Cinazan Front

The Cinazan Front was one of the regional wars that made up a larger conflict called the Chaos War.

On 5 Hollow 1828, the 1st Horde of Chaos numbering 150,000 mobilized out of Neeth-Theen. They marched south out of Hleittil, covering about 25 miles per day. They were joined three days later by 10,000 troops out of Icyke. These two forces, allies of the Flux Pact, marched south in two great pincers. The objective of this war machine was Neeth-Theen's looking to spread chaos. They were led by the the black slaad Ushgergoon. Icyke joined the Flux Pact to settle old scores with the Khazarkar Empire.

The army of the Neeth-Theen consisted of creatures of chaos; crawling, flying, slithering, deformed, and such aberrations as have never been witnessed before on Bal-Kriav. Icyke moved many of their troops in steam-driven ships, rolling on great iron wheels, passing over land in lieu of water. The reason for these contraptions was to avoid the great navies of the Orchish Empire and the Khazarkar Empire. Both of these empires considered such a large force coming south to be hostile. When both empires sent emissaries to determine their intent, they were basically told that they come to conquer everything in their path. Aggressive empires themselves, both decided it was better to take war to them before they reached their borders. From the safety of the river Eldorien, this began an intense bombardment of the enemy until they had moved out of cannon range.

As the armies marched south through Cinyossion, the forces of Icyke took up march on the eastern side of the Eldorien. After several days of marching they began suffering considerable losses from guerrilla attacks by the numerous fey of the Cinyossion valley. Large groups began falling to sleep gas - both natural and magical, whereupon they were killed by treants, sprites, and other fey who seem to sense the chaos and evil nature of what was invading their land. General Kharash, Supreme Commander of the Icyke army, ordered the forces to close ranks, and moved the land-rolling steam ships to guard the flank against the fey. These ships frightened off the dim-witted fey attackers, while the more intelligent fey were driven off after suffering hundreds of casualties from musket balls, arrows, and canister attacks from the decks of the steam ships.

After two months of travel through Cinyossion, and nearly 250 miles, the Flux Pact had wiped out all jara resistance between the Tulerran and Eldorien rivers.

Upon nearing the northern border of the Khazarkar Empire, Icyke's general Kharash requested that Neeth-Theen join up with his army for a concerted attack on the Khazarkar vassal state of Gilraen. He was rebuked by Ushgergoon, with the slaad claiming that he was the supreme commander of the Flux Pact, and that the general and his rabble must cover the Eldorien crossing. Ushgergoon set the army on the path to the lands of the Ithengee. Kharash could only shake his head, knowing that the elves of Ithengee were not a force to be trifled with - their wailing towers had kept the might of the Khazarkar at bay on several occasions (c.f. Sleepers Battle).

Siege of Hareldocáno

On 15 Lunar 1829, the army of Neeth-Theen sacked the Ithengee city Hareldocáno. General Eälerómë, commander of the Ithengee Defense Forces deemed the city indefensible versus the vast army approaching it. The city was left with only the garrison to defend with most of the city's army and people fleeing southeast to the Ithengee capital. The Neeth-Theen then marched southeast towards Séregon. Upon nearing this mystical and beautiful capital city, the Horde of Chaos was overcome by the tranquillizing melodies produced by the Maenglórfan. Legions of chaos soldiers fell asleep and were then trampled by their own troops before Ushgergoon ordered a retreat. The loss of nearly 4,000 horde troops without meeting the blade of the enemy caused Ushgergoon to pull his army back to the tip of the Core Sea. The entire army were then ferried back across the Eldorien by Icyke barges and ships. This resulted in a major naval battle that became known as the Menethir Crossing. Where the Core Sea meets the Eldorien, there are marshes and rivers flowing north. This delta is called Menethir. During the Horde's crossing, Rûnê frigates inflicted heavy losses on the barges and ships of Icyke. Many troop transports went to the depths. Oddly enough, very few of the chaos creatures could swim. Over one thousand soldiers of the Horde of Chaos were sent to watery graves.

Idân Campaign

In what the Khazarkar Empire called the Idân Valley, their Batthurâk met the forces of the Flux Pact in well-prepared defensive lines. From the hills, cannon and mortar batteries rained iron and fire upon the chaos armies, while Rûnê frigates bombarded them from the Core Sea. The strength of Neeth-Theen's army were such that they were able to break through these lines after a week of intense fighting. The Icyke army fared much worse, suffering over 15,000 killed due to poor armor and having an army composed of troops of the same caliber as the Khazarkar soldier.

Siege of Erchinor, Fall of Gilraen

In the second month of 1830, the siege of Erchinor played out. This only city of Gilraen, was a pitiful display of defense and lacking in heroism. The Khazarkar Empire sent 20,000 troops to help defend the city, but they were of little help against the overwhelming fire-power brought against the city. During the siege, it was a common sight to see the sky blackened with giant-sized boulders. This city fell in five days and then suffered the effects of Chaos, becoming a chaos ruin. The destruction of the city and the massive slaughter of the elven population brought an end to the Gilraen Oligarchy.

Sakarumân Campaign

After the Siege of Erchinor, the Flux Pact marched through the rough terrain of Salbâth and to the banks of the river Avalninâth; their target the Khazarkar city Sakarumân.

For eight months (Temporal 1830 to Witchrite 1830), the Khazarkar Empire battled with the enemy in the air, in the river, and from the walls of Sakarumân. In the month of Temporal, the river delta Eämbavië is notorious for being beset with heavy fog rolling in from the Core Sea. On 11 Temporal 1830, a heavy fog blanketed the fighting grounds facing Sakarumân. Using the fog, state sponsored assassins of the Khazarkar Empire went to work. Cuttenpurr, an renown rakshasa assassin, and others of the Kamrazîr, got into deep into the enemy camps and took down their targets, general Ki'tear leading the Flux Pact, and general Kharash leading Icyke's armies. They carried away the bodies and eliminated several other high-profile members of Kharash's command. As a fighting force, Icyke was in bad shape - over half their strength gone from the war and some of their best commanders murdered. To replenish their army, Icyke instituted conscription in the homelands and began hiring mercenaries at lucrative rates. Olugra, the stone giant leader of Geb Vanguard, was hired on as the leading general of the Flux Pact; who in turn answers to Ushgergoon.

The greatest spectacle of the Sakarumân Campaign was when a Pyramid of Set appeared over the river and began a long barrage of the barges and pontoon bridges being used by the besiegers. After six hours of sustained fire, the void craft was finally boarded by flying chaos minions and a squad of green slaadi. The latter mounted on monstrous dread vultures. Nearing capture, the captain of the vessel set-off the magazine and sent the smoking wreck of the ship into the river. The pile of rubble from this wreck is still visible to this day.

Sakarumân fell on 22 Witchrite 1830. The city was nearly leveled from the chaotic energies that seemed to follow the Horde of Chaos. The fighting in the city lasted a week, littering the streets with nearly 30,000 corpses. The long battle took a heavy toll on both sides, with Icyke suffering 16,000 losses, Neeth-Theen 20,000, and the Khazarkar Empire 35,000.

Cinderfall Breakout

Another important event that happened during the Sakarumân Campaign was forces of the warded region Anubeth breaking out. Tamlêrran, people in the lands north of Anubeth, sent emissaries to the major capitals of northern Brucrumus letting them know that late in the previous year (1829), the Chaos Malestrom had ruptured the Elemantum Boundary Ward on Igas's southern border. The missive also said that as long as the breach is open, the Cinderfall will be free to leave the region.

The Chaos Maelstrom lingered over Nautrek, resulting in the freezing of a large part of the sea. This created a land bridge between Anubeth and Brucrumus. A large army of Cinderfall, led by the Ebon Princess, crossed the frozen sea, besieging Neeth-Theen's capital.

This led to a meeting between the Flux Pact leader Ushgergoon and the Cinderfall commander. With promises of gold an magic items, the Ebon Princess's army was enticed into joining the Flux Pact. This force of fiery creatures marched to the front. Along the way, her fire giant priests of Surtur and ambassadors of the Cinderfall met with those of similar ilk in Steirgar. After two months of diplomacy, the Cinderfall coerced two of the Hlimi Kingdoms into joining the war. These three armies would be too late for the Seige of Sakarumân.

Armânuk Campaign - Year 1830

Following the fall of Sakarumân, the Flux Pact marched against the fortified hills of Armânuk. The Batthurâk General Staff prepared Armânuk as a place to annoy the flanks of the Flux Pact as they advanced west towards Nirzanâth. The Cinderfall strategist convinced their chaotic allies that it would be unwise to leave Armânuk on their flank and rear.

The battle for Armânuk turned into a protracted siege. Over two months, horrendous casualties were suffered. The place was perpetually covered with smoke from cannons and the sounds of battle came from all directions as wave after wave of attackers were thrown against the entrenched lines. Nearly 100,000 Batthurâk soldiers were spread across the hills. These were supplemented with a very large mercenary force composed of twenty Giff League Sôldanguk units, thousands of giff mercenaries, and a Gurë legion. This unit of warforged soldiers was shipped in from Vorangrith. As the battle progressed, the ranks were maintained by Khazarkar necromancers raising some as undead. In general, giff do not like to see their dead spoiled, so the necromancers had the giff dead moved and raised in an area far from the living giff.

During the Battle of Armânuk, the Batthurâk sent the Nazôrdâk and two Pyramids of Set into Steirgar. This crack expeditionary force assaulted the lightly garrisoned castle of King Thjollod (c.f. Hlimi Kingdoms), killed his wife and made off with much of the King's treasure. Khazarkar mages laid down Rituals of Ruin upon the great throne room. After an hour, the magic brought down the ceiling of the place. Queen Oggorknot Thjollod's head was taken to Armânuk's highest point and displayed on a pike. On seeing this, King Thjollod went into a rage - sending his entire force, unsupported, against the Khazarkar lines. This force of 850 troops was wiped out. Among the dead were all of the King's four sons. King Thjollod made it to the pike, whereupon the commander of the lines skewered the giant with it. This weapon became a trophy of the war - later known as the Queen's Head Pike. The death of King and Queen Thjollod ended the reign of the Kingdom of Thjollod.

On the night of 19 Kindle 1830, the Batthurâk extracted their main force by way of giff platforms, Pyramids of Set, and through tunnels beneath the hills. The lines were left with delaying parties of warforged soldiers and undead. Armânuk was taken that morning by the Horde of Chaos. In two months of conflict, the Flux Pact lost 35,000 soldiers and the Batthurâk lost 22,000.

Armânuk Campaign - Year 1831

For the first six months of 1831, there was a lull in combat as the winter was unusually cold with heavy snowfall. Spring followed with a very strong monsoon season that drenched the region with double the normal rainfall. Disease ran rampant through the Flux Pact, taking 6,000 lives. The Khazarkar, accustomed to the monsoon season, fared much better, losing only several hundred to flooding and disease. During this times where the environment was killing more than the enemy, the fire giant king of Xornsnous made a move against an old rival. He headed home with his best legion. The plan was to take the territory of the Thjollods, also an ally of the Flux Pact, while they were tied down fighting. On learning of the fire giant king's betrayal, the Ebon Princess caught up with him, decapitating him before his own legion. Before them, she brought up her son, a half-fiendish fire giant, making him the new king of Xornsnous.

When the weather cleared, the Flux Pact marched east, following the Avalninâth River. Their advance was paralleled by the Batthurâk on river's southern banks. The Pact's eastern advance turned north to the ancient titan settlement of Sapthiladân. On seeing the enemy's approach, several thousand civilians made a break from the city. These poor souls were cut down by long-range scouting parties and fire giants raiders out of Thurnâtha. The Giff League and the Khazarkar Empire evacuated what they could by air. This effort ended after the loss of a giff platform to enemy air units.

Siege of Sapthiladân - Year 1832

On 28 Brightstar 1832, forces of the Flux Pact led by the mercenary general Anutrax besieged the Khazarkar city Sapthiladân. The highly defensive terrain of the city and its nearly impregnable walls drained the attackers of nearly 30,000 soldiers. The Khazarkars numbers were very small. The siege of this great city and the many battles fought around it went on for four months. During the battle, Khazarkar spies learned that the Eldritch Conclave had secretly joined the Flux Pact. A high ranking colonel of this much-hated group was captured and interrogated. It was learned that the Eldritch Conclave sold Entropy Fragments to Neeth-Theen which they used to create an Entropy Arch.

On the night of 7 Witchrite 1832, the Pillar of Horns arrived over the Sapthiladân. This behemoth of a a ship, a floating castle, descended into the city where it dropped an Entropy Arch into the very heart of the city. This cargo was an Entropy Arch. This device immediately unleashed it chaotic energies upon the city, followed by a shock wave that reverberated to the northeast. This wave of chaotic energies leveled a wide swathe of the city's structures. The blast wave continued into the highlands, gaining so much chaotic force that it blew a section of the mountains from their foundations - creating Skyldr-Kerthjorg. The city fell the next day. The slaughter of nearly an entire city population hadn't occurred on such scale since the Black Tide War (1465 - 1504). Over 170,000 Khazarkars and their allies died in the city, the attackers lost a little less than 25,000 troops. Thereafter, Sapthiladân became the heart of military operations for the Flux Pact.

First Battle of Inôr

At the First Battle of Inôr, the Khazarkars were helped by the Pillar of Horns. Half of the greatly depleted ranks of the 1st Horde of Chaos, under General Anutrax, along with the Geb Vanguard, went south to meet a Khazarkar relief army coming north to try and reclaim Sapthiladân.

Other Factors

At the beginning of the Year 1831, the Orchish Empire took advantage of the Khazarkar Empire's setbacks. The Batthurâk were aware of Orchish troop concentration around Moglúr but could do little to stop the enemy from crossing the Alarthand river. This was because the majority of Batthurâk's western fores were fighting the Flux Pact. Cyclops Harbor Cannons and other artillery batteries of Aphalê dealt a terrible toll on the advancing Druog army as they made their dangerous river crossing.

.. under a constant barrage, even a miss threatens you will death. These Cyclops rounds, fired from cannons that need a team of giant artillerst, make great waves when they land in the river, sweeping soldiers off the pontoon bridges and into Alarthand's turbulent current.

- Private Tak, of the Druog, 2nd Regiment, 4th Platoon - "Aphalê Crossing"

While this was happening, a great naval battle played out on the Core Sea between the Khazarkar Rûnê navy and the Orchish Fothakith navy. The Khazarkar came out on top of this battle, driving the orc fleet back into Moglúr's formidable naval defenses. This battle gave the Orchish Empire their first real taste of naval warfare. They learned quickly that taking a naval city when the enemy controls the ocean behind is no easy task. During the battle, the Khazarkar warships bombarded the attackers from the Core Sea with relative impunity, succored the garrison, and pumped in more defenders whenever they wanted.

While the orcs were crossing the Alarthand, the Orchish Empire was caught by surprise when a massive army from Hells Womb hit their southern defenses. The new theater of conflict became known as the Grashakh Front.