The Great Eastern Crusade

Military action

Taking advantage of Breland's distraction with Darguun and Aundair's continuing retrenchment, Thrane crossed Scions Sound and launched a massive western offensive against Cyre.

Taking advantage of Breland's distraction with Darguun and Aundair's continuing retrenchment, Thrane crossed Scions Sound and launched a massive western offensive against Cyre in the summer of 983^YK. This undertaking was spearheaded by a squad of four archons called the Messengers, divine generals who were believed to have arrived in response to Cyran and Karrnathi depredations against Thrane.   The archons rallied the Thranes to a degree not seen since the days of the Righteous Kingdom, but they demanded far greater discipline—excesses caused by overzealousness would not be tolerated. The Messengers rode at the forefront of four great armies: the Army of the Ascended, the Righteous Legion, the Legion of True Brethren, and the Army of the Eastern Crusade. Together, these forces totaled over 100,000 soldiers.   The Great Eastern Crusade was a smashing success, capturing Eston’s valuable iron and adamantine mines (the city and House House Cannith's busy creation forges held out, but in a greatly reduced state). The Thrane legions then seized Kalazart (the city threw open its gates in surrender) and threatened Swoz. Bad weather, long supply lines, and a courageous rear-guard action by Cyre's young General Alvos Brillik forced a halt to operations until the spring.   During the next campaign season, the Messengers secured mysterious goals of their own, involving large trunks laden with books and other items. The Messengers also recovered certain swords, spears, armor, and chalices that were considered holy relics. As a result, on midsummer day 984^YK, the Messengers ordered the four armies to return to Thrane. Despite some resistance from a vocal minority that hoped to occupy Cyran territory permanently, most of the troops turned around and marched back home in time for the harvest. The Legion of True Brethren remained behind to hold the area around Eston until later that winter.  

Thrane's retreat from an essentially prostrate Cyre puzzles military historians to this day. Why give up when victory was at hand? Why not hold what was gained? The Messengers never explained, and after they returned to Flamekeep, they vanished forever. The Keeper, the Diet, and the Council of Cardinals refused to answer any questions about the incident, waving it off as a “matter of the interests of the faith and state.” A few of the more daring nobles and commanders in Thrane grumble about this retreat, saying that the tragedy of the Mournland would never have occurred if Thrane had simply occupied the Cyran heartland. - Renowned Zil librarian Augusta Wainwocket