Editing Autia (section)

==='''Alkorian Intervention in Harlbourg'''===

>Location:

Fighting between political factions occurred throughout Harlbourg, but fighting between Alkor and Harlbourg was primarily limited to the northern border and the coast.

>Background:

Following the stalemate at Namath Crater against the Aesanaerians, political intrigue in Harlbourg escalated:

- Pro-war factions were quick to point out that Alkor was the one that incited the invasion of Harlbourg by Aesanaerian tribes, and were keen to take advantage of Alkor's distraction with fighting in Ercaenmedi and elsewhere. Although many Harlbourgians wanted revenge for the Battle of Namath Crater, the popularity of pro-war factions were hampered by the fact many were dominated by United Harlbourg nationalists and groups seeking to advance the interests of Belkan-Harlbourgians.

- Anti-war and isolationist factions were worried that Harlbourg had under performed against the Aesanaerians, and had only won thanks to an unlikely series of events. Also some such individuals saw expansionism and imperialism as evil, and had little desire to go on the offence.

- Pan-Nantic factions were reluctant to ally themselves with an alliance that included non-Nantics like Soukos. Although many such individuals weren't sympathetic of the plight of Ercaenmedia either, they feared the war would eventually rip through the western Nantic heartland nations of Falconhead, Westphallica, and Gabaet.

- Libertarian factions weren't keen on taxes or the risk of the city states merging into one nation, but were okay with selling weapons to various wars occurring elsewhere.

In the end, Harlbourg's Congress refused to approve of an invasion of Alkor, though some diehard partisans formed volunteer regiments to participate in the fighting in Belkan Arktikos. Meanwhile, back in Harlbourg, skirmishes between pro and anti-war factions became common, and a large, if poorly organized army remained on the border with Alkor.

The most prominent pro-war factions are United Harlbourg, based in White Eagle, and the New Patriots and New Belkan, whose main branches were in White Eagle and Yorkburg. Alkor believed that if these factions could be dismantled, the threat of conflict with Harlbourg at an inopportune time could be greatly reduced. However, an unprovoked invasion could lead to the pro-war factions gaining widespread public sympathy, so instead Alkor waited for justification for a limited but targeted incursion against key city states, knowing that the city states of Harlbourg lacked a mutual defense treaty.

It didn't take long for them to get the justification they needed. Several coastal city states managed to get backing within Congress for a law banning Alkorian vessels from travelling within Harlbourg's newly defined "Maritime Territory". This law was ignored by Alkor, since it disrupted key routes to their holdings in Nantes and East Alkor. For several weeks, Harlbourg's weak navy made little attempt to enforce the law, but then an overzealous Harlbourgian frigate captain from a prominent White Eagle family sunk an Alkorian passenger liner that refused to leave Harlbourgian newly claimed waters. This led to massive outcry in Alkor, and even more political discontent in Harlbourg. Many felt this was a United Harlbourg plot to deliberately start a war with Alkor, and some city states even recalled their soldiers from the National Army.
Taking advantage of the situation, Alkor launched Operation Piercing Talon, which called for the invasion and occupation of White Eagle and Yorkburg.

>Battle of White Eagle:

A large Alkorian flotilla struck White Eagle in the early hours of the morning. Perhaps just by luck, or perhaps due to some magic, or the blessing of the Sea God, for much of the day there was an unusually heavy rainfall, which both dampened the patriotic zeal of the defenders, as well as reduced the visibility of White Eagle’s massive coastal defense cannons. Using detailed maps and pinpoint geometry, the Alkorian vessels always knew roughly where to fire their guns, while the Harlbourgian vessels often found themselves making wild guesses where the Alkorian vessels were located, made more difficult by the fact they often relocated. Attempts by White Eagle’s famed eagle riders to locate the Alkorian vessels were thwarted by the presence of several mercenary dragons. Throughout the day, flaming eagle carcasses falling from the sky was a common sight.

By the time the Alkorian bombardment stopped, the harbor defenses were in ruins, and the civilian population fleeing or in hiding. However, large numbers of soldiers and members of nationalist militias had gathered to repel invaders. Against the advice of his advisors, Alkorian Admiral Gregory Hawke was slow to deploy his invasion force. He believed that standing in the heavy rain for several hours would demoralize the defenders enough to offset the advantages they would gain by having time to dig into makeshift defenses. There is some evidence suggesting his approach was correct. Many hot headed militiamen and volunteers drifted away from the harbor area as the wait dragged on, either having second thoughts about whether fighting was worth it, or mistakenly believing that no land invasion would occur. For those that stayed, more than a few found their gunpowder had dampened to the point of uselessness during the long wait.

When the land invasion finally came, it was spearheaded by the elite I Marine Corps (assault), supported by the less experienced VIII Marine Corps (light infantry). The I Corps excelled in the dense streets and low visibility of the battlefield thanks to their emphasis on close range destruction. Large, magically altered knights in thick armor and wielding heavy glaives smashed their way through makeshift barricades and fortified buildings. In support were brutal men of the I Corps, armored in half plate, and wielding magically augmented blunderbuss, grenades, and spiked maces. Known for their stringent standards regarding physical strength and aptitude for brawling, more than a few members are half-orcs and half-ogres. In contrast, the VIII Corps were made up mostly of recent volunteers and conscripts, recruited primarily from coastal and river communities since being a strong swimmer is the only real requirement aside from a moderate aptitude for marksmanship. Luckily the VIII saw little real fighting and were mostly there to round up civilians.

White Eagle wasn’t without skilled fighters either. The nationalist minded New Dawn Knightly Order fought well, as did the well equipped and professional City Watch. The regular soldiers from the National Army units in the city were perhaps a bit less motivated to fight as many were from regions that did not support White Eagle’s ambitions, though they fought well until it was honorable to surrender. The biggest wildcards were the partisan militias and volunteers, who ranged from units made up of wealthy members of elite secret societies equipped with the best magitech available, to angry mobs who wanted to throw some bricks to express their displeasure, but had no stomach for a real fight.

However, after much bloodshed, the Alkorian formations broke free from the harbor district, and spread into the adjacent neighborhoods, where fleeing Harlbourgian units were rounded up, and any resistance brutally put down. Detachments from Alkorian Intelligence directed marines to the homes of key members of the pro-war/united Harlbourg political movements, who were promptly arrested.

A few hours after the invasion was launched, the last major skirmish occurred within the gilded halls of the Republican Palace. A sprawling complex leftover from the glory days of the Nantic Empire, few buildings in the north outside of Westphallica, Alkor, or Nantes can rival its sheer decadence. The cost of upkeeping its 2000+ rooms, multiple gardens, pools, bathhouses, ballrooms, and massive art collection including over 200 gold plated nymph statues were the source of frequent criticism by certain political factions in White Eagle, though it is well known that the leaders of White Eagle were maintaining it in hopes it would one day serve as the home to the leader of a United Harlbourg. The maze of secret passages and the presence of many elite magic users and magitech equipped elites meant that it took nearly three hours before this building was declared clear, and isolated attacks continued for nearly a week. However, rumors of its loss broke the back of the remaining defenders, and many either surrendered or fled the city.

More marines and regular infantry were brought in to occupy the city and surrounding communities, while the elite I Corps reboarded their ships for the next phase of the operation. Sporadic raids and sabotage by partisans who went to ground are expected to last the duration of the occupation, but the invasion succeeded in its main goal, which was to humiliate the presumptive ruler of United Harlbourg, and arrest many of the most skilled politicians of the pro-war and United Harlbourg factions. Many such individuals were sent to the infamous Sallet Asylum for the Insane, a notoriously haunted facility on the outskirts of White Eagle, where regular paranormal occurrences and experimental medical treatments drive anyone insane who wasn’t already. Many saw this as a bit of karma since more than a few of the more outspoken opponents of the United Harlbourg movement brave enough to operate in White Eagle found themselves locked up here under questionable circumstances.

>Battle of Yorkburg:

Compared to the brutal fighting that occurred at White Eagle, the Yorkburg crumbled rather easily, despite being a much larger city than White Eagle. Although many congressmen from Yorkburg supported the creation of the "Maritime Territory" which sparked the hostilities, some did so for economic rather than political reasons, and despite the presence of many pro-war factions among the general population and political elite, a large proportion of Yorkburg was generally opposed to the United Harlbourg concept, and apparently saw themselves as neutral in the conflict with Alkor. However, the symbolism of humbling Harlbourg’s main economic powerhouse was too good to be overlooked, and Alkor used Yorkburg’s key support of the "Maritime Territory" plus the presence of many key pro-war supporters in the city to justify a large raid.

Unlike during the Battle of White Eagle, no attempt was made at stealth as the large Alkorian flotilla approached the city. The outdated harbor defenses were nearly useless as buildings and warehouses had often been subsequently built with little regard for their line of sight, and the small Harlbourgian naval squadron defending the city surrendered without a fight. Within 30 minutes, the Alkorians had established a foothold at the old fort on Mermaid Island, in the shadow of the massive “Queen of the Seas” statue.

Although there were a large number of law enforcement, National Army, militia, and private regiments within Yorkburg, the defence of the city was hampered by political intrigue and widespread rioting. A number of regiments that were supposed to be defending the harbor were reassigned to put down riots, ordered out of the city, or simply demobilized under mysterious circumstances. Several previously pro-war congressmen and city councilors suddenly switched sides and in some cases began actively supporting the Alkorians, while others were mysteriously absent from the city on that day. After moderate fighting in the harbor, several Alkorian regiments surrounded the core government district and demanded the surrender of the city. Realizing they had been either outmaneuvered or sold out by their rivals, many pro-war politicians tried to flee the area, only to be identified and arrested by Alkorian Intelligence units. The remaining politicians agreed to order the soldiers under their command to stand down, though partisan militias continued to fight back for hours.

Not trusting the locals, the Alkorian commanders made their base on Mermaid Island, in the shadow of the massive brass monument for which Yorkburg is famous. For several weeks, Alkorian marines and intelligence officers “aided in the restoration of order within the city” which mostly meant arresting key figures in the New Patriots and New Belkan movements. Rioters lead by Code Libertas, Utopians, Swabonze, and various ethnic criminal gangs were allowed to rampage unopposed for days as long as they avoided the homes and property of the truly wealthy and well connected. Eventually, the Alkorians left after the remaining politicians in Yorkburg agreed to renounce the "Maritime Territory" and sign a series of unequal treaties with Alkor.

>Battle of Ren's Gate:

Needless to say, the occupations of White Eagle and Yorkburg caused major uproar in Harlbourg, and many believed that a formal declaration of war with Alkor was imminent. However, due to a political stalemate back during the time of the Revolution, there is actually no clear mechanism by which an attack on one state would lead to the involvement of all the city states. In fact, on several occasions in Harlbourg’s history, city states have fought wars with neighboring nations, and occasionally even each other without other city states getting involved. Congress had several emergency sessions to discuss the situation, but with some of the strongest pro-war voices absent, no clear decision was made, and several brawls, duels, and assassinations led many Congressmen to leave the City of Harlbourg in disgust. In the end, the majority of Congress decided to postpone any major decisions until a diplomatic envoy from Alkor arrived to speak.

In the meantime, some pro-war politicians and officials resolved to take matters into their own hands. One such individual was General Icarus Brockton, who commanded one of several field armies stationed along the border with Alkor. Believing it was only a matter of time before war was declared, and likely trying to accelerate it, Brockton managed to convince the National Army units under his command to advance through the wide swath of abandoned farmland between his headquarters at the town of Ren’s Gate, and the nearest Alkorian fort on the other side of the border, commanded by his long time rival General Alice Rose.

However, Alkorian spies and sentries picked up on his movements almost immediately, and a large army was gathered from Alkorian units posted along the border to meet his force. The two armies drew close in a nameless stretch of abandoned farmland near the border, and spent much of the hot summer day maneuvering through dried fields, overgrown raspberry thickets, and muddy wetlands, much to the dismay of the young recruits that made up large chunks of the armies of both sides. Although elite skirmishers were dispatched by both sides to harass regular infantry, large scale engagement did not occur as both sides tried to position themselves as best as possible. By the evening, both sides had gathered a great deal of information on each other, and Brockton was forced to admit his forces were lacking in both numbers and quality. He ordered his soldiers to retreat back to Ren’s Gate, no doubt assuming that the Alkorians would not advance while they were still engaged in diplomacy. Unfortunately for him, General Rose was an ambitious glory seeker, who convinced her forces that Brockton’s provocation could not go unaddressed, thus beginning the largest and most senseless of the battles of the Alkorian Intervention.

Always convinced that Alkor would one day invade, Brockton had surrounded much of Ren’s Gate with an elaborate system of trenches and gun emplacements, based on the latest military strategies. However, as the bulk of his forces had only arrived at their defences less than an hour ahead of the Alkorian army, his forces were disorganized and unable to man the defences properly. The Alkorians meanwhile were in high spirits. Although some senior officers fretted about the possibility of a court martial, the rank and file soldiers boisterously spoke of marching all the way to Yorkburg.

The next three days were marked by brutal clashes between the two armies. The Alkorian army was able to deploy large numbers of cannons and mortars while the Harlbourgian army was still digging in, preventing either side from having an advantage in terms of entrenched firepower. In the weeks leading up to the Alkorian Intervention, General Rose had been able to get a number of elite units assigned to her forces, and the Harlbourgians soon found themselves fending off companies of grenadiers, close assault squads, experimental tanks, and members of several knightly orders. The Harlbourg units were mostly regular infantry, but a few auxiliary formations of ogres and goblins from the south were present, as were Brockton’s magitech equipped bodyguard company, the fanatical Order of the Raven, and several veteran Highlander regiments from Ironside.

The larger Alkorian force soon completely encircled Ren’s Gate, but several surrender demands were ignored by Brockton, who had apparently come to believe fighting to the death would make him a martyr for the pro-war cause. Annoyed by her opponent’s stubbornness, General Rose sent several regiments of light infantry through the massive cemetery / shrine to Liik located to the north of Ren’s Gate, which represented a major weak point in the Harlbourgian lines. However, these forces were held up by the fighting skill and strange magics of the Order of the Raven, who viewed the cemetery as a holy space. Attempts to move soldiers through the cemetery finally ceased when one of the leaders of the Order of the Raven summons a massive Unkindness which mauled, blinded, and in some cases killed hundreds of Alkorian soldiers.

By the third day, the Harlbourgian forces had been thoroughly worn down by the Alkorians. Much of the trench network, fortifications, and barracks was now in Alkorian hands, leaving the Harlbourg army packed into the town of Ren’s Gate itself. Nearby field armies of both Harlbourg and Alkor refused to intervene since both armies had essentially done rogue. Brockton continued to ignore instructions to surrender from both his superiors and subordinate officers, and there was talk of a mutiny despite his previous popularity with his men. Rose’s political situation was much stronger since she had finally pulled back her forces a bit after several previous orders to do so were “lost”.

On the verge of losing control of his forces, and still seeking his martyrdom, Brockton rallied his most loyal forces and made a reckless sally into the heart of the Alkorian force. Casualties were high on both sides, but Brockton finally achieved his martyrdom when he and a small section of his bodyguard company were cut off and overrun by a much larger unit of grenadiers. With Brockton out of the picture, his officers finally surrendered and were arrested by the Alkorians in order to be put on trial for insubordination and treason by the Harlbourgian military judicial system for attempting to start a war with Alkor, though most received relatively minor sentences to avoid creating any more martyrs. General Rose and several of her key backers were likewise put on trial in Alkor for following Brockton’s forces into Harlbourg. They were stripped of their duties and imprisoned, but were quietly released and reinstated a few months later once treaties had been signed between Alkor and Harlbourg.

>Aftermath:

Having been humbled at three different battles, and with many of the most pro-war politicians in White Eagle and Yorkburg under arrest, the conditions were right for the anti-war faction of the Congress of the Free Cities to implement several laws that benefitted Alkor. A peace treaty was signed between Princess Janice Ledieu representing Alkor, and War Secretary Wilbur Williams representing Harlbourg, which led to the demobilization of the remaining National Army units deployed along the border. The "Maritime Territory" was scrapped, though officially this was done to appease local merfolk and whalefolk tribes, who had begun sinking Harlbourg ships for ignoring their own claims to the region. And the (often ignored) law against Harlbourg manufacturers selling military supplies to Alkor was lifted.

The Battle of Ren’s Gate was blamed on miscommunication, and much of the rest of the war was deemed by anti-war and libertarian Harlbourgian politicians media to be a suitable retaliation for the loss of the passenger liner and the (alleged) attempt by United Harlbourg factions in White Eagle to deliberately start a war to advance their own interests. However, many pro-war supporters were not convinced, and riots occurred in many Harlbourg cities for months.

Overall the operation was seen as a success for Alkor, though the risk of pro-war factions seizing control of Harlbourg is still seen as uncomfortably high. Large numbers of Alkorian soldiers remain posted along the border, as well as in White Eagle (at the invitation of the new puppet government of White Eagle). However, many Alkorian soldiers were freed up to move to the western coast, or to Ercaenmedi to fight in the ongoing war. Meanwhile, factions that are either secretly or openly pro-Alkor or at least pro-Nantic were able to strengthen themselves greatly at the expense of pro-war factions. This in turn strengthened the position of factions back in Alkor who believe that Harlbourg can be brought back into Alkor’s influence via diplomacy and economics rather than invasion.