Beluaterra/Eight Age/The Agyrian Civil War
Contents
Thalmarkin had always been hostile to the Shattered Vales. Therefore, when the realm ceased to exist and its nobility found refuge in Ar Agyr, they felt insulted when the Shattered Vales expanded into their now abandoned lands. The refusal of King Rogan McGahee to wage war with his western neighbours, caused General Lahta Komurov to initiate a rebellion, which would spiral into a civil war as more parties got involved.
Background
Thalmarkin merges into Ar Agyr (2023-10-17)
Thalmarkin was the oldest realm still standing, tracing its history back to the shortly after the 2nd Invasion, securing its place north of the Golden River and east of Ossmat. In recent year it had grown close to Ar Agyr and hostile towards the Shattered Vales, which had taken possession of Ossmat. However, the loss of noble blood caused Thalmarkin to abandon Sandefur and merge its remaining territories with Ar Agyr.
Margravine Lahta Komurov (2023-10-28)
General Lahta Komurov became the first Agyrian Margravine of Vatrona, the former bastion of Thalmarkin. She becomes deeply loved by the local people due to her interest for Thalmarkin history and culture.
The Sandefur Expansion (2023-11-09)
The Shattered Vales claimed the areas now left empty due to the disappearance of its former enemy and seizes control of Sandefur. This is an insult to the Thalmarkin people and their hatred focusses especially on the General of the Shattered Vales: Imperator Arjan de Zueww.
The Blockade (2024-01-05)
In order to force the Shattered Vales out of Sandefur, Ar Agyr expands to Pomatim and revokes access to the Shattered Vales.
The Shattered Vales backs down (2024-02-12)
Unable to support Sandefur, Emperor Imrahil Mormont decides to abandon the city. Het also decides to abandon the isolated fortress at Keffa, which happened to be the fief of Imperator Arjan.
The Sacking of Keffa (2024-04-07)
An Agyrian expedition attacks the now free people of Keffa and its surroundings. The brutality shock the people of the Shattered Vales and when murderous troops are even reported to operate within the realm's borders, Imperator Arjan expels the attackers from the area, forcing to return east. It is widely believed the looting was organized by General Lahta to spite Imperator Arjan.
The Rebellion
Lahta's Rebellion (2024-05-03)
Lahta Komurov called for an uprising against the current government! In a passionate speech she said:
Nobles of Ar Agyr,
I, General Lahta of Ar Agyr, hereby declare myself in active rebellion against King Rogan. I do this not for my own power, but for the benefit of our realm as a whole. Below I will list out my reasons for taking this action, as there have been a number of issues which have made me resort to this action. After that I will list my planned reforms should I succeed.
- Failure of King Rogan to fulfill his role as ruler. King Rogan has sat silently for most of my time as General. He rarely took action for the realm, and when he did, it was without my input or in spite of it. Most often it was done without discussion. The example I will provide is his improving our relations with Shattered Vales to Peace. He did this without regard for the opinions of the rest of the realm, and without my input. I have organized the armies, gave them direction, objectives, purpose. All without his help in finding a direction for our realm. Not once has he given such direction, content to sit and let others struggle at the weight of giving our nobles direction and purpose. This has put all the pressure and responsibility for providing our nobles opportunity for action on myself and the military commanders of the realm. We did not become Generals and Marshals to run a realm, but to command the armies of it.
- When it comes to Shattered Vales, he has shown himself to be soft. His threat to ban anyone who loots their land is proof of that. First he provides no direction for our nobles, then he has the temerity to threaten to ban any noble who directs themselves in his absence. He does nothing when their own nobles demand the heads of our nobles, such as the Imperator of Shattered Vales. The very least he could do as King is ensure none of our nobles need fear an outside party attempting to harm our own. He sat idly by while an infiltrator made an attempt on Vice-Marshal Erik Estrall's life. That is not the action of a ruler, that is the action of a coward.
- I have repeatedly recommended that the other council positions be put up for election just as the General position is. He has either ignored me or refused every time. I frankly find it frustrating in the extreme that these positions are protected from being challenged by other noble candidates who wish to serve our realm. I have had my city nearly starve and yet there is little recourse for myself besides to abandon my duties with the armies and return to a city in order to ensure that I have food even after I have informed the Chancellor that I had needed food while on campaign.
For all these reasons, as well as other minor ones not worth mentioning here, I now declare this rebellion.
My aims for this rebellion are the following:
- Overthrow King Rogan's ineffectual rule. Should he step down I will allow him to keep his dukeship. I do not believe him disloyal, merely a poor ruler whose time as King has ended.
- Reform the realm into a Republic. The current Council, outside of the General position, is currently ossified by the lack of other nobles able to challenge the incumbents and attempt to provide new energy to the positions.
- A reduction in Duke taxes overall. Far more gold than is needed is being taken away from the Dukes and Duchesses, who could instead invest that gold into their own regions and the lords of their duchies.
- I will take the Ruler position, whatever its eventual title ends up being, for one term upon the success of the rebellion, to ensure the creation of new institutions. I will then allow elections to replace me and run once more for General. I take this action out of necessity, not out of any desire to rule the realm myself. I do not desire power, I wish only for our realm to have direction and clarity of purpose. Without these, we will be weak, and there is no greater sin in the eyes of the Wolf Lord.
I ask that those who feel similarly to me either rise up or stay neutral. This is a grand risk, a gamble to change the realm's direction. We will only get one chance at this.
Lastly, for those who remembered, yes this does replace the State of the Realm for this month. For obvious reasons I will not be writing that this month.
Lahta seizes the Capital (2024-05-04)
Having prepared her grab for power well, General Lahta ensured only rebel troops would be in the capital, while potential loyalist troops would be far away. She therefore easily gains control of the government. But in order to secure unity, she allows Rogan to keep his fief, which happens to be the capital in Unger. Rogan orders his subjects to continue to adress him as King - this also includes the government officials who live inside Unger.
The Battle in Unger (2024-05-05)
Since Rogan refuses to cooperate, Lahta decides to attack the palace. However, by now Rogan has assembled his own forces. During the Battle in Unger the 442 soldiers of Lahta are, however, outnumbered by the 614 of Rogan and the battle is won by the loyalists. But the loyalists do not celebrate their victory: during the battle Khurst Fylkir manages to capture Rogan.
Rogan surrenders (2024-05-06)
Having retreated to the Tomb of the Kings, Lahta forces Rogan to sign a document in which he renounces all his possessions. Despite the loyalist victory, the rebels have won, but the war has only just begun.
War erupts
War with the Shattered Vales (2024-05-19)
A tournament is organized to celebrate the new government. During the revelling Grand Duchess Lahta held a speech and declared war on the Shattered Vales.
Imperator Arjan demanded the heads of two of our nobles. He attacked our nobles as we travelled to clear the area around Keffa. A Shattered Vales noble attempted to assassinate Marshal Erik, and finally Imperator Arjan and another noble of Shattered Vales looted the region of Pomatim when Ar Agyr was dealing with internal conflict.
Despite all of this, I attempted to speak with Emperor Imrahil Mormont and come to a settlement that was extremely light for the damages and provocation caused by all of these events. I requested 500 bushels of food for the damages, either as a lump sum or in weekly amounts of 100 bushels until a total of 500 bushels was paid. In return I would overlook the past events and our realms could move forward amicably. He refused this offer. Therefore I put before my realm a referendum for war. This referendum passed by a sizable amount. Ar Agyr goes to war. Shattered Vales shall either submit to the war goals, or we shall burn their regions and destroy their armies until they agree to the demands. They have brought this upon themselves in their stubbornness and scorn for both Ar Agyr and myself.
Clyde's Coup (2024-05-23)
In order to focus on the war, Lahta steps down as Grand Duchess and orders Clyde Wilde to organize the first election for Grand Duke in the new Republic. Clyde immediately sees to his duties and elections are held the very same evening. Clyde gains a convincing 168% of the votes and becomes the new Grand Duke.
Irondale joins the War (2024-05-25)
Emperor Imrahil deliberated with Hierophant Ryosuke Guile of Irondale and issued the following proclamation:
Those involved in the rebellion in Ar Agyr and those that the Shattered Vales consider the rebel government of Ar Agyr has planned to war against the Vales for a long time. The Rebellion itself was motivated by the desire for war with the Vales. Prior to war breaking out the forces aligned to the rebel government crossed our borders freely. They pillaged Keffa knowing full well that it was still aligned to the Vales and was only lost because of control problems. This region previously belonged to Imperator Arjan and was targetted due to his love for the region. These Argyrians also looted Vales lands which is the reason I refused to pay compensation. I consider the looting justice for the rebels looting of the Vales.
Furthermore the Vales do not consider those loyal to the deposed King as enemies. We consider the rebel government and those aligned to it as our enemies and will fight any who invade our Empire. We will also loot the regions aligned to the rebel government and it's supporters as long as they war on the Vales. We have balanced our war goals based on Grand Duchess Lahta's goals. We have no interest in expanding into Ar Agyr and will fight a defensive war against an aggressor.
To honor his alliance with the Shattered Vales, Hierophant Ryosuke also declared war on [[Ar Agyr]:
Having been a staunch ally of the Shattered Vales since before their relocation from the Gods-forsaken south, Irondale will not stand idly by and watch our friends and brothers fight alone. We reiterate the war intentions of the Vales, as well as their reasoning for going to war.
Irondale will not be waging a war of aggression, but coming to the aid and defence of our ally.
That being said, those who wage war against us open themselves to reprisal in full military fashion.
Events
2024-05-03 Lahta iniates a rebellion to depose the pacifist King Rogan.
2024-05-05 The Battle in Unger: 614 loyalists are successfull against 442 rebels.
2024-05-06 Lahta captures Rogan and seizes control of the Agyrian government.
2024-05-19 Lahta declares war against the Shattered Vales.
2024-05-21 The Skirmish in Pomatim sees the first involvement of the Shattered Vales in the war when the troops of Erik Estrall are ambushed by Arjan de Zueww and Charl Bayemvee.
2024-05-25 Irondale honors its alliance with the Shattered Vales and declares war on Ar Agyr.
