Once the largest city in the north, Topenah had been reduced by a combination of war and mismanagement from twenty-five thousand people to a mere three-thousand. With the tightening of the siege and the dry coffers of Ethiala by the end of the war the resources of the southern side were stretched just to keep the city standing, with many soldiers camping outside the walls when the northern army of Arcaea and Ohnar West approached. Although with the overall advantage of numbers and a well-maintained fortress the forces of Ethiala, Cathay and the Principality, whose entry here was the first time they had involved themselves in this war, were to prove utterly useless due to a lack of diplomatic co-ordination and a very well prepared enemy.

The Battle

Date	19th/20th of December, 2008
Location	Fortified city of Topenah
Weather	Windy
Result	After Three battles, 9 - 4 - 3 rounds, Northern Alliance Victory
Territorial; changes	Hostile Arcaean Takeover Followed; Unsuccessful (city revolted)

Fall of Topenah
Part of The Third Ethialan Campaign
; The end of Ethiala...
Date	19th/20th of December, 2008
Location	Fortified city of Topenah
Weather	Windy
Result	After Three battles, 9 - 4 - 3 rounds, Northern Alliance Victory
Territorial; changes	Hostile Arcaean Takeover Followed; Unsuccessful (city revolted)
Combatants
Attackers	Defenders
Arcaea and Ohnar West, with support from Papania	Ethiala, Cathay and the Principality of Zonasa
Commanders
Lord Protector Mar Crow and Marshals; Edara Kindon, of the Tribute Collecting Army Leon Tranquilli, of the Field of Honour Vulpes de Zorro, Lord General of Papania and the Papanian Guard Julian II Zulhir, of the First Army of West Ohnar Severus Septimus, of the Second Army of West Ohnar	Valgar Reinhart, General of Cathay and Marshal of the Company of The Iron Falcon; (No commander for the last two battles)
Strength
15399 CS (First battle)	10221 CS (First battle)
Formations
Infantry Charge	Fortification Defense
Casualties
Light to Medium	Extremely Heavy

The nature of the city and the tactics used meant that both sides would have to co-ordinate their movement into the city very precisely. If the southern alliance moved to reinforce the city and the enemy did not attack, they would suffer from the disease and starvation running rampant in the city, yet if they did not move then the advantage of the fortress would be lost. The northern alliance too were faced with the issue of attacking the city and finding the full strength of their enemies to bear down upon them. With reinforcements coming daily from the entry of the Principality into the war, time was not on the Arcaeans side. It was soon decided by the Lord Protector Mar Crow that the Arcaean and Ohnarian soldiers would attack after several feints. The Arcaeans brought the largest force to field with over 11k CS accounted to their ranks of their combined 15k to their enemies 10K, not including those who were to attack later

As dawn broke the Arcaean heavy infantry and Ohnarian soldiers pushed their siege engines to the walls of the fortress, although when they saw the numbers of enemies it was sure in the minds of some that they could not possibly overwhelm them. Common sense taught that. Dozens of siege engines were fired up and the air was filled with the rush of projectiles slamming into the walls of the city and the acrid smell of burning ammunition. Whilst the mixed infantry and archers of the defending forces managed to thin the ranks of the advancing infantry it was not enough to stop their siege towers and ladders from reaching the walls. Within the first hour the attacking forces had managed to force their way onto the walls, the concentrated weight of the Arcaean heavy infantry coming to bear on the narrow walkways of the walls and stone steps.

With minimal losses the Northern Alliance forced the defenders into the city centre and the keep. Their valiance could not be doubted but they were ill-trained and ill-equipped compared to the hardened Arcaean veterans. What followed was a slaughter which prompted the enemy to give in and flee the city. The following day was full of fighting and confusion, with the reinforcements from the normally peaceful Zonasans arriving both too late and too locked by indecision to contribute. The Cathayans thus felt betrayed when over 10000CS of Zonasans watched as they tried to assail their enemies in a counter-attack upon the fields before the city gates. With that the Southern forces yielded the day and left for home, defeated.

The Aftermath

Topenah was still suffering from starvation whilst the take over was run by Sir Aerywyn Haerthorne, with hundreds dying each day. Eventually the city elders met in secret and decided to pledge their loyalty to Greater Aenilia, following suit with Hupar who had done so only a few days before, bringing with it all the nobles of Ethiala and thereby effectively ending the realm. With the Arcaean forces unable to continue asserting their authority due to a desire not to spoil relations with Greater Aenilia and risk another front in the war, the city stayed in Aenilian hands long enough for a deal to be struck with the new ruler Luyten elected shortly after the battle; 2500 gold pieces for Topenah, Treror and Hupar.