Lore:The War of Calamities

The War of Calamities refers to the War between Téafor's jevrethor and najiros forces, and the Anointed Kingdoms. This war occurs between 1069 - 1075 MA, due to (in large part) to the events of The Naji War and The Whitecrown Insurrection.

Many in Althas consider this war to be the most devastating in its history.

Before the War

In 1069 MA, Téafor had his agents smuggle delavresi, among bags of wheat or other supplies, into The Anointed Kingdoms. The following locations are where the explosives were placed:

• Anorthile:
  • At the Temple and Academy Towers in Thavairos.
  • Near the The King’s Citadel to the northeast of Thavairos.
  • At The Gates of Anorthile in the Capital Vale.
• Driesefair:
  • Amongst various parts of Ecretei.
• Gorandel:
  • Amongst the tunnels beneath Nandorthel.
  • The Gorandel northern fortress guarding the river crossing.
  • The entrance to The Vanguard outpost containing the Nesar Theni.
• Lamniemalos:
  • In various parts of Leomael.
  • Amongst the mountain forts along Lamniemalos’s western range.
• Nosmalos:
  • In the Palace in the Nosmalos capital.
  • In the main harbor in the Nosmalos capital city.
• Vishethas:
  • In various parts of The Capital of Vishethas.

That same year: Gréne (more of an unwitting asset than a zealot) was a jevrethor and a former member of The Vanguard; she learns of the Nemnesheth stored in Hédansael. When she reports them to Téafor, he tells her that they are in place to exterminate jevrethor if they get too rebellious or dangerous. Feeling betrayed, Gréne confronts Heofon and then had the Nemnesheth destroyed. This removed the last major obstacle to Téafor’s plans as the nemnesheth was the only real weapon that could have prevented the war.

The Fiery Dawn

In the early winter of 1070 MA, not long after the new year begins, Téafor’s forces launch their initial assault, beginning with the detonation of the explosives that had been smuggled into various regions:

• Anorthile:
  • The Temple and Academy Towers in Thavairos are destroyed. This results in severe damage to certain parts of the capital.
  • Near The King’s Citadel to the northeast of Thavairos. The King of Anorthile survives, but his sons are killed.
  • The Gates of Anorthile in the Capital Vale are destroyed.
• Driesefair:
  • Ecretei was severely damaged.
• Gorandel:
  • The tunnels beneath Nandorthel cave in, causing massive damage to the city; the Palace, Temple and Academy are destroyed. The King of Gorandel died in the blast, along with the youngest of his three sons.
  • The Gorandel northern fortress guarding the river crossing was destroyed.
  • The entrance to The Vanguard outpost containing the Nesar Theni was destroyed, sealing the Nesar Theni within.
• Lamniemalos:
  • Leomael was severely damaged. The King of Lamniemalos was killed in the blasts.
  • The mountain forts along Lamniemalos’s western range are destroyed, killing a large portion of Lamniemalos’s standing army. The King of Lamniemalos's son, who was also the captain of Lamniemalos’s western armies, was also killed.
• Nosmalos:
  • The Palace in the Nosmalos capital was destroyed, but The King of Nosmalos survives.
  • The main harbor in the Nosmalos capital city was severely damaged, and several ships sunk or burned.
• Vishethas:
  • The Capital of Vishethas was severely damaged. Two of The King of Vishethas’s four sons are killed in the attack.

Following the detonation of these explosives, Téafor’s forces attack immediately from all sides. His forces include many jevrethor, as well as many najiros that have come to worship the jevrethor:

• The main force, led by the Six Sorcerers, overruns North Narthendar, the capital of South Narthendar in South Narthendar and besieged Mundríce.
• Another part of the force sweeps east and attacks northern Lamniemalos.
• Hidden forces emerge from the forest in western Driesefair and march on the capital.
• Forces Thalomvob in eastern Gorandel to come up on Gorandel’s southern flank.
• Forces emerge from the mountains in southern Anorthile. However, these groups include smaller numbers of jevrethor. Less damage was done to Anorthile initially.
• Small groups attack Nosmalos and Vishethas, but no major battles take place in these regions.

In mid autumn of 1070, Mundríce falls and the darkness of the Night Stone canopy spreads south. The forces now sweep south into Driesefair and the capital, Ecretei, was besieged. Nandorthel, the capital of Gorandel, also falls under siege.

However, the Vanguard were not completely caught off guard: jevrethor and najiros still loyal to The Anointed Kingdoms were prepared and help to slow Téafor’s advance.

The Waning Years

In the early spring of 1071 MA:

• Nandorthel and Ecretei fall.
• The King of Driesefair and his son was slain, and his two daughters vanish.
• The newly crowned King of Gorandel, as well as his younger brother, was slain.
• The lines of Driesefair and Gorandel are broken.
• Many refugees from the fall of Gorandel flee by ship down the river and out to sea. A small portion flee to the islands west of the mainland. Most flee south and establish the city of Vrathiro (the “Fated” city) in Vithile.
• Northern Lamniemalos falls and Léomael in the south was besieged. The newly crowned Queen of Lamniemalos (the last remaining child of the late King) personally commands the defense.
• Assassins kill the King of Nosmalos. The daughter of the King falls ill. Many suspect she was poisoned.

Téafor and the rest of the Six Sorcerers set up their headquarters in the conquered Ecretei. The remnants of the Driesefair forces fall back to Ironrend.

The Siege of Hédansael

In late fall, a large portion of Téafor’s main host pushed southeast and besieged Hédansael.

As the War proceeded onwards, the dark shadows spread by the Night Stones enveloped more lands. Where The Anointed still stood, the darkness brought only fear. But where The Anointed had fallen, the darkness brought many horrors: pestilence, death, a deep and deadly sleep, or (in many regions) enslavement. The enslaved ones swell The Sorcerers’ ranks. Also, terrible beasts emerged under the Night Stone's command: beasts not seen since the first Wars.

In the new year of 1072 MA:

• With the siege on Hédansael not going as Téafor had hoped, he orders the forces in Gorandel to sweep south and then divide, one heading north to increase pressure on The Vanguard and the other to storm Anorthile.

However, in late spring, a sizable force of jevrethor in the company of The Vanguard attacks from the vast forest in southwestern Gorandel. The magical battles decimate much of Gorandel. These jevrethor forces make their stand at the various river crossings in southern Gorandel, shielding Anorthile.

In midsummer, Anorthile completely purged its lands of Téafor’s forces and begins gathering all of its armies to march north. Nosmalos and Vishethas gather all their remaining fleets to sail their armies to the mainland.

In early winter, a leviathan appears at Nosmalos and attacks the main harbor. It destroys several ships before it was brought down.

On the first day of spring in 1073 MA, the great host of Anorthile marched north with a company of jevrethor at the front: the siege on Hédansael was broken and The Vanguard establish a defense in the narrow mountain pass to the west of Hédansael; it had been raided during the assault by a force Téafor had sent around Heofon’s flank. Another portion of their forces turns south to supplement the jevrethor forces there.

The Siege of Léomael

The forces of Nosmalos sail into Léomael. The newly crowned King of Nosmalos and his brother drive the advance north, breaking the siege, and The Queen of Lamniemalos died in the battles north of the capital; the line of Lamniemalos was broken.

The King of Nosmalos and his brother slay the sorcerers in northern Lamniemalos and destroy the Night Stone that was wielded there. However, they are slain in the battle. Their sister, who only recently recovered from her illness, took command. The forces of Nosmalos reclaim the western range of Lamniemalos. The people of northern Lamniemalos, who are freed from the Night Stone’s shadows, swell Nosmalos’s ranks.

The forces of Vishethas land on Gorandel’s western coast in midsummer of 1073 MA and drive the Sorcerers’ forces out of the region, but are halted at the forest’s eastern edge. The various forces are deadlocked into the winter. The destruction of the Night Stones in various regions caused the shadows to begin to recede.

The Six Sorcerers begin gathering all the enslaved peoples from Gorandel, Driesefair, and Narthendar to Ecretei, preparing for a great battle. The intent was that the mathusal (non-magic users) would nearly exterminate each other in the coming offensive and the najiros and jevrethor would be able to take control of Althas.

The Miracle of the North

The Battle for the North

In 1074 MA, Nosmalos’s hosts prepare to attack North Narthendar.

Realizing his flank was exposed, Téafor sends many of the enslaved hosts he had gathered to swell the ranks of his northern forces. It was intended that these forces stay away from the eastern region where the Queen of Nosmalos was stationed (her influence would free them) until the Queen was killed by Téafor's faithful najiros and jevrethor followers.

However, the shadows over Narthendar lose their effectiveness and the forces he sent there are freed from their enslavement. When he realized what had happened, Téafor suspects the daughters of the late King of Driesefair have escaped into the north secretly and their presence (as Anointed) had caused the darkness in Narthendar to weaken. Having lost around half of his enslaved forces, Téafor realized that the tide had turned against him.

Realizing that the Narthendar people are freed from their enslavement, the Nosmalos host sweeps into North Narthendar while the freed armies sweep in from the rear. The remaining forces of Téafor in North Narthendar are overrun and forced south. However, the Queen of Nosmalos was slain early on and the line of Nosmalos was officially broken.

While his forces fell in the North, Téafor had launched a surprise attack on the King of Anorthile stationed in southern Gorandel, beyond the shadow’s influence. The King repelled the attack but was killed in battle.

The Battles for Ecretei

With the Sorcerers’ forces greatly reduced, most pinned in the north or held up in the south, the forces of Vishethas decided to try and sweep into Ecretei from the west. In early winter of 1074 MA, the forces of Vishethas and the remnant of the forces of Driesefair, led by the King of Vishethas and his sons, march east.

In early 1075 MA, the forces of Vishethas break through the eastern edge of the forest in western Driesefair, but with losses. The King’s sons are slain.

Joined by the remaining forces of Driesefair and many freed peoples from Gorandel, the King's host marched east towards Ecretei. However, Téafor sallied forth with his trusted najiros and jevrethor and the King was slain. With their King slain, the forces flee south from the shadow, joining with the forces held up in southern Gorandel. The last of the Anointed lines are now broken.

The March of Hope

With the deaths of the last of the Anointed, a champion appeared in Anorthile and rode to the host in southern Gorandel (once commanded by the King of Anorthile). He was like none they had seen, clothed in white mail shining with light and a high helm of white gold on his brow. And as he rode forth, the darkness receded. And when the hosts saw him they cried out “Shalfatheon ovre Driomi!” (“The One's Salvation”). However, many didn’t know Noralar nor how they spoke it.

With the Anointed lines fallen, only Heofon and this new champion could supply the same protection from the shadow as the Kings did. Encouraged by the appearance of this mysterious champion, whom the people called Drioshafi, Heofon ordered the remaining forces of the Anointed Kingdoms to strike on the first day of summer of 1075 MA. The southern host, led by Drioshafi with the Vasomi and jevrethor at the front, battled north through Gorandel.

Heofon’s host gathered to strike west out of the mountain pass that they held. Seeing the approaching assault from all sides, Téafor and the Six Sorcerers used their powers of magic and the powers of the Stones and transformed the usually creeping shadows into a tremendous and terrible storm of hail, wind, and lightning. They used the powers of enslaved najiros to sustain the magic, causing the deaths of many. The front of the storm struck south and devastated large areas of the already battered Gorandel heartland.

Many who had remained in the region now flee south or west to seek refuge. The host was shielded by the jevrethor at the front, but the host still suffered casualties. However, Drioshafi took the front and rode swiftly and the storm broke and receded before him.

In midsummer of 1075 MA, the southern host reached Nandorthel, and the northern border of Gorandel, and engaged in a hard battle for the river crossings. Heofon’s host broke through the forces west of the mountain pass and struck the enemy in the flank. The two hosts joined on a final march through Driesefair to Ecretei.

The collective hosts of the Anointed Kingdoms assaulted Ecretei in early fall. The Vanguard, as well as Anorthile’s host, struck from the south and west while forces from Narthendar struck from the north. Many terrible creatures appeared in this battle, including a leviathan rising from the river. However, The Guardians appeared and held back the worst of the creatures while the collective hosts fought through Téafor’s forces.

Heofon and the Vanguard pushed through the city. Heofon battled Téafor and the Six Sorcerers. The battle concluded in a tremendous blast in the palace area of the city where they battled. The Stones were destroyed and the Sorcerers, including Téafor, were dead. Heofon’s body was never found in the rubble. The War of Calamities ended.

The War of Calamities refers to the War between Téafor's jevrethor and najiros forces, and the Anointed Kingdoms. This war occurs between 1069 - 1075 MA, due to (in large part) to the events of The Naji War and The Whitecrown Insurrection.

Many in Althas consider this war to be the most devastating in its history.

Before the War

In 1069 MA, Téafor had his agents smuggle delavresi, among bags of wheat or other supplies, into The Anointed Kingdoms. The following locations are where the explosives were placed:

• Anorthile:
  • At the Temple and Academy Towers in Thavairos.
  • Near the The King’s Citadel to the northeast of Thavairos.
  • At The Gates of Anorthile in the Capital Vale.
• Driesefair:
  • Amongst various parts of Ecretei.
• Gorandel:
  • Amongst the tunnels beneath Nandorthel.
  • The Gorandel northern fortress guarding the river crossing.
  • The entrance to The Vanguard outpost containing the Nesar Theni.
• Lamniemalos:
  • In various parts of Leomael.
  • Amongst the mountain forts along Lamniemalos’s western range.
• Nosmalos:
  • In the Palace in the Nosmalos capital.
  • In the main harbor in the Nosmalos capital city.
• Vishethas:
  • In various parts of The Capital of Vishethas.

That same year: Gréne (more of an unwitting asset than a zealot) was a jevrethor and a former member of The Vanguard; she learns of the Nemnesheth stored in Hédansael. When she reports them to Téafor, he tells her that they are in place to exterminate jevrethor if they get too rebellious or dangerous. Feeling betrayed, Gréne confronts Heofon and then had the Nemnesheth destroyed. This removed the last major obstacle to Téafor’s plans as the nemnesheth was the only real weapon that could have prevented the war.

The Fiery Dawn

In the early winter of 1070 MA, not long after the new year begins, Téafor’s forces launch their initial assault, beginning with the detonation of the explosives that had been smuggled into various regions:

• Anorthile:
  • The Temple and Academy Towers in Thavairos are destroyed. This results in severe damage to certain parts of the capital.
  • Near The King’s Citadel to the northeast of Thavairos. The King of Anorthile survives, but his sons are killed.
  • The Gates of Anorthile in the Capital Vale are destroyed.
• Driesefair:
  • Ecretei was severely damaged.
• Gorandel:
  • The tunnels beneath Nandorthel cave in, causing massive damage to the city; the Palace, Temple and Academy are destroyed. The King of Gorandel died in the blast, along with the youngest of his three sons.
  • The Gorandel northern fortress guarding the river crossing was destroyed.
  • The entrance to The Vanguard outpost containing the Nesar Theni was destroyed, sealing the Nesar Theni within.
• Lamniemalos:
  • Leomael was severely damaged. The King of Lamniemalos was killed in the blasts.
  • The mountain forts along Lamniemalos’s western range are destroyed, killing a large portion of Lamniemalos’s standing army. The King of Lamniemalos's son, who was also the captain of Lamniemalos’s western armies, was also killed.
• Nosmalos:
  • The Palace in the Nosmalos capital was destroyed, but The King of Nosmalos survives.
  • The main harbor in the Nosmalos capital city was severely damaged, and several ships sunk or burned.
• Vishethas:
  • The Capital of Vishethas was severely damaged. Two of The King of Vishethas’s four sons are killed in the attack.

Following the detonation of these explosives, Téafor’s forces attack immediately from all sides. His forces include many jevrethor, as well as many najiros that have come to worship the jevrethor:

• The main force, led by the Six Sorcerers, overruns North Narthendar, the capital of South Narthendar in South Narthendar and besieged Mundríce.
• Another part of the force sweeps east and attacks northern Lamniemalos.
• Hidden forces emerge from the forest in western Driesefair and march on the capital.
• Forces Thalomvob in eastern Gorandel to come up on Gorandel’s southern flank.
• Forces emerge from the mountains in southern Anorthile. However, these groups include smaller numbers of jevrethor. Less damage was done to Anorthile initially.
• Small groups attack Nosmalos and Vishethas, but no major battles take place in these regions.

In mid autumn of 1070, Mundríce falls and the darkness of the Night Stone canopy spreads south. The forces now sweep south into Driesefair and the capital, Ecretei, was besieged. Nandorthel, the capital of Gorandel, also falls under siege.

However, the Vanguard were not completely caught off guard: jevrethor and najiros still loyal to The Anointed Kingdoms were prepared and help to slow Téafor’s advance.

The Waning Years

In the early spring of 1071 MA:

• Nandorthel and Ecretei fall.
• The King of Driesefair and his son was slain, and his two daughters vanish.
• The newly crowned King of Gorandel, as well as his younger brother, was slain.
• The lines of Driesefair and Gorandel are broken.
• Many refugees from the fall of Gorandel flee by ship down the river and out to sea. A small portion flee to the islands west of the mainland. Most flee south and establish the city of Vrathiro (the “Fated” city) in Vithile.
• Northern Lamniemalos falls and Léomael in the south was besieged. The newly crowned Queen of Lamniemalos (the last remaining child of the late King) personally commands the defense.
• Assassins kill the King of Nosmalos. The daughter of the King falls ill. Many suspect she was poisoned.

Téafor and the rest of the Six Sorcerers set up their headquarters in the conquered Ecretei. The remnants of the Driesefair forces fall back to Ironrend.

The Siege of Hédansael

In late fall, a large portion of Téafor’s main host pushed southeast and besieged Hédansael.

As the War proceeded onwards, the dark shadows spread by the Night Stones enveloped more lands. Where The Anointed still stood, the darkness brought only fear. But where The Anointed had fallen, the darkness brought many horrors: pestilence, death, a deep and deadly sleep, or (in many regions) enslavement. The enslaved ones swell The Sorcerers’ ranks. Also, terrible beasts emerged under the Night Stone's command: beasts not seen since the first Wars.

In the new year of 1072 MA:

• With the siege on Hédansael not going as Téafor had hoped, he orders the forces in Gorandel to sweep south and then divide, one heading north to increase pressure on The Vanguard and the other to storm Anorthile.

However, in late spring, a sizable force of jevrethor in the company of The Vanguard attacks from the vast forest in southwestern Gorandel. The magical battles decimate much of Gorandel. These jevrethor forces make their stand at the various river crossings in southern Gorandel, shielding Anorthile.

In midsummer, Anorthile completely purged its lands of Téafor’s forces and begins gathering all of its armies to march north. Nosmalos and Vishethas gather all their remaining fleets to sail their armies to the mainland.

In early winter, a leviathan appears at Nosmalos and attacks the main harbor. It destroys several ships before it was brought down.

On the first day of spring in 1073 MA, the great host of Anorthile marched north with a company of jevrethor at the front: the siege on Hédansael was broken and The Vanguard establish a defense in the narrow mountain pass to the west of Hédansael; it had been raided during the assault by a force Téafor had sent around Heofon’s flank. Another portion of their forces turns south to supplement the jevrethor forces there.

The Siege of Léomael

The forces of Nosmalos sail into Léomael. The newly crowned King of Nosmalos and his brother drive the advance north, breaking the siege, and The Queen of Lamniemalos died in the battles north of the capital; the line of Lamniemalos was broken.

The King of Nosmalos and his brother slay the sorcerers in northern Lamniemalos and destroy the Night Stone that was wielded there. However, they are slain in the battle. Their sister, who only recently recovered from her illness, took command. The forces of Nosmalos reclaim the western range of Lamniemalos. The people of northern Lamniemalos, who are freed from the Night Stone’s shadows, swell Nosmalos’s ranks.

The forces of Vishethas land on Gorandel’s western coast in midsummer of 1073 MA and drive the Sorcerers’ forces out of the region, but are halted at the forest’s eastern edge. The various forces are deadlocked into the winter. The destruction of the Night Stones in various regions caused the shadows to begin to recede.

The Six Sorcerers begin gathering all the enslaved peoples from Gorandel, Driesefair, and Narthendar to Ecretei, preparing for a great battle. The intent was that the mathusal (non-magic users) would nearly exterminate each other in the coming offensive and the najiros and jevrethor would be able to take control of Althas.

The Miracle of the North

The Battle for the North

In 1074 MA, Nosmalos’s hosts prepare to attack North Narthendar.

Realizing his flank was exposed, Téafor sends many of the enslaved hosts he had gathered to swell the ranks of his northern forces. It was intended that these forces stay away from the eastern region where the Queen of Nosmalos was stationed (her influence would free them) until the Queen was killed by Téafor's faithful najiros and jevrethor followers.

However, the shadows over Narthendar lose their effectiveness and the forces he sent there are freed from their enslavement. When he realized what had happened, Téafor suspects the daughters of the late King of Driesefair have escaped into the north secretly and their presence (as Anointed) had caused the darkness in Narthendar to weaken. Having lost around half of his enslaved forces, Téafor realized that the tide had turned against him.

Realizing that the Narthendar people are freed from their enslavement, the Nosmalos host sweeps into North Narthendar while the freed armies sweep in from the rear. The remaining forces of Téafor in North Narthendar are overrun and forced south. However, the Queen of Nosmalos was slain early on and the line of Nosmalos was officially broken.

While his forces fell in the North, Téafor had launched a surprise attack on the King of Anorthile stationed in southern Gorandel, beyond the shadow’s influence. The King repelled the attack but was killed in battle.

The Battles for Ecretei

With the Sorcerers’ forces greatly reduced, most pinned in the north or held up in the south, the forces of Vishethas decided to try and sweep into Ecretei from the west. In early winter of 1074 MA, the forces of Vishethas and the remnant of the forces of Driesefair, led by the King of Vishethas and his sons, march east.

In early 1075 MA, the forces of Vishethas break through the eastern edge of the forest in western Driesefair, but with losses. The King’s sons are slain.

Joined by the remaining forces of Driesefair and many freed peoples from Gorandel, the King's host marched east towards Ecretei. However, Téafor sallied forth with his trusted najiros and jevrethor and the King was slain. With their King slain, the forces flee south from the shadow, joining with the forces held up in southern Gorandel. The last of the Anointed lines are now broken.

The March of Hope

With the deaths of the last of the Anointed, a champion, appeared in Anorthile and rode to the host in southern Gorandel that was once commanded by the King of Anorthile. He was like none they have seen, clothed in white mail shining with light and a high helm of white gold on his brow. And as he rode forth the darkness receded. And when the hosts saw him they cried out “Shalfatheon ovre Driomi!” (“The One's Salvation”). However, many didn’t know Noralar nor how they spoke it.

With the Anointed lines fallen, only Heofon and this new champion supply the same protection from the shadow as the Kings did. Encouraged by the appearance of this mysterious champion, whom the people called Drioshafi, Heofon orders the remaining forces of the Anointed Kingdoms to strike on the first day of summer of 1075 MA. The southern host, led by Drioshafi with the Vasomi and jevrethor at the front, battles north through Gorandel.

Heofon’s host gathers to strike west out of the mountain pass that they hold. Seeing the approaching assault from all sides, Téafor and the Six Sorcerers use their powers of magic and the powers of the Stones and transform the usually creeping shadows into a tremendous and terrible storm of hail, wind, and lightning. They use the powers of enslaved najiros to sustain the magic, causing the deaths of many. The front of the storm striked south and devastated large areas of the already battered Gorandel heartland.

Many who had remained in the region now flee south or west to seek refuge. The host was shielded by the jevrethor at the front, but the host still suffers casualties. However, Drioshafi took the front and rides swiftly and the storm breaks and receded before him.

In midsummer of 1075 MA, the southern host reached Nandorthel, and the northern border of Gorandel, and engaged in a hard battle for the river crossings. Heofon’s host breaks through the forces west of the mountain pass and strikes the enemy in the flank. The two hosts join on a final march through Driesefair to Ecretei.

The collective hosts of the Anointed Kingdoms assault Ecretei in early fall. The Vanguard, as well as Anorthile’s host, strike from the south and west while forces from Narthendar strike from the north. Many terrible creatures appear in this battle, including a leviathan rising from the river. However, The Guardians appear and hold back the worst of the creatures while the forces fight through Téafor’s forces.

Heofon and the Vanguard push through the city. Heofon battled Téafor and the Six Sorcerers. The battle concludes in a tremendous blast in the palace area of the city where they were battling. The Stones are destroyed and the Sorcerers, including Téafor, are dead. Heofon’s body was never found in the rubble. The War of Calamities ends.