Struggle for the South

The Struggle for the South, beginning in 1649, was a series of inter-related disputes and conflicts following the Elwynnese confiscation of Mishalan and the collapse, demotion and or dissolution of the Lich Realms of Lichbrook and Minarboria, ending the dominion of the dead over the lands of southern Benacia. The disputes saw an increase in anti-Elwynnese sentiment and the first semblance of opposition to the Ayreon-Kalirion dynastic succession to the Mango Throne.

Fall of Lichbrook

Loss of Statehood

• Cessation of government as defined by Imp. Charter
• Nostalgia's revolt/exile
• Reconstituted as Imperial Dominion

Partition

• Recreation of Duchy of Brookshire as Imperial Dominion

Into the Lichlands

Operation Erebus

The suppression of Communist Mishalan

• • Detention of senior officials and party functionaries
  • "Epistle of Warranty": Relations between III Corps of the Frontier Army and Elwynnese occupation forces
  • Pursuit of Mishalanski Refugees
  • Inner Benacian Quarantine Zone

Invasion of Lichbrook, Tellia & Minarboria

• • 04 Qinamu 1649 - citing Charter (Article V, Section D), Lichbrook deprived of statehood. Altea Lomax appointed Imperial Governor.
  • 23 Qinamu 1649 - The Countess of Amarr, a Lich rejoicing in the improbable title of Lady Nostalgia the Eager, is deprived of her titles and offices for an act of lèse majesté. Imperial Forces instructed to enforce the surrender of Lichbrook.
  • 34 Qinamu 1649 - the Kingdom of Lichbrook breaks off communications with Imperial Government and mobilised it's military.
  • 35 Qinamu 1649 - the government of Lichbrook orders the arrest of all Imperial Government officials in the service of Base 3-C in Amarr. The Dirigent of Musica arrived in Lichkeep.
  • 04 Silnuai 1650 - The Lich Countess orders that her forces "exterminate (sic) one of those arrested each year and throw their heads in the river".
  • 20 Silnuai 1650 - An ill-conceived Lichbrookian plot to place a bomb in the luggage of the mediating Natopian Regent, Christo Eucalyptos, on his visit to Raynor's Keep is foiled by Jeremy Archer and the Shirekeep City Guard.
  • 19 Gevrader 1650 - invasion of Minarborian Tellia and Karalakh.
  • 24 Filadinu 1650 - Lichkeep is surrendered to Shirekeep and transferred to the Imperial County. The crumbling Lich Countess subsequently fled to Treisenberg.

The occupation of Lichbrook comprised of a three pronged attack along separate lines of advance converging upon Maltenstein:

1. From the Shirekeep Garrison, via Lichkeep and Woodshire Village:
   • The Palatini Corps
2. From the Goldshire & Novaya Sorensk Garrisons via Musica & Gatonia, Alexandretta, Isenbury and Fortis:
   • I Corps (Field Army)
   • The Riverine Army
   • Supported by the 2nd Banner Group
3. From the Goldshire Garrison and MoMA Station Sagittarius, via Fatehpur Sikri, Base 3-C, Elder Beacon, Jakovita and Dolorous:
   • IV Corps (Frontier Army)
   • Supported by the Aurangzeb Banner Group

As may be seen, by virtue of the prior distribution of forces, the heaviest blow was dealt by the second attacking force coming ashore at Musica and Gatonia whilst the swiftest was that launched across the river from Shirekeep itself. The purpose of the third force coming ashore at Fatehpur Sikri was to serve as a menacing distraction, preventing the western counties from sending reinforcements to the threatened cities further east and north. At the same time, by striking in land to secure Base 3-C, the attackers would be in a position to liberate the political prisoners incarcerated there by Countess Nostalgia. Additional benefits to occupying Amarr included securing the strategic oil fields and making manifest the formal deposition of the rebellious Countess.

This represented a force of 264,000 legionnaires & 282,000 auxiliaries against whom the recalcitrant and moribund Kingdom of Lichbrook could only field a few formed professional units; the Royal Lich Dragoon Guards, the 1st (Overdolor) Regiment of Lichniks and the 2nd (Lachmodan) Regiment of Lichniks. Yet even these elite formations had fallen into disorder with the crumbling of the Liches and the emigration of the Deep-Singers.

The most professional 'human' fighting force available to Countess Nostalgia was the Musican Defence Force, but even that was only a marine brigade on land. At sea however, the Musicans were in their element and could put to sea two battleships, a carrier, three cruisers, two destroyers, six attack submarines, nine corvettes and five minesweepers. Their fleet air arm was also small but proficient, consisting of twenty fighter-jets, ten bombers, eighteen attack-helicopters and twelve multi-purpose helicopters.

Against this compact but competent force, the attacking Imperial Forces committed the entire Aurangzeb Battlegroup, comprising of two battleships, an aircraft carrier, six destroyers, two nuclear submarines and four diesel submarines, which accorded the attackers parity at best. Yet it was in the air that the Imperial Forces enjoyed their greatest advantage with thirty-five multirole fighters, twelve maritime strike aircraft and eighteen multi-purpose helicopters, as well as twenty Snaggletooth gravimetric attack-scouts. In addition, the Aurangzeb's air division was supported by the Imperial Protection Squadron and Protocol Support Group which consisted together of a Gravrig-Cruiser, five gravships and eight amphibious maritime patrol aircraft.

Operation Credulity's Edge

• Kalgachi Defence Force occupation of Sansabury for purposes of securing international recognition as successor to moribund Minarborian Empire.
• Establishing "line of contact" with Shirerithian Imperial Forces

Protests in Shirekeep

• Appeals for leniency towards Mishalan regime, preservation of autonomy, cultural identity
• Concerns notable amongst non-Elwynnese citizenry at perceived Elwynnese "high-handedness"
• Regent holds firm on irrevocable transfer of Mishalan to Elwynnese control

Foreign reactions

• Kalgachi concern over "Froyalanic homogenesis" leads to offer of asylum for Mishalanski refugees
• Hostility and scepticism in international institutions (MCS:"quit yo monopolising") over relentless Shirerithian territorial expansion

"The appetite grows with the eating"

The misadventures of Kizzy Drakland

• Where does one even begin?
• Self-styled Daemon-Queen
• Bearer of the Sword of Fire
• Purges Lichbrook of remaining Liches with, appropriately enough, fire and the sword
• Leads surviving mortal population towards a new future under a Daemonically influenced regime
• Relations with Cedrists uncertain

Landings along the littoral

• Lachmeren
• Lywall
• Siyachia