The Northern Crusade and the Sacking of Thaliost

Military action

Taking advantage of their superior intelligence, the Cardinals gathered another army of faithful, this time at Flamekeep.

When Aundair stepped up raids in the Lathleer region in early 926, the Cardinals exercised a previously unknown level of control over their mob-armies by sending advance elements west as misdirection. Suddenly, the commanders gave a surprise order, and the newly proclaimed Northern Crusade wheeled and arrived in Daskaran before word could spread. Aundair was caught in mid-plan; the bulk of its reserve forces were in western Thrane.   The Northern Crusade surged across the Aundair River and quickly seized ancient Thaliost. Aundair’s skeleton army in the east fought courageously but was simply overwhelmed. Conducting swift and thorough operations that had obviously been planned previously, Thrane soldiers stormed into the homes of Thaliost’s most prominent citizens. Those citizens were given a choice: Swear loyalty to Thrane or die.   Given their renowned pragmatic nature, many capitulated. Still, more than a few of the city’s elite were steadfast in their loyalty to Aundair and thus were put to the sword. In very short order, Thrane seized control of the city’s government. The conquering army’s leaders, perhaps too focused on securing Thrane rule, turned a blind eye when fanatic soldiers engaged in widespread sword-point conversions.