Post by The Eshva on Oct 14, 2020 19:53:51 GMT
The First Ardo-Arashin War was a conflict between the Second Empire of Ikhan and the much larger Ardian Empire. While a defeat for the Arashin, it's drawn-out nature was not something the Ardians had counted on. In part a result of the fierce loyalty the Zharai held to the Emperor and the winding passes of the Feltasi mountains, the war's length and cost of life allowed for the Empire of Ikhan to survive, if in a reduced form, for the time being. The war would, nonetheless, lead to the Arashin Civil War in the 1880s, which in turn brought an end to the Zharai as a major force in Arashin society.
Arashin soldiers in "Modern" uniform, (c.1867)
The war began in 1866 when the Ardian Empire saw fit to finally put an end to what it saw as a troublesome neighbor in Ikhan. Of course, while western Ikhan had become known for it's many ports which often served as bases for pirates in the region, it was more important for it's copious amounts of coal and iron that could be found therein. Thus, in June of 1866, they invaded.
The Ardian Empire fully expected that the war would be over by the end of October at the latest; they did not count on the largely technologically-inferior (the Arashin were roughly 100 years behind them in some fields at the time) Empire of Ikhan being able to put up much resistance, underestimating the sheer determination of her people in resisting the invaders.
The First Year
In the opening weeks of the war, Ardian Forces advanced east to the Akai river, taking several settlements on the western bank of the river. Meanwhile, a detachment of their navy began a blockade of the nation's coasts. Here, they encountered their first major obstacle in the form of a series of fortifications along the eastern bank of the river, which had also been heavily entrenched. When they attempted to cross the river by the bridges that spanned it, the Arashin blew them up, having rigged them to explode when they attempted it. Thus, for the first two months of the war, the Ardians would be forced to remain on the other side of the river.
In the south, Ardian forces came across a far greater problem: The towering Feltasi mountains which had long served to isolate and protect the lands of the Arashin from outside invasion by land. As proven time and time again, it would prove to be a nearly impenetrable barrier even to the Ardians, though not for a lack of trying on their part.
TBC
Arashin soldiers in "Modern" uniform, (c.1867)
The war began in 1866 when the Ardian Empire saw fit to finally put an end to what it saw as a troublesome neighbor in Ikhan. Of course, while western Ikhan had become known for it's many ports which often served as bases for pirates in the region, it was more important for it's copious amounts of coal and iron that could be found therein. Thus, in June of 1866, they invaded.
The Ardian Empire fully expected that the war would be over by the end of October at the latest; they did not count on the largely technologically-inferior (the Arashin were roughly 100 years behind them in some fields at the time) Empire of Ikhan being able to put up much resistance, underestimating the sheer determination of her people in resisting the invaders.
The First Year
In the opening weeks of the war, Ardian Forces advanced east to the Akai river, taking several settlements on the western bank of the river. Meanwhile, a detachment of their navy began a blockade of the nation's coasts. Here, they encountered their first major obstacle in the form of a series of fortifications along the eastern bank of the river, which had also been heavily entrenched. When they attempted to cross the river by the bridges that spanned it, the Arashin blew them up, having rigged them to explode when they attempted it. Thus, for the first two months of the war, the Ardians would be forced to remain on the other side of the river.
In the south, Ardian forces came across a far greater problem: The towering Feltasi mountains which had long served to isolate and protect the lands of the Arashin from outside invasion by land. As proven time and time again, it would prove to be a nearly impenetrable barrier even to the Ardians, though not for a lack of trying on their part.
TBC