Third Northern War

by Ioan Dumitrescu

A few wars, and many skirmishes, had been fought between the northern and eastern provinces of the current federation of Tiel, which, back then, were their own countries, and Friac’seoue. The Third Northern War was the last of those wars fought before Tiel became a federation.
The wars fought in the north were typically caused by the constant tug-of-war around the border that the two continents share around the Axdrum mountains. This border has been ignored, or willfully crossed over, at different times in history, causing political and military conflicts. The wars fought in the east and west of Tiel and Friac’seoue respectively were typically initiated over the fishing and harvesting rights of the sea that was located between both continents.

We must fight against the western invaders! They keep ignoring our borders, generation after generation. Those of you who ask me: "why should I fight? they don't threaten us." They will. Slowly but surely, they will conquer more and more of Friac’seoue. And by the time you want to fight back, there will be not enough of us to fight!

— Vina

Background: The Second Northern War

The Second Northern War had left the northern border shifted towards the east, decreasing substantially the mountain range area that the dwarves were allowed to occupy. The Second Northern War had been a success for the northern people of Friac’seoue thanks to the involvement of a large section of the population of the continent: from halflings and their dire pangolins to centaurs. This had been thanks to the charismatic leader of the Northern Vanaras: Vina.
It had also been favourable for those hailing from Friac’seoue because the clan of dwarves who were living in the western side of the mountains (beyond the borders) had entered into a fight with the clans living in the eastern side of the mountains, and refused to ask for help to fight the war

Prelude: Living space and trade

by Kodi Ak

Some of the vanaras living in the mountains and in the cold tundra area around them started using the cave systems that the dwarves had built in the mountain. Within a couple of generations, there were several tribes of vanaras who had started using the caves as a permanent base. 120 years later, approximately five vanara generations (but only one dwarf generation), the vanaras were using the full extent of the tunnels that were inside of their borders

A council was called by Kiri, a young warrior who advocated for conquering Tiel mountains. There were strong oppositions to this plan, but in the end, greed and necessity pushed the council in Kiri's favour. The council decided it was time to push the borders further into the west. They had done it last time; they could do it again. What the vanaras didn't realize, is that this time they didn't have a popular hero like Vina who could motivate the masses of Friac’seoue on their behalf.
But things in Tiel had changed quite a bit during the last dwarf generation, and not only for dwarves. The loss of income from precious gems and metals had led to the establishment of other mines, and to the increased importance and trade with already established cities with mines, like Sprawling City. The diversification of trade led to an increase in exports for those countries that had mines (new or old). The increase in trade options led to an increase in continent-wide politics, and many countries started seeing the benefits of reducing levies and opening up their borders.

Declaration of War

by RedDo

It didn't take long for vanaras to find dwarves. When the scouts found a cave system which was inhabited, a plan was formed. At night, they assembled around the closest cave entrances and started preparing by deploying their armies around the different entrances and setting up the teams which would shape the stone to increase the size of the cave entrances. Before dawn, the druids started to work on the stone, creating large entrances into the caves so that the vanara armies would not experience a bottleneck. At dawn, the vanara army descended onto its enemies and massacred the majority of those within.

Those that managed to get away soon alerted the other parts of the fortress, as well as clans living close by. From their reports, it was clear that they couldn't fight and win; they were vastly outnumbered and worse, they were unprepared. It was decided to make a tactical withdrawal, hoping the vanara army would not be able to track them through the cave system. Runesmiths stepped forward and announced they would be staying behind. Their magical runes would delay the vanara army, and give the rest of the population a chance to escape to safety.

War on all sides

The dwarven country of Skofisbrug solicited help to their neighbours: Skipasmif, Daritiv, and Famaxia. They all three agreed to send troops and food. Once it became clear that the vanaras were after the mountains, and that other areas of Tiel were in danger, other countries started sending help in the form of troops, weapons, food, or clothing. In the end, seven countries from Tiel participated in the war, an army that ended up being called "Seven swords".
The vanaras, while initially very successful, soon found that they didn't have enough troops to hold all of the territories that they had amassed. Unable to recruit help from other tribes in Friac’seoue, they were soon overwhelmed by the armies of the Seven Swords coalition. These armies were attacking them from all sides, below ground, above ground, and even from ships, which they used to bypass the mountains and deploy operatives at Friac’seoue's side of the mountains.

The result: An overwhelming victory for Tiel

by Nile

Less than six months after the declaration of war, Tiel had conquered the whole mountain range of the north, all the way into Friac’seoue. The vanaras were forced back into the most remote areas of the tundra or towards the forests in the south.
Those countries that had participated in the war saw the possibilities and benefits that joining up with their neighbours held. On the 100th anniversary of the Third Northern War, all of the twelve countries of Tiel signed the federation declaration, by which they all became states under one united banner.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

by Shiprock

The Vanara's Council

We need to expand. Our great-great-grandparents opened up a new world of possibilities by conquering the dwarven cave system. It is our responsibility now to do the same, to make sure our grandchildren have enough space to live.

— Kiri

Last time the boundaries were broken by the dwarves. Our great-great-grandparents would be ashamed if it was us this time who broke the boundaries

— Mindra

by Gary Tonge

The Runesmiths

Divine dwarven magic is most often than not practised by clerics. Their magic is channelled through runes, which can be inscribed on a variety of substrates, including weapons, armour, and people.

There are runesmiths who prefer to dedicate themselves to the use of runes in practical situations and in combat. A smaller group specialises in creating magically enchanted weapons and armour. These runesmiths are referred to as forgemasters.

During the beginning of the Third Northern War, many runesmiths died, sacrificing themselves to make sure their family and friends would make it to safety. Most forgemasters left with the rest, convinced by their colleagues that their people would need someone to take care of them if they failed. Countless runes were lost in battle, their spells lost whenever a whole lineage of runesmiths died in battle.

It took many centuries of research and rune development after the Third Northern War ended for the runesmiths to be back to what they once were.

Belligerents

Vanaras

Led by

Strength

They were numerically superior at the start of the war, and had the element of surprise and preparation.

Casualties

Vanaras lost over 60% of those who had gone to war in the north.

Objectives

To conquer the mountains of Tiel

Anervik's army

Led by

Strength

Very low, the dwarven population had not recovered from The Second Northern War.

Casualties

Slightly less than 80% of warriors who were fighting to stop the advance of the Vanara army.

Objectives

To stop the Vanara invasion.

Seven Swords

Led by

Strength

Large, they had the combined strength of seven countries

Casualties

Over 15% of the seven swords coalition warriors died.

Objectives

To defend the mountain range of Tiel and regain what had been lost.