Civil War

Here are some notes about the terrible civil war that tore the Yinka apart a few years ago

In the year of 6.044 T.E.I the situation in Kachtere is tense to say the least, the first reports about the Cloudlords have just started to come in and the high priest starts to be afraid for his position in the Yinka Theocracy.
The military commanders of the pretty impressive army of the Yinka notes this behavior in the priests and how in their fear they start calling more to Yugal and sacrifice more, something that spurs rebellion in the Yinka who's loved ones are sacrificed in the name of Yugal.
Backed by several of the most powerful noble and merchant families the army tries to take control over the country, to bring back some order to the land that is starting to reign in chaos.

The first move in in the city of Zahvul, the third largest city in the realm, the military has prepared well for their strike and none of the priesthood is prepared for such a treasury, there is some small fighting inside the city, but it falls almost without bloodshed. The priest loyalists and priests that are captured is released and forced to return to the capital and telling about the new order, this is something that proves to be a big mistake from the rebellions side since they are forced to meet the same troops later in the war, and that time  prepared.

The start of the war goes well for the army, the priests, more worried about an attack from outside had put more and more resources in the hands of the military, something the commanders were not late to take advantage of.

In the capital they get reached by the news about Zahvul and have time to prepare before an attempt to overthrow the priest king. The rebels are captured and later sacrificed to Yugal under a great ceremony.

The rest of the summer and autumn the war is slowly escalating, small skirmishes between the rebel forces and the loyalists, but the losses are low on both sides.

At the end of the fall the weather starting to grow really bad, but the military is by now sure of their victory, controlling close to 75% of the land, only the major cities of Kachtere and Achren is under the control of the Priest King. Spurred by their success the military now direct their attention to the city of Achren.

 

The Battle of Achren
In the fall of 6.044 the first major battle between the church and the army takes place in Achren, up until now there has only been minor skirmishes between loyalists from both sides and the priests has not been able to form their own armies. but after a summer of defeat the priests are organized and meets the army. The army force is almost 5 times the numbers of the priests, numbering almost 10.000 strong, the priests have around 2.000 men all highly trained and almost a third of the forces enter the battle wielding the magic their god gives them.

The battle takes place in the worst of weather making it an enormous confusion on both sides, but as the priests of Yugal begins to unleash the powers of Essænce right into the ranks of the army the confusion turns to slaughter.
After an entire day of battle the priests and their forces are forced to retreat, giving the victory to the army, it is a expensive victory though with almost 50% losses on the winners side and their morale seriously hurt despite the victory.
For the priests the battle is a good experience, although loosing the battle and loosing a lot more ground to the rebels they have had their first real experience of a major battle and can be prepared better next time. They retreat to the capital to reorganize and for the rest of the winter playing a more defensive role in the war.

Assault on Achren

Not really being a battle since no large forces are involved, but the church manage to move in a dozen of their highly trained priest-warriors inside the city of Achren in an attempt to slay the rebel leader Ardigan. They are made right before the attack though and miss their target, but several of the high officers of the rebellion is slain and Ardigan is badly wounded

Four captured warrior-priests are hung for their assassination attempt on Ardigan. The church takes it as a terrible insult.

During terrible winter storms both the areas around the capital and north towards Achren and Cinvat is attacked by Garks, many small villages is plundered since most of the men defending them is in the armies instead.

The spring offensive is starting - Moving quickly when the weather gets better the Church moves strong forces south towards the lightly defended cities of Zahvul and Media. Keeping a large portion of their priests in the capital in case the rebels will try and take it.

Battle of Zahvul

Reaching Zahvul there is a short and bloody battle, the priests unleash the fires of Yugal again, crushing the gates and burning down parts of the city, the defenders trapped inside the burning city is demoralized and defeated after less then a day of fighting. The priests forces move fast towards Media after that.

Attack on Kachtere

The military's forces, not knowing yet about the defeat of Zahvul launches an attack on the capital, a smaller elite force takes old ancient tunnels inside the grey mountains to move forces inside the capital. The forces outside meet the full wrath of Yugal and hundreds of soldiers are burned to ashes. The elite force enters the city undetected and attack the main temple, the priest-king however is not there, but many close men to him is killed before the attackers are driven of or defeated.

The Fall of Media - Demoralized after the brutal takeover of Zahvul, Media surrenders after a few minor skirmishes outside the city, something that makes the city largely spared from the horrors of the war. The priests leave only enough troops to hold the cities and then move back north to meet the main rebel army.

Battle of Astara plains

After the loss of both Zahvul and Media the military is gathering their forces in the north for one major battle, the main army of the Church is moving north towards them and the forces meet on the plains of Astara (named after a priest in the council that died there). The battle is taking two days with thousands of dead on each side, most of the rebel army is destroyed, but also many priests dies in a cavalry assault right into the camp in the night. The earth of the Astara plains is scorched and nothing grows there since, the reminder of the rebel army flees further north with the church on their heels.

Fall of the north

Gathering reinforcements at Cinvat and Kayan they turn to meet the priest army, but after the demoralizing defeat at Astara plains the outcome is not at doubt. At a major battle north of Cinvat the northern rebel army is defeated, the priests, already sure of their victory still unleashes the powers of Yugal, burning most of the rebel army. Ardigan is captured and strangled later in the capital

End of the War

Turning their attention back south, the Church army is now only growing as more and more see the outcome of the war, the last of the battles is set outside the city of Media and the rebels are thoroughly defeated, all the main leaders are sacrificed to Yugal and the great celebrations after the war, only a handful manage to escape.