8th of Freyrmond, Suilley begins the Plainmarch Border Wars

3510-3520
The borderlands of the Kingdom of Suilley beyond the Lorremach Highills have long since been a hotbed of turmoil. The year 3520 was the culmination of a ten year long campaign started by King Florentin, which led to it being incorporated into the Empire.
The wars started by convincing the populace of their necessity. The king led a propaganda campaign talking about the horrors that lay in the valleys at the base of the Forlorn hills, and stressed that it was a matter of natural security and of good, to incorporate this region into the empire. The Tanlak prefecture had long lay claim over the region of Intre, but had little ability to actually claim it as their own. Initially the war started here, but little success was met and the armies bogged down in the marshy terrain. The rains of the region kept it difficult for troops to move through, and the very short dry season and long winter meant that making a foothold was next to impossible. After two years of fighting, the fighting stopped, and lines were drawn.
The enemies included various tribes of non-humans, such as orcs, goblins, even some hill giants. But many were just other humans, druids, some elves and dwarves, a variety of people uninterested in a foreign kings conquest.
Some strategists near the beginning of the war had suggested an attack from the north, rather than going through Intre. The open plains meant that the vast distances were difficult to traverse, and a new enemy lie in the way. Plainsmen, experts in using their limited mounts (horses for humans, but some orcs and half orcs had boars) could easily drive back any who attacked through the area. With how long a distance one must travel, it was too open to attack, and supply lines could be easily cut.
Already the war had cost the crown. It was unpopular and had thus far been unsuccessful, lead to many deaths, and the crown was close to being forced to conscript soldiers. This is when General Maximus Pythareus rose to power and made his name. His family already had ties with the Vasile family, and his friendship with the king allowed him to convince him of a new plan.
In a bold move, Maximus was given the rank of General of the Army, and given reign over the region. He began conscription into the army, and allowed the general to wage the war as he saw fit.
The new-found general was an expert horseman, and did all he could to get as many horses as possible for the army. He developed scouting and cavalry tactics that made his units devastating to the plainsman, and in two campaign seasons had driven much of the plains inhabitants back many miles towards the Forlorn mountains. He established a series of outposts that have since grown into towns, designating many different regions inside the prefecture and (in the future) gaining him political power. He began by having supply trains run between these towns. Rather than vulnerable supply lines, these large trains allowed large amounts of goods to be transported safely without worrying about attack.
Within another three years, the campaign was nearly over. The general had driven all of the remainder out, or subjugated them. He slowly made his way over the next three years through the Intre region, establishing more bases and control. To his displeasure, the King awarded that area to the Grand Duke of the Tanklak prefecture, as it was legally theirs.
During the last three years of the war, the General was forced to set up defensive perimeters on the base of the Forlorn Mountains. Unable to pierce them, the best he could do was hope to define the edges of the empire and catapult the wars into a political career. He also was able to use much of the plunder to fund the construction of the massive Stronghold Hjerrin, named in honor after one of the best captains of the war who died tragically defending his men from a Stone Giant. The area has been flooded with those seeking land, and many who seek adventure.
The General now seeks to become Grand Duke over the new Plainmarch Prefecture, and establish this militaristic area as his own.
The wars have had a drastic effect on the region. Firstly, many natives of the land who wished to not be part of the Empire were either displaced or eliminated, though some were incorporated. Many trenches, depots, burned out towns, fields of little more than bones, and other traces of war linger long beyond the battles themselves. Many fear what ambitions the General has next. Many are bitter about the conquests themselves. The general has expressed he wishes to continue east into the mountains, and root out the evil that dwells within. Some speculate that this may be due to the iron shortage that has plagued his armies in the latter few years of the war. When the largest mine of the Lorremach Highlands dried up, many scrambled to buy up rights as quick as they could, leading to the General having to make due with less equipment than he would like. He hopes that by being given Grand Duke, he can begin a system of taxation and have more authority to set up towns and claim lands into the Forlorn Mountains, and hopes to find more lucrative sources of iron and other precious materials to further fund his conquests.
One lesser talked about issue with the conquests are those of the veterans. Many are nearing retirement, and are owed lands and funds and look to their general for that which was promised to them. Many have been given lands and titles within the prefecture itself, which while an appropriate reward, has run into the issue where Soldiers do not always make the best rulers.

Portraits

General Maximus Pythareus