The History of Illyriad (incomplete)

After a brief yet deadly conflict resulting in the loss of over half a million troops, Affirmative Action has yielded to the Black Skull Horde and agreed to the Horde’s peace terms that includes staying out of the Great trove War. Instead of summarizing the events I'v copied several reports from the conflict below to tell our story. 

Consone War Council: News from The Eastern Front (Meeting Notes)
The Black Skull Horde (BSH) enters the Great Trove War by declaring war on Consone alliance World’s End(WE). WE calls for aid against the Horde’s ruthless onslaught of troops. Affirmative Action pledges to not stand by idly while friends suffer and answers the call for aid. Geofrey orders an army comprised of thirteen thousand Dwarven RuneRiders from Dunsinane, led by General Macbeth, to ride swiftly to the aid of the besieged WE city.

Macbeth’s Report:

We left Dunsinane with the orders to save a city, but all we saw when we arrived was smoke and ashes. The city was burned to the ground, every man woman and child destroyed by the Black Skull Horde. We were too late, the speed of the dwarven Cavalry wasn’t enough.

 Outside of the burnt city was a sea of orcish spearmen holding up on a small hill. Leftovers from the siege and awaiting orders to return home, we were able to catch them off-guard. We were outnumbered 4 to 1, but the ashes of the fallen city stirred something inside us dwarves and my army rode like rain on a mountain and charged straight into the heart of the enemy ranks.

 The fighting was fierce but the small hill left little room for spearmen to escape the wrath of Rune Riders. After suffering massive loses I knew retreat wasn’t an option, and the orcs refused to yield. We charged their lines until every last orc was dead. While a victory, it was surely a loss to loose so many good dwarves, having lost 9 out of 10 riders.

Mal Motsha spies report in after the attack:

Horde Furious. Unannounced attack by A.A. causing uproar. Cheap Victory, BSH won’t stand for it. Horde will invade.

Consone War Council, Update from A.A. (Meeting notes)

The BSH quickly declared war on Affirmative Action so they could settle the score. In a surprise move the Horde mobilized a large scale invasion of A.A. territory on the Mal Motsha/Keshalia River. Within days after declaring war,  Geofrey’s town of Iron Fjord had several incoming BSH armies. The Orc Horde has also already setup 3 occupying armies outside of Geofrey’s city. Affirmative Action’s true military power rested in Zanpur, several days journey from the town of Iron Fjord.

 Fortunately for A.A., Scouts were able to infiltrate one BSH town and learn that they were preparing a massive siege in the small forest outside of Geofrey’s city.

 Geofrey had dispatched troops 2 days in advance of troops appearing outside of his city. Armies that had been raised to protect confederate allies were now being used to protect King Geofrey’s own city. 

Iron Fjord Commander Magnus’ last correspondence with Alliance Capitol: Blackstone:
 

It all happened so fast. We saw orcs coming so we got everyone inside the wall and barred the gates. Only a few thousand of them at first. Nothing we couldn’t handle. But within an hour there was nothing but orcs as far as you could see. A sea of green skin and metal armor, with spears poking up all over the place. They had the North, East, and South exits completely blockaded. We were able to get in friendly reinforcements to the city through the west gate before it was overtaken.

 And then we saw them. Friendly armies arriving only a few hours after the BSH arrived. Over a Hundred Thousands troops. Cavalry from the plains of Zanpur, Royal Dwarvish Infantry, Bowmen from the southern forest. It would of taken days to get here, those scouting parties must of paid off.

 Army after army clashed into the Black Skull Horde. Killing 2-3 orcs for every allied troop destroyed. But it wasn’t enough. The Horde always won. We witnessed Commander Thor and his Stormborn Dwarvish infantry in their fancy axes and armor get overtaken by the Horde, but not before taking out 3 times as many orcs.   That’s when we knew the Orcs weren’t going away. They didn’t fear death, they lived for it.

 Waves of warg riders have been spotted on their way to the city, they will make it through the gate, and when they do we don’t have the power to oppose them. I have witnessed the loss of our strongest offense. This city will fall. I do not fear my death, but I hope that the alliance will survive this horrible ordeal.

 Peace.

 The Dwarvish fortress was burned and pillaged. All the wealth of the Northern most A.A. outpost lost to the Black Skull Horde.

 With Affirmative Action suffering the same defeat they tried so hard to save WE from, it was time for peace and rebuilding. Dignitaries from both sides met and Affirmative Action yielded to the Black Skull Horde terms, pulling A.A. out of the war.