unification.

The highest-ranking and most well-trained agent assigned to this task was Alrik Baxter, son of Maurice Baxter and childhood friend of Laurents Baxter. For all of 1929, the various agents simply engaged in intelligence gathering and minor influencing of the factions. Although, some have made the claim that the leaders attended the Aeiliam Assent purely because of Baxter influence-- this is unsubstantiated, though possible. What is confirmed is that throughout 1930, Baxter agents, especially Alrik Baxter, begun directly intervening in the affairs of the countries.

In late 1930, Alrik Baxter, under the pseudonym Ciel Szenac, approached Aenwyn Xyridithias, right-hand-man of then-Lord-Regent Syllen Tordynnar, handed him documents of suggestions for a human to be elevated to nobility and a schedule and roster of Tordynnar's guards and their shifts, and brought up Tordynnar's faults as a leader. This started a cascade of events that resulted in a *coup d'état* of Tordynnar, his assassination, and the rise of Xyridithias, a much less militaristic leader. The mysterious disappearances of Prince Kelion Reyquinal and his cousin Enevia Faeblade are also attributed to Alrik Baxter, although the circumstances around their disappearances remains far more unclear. Regardless, the decapitation of Dynasty leadership undoubtedly forced their surrender to the Ascendancy.

### A Turbulent West (1930-1931)

As the factions of the heartland had begun to work together and agree to non-aggression pacts, the people of the western Equilibrium-Soeslateral Territories were still reeling from the aftereffects of a war on their borders. Despite no offensive actions being taken directly against them, they had been starved out for years and almost nothing came to help them from the mainland, as the federal government was in a civil war. The Fulcrum Loyalists, who had originated in the city of Equilibrium and had a large amount of influence in the Territories, had likewise sent nothing at all. The local governor, Elise Hawthorne, was herself a supporter of the Fulcrum Loyalists. However, as mass demonstrations across the Territories advocating for independence began to occur and not a word was heard from the mainland, she began to worry.

The following year, Hawthorne called a meeting consisting of the various mayors and political figures across the Territories. Following heavy deliberation, it was decided that the country would remain a territory of the Accords and loyal to the Fulcrum Loyalists. Elise returned to Equilibrium to find it in uproar. Mobs and organized militias openly clashed on the street with law enforcement and infantry reserves. Several arms depots, outposts, and even an airfield with a fleet of 4 airships had been captured by the rebels, who were calling themselves the Soeslateral Socialist Republic and had declared that the Fulcrum Loyalists had been corrupted by the monarchists in the east.

In response, the few remaining military units that had remained loyal to the Fulcrum opened fire on rebel or rebel-aligned groups, civilians included. Elise was horrified upon hearing this and defected to the rebels' cause. This response would cause many fence-sitting cities and garrisons to switch sides and join the rebels. After barely a week of fighting, the Fulcrum-aligned forces had all either surrendered or been gunned down by rebel forces. In order to prevent a power struggle in the newly-born Soeslateral Socialist Republic, Elise Hawthorne was elected as the first General Councilwoman, an "interim" overseer of the country, meant to prevent infighting between the various newly-created councils. Seeking new allies in the unforgiving political landscape of Helinska, the SSR reached out to many of the unaligned splinter councils...

...and the Treaty of Tradition.

## Final Stages of the War (1930-1931)

> ***Deescalation--*** After four increasingly brutal years of bloodshed, the final months of 1930 would show the signs of peace through negotiation and peace through brutality.
>  With the fall of various strongholds and lengthy negotiation, the stage was set for an armistice...
>
> Viva Aquilon: The Tactics, History, and Impact of the Di'Aamascene Civil War, by Kreidler, M.

### The Siege of Conflans and Fall of Alpirsbach (1930)

*Main articles: Siege of Conflans, Second Battle of Alpirsbach*

Conflans, de facto capital of the Di’Aamascene Westists, was the coalition forces’ first priority. As such, they immediately began besieging the city after occupying the neighboring towns and villages. However, after 3 months without fighting a unifying enemy, loyalties began to crack within the coalition army– most of which was technically still at war with each other. While not violent when first emerging, Jabeyracki General Somvit felt that if he continued with the siege, the coalition would completely disintegrate. In order to prevent this, he ordered an immediate assault on the city.

Despite extensive fortifications, the inexperienced, poorly-trained, fed, and equipped nature of the Westist garrison, as well as numerous coalition tactical victories and the element of surprise, the outer defenses fell in around an hour. The rest of the battle would be fought through the city proper, incurring thousands of civilian casualties through collateral damage, Westist suicide attacks, mass conscription of the citizenry, and the purposeful usage of civilians as human shields by Westist forces.

The battle would end 3 days later following the deaths of local Westist high command and the en masse surrender of conscripted civilians. The International City of Conflans was established, governed by a representative council of Jabeyracki, Ascendant, Fulcrumite, and federal leaders.

A week later, Ascendant forces under Kordelia Tordynnar would lead an assault on the Westist-occupied city of Alpirsbach. The city would fall in only 4 hours, in large part due to the deployment of the Golem Lord *Scourge*.

### The Aquilon Siege Concludes (1930)

*Main articles: Siege of Aquilon, Independent Republic of Aquilon, Sack of Aquilon*

By 1930, Aquilon had been under siege for the past 2 years. Food supplies, while not low, had begun to dwindle severely. Rations had been implemented, further exacerbating the preexisting political problems within the city. Despite its idealistic beginnings of republicanism, the Imperial Surveyors had been plagued with unrest and instability since 1929, largely due to the widespread extremism and bloodshed in the region as well as the ongoing siege. A sizable number of the Liamist population in the city had advocated the creation of a theocracy, many elves and monarchists had attempted to pressure the government to surrender, and many of the wealthy industrialists that had brought the city to its unattainable riches had fled. Paramilitaries began to openly clash with republican soldiers on city streets.

In response, the Advisory Body declared itself a provisional government and withheld elections until a period of stability returned to the region. This action distanced the moderates and democratic citizens in the city. At this point, even if elections had been held, democracy in the Advisory Body was almost doomed to fail.

However, the Ascendancy had offered them an olive branch: a peace deal if they agreed to support the Ascendancy militarily. With little else to rely on, and knowing it would placate much of the city populace, they voted nearly unilaterally to accept the peace treaty. When this news got out, it did placate the monarchist and elven nationalist groups, but it completely enraged the rest of the city, including many members of the Advisorial garrisons. Major riots broke out across the city almost immediately and a mob descended on the Advisory Hall. After a brief scuffle, Seiran Aquilon was defenestrated, the government deposed, and the ‘Independent Republic of Aquilon’ declared under another provisional government.

Despite the radically different beliefs of the city’s inhabitants, morale surged— in the city, that is. The besieging Ascendant army, however, was furious, and immediately commenced an attack of the city. Due to the continuing paramilitary warfare taking up most of the garrison’s duties, the walls and defenses were largely undermanned. Ascendant troops sustained heavy casualties but broke through into the city, with Ascendant commander Aegnor Aafje declaring it his personal fief and instituting an immediate series of violent reprisals on the city’s inhabitants for attempting to throw away the peace deal.

The subsequent Sack of Aquilon was renowned for its brutality. It is estimated that 25-30% of the city’s population was killed and another 30% fled the city. A majority of the city’s historical architecture, temples, shrines, universities, libraries, monuments, museums, and other places of value were looted and/or destroyed. Waves of sicknesses are often considered a major cause of death alongside Ascendant atrocities.

Newly-crowned King Aenwyn I, having received radio reports on the Sack, immediately ordered his loyal bannermen in the city to mutiny and overthrow Aegnor. Aegnor was shot along with top lieutenants, the city declared a royal holding, and many of the soldiers under Aegnor tried and executed. Regardless, Aquilon would not recover for decades.

### Peace Talks and 1930 Ceasefire (1930)

*Main articles: 1930 Ceasefire*

With the fall of Aquilon–the symbolic primary military target of all factions throughout the war–, support for the war among military and political officials fell dramatically. Most civilians, already incredibly against the war due to the devastation it had caused, began protesting, rioting, refusing to fight, or refusing to provide their taxes and food tribute. This itself caused major economic destabilization among the factions, and soldiers began instituting unofficial truces across the fronts, especially in the Di’Aamascene South where many of the soldiers had previously fought side-by-side against the Westists, and Polmarian military police kept them from turning on one another. When a lack of tribute caused the factions to be unable to feed and pay their soldiers, mutinies became incredibly common. Soldiers ordered to force tribute often disobeyed and refused orders. On the other hand, many mutineers would rove the region, exacting tribute of their own by force. By and large, this was less the case in the Ascendancy, but the sustained political turmoil from the Kelion Conspiracy, feudalism, differing and often extremist internal ideologies, and public outcry from the Sack of Aquilon had begun to significantly hamper Ascendant industry and the war effort.

With the war quickly becoming untenable for all involved, the leaders of every faction met once more in Aeiliam to discuss an overall ceasefire. Negotiations lasted for 16 days, with concessions being demanded and denied for much of the meetings. However, eventually, the leaders resolved on a compromise: halt the ongoing fighting and return to the negotiating table at a later date.

### Operation RECOURSE and Landings at Equilibrium (1931)

*Main articles: Operation RECOURSE, Battle of Equilibrium (1931)*

Despite the 1930 Ceasefire being signed into writing, none of the factions recognized the Soeslateral Socialist Republic as a legitimate political entity, only as an insurgency in Fulcrumite territory. However, the loss of the Incorporated Territories was a major blow to Fulcrumite prestige and diplomatic weight. As such, Fulcrumite command ordered an immediate naval invasion of the Republic to bring it back under control and give the FNLC further bargaining at the eventual final peace treaty.

When Operation RECOURSE was set into motion, Fulcrumite forces were woefully inexperienced in naval warfare and generally for want of manpower, winter in Western Helinska was one of the worst on record (i.e. discounting winters during the Cataclysm), and the political situation at home strenuous at best. Despite this, Fulcrumite high command reconstituted their few riverine and greenwater forces with various civilian barges, haulers, and other ships to transport their soldiers westwards, effective immediately. With the ceasefire in order and the various factions still at each others' throats politically, it was determined that immediate action was necessary if the Fulcrumites desired a more favorable position in the treaties to come.

When they arrived, many Fulcrumite soldiers were wracked with seasickness or disease. The landing force was split into three sections, one north of Equilibrium, one south of it, and one directly attacking the city itself. The northern invasion force made steady progress but was forced to halt their advance due to mud, the weather freezing oil within the minor vehicular support, and aforementioned sickness after only a week. The southern invasion force, made up of many former Fulcrumite expeditionary units, made successive gains and achieved brilliant tactical victories in numerous battles, but were intentionally drawn further away from the coast (and their tenuous supply line) and eventually cut off. The southern force would make a brief last stand and then surrender 2 days later. The northern force, disorganized and facing an entrenched enemy, was decisively repulsed that left them mauled and unable to continue the fight.

Following these strategic blunders, the remaining forces in the SSR would be immediately recalled and the invasion force called off.

### Adalwolf Conferences (1931)

*Main articles: Adalwolf Conferences, OCH-DOM, Aeiliam Trials, Joint South Occupation Zone*

With every competing faction unable to sustain the economic, political, and other burdens of continuing the war effort, leaders from every faction convened in the city of Adalwolf 6 times over the course of January, 1931. During these meetings, it was decided that the major extant belligerents of the war would be granted independence from the Accords. To damage Fulcrumite influence and keep a semblance of power balance, they were forced to liberate the Soeslateral Socialist Republic and pay war reparations to the fledgling nation. The Accords agreed to recognize the independence of all seceding states in exchange for war reparations paid over the course of the following 99 years. There was a unanimous desire to have peacekeeping forces monitor borders and for war criminals to be tried in a court of law; however, arguments over who should lead the trials and peacekeeping missions led to near-immediate deadlock. To placate all sides, it was eventually decided that the nascent Organization for the Cooperation of Helinska would be in charge of these objectives.

The military occupation of former Westist territory was still ongoing during the Adalwolf Conferences. Due to the strategic location of the region, the immense natural resources there, and a general desire to subvert the influence of the other factions, conflicting claims eventually led to the establishment of a Joint South Occupation Zone, headed by representatives of every faction formerly in the South Di'Aamascene Coalition and with *de jure* Polmarian oversight.

## References

1. ↑ *The ex-capital of the Lemetiate of Airolia.*
2. ↑ *Ambassador Jean Antoine was taken hostage. He was a key member of the federal loyalists during the remainder of the civil war.*
3. ↑ *Despite this, the "paramilitaries" referred to simply became the standing armies of the various splinter states.*
4. ↑ *Chronicle of the Black Iron Heart, by Cyran Virwenys.*