40 Days War

The normal world and the magical world often have the same problems.

What started as the Great War in the normal world, now known as World War 1, also started in the magical world. Throughout the early 1900s, there was a surge in new signers of the Treaty of Haryk. These groups particularly came from outside the Western European area: including the Balkans, North Africa, and the Slavic nations. The difference between beliefs and magic usage created tensions within the Treaty Signers. The rise of nationalism within the long term Treaty Signers and the new signers created a difficult environment and mirrored the current affairs of the non-magical world. During the Great War, the magical world also battled. Most took sides by their nationality. Some of the newer groups split from the Treaty for the duration of the war in a pre-emptive attempt to protect themselves from the growing resentment. The Treaty of Haryk signers were in a disarray during the Great War period. After the Great War, the Treaty Signers came together and reinforced the that the Treaty was about bringing disparate groups together for the benefit of the magical world. Some of the louder dissidents were banished from the Treaty Signers. However there was still a underlying current of nationalism and resentment toward the newer groups.

A large part in this is that while the groups are Treaty Signers and swear to uphold the Treaty of Haryk, they are also still citizens of their home countries. It is impossible to separate these two identities for a lot of people. After all, magic-users can be very long-lived and during this period we are seeing the end of some long-standing empires.

This nationalist attitude was taken up as a core doctrine by one group, which then spread to several more. This created a faction of groups who believed that all new treaty signers should conform to their ideals of magic use and practice. This faction began calling themselves the "True Powers" since they believed that their magical powers were more "true" to the Treaty. They forced many of the newer groups out of Haryk's Valley, which in turn caused these ousted groups to renounce the Treaty. No one was immune to the growing divide. The other faction started calling themselves the Allied to emphasize that importance of working together and adhering to the Treaty. Even within the Council of Elders there was division with some Elders taken the True Powers side and others taking the Allied side.

Resolution

Almer Loraro led the forces for the Allied side. He quickly seized the battlefield before the river to stop the True Powers from marching into the heart of the Valley. By containing the battle to the region of the forest in the south part of the valley, Almer protected the more vulnerable settlements. In using the last engagement between the Wild Witch and group of True Power soldiers as a distraction, Almer was able to surround the rest of the True Powers and force a surrender. Almer's strategy to curtail the True Powers advancement kept the battle from spreading and destroying the valley. He is hailed as a war hero. Almer also negotiated the new Almer Protocol to prevent an uprising such as this again.

The Conflict

Prelude

The Interwar Years for the magical community was spent trying to contain the rising nationalism and resentment toward more recent Treaty Signers. Many of these groups were ejected from the Treaty and banished from Haryk's Valley. However, that didn't stop them from continuing to create friction between the factions. After various attacks on the new signers escalated in a riot, it was clear the valley was going to implode.

Deployment

The True Powers faction held a group of a few hundred troops to the south of the Veil-Tenders Village. There was threat that they will try to take over The Portal of the Veil.   The Order of the Radiant Blade sent their first division knights, about 200 knights, to intercept them. Several other groups belong to the Allied were deployed throughout the valley to protect the settlements and mines of Haryk Crystals.

Battlefield

The fighting stayed within Haryk's Valley mostly in the heavily wooded terrain south side. The river was a dividing line between the settlements and the battlefield.

Conditions

The battlefield was heavily forested. The Spring weather meant extremes in temperature between day and night, plus drizzle-rain and hazy weather conditions.

The Engagement

There was an equal mix of magic users and non-magic users. The first two weeks of the stand-off was mostly posturing. Each side had some of the most highly skilled magic warriors and was hesitant to engage in the first strike. Once first strike occurred, the battle was intense and brutal with both sides unyielding. What started as a few hundred men on each side ended with just a few dozen left.
Earth magic users had the best advantage in these conditions. Fire magic users thought they would have an advantage due to all the trees and wood to burn, but the constant drizzle dampen this advantage and instead gave it to Water magic users. Air magic users also held an advantage in being able to manipulate the weather/atmosphere. Spirit and Wild magic users were evenly powered amongst the other magic users. 
However, it was a Wild Witch that eventually ended the battle when the Bearer of the Radiant Blade was killed by his own knights. The Wild Witch called forth a Wild Beast that to this day, no one knows where it came from. The Wild Beast decimated the True Powers forces, then disappeared back to where it came. The Wild Witch also disappear as did the The Radiant Blade.
Almer Loraro took this opportunity, a final break in the battle, to launch on last offensive, surrounding the True Powers faction and forcing their surrender.

Outcome

An Allied Victory occurred but it was from losing the Bearer of the Radiant Blade.  The valley was thrown into a disarray and The Order of the Radiant Blade became fractured between those who supported the different factions. It caused a restructuring of the Order and forced several Council of Elders members out of power.

Aftermath

Those who sided with the True Powers faction were ousted and permanently banished from the Treaty of Haryk. The leaders of the True Powers faction were executed and the rest were forced from Haryk's Valley. Despite the banishment, there was a lingering support for the True Powers, but it was kept mostly hidden.
As Europe sank deeper into WW2, the Allied factions were worried about protecting the valley and it's resources. The Council decided to seal the valley off from the rest of the world until things were safe. It was considered an extreme measure, but the split between the factions left many Treaty Signers disheartened.

Historical Significance

Legacy

The Almer Protocol is the result of the battle. This Protocol was added as an amendment to the Treaty of Haryk. It forced all Treaty-Signers to be magically bound to the upholding the Treaty. Should another incident like this occur, then the Treaty-Breakers entire skin turns bright red, allowing other members of the Council to confront them and interrogate them. It was an impressive piece of magic created by Almer Loraro.

Conflict Type

Battle

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

13 March 1938

Ending Date

22 April 1938

Conflict Result

Allied Victory

Location

Haryk's Valley

Belligerents

Allied

True Powers

Strength

The majority of the Council of Elders support the Allied side. Almer Loraro was there commander, a well-known general and high-ranking knight of the The Order of the Radiant Blade.

Dissidents from the other factions in the region. Most are highly trained magic warriors. Several high-ranking knights from the The Order of the Radiant Blade joined this faction. This side held more Air and Fire elemental users.

Casualties

Objectives

Protect Haryk's Valley and keep its resources safe. Uphold the Treaty of Haryk. Protect the Portal of the Veil.

Seize the Haryk's Valley for themselves and drive out "inferior" Treaty Signers.