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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emiricol" data-source="post: 1098672" data-attributes="member: 469">July - SUMMER 64The disenfranchised son of the Emperor attacks and takes Hiuraer, the large crossroads city north of Doluhre, effectively cutting off the capitol from much of its supply and economic sources.  This is a huge economic and political success, one which General Antonius, now the adopted son of the Emperor and heir-apparent, cannot ignore. The renegade prince immediately sets about implementing miles of trenches and barricades around Hiuraer, which he declares his Capitol in Exile.  Unknown to Antonius, however, he has also made an alliance with the Centaur tribes, and a strong rebel force backed by the Centaurs deploys secretly in the mountains east and north-east of Hiuraer.From other nations, Caedmon sends observers to both sides in the conflict for its Academy of War, with permission.August - AUTUMN 64Antonius sets upon a bold plan, and sends the army of his Kinrisar allies sailing west, to land west of Opraots; they are to take the Ashegnome hills and then march east to flank the rebel army just after they are engaged by a massed formation of Antonius' loyal Legions.  Unfortunately for Antonius, he is unaware that the Kinrisari are delayed for two weeks by a storm which has damaged a large number of their ships.  Word of this arrives in Doluhre too late to stop Antonius from marching out unsupported.The loyal Legions engage a rebel force nearly twice their size, consisting mostly of garrison units and auxilia.  Antonius engages the well dug in defenders, but his advance momentum stalls when the expected Kinrisari troops fail to arrive.  Only then do the massed rebel Legions and their newly-allied Centaur forces come swooping in from the east, flanking and enveloping the loyal Legions.Antonius escapes, fleeing back to Doluhre, but his remaining forces are now spread so thin that he can only afford to defend Doluhre itself with the XII Legion, which he does with a masterful display of his leadership ability.   His Kinrisari allies return to Doluhre however for the winter.In a stroke of good luck, Caedmon offers mercenaries to Antonius, who gladly accepts.September - WINTER 64Both sides settle in for the winter, exchanging only minor skirmishes.  The Emperor dies of natural causes, leaving Antonius his designated heir.  Antonius, despite the rumors that his inheritence of the crown came at the point of a sword, seems genuinely saddened by the loss and holds services grand and vast, appropriate for the passing of such a great Emperor.Caedmon's initial military advisors arrive and begin planning for the arrival of the Caedmon troops, which are not far behind.  A suitable bribe to the renegade Prince's nominal allies, the centaurs, will guarantee the mercenaries a path to Ulruz and secure supply lines through Centaur territory.  At the same time, Cryndon recognizes Antonius' right to rule, cutting off any who would use their traderoutes to supply the rebels.  Lorlynia sends two wings of Seledyne Rangers on giant eagles to aid Antonius, feeling him the most worthy.  Antonius reluctantly accepts this, yet another, honor debt.October - SPRING 65The repaired fleet of the Kinrisar sail west, apparently leaving Ulruz, but they then swing north, and the allied army takes the rich but uncontrolled Ashegnome Hills in preparation for the summer campaign season, supplied through Cryndon.The rebel Legions begin to march with haste towards the vulnerable Doluhre, a season earlier than Antonius' spies predicted.  Panic ensues.  Emperor Antonius marshals all forces close enough to arrive in time, and they man the extensive defenses that were constructed all winter, while his remaining Legions march north to slow the enemy army down.  Riders are sent to the Kinrisar, but they will not arrive in time.In a completely surprise move, however, as the  rebel forces engage the small loyal contingent, a vast force of cavalry arrive from the East.  All three sides halt, and a flurry of negotiations begin.  In the end, the new Emperor is the one who gets the Surnayasta support, though the cost is great; Ulruz must loosen trade restrictions for the Suryanasta, and guarantee the Suryanasta western border's security and agreement not to expand north of Suryanasta itself in the future, which Antonius agrees to.The battle, then, consists of Antonius' troops, the Kinrisari allies, the Suryanasta cavalry, the Caedmon mercenaries, and the Lorlynian Seledyne Rangers on one side, and the now heavily entrenched renegade Prince and his marauding Centaur allies on the other. The resulting battle is inconclusive, as neither side wishes to engage heavily, and both rebel and Imperial forces withdraw after only a token engagement.November - SUMMER 65The rebel army again deploys south, this time with a greater number of Centaur troops.  While the skirmish units of both Imperial and rebel Legions exchange blows in advance of the Legionnaire lines, the Suryanasta forces screen the flank of the Imperial forces, keeping the deadly Centaurs at bay while the Lorlynians enable Antonius to have immediate updates on any changes in the battle lines.Meanwhile, the Kinrisar allied army force-marches east from its encampments in the Ashegnome hills, and engages Hiuraer, quickly taking the lightly defended rebel capitol and cutting the rebels off from their entire supply line.  The Imperial Legions keep up a slow retreat in a running battle that lasts three days, weakening both sides.  Antonius' forces, however, are benefiting from a constant infusion of men and supplies, while the stronger Rebel force is worn down, and slowly the tide turns.  The rebel garrison and auxiliary forces, now out of food and ammunition, breaks and flees, and are largely slaughtered as they turn to run.  The rebel Legions are made of stronger stuff, however, and begin their own slow fighting withdrawel towards their capitol.It comes as a complete surprise to the Rebels when they find themselves suddenly assaulted from the west by the fresh Kinrisar allied army, which they had believed gone back to Kinrisar months ago, as well as the superb Caedmon mercenaries pouring out of Centaur territory as planned last season.  Seeing the writing on the wall, the rebel allied Centaur forces break and flee, suffering their own devastating losses in retreat.  The now unengaged Suryanastan forces turn to on the remaining Rebel forces, and the combined might of the Imperial, Kinrisar, Caedmon, Lorlynia and Suryanasta forces encircle and annihilate the Rebels, capturing many renegade Senators as well as the wounded son of the former Emperor.December - AUTUMN 65Emperor Antonius grants clemency to all surviving line troops of Centurion rank and below, and they are reintegrated into the Legions and Garrison forces, though measures are taken to ensure they cannot reform a revolution.  Most merely followed their commanders as good Legionnaires should, and reintegrate without issue.The leaders of the rebellion, however, including the Emperor's rebellious son, are crucified along the Acalito River at the edge of Ulruz territory, a warning to both those with rebel sympathies and the Centaurs across the border.Ulruz is in disarray, and it is expected to take at least a year to fully recover, several more to replace the Legions that were lost in the conflict.Suryanasta walks away with its precious treaty, allowing it to turn its attentions fully elsewhere.  Kinrisar, having fought  merely to repay a debt of honor, are granted lands and titles in Ulruz, much as Ulruz was in Kinrisar after the Yuan-Ti war of 42AK.  The Empire settles down to face the coming winter.</blockquote>

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