Upheaval Wars
The Upheaval Wars was a series of conflicts that lasted from 513 AO to 517 AO in which the major powers of the Dormian Continent took part, and which saw the capitulation of previous states and the political transformation into the modern countries of Dormia. The Upheaval Wars began with a concerted invasion of the Auroran Republic from the Kingdom of Vesper which then incited civil wars among both the kingdom and the republic.
Vesperan Conquest
The Vesperan Conquest began in early 513 AO with the mass mobilization of Vesperan forces for a surprise attack on Aurora. Simon Rex IV led over half of the forces of Vesper, about 13,000 troops, across the Sea of Horses along with his trusted advisor Mitlargo Thistlehouse. Also present was the Sorcerer King, Enil Nile. Simon believed his forces were largely invulnerable to magic, the presumed weapon of Auroran choice, due to widespread use of black armor. The Vesperan army also supplemented its forces with summoned celestials and elementals. Fearing the loss of the element of surprise in his campaign, Simon decided to attempt a decapitation strike on the de facto head of the Auroran government, the Trifecta, before the rest of his army could amass on the republic's lands. On March 11, 513 AO, the Vesperan army amassed in the fields outside the city of Trabem, preparing to strike.
Hours before the attack was to begin, the Risen enacted the Unsealing, completely invalidating the anti-magical properties of the Vesperan black armor, as well as the arcane bridges utilized by both sides throwing the armies and cities into chaos. Unbeknownst to King Simon, the sorcerer king Enil had secretly plotted a revolt on the crown in retribution for the subjugation of the Sultan peoples, and had managed to garner some loyalty from half the Vesperan forces in Aurora. Taking advantage of the situation, Enil directed a surprise attack on the commanders of the Vesperan army known to be loyal to the crown, kicking off the Battle of the Trifecta.
The battle resulted in a victory for the forces of Vesper, but not without some great loss: Simon Rex, as well Enil Nile were both slain. Nilerex took command of the remaining Vesperan forces and put Mitlargo Thistlehouse under arrest. It was with great difficulty that Nilerex was able to maintain command, and seeking a figurehead to garner the people's loyalty, she directed the resurrection of Enil's daughter, Elaina Nile. Officially ceding command to Elaina, Nilerex took on the role of general and advisor. Elaina rallied the Vesperan troops, humbled by the power of magic, in a charismatic campaign. She assumed the title of Queen of Vesper, and set the army back to Riverlake to take the throne.
Vesperan Civil War
When news of the king's death reached the denizens of Riverlake, the city descended into anarchy. With chain of command broken, the guards of the city separated into several factions, mainly organized by geography. Riots, protests and looting were common, often with local law enforcement turning a blind eye to criminal activity. When word came of Elaina's army marching toward the city, a former Steel Soldier, Tom unified the soldiers in the city into a cohesive group under the moniker the Royalists by convincing the nobility to financially back them, out of fear for Elaina's designs. The Royalists fortified the city and prepared for a siege.
Elaina was faced with two options at this point: lay siege to the city and take the throne, or find another way to apply pressure to the entrenched Royalists. Without having proven herself an apt commander, and not willing to risk the troops' morale toll of laying siege to their own capital, she instead marched her army around the city and headed to Mount Magnus to block the River of Gold. There, the gates of the city were open to her army by opportunists seeking Elaina's favor. With the nobility now unable to back their claims of payment to the Royalists, Tom was forced to leave the relative safety of Riverlake with his troops.
