Cyanni War
The Cyanni War was a world-shaping conflict about 287 years ago that redefined the balance of power across Avanima and still has ramifications today. Its battles ravaged all across Alvana and Kinavi, and naval combat even hit the Kahdro coast. Civilizations that had stood for centuries were wiped out in the 11-year conflict. An estimated 16 million Avani, about a quarter of the world's population at the time, died as a direct result of the fighting. Many more perished in famines that resulted from the lack of farmers and monster attacks from the lack of available soldiers. Entire towns were wiped off the map.
The Conflict
Prelude
Prior to the start of the war, the Cyanni kingdom was a signer nation of the Treaty of Passaran, meant as a defensive compact between minor city-states of the time. However, the Cyanni had grown considerably since then. Troubled by overcrowding and the means to support their growing population, the island nation turned to magic to solve their problems. In particular they turned to Dark Magic under the guidance of Tolagos, whose powers could seemingly create and enchant things that no other type of magic could. However, the neighboring nation of Arkos, another member of the treaty, viewed the growing superpower as a threat to their interests and particularly believed that their magic was an abomination to be dealt with. They began to vocally warn the other kingdoms that it was only a matter of time before the Cyanni turned this magic on other Avani. Arkos and the countries that believed them began to build up their military for war. Under the impression that a conflict was inevitable, Tolagos used his dark magic to persuade the Cyanni queen to engage in sabotage operations against Arkos military targets. They believed that by damaging their enemy's ability to fight the Arkosi would back down and war could be avoided. However, this miscalculation made war inevitable.
Deployment
On the 12th night of 3rd Lunas, the sabotage operations were launched at multiple targets with the intent of causing destruction on a wide scale (but no casualties). However, almost all of these sabotage groups were discovered and fighting broke out across Arkos. To the outside world, the raids seemed like a first strike and proof of the Cyanni's ill intent. Kingdoms allied with Arkos declared war on Cyanni, while those who believed the Cyanni's story of events sided with them.
The Engagement
Hostilities began when Arkosi shock troopers flew from Arkos to Cyanni and set fire to coastal cities, followed by main infantry using spears and shortswords. In response Cyanni marched soldiers across the causeway (which periodically rises out of the sea) and invaded Arkos. The other nations of the two alliances began to clash after that, and fighting spread when uninvolved countries took the chance to attack their rivals and settle disputes.
From the start Cyanni was outnumbered, so they resorted to using dark magic to even the odds. Most countries had their own magicians at the time, but Tolagos and his disciples could do things even other dark wizards couldn't. He unleashed devastation upon enemy armies and even entire cities, summoned dark creatures to do his bidding and battled his foes with spells that could kill a person instantly. The Cyanni government soon lost control over his actions (and rumor has it, the magic corrupted him so that he lost control over himself) and his attacks soon made little distinction between soldier and civilian. Nations once allied with the Cyanni saw this chaos and began to switch sides, repulsed by Tolagos's actions. Cyanni's government, fed lies and misinformation by Tolagos's personal allies, never found out about many of his acts.
When the Disciples of Tolagos committed the worst crime imagineable, unleashing Apogees against an entire city, the enemies of the Cyanni gained an unexpected ally: the mysterious, isolationist, and completely aloof nations of Olaran and Altowood. The Olaran and Altowood wanted to make up for their grisly, barbaric past by proving themselves as reformed bastions of righteousness. Their fresh, physically-superior warriors quickly turned the tide of the war in its last year, pushing back the Cyanni to their own borders.
The Cyanni Queen, as the alliance against them lay siege to a Cyanni city, decided that they would attempt to end the horrifying war with a peace treaty or conditional surrender. Their foes would accept neither, but the Cyanni still didn't know of Tolagos's actions. Tolagos wanted to continue the war. When he couldn't convince the queen, he used his powers to slaughter her and dozens of officers, soldiers, and guards before a lucky arrow killed him. The war ended that afternoon in an unconditional surrender.
Outcome
Upon the conclusion of negotiations, the biggest objective was punishment for the Cyanni. What remained of their existing government was taken apart and replaced by a puppet state. They could no longer maintain an army larger than town militias, use any type of magic light or dark, and could no longer maintain contact with any of their colonies. A number of other rules and regulations were established to ensure they could never rise to power.
Meanwhile, with Olaran and Altowood established as universally-respected guardians of morality, the Treaty of Passaran was reforged with nearly every nation in the known world signing it. Seeing the devestation wrought by dark magic, it was banned throughout the world. Chittirup was chosen as a universal language so that everyone could communicate. Borders were reshaped by the treaty and countries that had once been puppet states were given independence. More than anything else, they wanted to prevent future wars. Millions of Avani had died in the bloody, long conflict. Nations were devastated, and entire cities were wiped off the map.
Historical Significance
Legacy
The war's impacts, even nearly 3 centuries later, are still ever present. Cyanni became remembered in the history books and in the people's minds as the villainous conquerer that launched an unprovoked attack to achieve world domination. The many events that led up to the war, and how it began as a feud between Arkos and Cyanni, have been all but forgotten. It came to be believed that the Cyanni race themselves was tainted by the dark magic they'd used during the war. Their people have since become closed off to the outside world and very isolationist. The few Cyanni who venture outside their home island are treated with scorn and hatred by the locals. Their country has been squandered for centuries under the strict rules placed on them, and their economy never recovered from the war even though others did after only a decade or two.
Meanwhile, the Olaran and Altowood opened their borders to the rest of the world and came to be highly respected among countries that once feared them. The Olarans became peacekeepers, religious experts, and researchers, while the Altowood Kriptrani were known as honorable and fierce warriors. If a Kriptrani fought against you, you knew you were on the wrong side. Together they protected the weaker nations of the area, enforced the Treaty of Passaran, and shared their knowledge with the world. Many countries look to them for guidance on affairs of politics and affairs of science.
However, rumor has it that some Cyanni have turned back to their ways of unapproved magic and desire to throw off the rules imposed upon them. Some indications suggest that they are violating the treaty or even building up a military to regain power. There are also Avani who may even want another war. A growing opinion is that the Cyanni should've lost their nation and recieved much harsher terms. They would welcome any chance to incite another war and destroy them, once and for all...
Conflict Type
War
Start Date
12th of 3rd Lunas, 174 Post Treaty Agreement
Ending Date
24th of 7th Lunas, 185 Post Treaty Agreement
Conflict Result
Cyanni Defeat
Location
Belligerents
Strength
Aprx 6 Million troops
16 Million Troops
Casualties
About 4 Million +1 Million Civilians
8 Million +3 Million Civilians
Objectives
To secure themselves against the Arkosi and their allies.
Avenge the Cyanni's actions
Maps
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Avanima Political Map
This is a map of the world of Avanima (or what little part of it is known to the historians and cartographers on Alvana) and the nations that inhabit it. Virtually all known cities and major settlements are shown on the map. It doesn't include the smaller and less stable settlements. Those are often founded quickly by hopefuls seeking a life outside the cities, and most of them vanish suddenly and violently with few survivors. Avanima consists of 4 major continents: Alvana, Kinavi, Azin, and Kahdro. Most known civilization is concentrated on Alvana and Kinavi, though Azin has small tribes scattered across it and Kahdro was once the site of attempted colonies by the Cyanni. Large Black names are the titles for countries, small black names next to dots mark cities, and grey names mark major geographic features.
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