War of the Leaves

The War of the Leaves
Date 3 August 2000 (2000-08-03) - 19 July 2004 (2004-07-19) (3 years, 11 months and 16 days) Location Seclya, Amador Result Toppling of Hakulic Government, leading to the installation of Ruven Rothilion-Ermys as Ostrax of the newly formed Saahein Sovereignty Reformation of Seclya as an Elven-dominated country Union Formed between Royal House of Amador and House Rothillion of Seclya Marriage of Ruven Rothilion to the Alfar Issarel Ermys Establishment of House Rothilion-Ermys as the royal house of Seclya Hakulic Remnants forced to abandon Seclya, surrendering themselves to Scailand
Belligerents
Saahein League Seclya Amador	Hakulic Hakulia
Commanders and leaders
Saahein League Ruven Rothilion Issarel Ermys Maeralya Amador	Hakulic League insert name here insert name here

The War of the Leaves (2000-2004 CE), also known as the First Blood War, was a conflict fought between the Hakulic government of Seclya and the current government of Seclya, the Saahein Sovereignty while Amador would intervene in 2003. Fighting began in August of 2000 following centuries of oppressive rule over the Saahein and Lashein Elven populations of Seclya and their near-complete slavery experienced under the iron fist of Hakul.

The war itself was initially one of uprising against what was at the time, deemed the lawful government of the country by most nations abroad. The arrival of Ruven Rothilion in Amador's courts would convince the larger elven nation intervene on the behalf of the uprising by offering at first, financial and material aid, followed by a declaration of war in 2003, which then followed an Amadorian invasion of Selcya on behalf of their Saahein allies.

The war concluded in mid-2004 following several key military victories, including the Battle of Haanathemar and the Battle at Enas Shaereth off the coast of Amador. The ousting of the Hakulic government resulted in the reformation of Seclya into a monarchial system, installing Ruven Rothilion as Ostrax of Seclya, while Issarel Ermys, an Amadorian noble, as Miax of Seclya, creating the House of Rothilion-Ermys.

The aftermath of the war saw Amador and Seclya establish formal relations through the Ilymmelle Accords, a series of negotiations held in Ilymmelle aimed at detailing out a plan to reconstruct and defend the newly formed government and its populace from future attacks. As a result, both nations have become particularly intertwined politically, culturally, and economically.

The Hakulic remnants were forced to abandon their ancestral homelands, ultimately settling in Scailand in the Badlands Frontier, a frozen land with little in the way of luxuries. Seclyai-Amadorian-led have continuously monitored the remnants in the decades following the end of the war, ever vigilant of their encroaching threat.

Progression and Conflict

Amadorian Intervention and Invasion

Allied tank in a ruined city

The first three years of the conflict would see Amador provide material, fiscal, and lethal military aid, while also sendings its own officers to train and properly equip Saahein forces. Queen Maeralya would initially be hesitant to put combat boots on the ground, as it wished not to involve itself in the war anymore than it already had. Years of peace stood on the precipe, yet the decision would be made sooner rather than later.

Amador would officially relent and invade Hakul-held Seclya in early 2003 following the nuclear bombing of Rashariatt conducted by Hakulic Forces. The first of Amador's invading forces would come through its exclave bordering Seclya, Vanyaael. The rapid mobilization of Amador's forces would prove to be a frightening scene to behold for Hakul's armies, as their tactics and prowess greatly shifted the tide of the war, with Alfar magicks being decisively used to obliterate Hakulic defenders. In response, Hakul would continue launching nuclear strikes on its own lands, murdering innocent civilians and even catching Alfar soldiers in the blasts.

Amador's Imperial Navy would conduct a momentous blockade of Seclya and conduct total warfare against Hakulic naval vessels, culminated in the naval battle at Battle at Vanyaael.

January 2004 would see the Battle of Mecklensturtz waged, Hakul's capital, in which Amadorian forces barrelling down from the northern coast evaporated the city with extreme prejudice through overwhelming aerial bombardments. The city destroyed would allow Amador's forces to reach the Marysia Mountains by May, where it would ultimately link up with their Saahein Allies following the Marysia Pocket and Hakul's successful breakout to evade and ultimately exile themselves to Scailand.

Imperial Blockade

Amador's Imperial Navy, through its use of submarines and carrier strike groups, would conduct and maintain an extensive naval blockade of Seclya at the cost of dozens of warships over the duration of the war. The plan was to squeeze dry Hakul's trade and resources, which was met with success through a combination of tactical brilliance and strategic bravery. Captured Hakulic ships would be turned over to Saahein forces, allowing the Saahein to successfully enter the naval fold.

The naval front was not without its share of tragedies. The Battle at Leejok near the Amadorian-held Leejok Islands, saw Hakulic forces momentarily break the blockade, striking out against imperial ships, including the sinking of the carrier INS Shirako, the flagship of the Imperial Navy. Though a striking blow, it was fleeting, as reinforcements were able to force back the Hakulic excursion. The blockade would not be broken again during the course of the conflict, with any attempts swarted with extreme prejudice.

Aftermath

Banishment of Hakul

The Battle of Haanethemar was a defining moment in the war, forcing the eventual surrender and subsequent banishment of the remnants of the Hakulic government from mainland Seclya and ultimately forcing them to take refuge in Scailand, a frozen territory in the world's Badlands region.

Normalization of Saahein-Alfar Relatins

Seclya and Amador would normalize their relations following the war through the Ilymmelle Accords. Queen Maeralya Amador would welcome Ruven Rothilion into the Royal Family of Amador as an adopted son, while also permitting the marriage between the new prince to Duchess Issarel Rothilion-Ermys, thus forming a blood pact between the two elven nations. The marriage would establish the two nations as sworn brethren, keen to defend the new elven block of Gholgoth and its overseas territories. Their marriage also established Seclyai monarch's ruling house - the House of Rothilion-Ermys.

Casualties

Amador

Amador's intervention and subsequent invasion would prove costly for the Imperium, with the war proving to be amongst the bloodiest it had fought in centuries. Tens of millions would be wounded, including civilian's. Of the 24,398,779 casualties confirmed, 1,928,385 would be confirmed dead through combat, while 377,284 would die as prisoners of war in Hakulic camps. Loss of life steadily increased throughout the course of the war, owing in large part to the Hakulic entrenchments and philosphy to fight to the last man.

Economic and Political Effects

Reconstruction

Seclya's infrastructure was left in poor state following the conclusion of the War of the Leaves. Hakulic forces would conduct torched-earth policies during the final year of the conflict as they were steadily pushed back in an attempt to stall or turn around Saahein-Alfar forces.

The Imperium has made an enormous economic impact in Seclya following the rise of the Saahein Sovereignty in an effort to rebuild the war-torn country and to revitalize the shattered economy. Amador would establish an annual grant to the Sovereignty in exchange for the establishment of the Saahein-Alfar Free-Trade Agreement (SAFTA), a free-trade agreement which eliminates tariffs and taxed among imported and exported goods between the two nations. Seclya itself has offered its cultural history and architectural prowess to Amador in return, offering itself as a great friend and sworn ally to the Imperium.

Large swaths of Seclya was left as irradiated ruins following the numerous nuclear strikes conducted by the Hakul, forcing many to leave home and resettle in safer areas of the nation.

Legacy

The War of the Leaves was a defining moment in history for Seclya, in particular its Saahein, Lashein, and Lacertan inhabitants.