Second Orc War

The Second Orc War, also called the Quarter Century War or Liberation War by the nations of the New Empire, and the Great Catastrophe by the Orc tribes, was a large-scale revolt and armed conflict waged from 819 to 843. The war, initially fought along the Dorei river valley, came to engulf most of the northern and western Ovaicaea, with further theaters in the south and east. It was the second-most devastating conflict in the region, rivalled only by the First Orc War or Orcish Invasion. Millions of civilians died from famine, pestilence, and massacre, and thousands of soldiers died in fighting or from disease.

The early stages of the war were precipitated by increased raiding by orcish war bands along the Dorei and Athua rivers, beginning around 799. In response, a fellowship of volunteer knights and militia emerged to defend vulnerable towns while the tributary kingdoms refused to take action. In 819, the Confessor Order initiated a diplomatic mission to the Orcish Khaganate, intent on convincing the pro-war khans to stand down and hold their tribes at bay, and to re-negotiate tribute. This diplomatic mission was a failure; a brawl broke out among the khans, leaving one dead, along with Mother Confessor Ilhandriel and two of her deputies. Her honor guard fled to neighboring Skyshroud, where they spread word of the massacre, mobilizing the kingdoms into action. The first year of the war saw some stunning victories for the allies, but it quickly reversed course and the orc hordes descended upon and ravaged much of Balendor, Eldorei, Lithuar, Lilhadorei, Athuasua, and Ripania, and had raided south into Tolossia and east into Suatha. The Confessor Order underwent a schism, dividing the spiritual leadership of the allied nations. By 830, most the river valley nations were completely overran, with only small pockets of organized resistance; however, the Orc resolve was faltering through protracted sieges, and were unable to annihilate a highly mobile and well-equipped guerilla movement.

Bold action became necessary, and in 833 a group of orcs trekked across the rocky desert, scaled the Tethar Mountains, and sacked the Confessor Abbey in a daring raid. The temple was plundered, its towers burned and toppled, and many of the Confessors were butchered. The orcs sought further plunder to fuel the war effort, and launched simultaneous invasions of Eldunari, which until then had paid tribute and stayed neutral, and of Skyshroud, which had previously been seen as unassailable due to its harsh terrain. This backfired, as the walled cities of northern Eldunari proved impervious to the Orcs' meager siege tactics, and Skyshroud was able to repulse orcish assaults with its own ferocious warriors. The sack of the Confessor Abby, far from demoralizing the alliance, galvanized popular resistance. Combined with the victories in the north, this provided the momentum needed for the Dorei Militia to take charge of the war effort. Conferences organized and mediated by militia leader Arya Hafwen developed a plan to regain their territory and defeat the orcs.

Over the following seven years, the alliance regrouped, reorganized, and struck back. Orc clans were forced to pull back from crucial sieges, and suffered a string of defeats. The lack of tribute or plunder, and massive losses, created discontent between the tribes and civil war tore the Orc Khaganate apart. The Orcs were divided and then isolated systematically, and by 840 had effectively been contained within the Karkuz Plateau. An insurgency from the east, in the Ucral Mountains, constituted one last offensive action by the Orcs, but this was defeated by the middle of 842. In the aftermath of a truce with the Khaganate of Odkarkuz, the allied nations recognized the need for greater cooperation and guidance. They founded a New Empire, with Arya on the throne.