Heimer Incursions

Description

The frigid, unforgiving climate and challenging terrains of northern Heimer lands have perennially strained their resources. Historically, this scarcity has often led to internal rivalries and skirmishes amongst the Heimer Clans as they jostled for dominance and survival. However, every once in a while, the winds of fate would propel a charismatic leader to the forefront, a leader with both the wisdom to strategize and the cunning to navigate the intricate clan dynamics. Such individuals would rally the clans for a shared cause: venturing southward.
These southern sojourns were not mere expeditions. While there were routine raids where the Heimers would plunder the temperate southern lands across the Nord Sea for resources, equipment, and even captives, there existed a larger, more daunting venture: The Heimer Incursion.
An Incursion isn't a raid; it's a full-scale invasion. The ultimate goal not just to raid, but to annex. They aimed to etch out territories from existing southern realms, with the intention of these annexed lands serving as supply hubs for the resource-starved Heimer homeland.
Naturally, the southern realms of Arboria were not hospitable hosts to these invaders. While they were aware of the Heimers' desperation and the underlying reasons for their incursions, they resisted fiercely, fighting valiantly to protect their lands and heritage. Their resilience ensured that, historically, they have always managed to repel the Heimer onslaughts.
The political landscape of the Heimer Clans saw significant transformation about four centuries ago when a loose confederation was established. This paved the way for the ascension of several High Kings. Yet, of these monarchs, only a select few could mobilize the clans for a southern invasion. Recorded history mentions a total of five significant Heimer Incursions. The freshest scars come from the most recent incursion, an event that transpired merely three decades ago and still casts a shadow on inter-regional relationships.

History

1st Incursion - Year 813

The annals of history note Ysvald, known as "the ruler of us all", as the first to unify the Heimer Clans. His burning vision was not just to unify the clans but to elevate them to unmatched glory. Some whispered that it was ambition, while others, particularly the Heimer shamans, declared it destiny.
With unmatched charisma and a warrior's determination, Ysvald wove a tapestry of alliances while quelling any resistance. He became an emblem of hope and change, and as he aligned or conquered clan after clan, his dream resonated across the Heimer lands. Notably, his initial conquests lay eastward, targeting eastern Drakenheim, which was under gradual colonization by the flame worshippers of Kyrus. Kyrus, fractured and distracted by its ongoing skirmishes with the Masonite Kingdom, was ill-prepared for Ysvald’s advances.
Perceiving this as a divine omen, Ysvald then marshaled the clans, launching an audacious invasion across the Nord Sea. They annexed significant territories: seizing Tuscow in Kyrus, dominating almost the entire coast of today's Ardechia, and even setting their sights on the capital, Starigrad. Although they besieged it, Starigrad eluded their grasp. To the northwest, the Heimer also made inroads into Sturmgard, claiming both the Sturming Isles and vast mainland stretches.

As long as Ysvald's indomitable spirit guided them, these territories remained firmly under Heimer control. It was under his leadership that the Heimer earned the epithet "the scourge of the north", and Ysvald himself was revered as the pioneering High King of the Heimer. But his era was not without strife, as even with their expansive territories, the Heimer raids persisted, casting a shadow over Arboria.
But, as the adage goes, all empires, however great, see their sunset. After Ysvald's demise, his successors proved to be their own downfall. His direct heir, embroiled in arrogance, sowed discord by elevating his clan above the rest, undermining Ysvald’s vision of a united Heimer. The subsequent ruler, Isvarr, who would become known as ''the unworthy'', only added fuel to the fire with his rigid centralization attempts. This disharmony soon triggered internal conflicts, and the once-conquered territories reverted to their original holders.
Ysvald’s lineage, once seen as the beacon of hope, had dimmed. The gods, it seemed, were biding their time for a worthy successor.

2nd Incursion - Year 959

A resurgence in Heimer unity came under the leadership of a figure who claimed to be Ysvald's descendant. Bearing many hallmarks of the first illustrious High King, he adeptly steered through the tumultuous Heimer political seas, transforming the often ceremonial title of High King into a genuine seat of authority.
With a reinvigorated Heimer population rallying behind him, he embarked on a southern campaign across the Nord Sea, driven by ambition and the memory of past conquests. However, Arboria's southern realms had not been idle since the first incursion, as their rivers and coastlines were now heavily fortified. This robust defense, coupled with an Arborian unity in the face of a recurring threat, presented formidable resistance to the Heimer advances.
Ultimately, the second incursion was more a period of intense raids than a conquest, as the Heimer managed to seize only a few coastal towns briefly. Yet, every cloud has its silver lining. From this venture, the Heimer acquired certain southern technologies and practices, that when implemented, made life in the harsh northern terrains somewhat more bearable.

3rd Incursion - Year 1047

Amidst the upheaval of the 1st Vallerian invasion, the Heimer saw an opening for conquest. At this juncture, the old Masonite Kingdom, Ardechia's predecessor, had crumbled, splitting into several petty realms. The Elves of Valleria aimed to capitalize on this fractured landscape, leading Sturmgard to step in, forming a defensive alliance against the Elven advance. Their collective might halted the Elvish advance at the aptly named Pillared Gates, a wide mountain pass nestled between the Messial and Valpine Mountainss.
While Arboria's focus was on this southern threat, the Heimer recognized an opportune moment to strike. Their incursions along Arboria's northern shores complicated matters for the defenders, already stretched thin against Valleria. Had it not been for Arboria's natural defenses and rugged geography, the Vallarei, with their overwhelming numbers, might have easily annexed large swathes of what is now Ardechia.
The 1st Vallerian invasion was as such a grueling war of attrition, which came to a close with some minor territorial losses to the Vallerian Empire. The Heimer Clans, on the other hand, had sporadic successes along the Nord Sea coastlines. However, their dominance was short-lived, lasting only until peace with Valleria was brokered. Once the primary threat was neutralized, the southern realms quickly expelled the Heimer as well.

4th Incursion - Year 1202

The 4th Heimer Incursion stands testament to the hazards of maritime warfare. By this time, Sturmgard had matured into a fully centralized realm, diligently fortifying its coastlines and augmenting its naval forces. Their objective was two-fold: to deter Heimer advances and to quash them at sea even before they neared the shores. When the Heimer unleashed their fourth invasion wave, Sturmgard's response was swift, leading to ferocious naval skirmishes dotting the expanse of the Nord Sea.
Ardechia, united once more yet mired in domestic strife, found its northern defenses faltering, losing significant portions of its coastline beyond the protective bulwark of the Pohorye Mountains. Lynora, situated at Arboria's western fringes, was blindsided by the onslaught. Customarily spared from Heimer aggression, they were ill-prepared. Consequently, the Heimer commandeered vast tracts of Lynora's southern territories, especially the defensible Highlands.
The Heimer in these rugged terrains resisted Lynoran efforts to reclaim them with relative ease. Amidst the strife, the Heimer established a new southern realm, birthing a new clan, one which would become known as Veyrun. Contrary to the ambitions of the broader Heimer collective, Veyrun resisted northern advances into Lynora. They keenly understood the might of Sturmgard and desired no quarrel with this rising juggernaut. Over time, the Veyrun Heimer melded with the Lynorans, embracing their customs and gradually drifting away from their northern lineage. This cultural melding was further solidified when Veyrun, including Lynorans who once resided in the Highlands, rebuffed a Lynoran reclamation campaign - borne out of a past marked by Lynora's exploitation of its own highland denizens.

As divergences between Veyrun and the main Heimer factions grew palpable, the former severed its ties, proclaiming its independence. Lynora, seeing an opening, implored Sturmgard to join forces and recapture the lost Highlands. However, Sturmgard perceived no imminent threat from the emergent realm. Instead, they sought diplomatic engagement, seeking an ally to safeguard their flank rather than another enemy, leaving Lynora simmering in discontent.

5th Incursion - Year 1305

Over a century after their fourth foray, the Heimer mounted an assault whose sophistication and precision belied their reputation as mere brute-force barbarians. For decades leading up to the assault, Heimer merchants and mercenaries, masked in subterfuge, scoured the southern territories of Arboria. These clandestine operations revealed the growing chasm between Heimer capabilities and the advancements of southern realms in arcane and martial disciplines.
Sturmgard, lulled into complacency by an enduring era of peace, was the Heimer's prime target. Recognizing the precarious nature of their strategic position, the Heimer felt an urgent call to unify. Their motivation transcended mere conquest, it was a bid to stave off irrelevance and potential subjugation by more technologically advanced neighbors. This incursion was, in essence, a bid to reaffirm their autonomy.
Using their merchant disguises, the Heimer infiltrated key port cities in Sturmgard and Ardechia, skirting naval defenses. As night unfurled its cloak, Heimer warriors surged from their concealed vessels. Port defenses were swiftly and silently neutralized. Iconic cities like Weisswall and Starigrad experienced strategic blows when their coastal artillery was commandeered by the invaders, facilitating breaches of their armories, citadels, and even regal residences. It was only when the echo of cannon fire reverberated that the cities comprehended the enormity of the ambush.

Caught off-guard, the cities' defenders scrambled, their responses marred by confusion and a vacuum of leadership. Their efforts, impromptu and fragmented, rendered them lambs to the Heimer onslaught. Recognizing the futility of long-term occupation, the Heimer instead prioritized looting. They seized weaponry, appropriated goods, abducted citizens, and set ablaze what remained. Notably, they also ransacked libraries and arcane sanctums, a testament to their thirst for knowledge.
Their operation, precise as a surgeon's cut, was concluded before the full might of the southern navies could be marshaled. In an infamous episode from this incursion, the Sturmgard royal family fell victim to the Heimer assault. The heir apparent, Karl Revion, was taken captive, experiencing life under Heimer dominion before eventually escaping and reclaiming his birthright.