A Brief History of House Onitalep
Established in the 600s CE, House Onitalep would receive a commission from the Motanian Imperial Seat to carry out oathcrafting assignments against the population. After the fall of the Empire in 1209, House Onitalep took root in Southeast Ostar and began interfering with local politics by infiltration. Such efforts would succeed in 1314, when House Onitalep overthrew the local authorities and established the authoritarian City-State of Kysornen, which they governed through oathcrafter-based mind-influence. This regime was overthrown in 1343 by popular revolutionary figures, who then established the Four Democratic Counties of Aldonya.
There were many Councils making up House Onitalep but the Chief Council, the Council of Onitalep, would flee to the Havenlands. And they would be accompanied by the House Onitalep Councils of Kilma and Esurchia.
Establishment in the Havenlands
The government of the Ancondrian State of Kardo established its Northwest region as the Havenlands in the 1310s, intent on making it a place where foreign refugees could settle without the requirement of a visa or payment of taxes. Those without visas would need to gain them to travel elsewhere in Kardo. However, the agenda was to provide a safe haven for those fleeing persecution. As part of Havenland policy, the government of Kardo would have no direct involvement in Havenland politics unless a significant power arose in the region threatening Kardo, itself.
Before the migration, the Esurchian Council was politically and economically the weakest of House Onitalep. However, after the migration, each of the three Councils had its own city in the Havenlands, each miles apart from the other two. The Esurchian Council had grudges against the revolutionary figures who overthrew the regime in present-day Aldonya, and sought to regain that territory. The only shortcoming for the Esurchian Council, however, was that it was too disadvantaged in terms of wealth and power to gain a power base, let alone invade and conquer Aldonya. And such a disadvantage was made worse by diplomatic friction with the other two Councils.
The emergence of diplomacy with the Independent Commonwealth State of Retun, however, would change circumstances.
1359 to 1362: Esurchian Occupation
In 1359, the Esurchian Council entered into Deep-Trade Motion Three with the Retunian Commonwealth. Very soon after, the Esurchians began spreading propaganda regarding Aldonyan and House Onitalep politics, as well as infiltrating Retunian organizations, like Cabotton University, to extract financial capital. This would be known as the Esurchian Occupation. The Esurchians initially took loans from House Onitalep on false promises, but by the end of 1359, they shifted completely to Retunian financial assets.
Between 21 and 24 September 1360, the Esurchians, now more powerful, toppled the Councils of Kilma and Onitalep by military force, which they then deployed to overtake the entirety of the Havenlands. On 2 October, they proclaimed the existence of the Esurchian State, ruled by an anonymous three-person military junta.
During the second week of January 1361, Retunian Prime Minister Raol Robinson accepted an invitation to a diplomatic meeting in Esurchia proper, where he was unofficially kept against his will until 1362. Meanwhile, Esurchian forces, having been previously granted special visas by the Robinson Administration to assist law enforcement in both the Ancondrian and Middle Remikran Domains, began overstepping their bounds and engaging in brutal measures of oppression, including massacres.
However, the Retunian Commonwealth was home to many underground factions, who organized and overcame the Esurchian Occupation. On 24 February 1362, owing thanks to communication from these organizations, the federal government of the Retunian Commonwealth carried out a rescue mission which succeeded in transporting Prime Minister Robinson back to the Basin District. On 11 March, Robinson revoked Esurchian visas while ordering evictions and trade sanctions against the Esurchian State.
1362 to 1365: Tensions in Ancondria
On 16 March 1362, Prime Minister Robinson enacted additional trade and diplomatic sanctions, which included a mass-eviction, from Batten Island, of an Esurchian paramilitary group known as the Esurchian Scouts. They refused to leave and had an armed confrontation with the Retunian Civil Guard that evening. However, after 90 minutes, the Retunian National Guard arrived, prompting the Esurchian Scout troupe on site to surrender. To note, the National Guard never opened fire during this incident.
On 18 March, the Esurchian State and Retunian Commonwealth signed a cease-fire agreement.
However, the Esurchian State began accounting its economic losses, stemming from the sanctions, toward a debt deemed by both the Retunian Commonwealth and Congress of Circlaria to be invalid. Nevertheless, the Esurchian Scouts attempted to forcibly collect on said debt by raiding Retunian vessels in the Magnumarian Ocean as well as waylaying Retunian lorries traveling along the Thruway in Kardo.
On 14 March 1364, the Ancondrian State of Malfua had amended its deal between the Retunian Commonwealth and the Esurchian State which gave the Esurchian State less business advantage in the arrangement than before. In retaliation, the Esurchian State, on 11 April 1364, deployed its newly-established Air Force of the Esurchian State, which carried out an airstrike against Malfua. In response, more sanctions were placed against the Esurchian State as it signed a fragile peace agreement with Malfua and the Retunian Commonwealth on 14 April.
On 17 April 1364, the Esurchian State invaded and overtook the Ancondrian State of Beaustrough. Over the weeks that followed, piracy on the Magnumarian, as well as banditry along the Thruway, intensified. In response, on 14 May, the Retunian Commonwealth Deep-Trade Administration terminated its Motion Three agreement with the Esurchians.
On 1 June 1364, the Esurchian State initiated the First Magnumarian Offensive, which saw the beginning of Esurchian Scout attacks against Kardan and Retunian piers as well as Great Northern and Locinian ships. The Retunian Commonwealth responded with more sanctions but also called for negotiations. By 14 June, however, such negotiations were determined to have failed as the Esurchians demanded payment of the debt, determined invalid earlier, in the form of large portions of Retunian territory as well as the Northern half of Kronoston. Anticipating the worst, the Retunian Commonwealth constructed bases in Silba, Angwe, Kardo, Atilkane, and Malfua.
On 7 February 1365, an unmarked ship carrying Esurchian Scouts, as well as proper Esurchian military personnel and artillery, entered the harbor of Ramport and fired 119 shells. The incident killed 57 civilians as well as resulted in widespread injuries and property damage. This prompted mandatory evacuations from the metropolitan area, in effect until 10 February, and a mass migration to the Southern half of the Ancondrian Domain.
Despite public anticipation, the Retunian Commonwealth did not declare war on the Esurchian State in response to the Ramport incident. However, the Retunian Council voted in favor of such a war declaration to be made if any further action was committed. Furthermore, the Retunian Defense Department negotiated with the Congress of Circlaria and obtained authorization to use a weapon known as a "device of molecular destruction," or a DMD, which was capable of doing far more damage than the Red Desert Bombs used by the Lykian Republic in the past. On 16 February, the Retunian Commonwealth issued an ultimatum to the Esurchian State, vowing to declare war and use the DMDs if the Esurchian State did not withdraw all Esurchian Scout forces and heavy weapons out of Kardo, the Ancondrian piers, and Magnumarian Ocean.
Between 17 February and 7 March 1365, the Esurchian State built a military front consisting of tanks and gyroplanes along the Batten Island border, as was evidenced by intelligence photos from Retunian high-altitude balloons.
On 5 March 1365, the Retunian government issued mandatory evacuations for Wicard and Ramport, with exception to essential and military personnel. On 6 March, the government evacuated Kronoston in the same way.
On 7 March 1365, the Esurchian State launched the Second Magnumarian Offensive. In the early morning hours, five Retunian destroyers were torpedoed by Esurchian submarines. Three of the Retunian vessels sank. Esurchian tanks then crossed the Batten River into Retunian territory and began firing, while Esurchian gyroplanes flew overhead and carried out air raids. Then Esurchian ships, under spellfire concealment, slipped past defense lines and attacked the Mid-Westerlies, bringing it under Esurchian control, while Esurchian planes flew towards Savel and the West Coast of Middle Remikra.
1365 to 1368: The Esurchian War
Prime Minister Robinson, in response on that same day, signed the official war declaration, authorizing the deployment of Retunian aircraft carrying the first DMD, which was dropped and detonated on an Esurchian armaments compound along the Southern border. Esurchian forces holding the Mid-Westerlies had done so for 9 hours up to that point, despite Retunian naval reinforcements. But news of the DMD deployment prompted the Esurchian forces here, as well as those along all other fronts thus far, to retreat. Afterward came anticipation from Congress of Circlaria and the Retunian Commonwealth for the Esurchians to sign on to a mutual cease-fire agreement to end the war. However, the Esurchians never responded to this. Furthermore, there came increased reports, in the days and weeks that followed, of proper Esurchian military forces waylaying the lorries along the Thruway in Kardo and pirating the vessels in Magnumarian Ocean just as the Esurchian Scouts had done before.
On 4 November 1365, the Esurchian State carried out an attack against Kardo. First, they launched air raids against Kardan bases along the Havenland border, then came a land assault on the same targets. Governor-General Maryk Endber III dispatched additional Kardan forces to the area, after which cloaked Esurchian aircraft slipped through the fronts and attacked Kardo proper. During that attack, the Esurchians damaged the air bases and destroyed key highway interchanges in the downtown district. This was followed by cloaked Esurchian tanks arriving and blocking main entrances into the city.
All was achieved by 7:30pm on November 4, after which the Esurchians made demands for Kardo to leverage diplomacy with the Retunian Commonwealth in order to get the Robinson Administration to resign and to have the Retunian Commonwealth restore all of its previous trade and deep-trade arrangements. The Esurchian State also demanded formal recognition from Kardo as a sovereign nation with proper jurisdiction over the Havenlands; and that Kardo form an alliance with them against the opposition as well as against Aldonya. The Kardan government honored the demand to give recognition to the existence of the Esurchian State as well as forwarded an invitation from them to the Retunian Commonwealth for a diplomacy Conference in 1367; but Kardo refused to honor any of the other demands. The Esurchians vowed to remain in place until the Kardan government changed its stance accordingly.
Thus began the First Siege of Kardo.
Each Esurchian highway blockade in Kardo had a turret built-in at the barrier site from which soldiers could shoot. This turret was fed by a tunnel that was quickly but well-built and its location well-concealed. Meanwhile, the Kardan government halted all non-essential air travel, while all essential air travel was protected by Kardan military plane escorts. The Retunian Commonwealth helped to defend Kardo by sending, once per week, a squadron of Retunian fighter planes to assist in attempting to knock out the blockades and stated Esurchian forces; though many local inhabitants felt that the effort was not sufficient. Furthermore, the Esurchians had set up actual "checkpoints" along the lorry Thruway, diverting even more Kardan and Retunian forces.
On 2 December 1365, Retunian intelligence discovered the source digging the tunnels and setting up the blockades in Kardo: a hidden Esurchian base in the Kardan territory, functioning as a major reconnaissance point, near the Crossbridge border. The Retunian Commonwealth obtained permission from Kardan Governor-General Endber to carry out an airstrike against the facility, which the Retunian Air Force did with success on 23 December 1365.
On 11 January 1366, the Esurchians began carrying out air raids against Retunian bases stationed in Silba and Kardo. However, this initiative was inhibited by the beginning of the Kardan Offensive on 1 March of that year, during which they neutralized, through air and land forces, the Esurchian blockade along the South Entrance to Kardo proper. The Esurchians were made, as a result, to divert some of its forces toward Kardo proper.
On 15 May 1366 at 7:30am, the Esurchians commenced and air and ground assaults against the Retunian Courtyards District in Silba. This District was home to a mutual embassy by Silba and the Retunian Commonwealth. The objective was to overtake the District, located in a vulnerable Northern section of the city, and gain control of the embassy itself. The embassy, since 1295, had been issuing dual-visas to foreign travelers, giving them the benefit of being able to travel freely between both nations. For the Esurchians to take control of this embassy would be to halt the visa-issuing processes and thus make travel more difficult. Four Retunian bases were stationed in Silba, but the Esurchian assault on 15 May was overwhelming still. Despite assistance given to the Retunians even from Silba and House Maderon, the Esurchians, with their cloaking abilities and other advances from West Horizon, were able to capture the District and embassy by 23 May.
The Retunian Commonwealth responded to this with the detonation of another DMD on 2 June 1366, this time on a key Esurchian military base. The Retunian Commonwealth and Congress of Circlaria would hold a Conference in Cenofan in September of that year, during which the Retunian Commonwealth gained authorization to deploy yet another DMD should the occasion arise. The objectives from this Conference were, ultimately, to end the Esurchian occupations of Silba and Kardo, to stop Esurchian assaults on other Retunian bases abroad, and to have the Esurchians sign the ultimate cease-fire agreement crafted in March 1365. The Esurchians, in a Conference that followed, signed agreements to withdraw its forces from Silba and Kardo. However, they still did not respond to the March 1365 cease-fire agreement. Furthermore, Esurchian forces continued sporadic attacks on the other Retunian bases abroad as well as the Thruway in Kardo and the shipping routes in the Magnumarian Ocean.
Between June 1366 and February 1367, the attacks continued with gradual escalation as they were accompanied by additional attempted incursions into Silba and occasional air raids against Retunian bases, towns, and lorry tracks within the Domain.
On 12 February 1367, the Esurchians launched the Third Magnumarian Offensive. Leading up to this event, the Esurchian State had constructed five armadas, each of concealed ships, concealed aircraft carriers, concealed aircraft, and concealed tanks. These armadas were launched against the Middle Remikran cities of South Masonia, Hasphitat, Retun, Ligam, and Savel. At each of these five cities, five Esurchian ships would land, concealed, and deploy tanks to block key highway entrances into the city. The tanks and Esurchian personnel would set up barriers, and open fire against civilian traffic going in and out. Five other boats would remain off-shore and fire shells into the targeted city as well as into its key bases. And fifteen aircraft would carry out air raids on the city from above.
The Offensive would begin at 2:51am, Basin District Time, during which the highway blockades began to be set up. And at 3:36am, the naval boat attacks and air raids began. However, the Retunian forces were stronger and quicker than expected, thus able to defeat the Esurchian onslaught within 90 minutes. At 3:54am, the Esurchian forces in Hasphitat surrendered; and this was followed by the surrender of Esurchian forces in Ligam at 4:11am, South Masonia at 4:28am, Savel at 4:46am, and the Basin District at 5:07am.
Later on 12 February, the Retunians detonated a DMD on the Esurchian Capital. Between 13 and 15 February, a Conference was held between the Retunian Commonwealth and Congress of Circlaria, which crafted a plan to demand the Esurchians withdraw all of its forces from Kardo and all other neighboring Northeast Ancondrian territories, sign the cease-fire agreement of March 1365, surrender nearly all of its Havenland territorial claims, and to have the Esurchians sign all above mentioned terms at a formal International Courts Hearing on 14 January 1368.
On 11 April 1367, the Esurchian State launched the Fourth Magnumarian Offensive, during which relentless air raids were carried out against the lorry tracks inside and outside of the Retunian Ancondrian Domain, as well as the cities of Ramport, Wicard, Silba, Atilkane, and Kardo. Ramport sustained especially heavy damage during these air raids. And between 11 April 1367 and 17 January 1368, the Esurchians carried out what would be known as the Second Siege of Kardo. Like the First Siege, all highway entrances were blockaded. However, the Esurchians also constructed a physical wall, made of spellmatter, around the perimeter of the city while bombarding every part of it relentlessly via air strikes and missile attacks. There would be immense loss of life while Kardo proper was reduced to rubble.
The Hearing began as scheduled on 14 January. And during said Hearing, the terms outlined in the Conference of 13-15 February 1367 were presented to the Esurchians along with a provision for the Retunian Commonwealth and its allies to carpet-bomb the Havenlands with DMDs in the event of non-compliance. On 17 January, the Esurchians signed the cease-fire agreement of March 1365 and followed through with the terms, thus ending the Esurchian War.
1368 to 1370: The Esurchian Civil War and the 1370 Treaty of Silba
On 5 February 1368, Kilma and Onitalep formed a coalition and attempted to overthrow the government of the Esurchian State, thus beginning the Esurchian Civil War. By March, however, owing to oathcrafting by the Esurchians, Kilma and Onitalep began turning against each other. Meanwhile, local native Ancondrians were forced to pick sides. In May 1369, however, they banded together, forming the Ancondrian Native Coalition, and waged war against the Esurchians, Kilmans, and Onitalepans. Within each Council of House Onitalep was a faction wanting to renew political dynamics at the beginning of the Civil War, a faction wishing to engage all other entities in a war for dominance, and a faction wishing for House Onitalep to band together to defeat the Ancondrians. By 1370, the situation in the Havenlands was very unstable, chaotic, and violent.
The Commonwealth and its Ancondrian allies met with the Esurchians in Silba and, on 12 November 1370, signed the Treaty of Silba. In adherence to the provisions of the Treaty, the Esurchians ended all involvement with the Retunian Commonwealth, ended all foreign invasion initiatives, and ceded all Havenland territories with exception to an immediate perimeter around each the cities of Esurchia, Onitalep, and Kilma. Also in the Treaty was a mandate to construct border walls and fences around the Havenlands, and to divide the Havenlands into three new nations: Wielfren, Krivaran, and Barduuh. Furthermore, the borders between each of these three new nations would be lined with border walls and fences.
The Fall of West Horizon
The lightfire industry by this point was dominated by West Horizon, a Retunian-based company founded in the year 1264.
In 1358, Zachary Pegotta became the elected Chief Executive Officer of West Horizon, and promised to never engage the business in wartime contributions. In 1359, West Horizon signed a business contract with the Esurchian Council. However, the contract was terminated in 1362 by West Horizon with respect to the Robinson Administration's decision to impose sanctions. In 1364, West Horizon reversed its peacetime promise and began producing wartime weapons, planes, and other military assets in anticipation of the imminent war with the Esurchian State.
On 11 March 1365, four days after the official declaration of war made by the Retunian Commonwealth, West Horizon signed a contract with the Esurchian State, stating publicly a neutral intent to help them with "defense recovery" after the war. This claim was based on the anticipation that the Esurchian State would lose the war and face further sanctions, theoretically making them more vulnerable to sea pirates. However, West Horizon made every effort to minimize publicity over the arrangement. Also with respect to public relations, West Horizon mandated the Esurchians to sign a written promise to not use West Horizon assets against the Retunian Commonwealth. However, there was no provision in place to enforce this latter term. The Esurchians were aware of this loophole and took advantage, using the tunnel-and-turrets during the Sieges of Kardo and the advanced gyroplanes against the Retunian bases and targets.
In 1369, a large amount of information was exposed regarding the involvement of West Horizon not only with both sides of the Esurchian War but also with its role in starting and maintaining the Great Ancondrian War. A trial in the Retunian Supreme Court that year conveyed photographs of West Horizon aircraft, all models developed after the 7 March 1365 war declaration, flown by the Esurchians. Also presented were photographs of the West Horizon tunnel-and-turret models used during the First and Second Sieges of Kardo.
Zachary Pegotta had a team of attorneys who managed to get himself and West Horizon leadership acquitted of any charges of treason, all on technicalities. However, West Horizon, as a corporation, was ordered to pay large fines; and they lost most of their clientele, especially in Ancondria due to soured moral reputation. On 19 November 1369, West Horizon leadership voted that the following fiscal would be their last. Thus, on 12 March 1370, West Horizon ceased as a business.
The United Confederation of Ancondria
The 1370 Treaty of Silba restricted freedom of movement and travel for all persons living in the Havenlands, including those native Ancondrians never involved with Esurchian politics. Also, the border walls established would run through numerous farms and crops.
On 2 December 1370, less than two weeks from the signing of the Treaty, the Ancondrian Native Coalition, and other native Ancondrians in the region, banded together and formed the Ancondrian Liberation Army. On 17 December, majority populations in all three Havenland states banded together and declared the Havenlands as one nation: the United Confederation of Ancondria, or UCA. Functioning as a democracy, the UCA would be officially recognized by the Retunian Commonwealth and its allies in the 1371 Treaty of Ramport. And in the years that followed, all Northeast Ancondrian territories, with exception to Ramport and its territory, would vote to join the UCA.
Thus, stability would persevere in Northeast Ancondria until the Coup of 1475, more than a century later.