Changes

Mosk grew up in [[Gaskal]] and was [[Meerō Dolysoh|Meerō's]] eldest son. Having turned 12, he accompanied his father on the [[Meerō_Dolysoh#The_.22Red_Orchid.22_campaign|Red Orchid campaign]] which was an unsuccessful attempt at defeating Tirna and Troun. He would later recount this time in his memoirs, saying:

Mosk grew up in [[Gaskal]] and was [[Meerō Dolysoh|Meerō's]] eldest son. Having turned 12, he accompanied his father on the [[Meerō_Dolysoh#The_.22Red_Orchid.22_campaign|Red Orchid campaign]] which was an unsuccessful attempt at defeating Tirna and Troun. He would later recount this time in his memoirs, saying:

"I was embarrassed for my family. I was embarrassed for my father. And I knew that I wanted to punish our enemies. But I also wanted to punish those in the room who said nothing. They were cowards, and cowards deserve death."

"I was embarrassed for my family. I was embarrassed for my father. And I saw this embarrassment in the eyes of his generals. I knew that I never wanted anyone to look at any Dolysoh like that again. They shall look at us either with reverence or with fear. And that's how it was."

The embarrassment that he mentions might relate to the humiliation that Gutsag, the gole of Tirna, subjected Meerō to: throughout the siege Gutsag had not only numerous times sent letters with insults by throwing them with rocks over the walls, but also had musicians and a choir perform songs with offensive lyrics about Meerō every morning.

The embarrassment that he mentions relates to the humiliation that Gutsag, the gole of Tirna, subjected Meerō to: throughout the siege Gutsag had not only numerous times sent letters with insults by throwing them with rocks over the walls, but also had musicians and a choir perform songs with offensive lyrics about Meerō every morning.

== Reign ==

== Reign ==

In the morning toorians attacked the southern gates and were able to easily enter the city. Tirna was then sacked and Mosk-Sopoh ordered its inhabitants slaughtered. He then had a choir perform drinking songs, while heads of executed Tirna leaders where hauled over the wall with siege engines.

In the morning toorians attacked the southern gates and were able to easily enter the city. Tirna was then sacked and Mosk-Sopoh ordered its inhabitants slaughtered. He then had a choir perform drinking songs, while heads of executed Tirna leaders where hauled over the wall with siege engines.

Porteek references several toorian sources that explain that the brutal treatment was not simply due to Mosk-Sopoh's personal hatred of Tirna and how its gole embarrassed his father, but that he needed to be sure that he won't be attacked from behind when marching further west. But for the time being he led his troops back to Gaskal.

Porteek references several toorian sources that explain that the brutal treatment was not simply due to Mosk-Sopoh's personal hatred of Tirna and how its gole embarrassed his father, but that he needed to be sure that he won't be attacked from behind when marching further west. But Mosk-Sopoh ended up leading his troops back to Gaskal due to the untimely demise of his sister, Goolytoh, with whom they were very close, having grown up together.

A relief in the Gaskal royal palace shows the toorians bringing back the spoils of war. The inscription below says:

A relief in the Gaskal royal palace shows the toorians bringing back the spoils of war. The inscription below says:

The term "visiting friends" was doublespeak for "vassals" or "subjects", and if the quote is not a later embellishment, but an actual phrase uttered by Uroh Maadoh, this would have been understood as an ultimatum.

The term "visiting friends" was doublespeak for "vassals" or "subjects", and if the quote is not a later embellishment, but an actual phrase uttered by Uroh Maadoh, this would have been understood as an ultimatum.

=== The war with Troun, Nadd and Deeras ===

=== The Pale Grape: conflict with Troun, Nadd and Deeras ===

But the destruction of Tirna was treated as an ultimatum as well, and even before Uroh Maadoh could return to Gaskal, the western coast of [[Ydoh Rol]] was attacked by the naddians. They wreaked havoc on the coastal villages and ransacked several towns, murdering its inhabitants and leaders. Porteek quotes Brone Forod's memoirs, where he says:

But the destruction of Tirna was treated as an ultimatum as well, and even before Uroh Maadoh could return to Gaskal, the western coast of [[Ydoh Rol]] was attacked by the naddians. They wreaked havoc on the coastal villages and ransacked several towns, murdering its inhabitants and leaders. Porteek quotes Brone Forod's memoirs, where he says:

"The prey was given too much time to eat and sleep. And when it got its rest, it attacked, fiercely and blindly, like an animal. Burning our homes and slaughtering our people. We took a long time training our muscle in the past, and it was perhaps too long. But when we were ready, we were ready to take on the forest!"

"The prey was given too much time to eat and sleep. And when it got its rest, it attacked, fiercely and blindly, like an animal. Burning our homes and slaughtering our people. We took a long time training our muscle in the past, and it was perhaps too long. But when we were ready, we were ready to take on not just a single tree, but the whole forest!"

It indeed became clear that Troun and Nadd decided to make a preemptive strike. Apart form decimating the western coast, the naddians were able to burn the fleet of sailing ships that was used to attack Tirna.

It indeed became clear that Troun and Nadd decided to make a preemptive strike. Apart form decimating the western coast, the naddians were able to burn the fleet of sailing ships that was used to attack Tirna.

The furious Mosk-Sopoh began preparing for a conquest on Nadd and Troun.

The furious Mosk-Sopoh began swift preparations for a conquest on Nadd and Troun.

Meanwhile, Deeras refused to submit to Mosk-Sopoh and the family was able to put together a 10000-strong army, comprised of mercenaries, mostly from the [[Oaleed]], but also from Urnotys, Jojnohs and Aagalohs. This army then invaded Toor, forcing Mosk-Sopoh to forgo his preparations for a new conquest and respond. He led a 5000-strong Gaskal force against the mercenaries, who by this time managed to enter Ydoh Rol. The gole was able to force them out and push them back to Palas, then Dol, at which point the mercenary army fled to the west.

Meanwhile, Deeras refused to submit to Mosk-Sopoh and the family was able to put together a 10000-strong army, comprised of mercenaries, mostly from the [[Oaleed]], but also from Urnotys, Jojnohs and Aagalohs. This army then invaded Toor, forcing Mosk-Sopoh to forgo his preparations for a conquest on Nadd and Troun and instead channel his resources towards this new threat. He led a 5000-strong Gaskal force against the mercenaries, who by this time managed to enter Ydoh Rol. The gole was able to force them out and push them back to Palas, then Dol, at which point the mercenary army fled to the west.

Mosk-Sopoh then proceeded to Deeras and attacked the city, defeating it easily: the city had almost no armed forces defending it and seemed to be very sparsely inhabited. There were also no members of the Deeras family. Mosk-Sopoh largely spared the lives of the city's citizens, proclaiming it to be under his jurisdiction and assigning Uroh Maadoh as Murdoh.

Mosk-Sopoh then proceeded to Deeras and attacked the city, defeating it easily: the city had almost no armed forces defending it and seemed to be very sparsely inhabited. There were also no members of the Deeras family. Mosk-Sopoh largely spared the lives of the city's citizens, proclaiming it to be under his jurisdiction and assigning Uroh Maadoh as Murdoh.

However, as the toorians were passing through Dol, they were ambushed by several Negy armies, which used the mountainous region to their advantage and very quickly surrounded the relatively small army of the gole. The encounter turned out to be a disaster for Mosk-Sopoh. Suffering heavy losses, the army was able to fight its way out and return to Gaskal. Just a week later news arrived that the Deeras family returned to the city and that Uroh Maadoh was executed.

However, as the toorians were passing through Dol, they were ambushed by several Negy armies, which used the mountainous region to their advantage and very quickly surrounded the relatively small army of the gole. The encounter turned out to be a disaster for Mosk-Sopoh. Suffering heavy losses, the army was able to fight its way out and return to Gaskal. Just a week later news arrived that the Deeras family returned to the city and that Uroh Maadoh was executed.

Less then a month later Troun invaded Toor and burned down Palased. By this time Mosk-Sopoh's court was already long in the process of putting together an army for a future conquest against Troun, so in spite of heavy losses at Dol, Mosk-Sopoh was able to lead an army of about 8000 against the invaders. A key battle happened in a region known as Kees. Troun's army turned out to be much more numerous and was led by the gole [[Mod Dorvysoh]], but he was killed early in the battle and his sons chose to withdraw. Mosk-Sopoh, who realized that he got lucky and that that battle could have been the end of Toor, did not pursue. On their way back through Ydoh Rol, however, Troun forces ransacked every village they passed through. This seriously undermined the region and for the next decade it was mostly in ruins.

Less then a month later Troun invaded Toor and burned down Palased. By this time Mosk-Sopoh's court was already long in the process of putting together an army for a future conquest against Troun, so in spite of heavy losses at Dol, Mosk-Sopoh was able to lead an army of about 8000 against the invaders. A key battle happened in a region known as Kees. Troun's army turned out to be much more numerous and was led by the gole [[Mod Dorvysoh]], but he was killed early in the battle and his sons chose to withdraw. Mosk-Sopoh, who realized that he got lucky and that that battle could have been the end of Toor, did not pursue. On their way back through Ydoh Rol, however, Troun forces ransacked every village they passed through. This seriously undermined the region and for the next decade it was mostly in ruins. This also began to threaten the religious standing of both the region and the Dolysohs, which would eventually lead to the special sacred status of Ydoh Rol.

A mere year after the battle at Kees, in late autumn, Deeras again invades Toor from the south. This time the army consists mostly of Negy and Jojnohs. They reach Palas and station there, with the intention of biting away the region between the Palas and Dol mountains from Toor. Since it's winter, they count on snowfall to slow down Gaskal's response. Mosk-Sopoh, however, moves out immediately, marches to the mount of Marij and hits Deeras from this less expected direction. The Negy quickly retreat, leaving two Jojnoh divisions to hold toorians back. Mosk-Sopoh manages to defeat one of them and pays off the other.

A mere year after the battle at Kees, in late autumn, Deeras again invaded Toor from the south. This time the army consisted mostly of Negy and Jojnohs. They reached Palas and stationed there, with the intention of biting away the region between the Palas and Dol mountains from Toor. Since it was winter, they counted on snowfall to slow down Gaskal's response. Mosk-Sopoh, however, moved out immediately, marched to the mount of Marij and hit Deeras' army from this less expected direction. The Negy quickly retreated, leaving two Jojnoh divisions to hold toorians back. Mosk-Sopoh managed to defeat one of them and pay off the other.

 

 

 

 

=== A campaign against Troun ===

=== A campaign against Troun ===