Krofto-Veintish Conflict

The **Krofto-Veintish Conflict** (also known as the **Krotfo-Veintish War** or the **Farna War**), was a brief armed conflict between the Kroftish Empire and the Kingdom of Veintland-Rindland that lasted from May 12-15, 372. The conflict resulted in the Kroftish annexation of some territory east of the Farna river, including the villages of Zemolokdruf and Londdruf. It was the only time in history in which the two nations fought against one another.

## Overview

### Background

Following a disastrous defeat in the Decolonization Wars and loss of his colony in Nabila, Kroftish emperor Karel I looked to expand his realm within Helva. He eyed the Veintish occupied Farna region due to its Kroftish speaking population and his desire to control all lands east of the river. Veintland-Rindland had a far smaller and less capable force, and it was deemed to be a poorly defended target. The Kroftish inhabitants of the region had little loyalty to the kingdom, and had sought to break away and join Kroftland, to the behest of the local Veintish lords. Due to previously good relations with Veintland-Rindland, Karel I initially approached king Dans III to purchase the territory for 500 pounds of gold, which was turned down immediately. Seeing no other options, Karel I set up a military encampment in the nearby Kroftish-controlled village of Farnahut in April of 372, and positioned 3 regiments in the area.

After briefly drawing up plans for the invasion, on May 12th, Kroftish troops were given the orders to invade the land at all costs, and seize the two villages.

## Battle of Londdruf

*Main Article: Battle of Londdruf*

At dawn on the 12th, the Kroftish 3rd Infantry Regiment and 2nd Cavalry Regiment, accompanied by an artillery battery, began to barrage the encampment of the 1st Rindish Dragoon Regiment. The village of Londdruf was seen as more strategically important than Zemolokdruf, and was thus allocated more men and resources. Rindish scouts in the area warned major Sondor Velem Merigmon that the Krofts were advancing quickly and that they heavily outnumber the Dragoons. Merigmon delegated command of the camp garrison to Captain Yon Hogol, and took a small contingent of 20 men on horse to act as a counter-attack.

### Merigmon's charge

With a hastily assembled force of just 21 cavalrymen, Merigmon charged at the ranks of advancing Kroftish infantry, routing an entire company from the encampment. They continued their advance in an effort to suppress the cannons, but quickly encountered another company from the 3rd Infantry Regiment. With their horses now exhausted and wounded, Merigmon ordered his men to dismount and fix their bayonets to prepare for a charge. The Kroftish infantry, numbering over a hundred, had Merigmon's men outnumbered five-to-one. Rather than retreating, Merigmon ordered his men to continue with their charge, killing 15 more Kroftish soldier before they were themselves killed.

With Merigmon's efforts, Captain Hogol was able to carry out a retreat with his men to the western side of the Farna after burning down many of the village's houses.

### Kroftish occupation of Londdruf

With Merigmon's charge being suppressed and the rest of the Dragoons having retreated, the Kroftish 3rd Infantry Regiment advanced to find Londdruf in flames, with the townspeople panicking. Colonel Roebor Lokas Shnei quickly dispatched his men to gather barrels of water from the river to put out the fire, to little avail. By the end, over a third of the houses Londdruf had been burnt to the ground, with several civilians suffering from burns.

## Battle of Zemolokdruf

Shortly after the victory of the 3rd Infantry Regiment at Londdruf, on May 13th, the 5th Infantry Regiment began its advance toward Zemolokdruf. The Kroftish troops met the Veintish 4th Infantry Regiment on a field just north of the town, and engaged in brief line combat. After just 20 minutes of fighting, Colonel Mekol Haltar Riidz of the Veintish 4th Infantry gave orders to retreat, seeing any further resistance as punitive.

As the Veints began to retreat, the Kroftish soldiers continued to attack, killing roughly 20 Veintish soldiers, and wounding a further 100. Colonel Riidz's forces eventually made it to the river bank, where they were provided cover from Hogol's remaining Dragoons.

## Veinto-Rindish surrender

Following two subsequent defeats on the battlefield, messengers were sent to Stirmvild on the night of the 13th to inform king Dans III that the Krofts had taken the territory and that Veinto-Rindish forces would not be capable of holding back further advance. Due to Stirmvild's proximity to the front line and the rather low value of the territory itself, Dans III ordered his diplomats to surrender to the Krofts under the condition they halt their advance and do not take any further territory. Karel I happily accepted the offer, and the peace went into effect on May the 15th.