The Engine War
The Engine War, (also known as the Gnome War) was not one in which armies of thousands clashed on massive battlefields. Nor was it one fought for the acquisition of land or resources. Rather, it was mainly fought in small skirmishes and between spies and saboteurs, in narrow streets and alleyways of cities. Rather than for selfish causes of land and wealth, it was waged for a noble cause of freedom for the hundreds of Sky Gnomes, enslaved in Ancient Zerbath to produce Arcane Engines.
The Engine War was a series of skirmishes and espionage operations between The Kingdom of Archaria and the Gnomes, Humans and Elves who were opposed to the Sky Gnomes' slavery in the factories of Ancient Zerbath. Although the war remained fairly secretive, there were a few larger battles fought, mainly in the streets of Zerbath and Falorian.
The Engine War was a series of skirmishes and espionage operations between The Kingdom of Archaria and the Gnomes, Humans and Elves who were opposed to the Sky Gnomes' slavery in the factories of Ancient Zerbath. Although the war remained fairly secretive, there were a few larger battles fought, mainly in the streets of Zerbath and Falorian.
The Conflict
Prelude
The seeds of the war were planted in the early months of 0 AE. Rumours that a Sky Gnomes town of airships had just been captured over Ancient Zerbath, bringing never before seen arcane technology were spreading across the kingdom like wildfire. Already, communities of Gnomes and their allies were alert, and the monarchs of neighbouring kingdoms cowered in fear of the prospect of Archaria's new might. Their fears proved correct as the King of Archaria at the time, King Robern II had declared a new era in the history of Archaria, the Age of Expansion (written as AE), and, armed with the new arcane technologies, Archaria began plans to expand it's boarders and build an empire. As the technology spread, and other gnomes learned of the slavery of their kin, they began to seek allies and make plans for resistance.
An Unusual Beginning
The Engine Wars were unusual in that they occured right at a time in which the technology of the world was changing very rapidly with the discovery of Arcane Engines. Suddenly, it was not only ports and farmland which was of strategic importance, but new industrial areas as well. Magic could now be used far more effectively in battle with the help of the engines.Deployment
In 1 AE, the populous of Ancient Zerbath were riotous. They feared that the Arcane Engines would leave them without work, and replace them. The fledgling Gnomic Freedom Coalition decided to try and use the confusion to their advantage, to try to raid Zerbath factories, and get the population. However, as the gnomes mage their plans, Ommund Rifflock, High Priest of Hielel, Esteemed Sage of Mount Akkum, Noble Lord of the Kylis Tomes, Mightiest among Mortals, etc. (before he got those titles) got there first in his famous speech outside the Temple of Hielel. At this point though, the Gnomes were a small force with very little military experience, so they started to form bonds with the High Elves of Falorian, who were willing to fight for a just cause, and also to push back against The Kingdom of Archaria, who had been making claims to the city. The newly formed coalition made it's headquarters in the Vonmith District of Falorian. In the following 3 years, the coalition also formed alliances with the Dwarves of The Blackwyrm Mountains and neighbouring kingdoms.
Meanwhile, the wealthy merchants and The Kingdom of Archaria were starting to hear of a resistance organisation to free the Sky Gnomes. They did not see the coalition as much of a threat, however, as they were fighting other wars overseas. They did not know of the Elf - Gnome coalition, so did not take action against Falorian, instead fortifying factories in Ancient Zerbath and Chafis.
Meanwhile, the wealthy merchants and The Kingdom of Archaria were starting to hear of a resistance organisation to free the Sky Gnomes. They did not see the coalition as much of a threat, however, as they were fighting other wars overseas. They did not know of the Elf - Gnome coalition, so did not take action against Falorian, instead fortifying factories in Ancient Zerbath and Chafis.
The Engagement
By the year 5 AE, the freedom coalition was ready to start fighting in earnest. Gnome and elvish (mainly of the Naïlo line) spies and rogues entered the cities of Ancient Zerbath and Chafis. They attempted to sabotage factories and free gnome slaves. The missions were sometimes successful, but more often failed, as the Archarian technology gave the enemy an edge in the skirmishes. A war of intelligence raged too, with spies trying to discover enemy capabilities and diviners trying to scy the enemy, whilst the enemy abjurers tries to stop them. As the war wore on, the Gnomic Headquaters remained secret, and their tactics became yet more dangerous, with gnome spellcasters using curses and hexes to sow confusion in Archarian cities. One of the most famous of these was a hex which remains in Ancient Zerbath to this day, in which gnomes made the streets of Zerbath switch around every 12 hours in 48 AE.
In the year 11 AE, details of the fighting began to emerge to the Archarian public. Yet again, Ommond Rifflock, now the high priest of Hielel, gave a speech to the crowds of Zerbath. He revealed details of the war and rallied the people against the Gnomic Coalition. Although this brought support to the New Merchants, it also was to their detriment. The Barons of the Northern Provinces of The Kingdom of Archaria were already sceptical of the Arcane Engines, and were harshly opposed to slavery. Upon finding out about the secret war, the barons cut all ties to the new merchants. Meanwhile, the mercenary forces had suspicions that the Elves of Falorian were in an alliance with the gnomes. When they brought their findings to King Robern II, however, he was unwilling to make an attack on Falorian itself, as he knew that this would likely mean open war, not only with elves in Falorian and in the South, but also with the northern barons, who already had a tense relationship with the crown. (Although he had claimed Falorian to be in Archaria, he was unwilling to fight for it). On top of this, he was already fighting many wars in other countries. However, The New Merchants did not have such worries, so, spurred on by Ommund Rifflock, High Priest of Hielel, Esteemed Sage of Mount Akkum, Noble Lord of the Kylis Tomes, Mightiest among Mortals, etc., they hired a mercenary force, 5,500 strong, to lay siege to the city in 25 AE.
The mercenary force, though outnumbering the Elves, far underestimated the defensive capabilities of Falorian. They began by scaling the forested mountain on which Falorian stands, which was hard enough without attacks from elves from the treetops. The force eventually reached the outer walls of the city, and they were able to penetrate the outer wall using their arcane siege engines. However, the force suffered heavy casualties from the constant bombardment of magic and volleys of arrows from the unreachable positions higher up in the city. By the time relief armies from the Northern Barons arrived, the mercenaries were almost defeated after a counterattack by elvish infantry using Falorian's secret tunnels and teleportation circles.
When asked by the Kingdom why they fought against The New Merchants, the barons replied that they were simply defending their land (Archaria had of course claimed Falorian as their own).
The war ended with the magical disaster which wiped out Ancient Zerbath and Chafis, creating The Lands of Ruination. Although there was no decisive victory, the use of Arcane Engines ended, so you could call it a victory for the Gnomic Coalition.
In the year 11 AE, details of the fighting began to emerge to the Archarian public. Yet again, Ommond Rifflock, now the high priest of Hielel, gave a speech to the crowds of Zerbath. He revealed details of the war and rallied the people against the Gnomic Coalition. Although this brought support to the New Merchants, it also was to their detriment. The Barons of the Northern Provinces of The Kingdom of Archaria were already sceptical of the Arcane Engines, and were harshly opposed to slavery. Upon finding out about the secret war, the barons cut all ties to the new merchants. Meanwhile, the mercenary forces had suspicions that the Elves of Falorian were in an alliance with the gnomes. When they brought their findings to King Robern II, however, he was unwilling to make an attack on Falorian itself, as he knew that this would likely mean open war, not only with elves in Falorian and in the South, but also with the northern barons, who already had a tense relationship with the crown. (Although he had claimed Falorian to be in Archaria, he was unwilling to fight for it). On top of this, he was already fighting many wars in other countries. However, The New Merchants did not have such worries, so, spurred on by Ommund Rifflock, High Priest of Hielel, Esteemed Sage of Mount Akkum, Noble Lord of the Kylis Tomes, Mightiest among Mortals, etc., they hired a mercenary force, 5,500 strong, to lay siege to the city in 25 AE.
The mercenary force, though outnumbering the Elves, far underestimated the defensive capabilities of Falorian. They began by scaling the forested mountain on which Falorian stands, which was hard enough without attacks from elves from the treetops. The force eventually reached the outer walls of the city, and they were able to penetrate the outer wall using their arcane siege engines. However, the force suffered heavy casualties from the constant bombardment of magic and volleys of arrows from the unreachable positions higher up in the city. By the time relief armies from the Northern Barons arrived, the mercenaries were almost defeated after a counterattack by elvish infantry using Falorian's secret tunnels and teleportation circles.
When asked by the Kingdom why they fought against The New Merchants, the barons replied that they were simply defending their land (Archaria had of course claimed Falorian as their own).
The war ended with the magical disaster which wiped out Ancient Zerbath and Chafis, creating The Lands of Ruination. Although there was no decisive victory, the use of Arcane Engines ended, so you could call it a victory for the Gnomic Coalition.
Conflict Type
War
Battlefield Type
Urban
Start Date
1 AE
Ending Date
53 AE / 0 AR
Belligerents
The Kingdom of Archaria and The New Merchants
Led by
The Gnomic Freedom Coalition
Strength
The Kingdom of Archaria at the time was involved in many other conflicts to expand their territory, most notably that to control The Former Kingdom of Schanri, so they did not have much military power to spare, but they did have use of their extensive intelligence network and garrisons at Ancient Zerbath. Otherwise, the coalition relied mainly on mercenaries.
The coalition was made up of many sides with the common purpose to free Sky Gnomes from slavery in Ancient Zerbath. This included other sky gnome towns, their forest and rock gnome kin, the high elves of Falorian and some humans who had seen through the Kingdom's lies or were openly rebelling against the crown. The governments of Archaria's rival states and the dvarves of The Blackwyrm Mountains provided weapons hoping to destabilise the Archarian government, but did not actually fight.
Most of the gnomes in the coalition were more involved in espionage and sabotage than actual fighting, but their human and elvish allies could muster a sizeable army.
Most of the gnomes in the coalition were more involved in espionage and sabotage than actual fighting, but their human and elvish allies could muster a sizeable army.
Casualties
Most Gnomes are pacifists at heart and will avoid killing if they can, so in most of the secretive wars in Zerbath, the coalition suffered few casualties. The High Elves of Falorian however had no such qualms, and dealt heavy blows at the Siege of Falorian. In this battle, the coalition's mercenaries suffered casualties in the thousands, often estimated at about 2000 - 2500. In other battles and skirmishes, casualties were a total of about 500 - 800.
As mentioned above, most of the war was fought in terms of espionage and skirmishes. During such missions, the Archarian forces, especially the mercenary forces, could be brutal. Sky Gnomes were not to be killed, but rather captured for work in the factories. Others would be killed, or tried as traitors or terrorists, then executed. The majority of the coalition casualties were in larger battles, such as the Siege of Falorian and the Battle of Chafis. Overall, casualties in espionage and skirmish ranged from 600 to 700, whilst in larger battles, casualties are estimated to be from 1,200 to 1,600.
Objectives
The coalition was made up of two organisations:
The Kingdom of Archaria
The Kingdom of Archaria wanted to prevent the Sky Gnomes who were the keys to their technological superiority from escaping the factories, and to prevent the rebel sabotage efforts from aiding their escape and depleting the Kingdom's industrial output.The New Merchants
The New Merchants were a group of factory owners and dealers who had grown extremely wealthy as a result of the Arcane Engines, so they waged war to defend their property and wealth.
The coalition's objectives were mainly to free the Sky Gnomes who were slaves to the Archarians. However, their sponsors also wanted to destabilise The Kingdom of Archaria, either to reduce the threat of invasion by the kingdom, or to increase chances of forming an independent state (for the Dwarves).
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