Third War of Thoroughfare
The Conflict
Prelude
A new war in Thoroughfare was inevitable. After the humiliation of both Falradia and Duram at the end of the Second War in Thoroughfare, it was a forgone conclusion that one of the two superpowers would want to strike back, whether for the strategic importance of the land bridge or the sake of wounded pride. The Empire struck first by sending a declaration of war to the Archduchy of Thoroughfare on the 26th of Jundum, 23250. About three days later, they would send a small warhost across the River Jylin when the tides were out, quickly overrunning the outnumbered and unprepared defenders. All nation on the continent of Louria held their collective breaths as they waited for Falradia's response. Still, the Kingdom was silent, seemingly more focused on the raids by the Umbrians in Falradia's northern hills. After two weeks of conflict, Falradia would finally declare war on the Empire of Duram after declaring Annihilation. They mustered the entire 1st Aerilon Royal Corp with shocking speed and efficiency. The Corp then marched south under the command of King Alexander Danver along with General Richard Unterel and with support from the 1st Ranger Company.
The Engagement
The day Duram sent the declaration of war to Thoroughfare, the Empire began its lengthy conscription and mustering process to gather its armies.
Wanting to earn favour with the aging Emperor to gain more political power, the young and power-hungry Great Lord Kadir Sinai of the Addax Clan led a force of nearly eight hundred warriors across the River Jylin. Winning a decisive victory against the meagre Thoroughfarian defenders before pressing on and capturing the town of Haiundar.
Included Conflicts
Conflict Type
War
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
26th Jundum, 23250 AF
Ending Date
78 Aron, 23300 AF
Conflict Result
Stalemate between Falradia and Duram, Archduchy of Thoroughfare dismantled.
Location
Belligerents
Empire of Duram
Led by
Strength
On the 12th Jundum, 23250, Emperor Tariq al-Sader summoned his war council to see the Empire's chances of winning a war against the Archduchy of Thoroughfare. The consensus was that whilst the Empire could roll over the Archduchy with moderate casualties, the real threat would be the Falradian Army that would no doubt join the war shortly after the Empire made its move. Despite this, the council agreed that it was inevitable that war was coming, whether by their hands or Falradia's.
In the years after the Second War of Thoroughfare and the creation of the Archduchy, the Empire had been shamed, and even with time, the stinging wound on the Empire's pride festered and filled the Empire with hatred. Several Clans previously considered peaceful, if not pacifistic, began to build up military forces.
Wanting to give his commanders the best advantage he could, he had the Imperial Agents personally deliver a letter to each Clan informing them that as of the 26th of Jundum, the Empire would be at war. Most of the Clans did not do much to prepare. Instead of securing their trade lanes to try and mitigate the damage the war would have on their economy, a few clans openly informed the Emperor that they would send troops north to fight against what many saw as Holy Warriors.
However, various clans began to muster their troops for the coming war, such as the Addax and Dragon Clan.
When the Emperor declared war against Thoroughfare, the Duramic Warhosts began to march north. There were three warhosts active at the start of the War.
The primary Warhost was led by General Azbariq Basara and various Great Lords who answered the call to war. It comprised a core of professional soldiery from the Clan's household and holdings. They were backed up by the elite Imperial Guard provided by the Emperor to guard his eldest son Amir al-Sader who insisted on joining the army. Making up the final part of the army was many peasant auxiliaries. Most of whom joined the military as archers. Until the 18th of Kusha, when General Basara was slain by Ser Aksal Veli of the Order of the Blazing Sword, Ser Veli revealed that the General was a Vampire.
The other two warhosts were the Warhost of the Wild Dog and Shark Clan, which numbered their household guard and several thousand bandits and mercenaries. Then there was the Warhost of the Addax and Zebra Clans, which comprised their household guard and roughly three thousand professional troops with a group of Umbrian Mercenaries.
By the 14th of Kusha that same year, the whole army was estimated to be a little over two hundred thousand strong. The General broke up the force into segments commanded by the Great Lord that ruled over the soldiers' territory.
Below is the rough formation of troops of the three warhosts.
Imperial Warhost:
- 450 Imperial Guard
- 60,000 Falcon Clan Warriors
- 10,000 Wyrm Clan Warriors (Including Worm Riders)
- 5,000 Dragon Clan Warriors (Including Fire Throwers)
- 8000 Vulture Clan Warriors
- 6000 Lion Clan Warriors (Including Lion Chariots)
- 2000 Jackal Clan Warriors
- 1000 Fox Clan Elite Warriors
- 40,000 Clan Levies
- 2000 Addax Clan Warriors
- 1000 Zebra Clan Warriors
- 200 Umbrian Mercenaries
- 4000 Wild Dog Clan Warriors
- 4000 Shark Clan Warriors
- 2000 Hired Thugs
- 600 Mixed Mercenaries (mostly Umbrian)
- 1500 Clan Levies
Casualties
The first month of the war saw only light fighting except Great Lord Sinai's assault across the River Jylin. By the end of the month, Imperial Scribes estimated that nearly eight hundred Imperial soldiers had fallen.
Objectives
- Conquer the land-bridge of Thoroughfare
- Defend the Southern Borders against the Free Clans of South Duram
- Ensure the safety of people of the Empire
- Restore the honor of the Empire
Strength
When the Empire's declaration of war reached the ears of the Kingdom of Falradia on the 1st of Kusha, 23250, the reaction was excitement and grim resolve. In the Kingdom's eyes, the war was always coming. All knew it was a matter of time before the Empire broke the Treaty of Valkinor.
The young King Alexander sent an order for the 1st Royal Aerilon Corps to begin mustering in the capital before he made his decision to go to war. After much discussion, the royal council, along with King, decided to wait to see how the war progressed to try and gain an advantage against the Empire and the Archduchy. At first, the only Falradian troop movement towards the war was the transfer of the 6th Zeron Brigade to the fortress of Southshield on the Thoroughfarian border.
As a credit to the young king's planning and his advisors' wisdom, the Archduchy had begun suffering numerous defeats and casualties against the Empire's advance into Thoroughfare. The Duramic army had even besieged and almost taken the two key Thoroughfarian fortresses of Edward's Defiance and Leon's Gambit, even putting the Thoroughfarian capital of Cordale at risk of being surrounded.
Seeing a chance to spin the tale of Falradian intervention as a noble and well-meaning endeavour, King Alexander Danver ordered the now mustered 1st Royal Aerilon Corps led by General Richard Unterel and the 1st Ranger Company led by Ranger Captain Malcom Invera to begin the march south as he had a declaration of war sent to the Empire and a letter promising aid to the Thoroughfarians.
Letters were sent to the rest of the Kingdom for the Field Army of Aerilon to muster in the capital and for a Brigade of Soldiers to be sent from each of the Duchies to join the Field Army. Once rallied, the Field Army would march south and meet up with the King's Army and proceed with the war.
During the march south, the King's Army would be joined by the 6th Zeron Brigade as they passed by the fortress of Southshield.
The King's army was comprised of a large core of professional soldiers due to the presence of the 1st Royal Aerilon Corps. They were complemented by the 1st Ranger Company providing deadly swordsmen and archers to the army. Making up the final part of the army was the 6th Zeron Brigade. Better suited for naval combat, the warriors of Zeron still were deadly on land with their javelins, spears and heavy shields, giving them both ranged and melee options.
By the 9th of Lielyr that same year, the King's army was estimated to be just under eighty-five thousand. Arranged below was the rough formation of troops:
- 20 Nobles (including King Alexander Danver)
- 85 Royal Guard
- 224 Falradian Rangers
- 80642 Aerilon Soldiers (Mixed into Infantry, Archer, Cavalry and Engineer formations.)
- 4032 Zeron Marines
- 40 Nobles (Including members of the Royal Court)
- 80642 Aerilon Soldiers (Mixed into Infantry, Archer, Cavalry and Engineer formations.)
- 4032 Dantel Axemen
- 4032 Borlyn Riders
- 4032 Zeron Marines
- 4032 Keirtal Longbowmen
- 4032 Therik Pikemen
Casualties
Objectives
- Take control of the land bridge of Thoroughfare
- Defend the Southern Border against the Empire of Duram
- Ensure the safety of the people of Falradia
Strength
When the Empire's declaration of war arrived in Cordale on 26th Jundum, 23250, the reaction was shock and rage. All knew it was inevitable, but it was scary to see that war was coming. In the years after the Second War of Thoroughfare and the creation of the Archduchy, The Archduke had built several fortresses to guard against both the Kingdom of Falradia and the Empire of Duram.
This gave Thoroughfare the advantage as all they would have to do was guard their borders, and neither nation would be able to advance into Thoroughfare's Heartlands.
As a credit to his foresight, the Archduke had begun building up the army of Thoroughfare in the years before the war. Establishing garrisons in towns, building training camps and getting the people fit for war as their Paladin and Knight counterparts.
The army comprised a core of professional soldiers drawn from the garrisons throughout Thoroughfare. They were backed up by nine Knightly Orders reinforcing the main army with elite heavy infantry and shock cavalry. Making up the final part of the army was many peasant levies that volunteered and joined the army as auxiliaries.
By the 7th of Kusha that same year, the whole army was estimated to be over seventy-five thousand strong. Arranged below was the rough formation of troops.
- 100 Paladins
- 1200 Knights
- 40,000 Garrison Troops
- 35,000 Peasant Levies
Casualties
The first month of the war saw only light fighting except Great Lord Sinai's assault across the River Jylin. The loss of Haiundar and its surrounding villages was a sting against the honour of the Thoroughfarian army for suffering a defeat within the first few weeks of the war being declared.
By the end of the month, Thoroughfarian Scholars estimated that two thousand Thoroughfarian soldiers had fallen, with an estimate of close to double that being suffered by the civilian populace.
Objectives
- Defend the Southern and Northern Borders against Falradia and Duram
- Ensure the safety of the people of the Archduchy
- Uphold the honour of the Nine and the Holy City of Valkinor
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