Changes

Meerō's reign started during the campaign against the [[Negy]] and he was respected as the son of a great father. However, after the passing of Opol in 1815 [[FR]] and the passing of Byskoh in 1816 just mere months later, Meerō experienced a breakdown from which he never truly recovered. He became moody and indecisive, and short bursts of activity would be followed by long bouts of depression.

Meerō's reign started during the campaign against the [[Negy]] and he was respected as the son of a great father. However, after the passing of Opol in 1815 [[FR]] and the passing of Byskoh in 1816 just mere months later, Meerō experienced a breakdown from which he never truly recovered. He became moody and indecisive, and short bursts of activity would be followed by long bouts of depression.

Meerō did begin a series of campaigns against the [[Laeooy Coast]] in honor of his father who wanted to subjugate the territory. Four separate campaigns - 1824-1825, 1829-1831, 1834-1835 and 1841-1842 - were fairly successful, but all stopped short of actually finishing the job, with Meerō's inconsistent strategy and erratic behavior leading to bizarre decisions. The first campaign, for example, which reached the city-state of [[Troun]], failed to confront it, with Meerō suddenly turning the army around. Confused generals tried to interpret Meerō's actions as having religious significance, and the army eventually returned to [[Gaskal]].

Meerō did begin a series of campaigns against the [[Laeooy Coast]] in honor of his father who wanted to subjugate the territory. Four separate campaigns - 1824-1825, 1829-1831, 1834-1835 and 1841-1842 - were fairly successful, but all stopped short of actually finishing the job, with Meerō's inconsistent strategy and erratic behavior leading to bizarre decisions.

The second campaign was similarly odd, with Meerō ordering his forces to the south at Frooj. The army made an exhausting crossing of [[Kōnzoh]] and then returned back through Uzar, Dol and Palas. According to [[Porteek]], Meerō's goal was a pilgrimage to the place of death of his father and then his mother.

 

 

 

The second 1829-1831 campaign was similarly odd, with Meerō ordering his forces to the south at Frooj. The army made an exhausting crossing of [[Kōnzoh]] and then returned back through Uzar, Dol and Palas. According to [[Porteek]], Meerō's goal was a pilgrimage to the place of death of his father and then his mother.

It is at this time that the [[Tarnarian_military_ranks|Jeenor]] of his army, [[Brone Forod]], became his advisor and the official interpreter of his actions.

It is at this time that the [[Tarnarian_military_ranks|Jeenor]] of his army, [[Brone Forod]], became his advisor and the official interpreter of his actions.

''Forod took on the role of the gole's advisor, but ultimately it was a fantasy that he and others in the court wanted desperately to believe. Meerō was a good listener, but a poor student. He did what he wanted and Forod became a pitiful translator of the gole's actions, summoning all the confidence and dignity he could muster in order to give an appearance of intent where there was none, of order where there was only chaos, of religious providence when there were just the unpredictable whims of a truly lost soul.''

''Forod took on the role of the gole's advisor, but ultimately it was a fantasy that he and others in the court wanted desperately to believe. Meerō was a good listener, but a poor student. He did what he wanted and Forod became a pitiful translator of the gole's actions, summoning all the confidence and dignity he could muster in order to give an appearance of intent where there was none, of order where there was only chaos, of religious providence when there were just the unpredictable whims of a truly lost soul.''

Nevertheless, Forod attempted to orchestrate and basically lead the third campaign. During the preparation for the campaign in 1833 [[FR]] two influential Ienana named [[Olboloh Joleeloh]] and [[Gorōntoh Kōtele]] were able to get Meerō's attention through disseminating what many believed to be important prophecies. Both Ienana were [[singer of lore|singers of lore]] and their arrival at Gaskal became an important event of the summer of 1833.

Forod portrayed the "Teal Orchid" as a march to demonstrate the strength of the toorian army to the world.

 

 

Forod then attempted to orchestrate and basically lead the third campaign. During the preparation for the campaign in 1833 [[FR]] two influential Ienana named [[Olboloh Joleeloh]] and [[Gorōntoh Kōtele]] were able to get Meerō's attention through disseminating what many believed to be important prophecies. Both Ienana were [[singer of lore|singers of lore]] and their arrival at Gaskal became an important event of the summer of 1833.

They were then able to upset Meerō's trust in Forod's judgement and tried getting him executed. This, however, had not worked and the gole had him imprisoned and then embarked on a third campaign against the peoples of the Laeooy Coast. With Olboloh and Gorōntoh at his side, Meerō led the army past Troun to [[Koalderood]], where according to Olboloh's prophecy was supposed to be the next Laeooy Coast gole. At the time Koalderood was populated by the people known as the [[Hadeer]]. Their ruling clan, the [[Jumpelee-Joleeloh rivalry|Jumpelee clan]], had offended Olboloh's family, although this was unknown to Meerō.

They were then able to upset Meerō's trust in Forod's judgement and tried getting him executed. This, however, had not worked and the gole had him imprisoned and then embarked on a third campaign against the peoples of the Laeooy Coast. With Olboloh and Gorōntoh at his side, Meerō led the army past Troun to [[Koalderood]], where according to Olboloh's prophecy was supposed to be the next Laeooy Coast gole. At the time Koalderood was populated by the people known as the [[Hadeer]]. Their ruling clan, the [[Jumpelee-Joleeloh rivalry|Jumpelee clan]], had offended Olboloh's family, although this was unknown to Meerō.

It is at this time that Meerō was informed that the Hadeer stronghold is on the other side of Lake Marood, ruled by the Jumpelee clan, and that the Hadeer command a much larger territory and potentially a much larger army than previously thought. Meerō became overrun with his usual indecision and was considering turning back home, when Olboloh and Gorōntoh once again convinced him that he should attack immediately.

It is at this time that Meerō was informed that the Hadeer stronghold is on the other side of Lake Marood, ruled by the Jumpelee clan, and that the Hadeer command a much larger territory and potentially a much larger army than previously thought. Meerō became overrun with his usual indecision and was considering turning back home, when Olboloh and Gorōntoh once again convinced him that he should attack immediately.

Meerō again gave in to the prophets' advice and led his troops around Lake Marood. The Hadeer stronghold turned out to be a fortress with relatively low walls, but extremely wide and with a cell-like structure, with each cell being a small fortress in of itself, surrounded by sturdy walls and with four towers in the corners. However, the toorians knew how to construct siege engines, something that was not taken into account by the Hadeer. When the engines were constructed, Meerō's forces quickly defeated the fortress and slaughtered its inhabitants. Most members of the Jumpelee clan were executed, thus ending the [[Jumpelee-Joleeloh rivalry|generations-long rivalry]] in Joleelohs favor.

Meerō again gave in to the prophets' advice and led his troops around Lake Marood. The Hadeer stronghold turned out to be a fortress with relatively low walls, but itself extremely wide and with a cell-like structure, with each cell being a small fortress in of itself, surrounded by sturdy walls and with four towers in the corners. However, the toorians knew how to construct siege engines, something that was not taken into account by the Hadeer. When the engines were constructed, Meerō's forces quickly defeated the fortress and then slaughtered its inhabitants, essentially destroying the Hadeer army. Most members of the Jumpelee clan were executed, thus ending the [[Jumpelee-Joleeloh rivalry|generations-long rivalry]] in Joleelohs favor.

 

 

 

Porteek considers this campaign, christened the "Orange Tulip", as the most important campaign in the history of Toor, arguing that the destruction of the growing Hadeer empire made it possible for Meerō's, [[Mosk-Sopoh Dolysoh]] to exert dominance of Laeooy Coast, something that Porteek believes to have been unlikely if Hadeer emerged as a force. He specifically points to Hadeers' ambitions, given their temporary subjugation of Nadd, and that had the Hadeer been given just a few more years, they might have become a military power that would have made Laeooy Coast much more resistant to a single conqueror.

Meerō then led his army back across Hareed territory, locating the city of Brum. The city closed its gates and Meerō set up siege and was able to enter the city a month later. The city was sacked, then burned down. The city of Gor was more agreeable towards the toorians and its nobility struck a deal with Toor. Meerō, however, took most of the population of the city and resettled it to various regions, including gifting some of them as slaves to his generals.

At the time, however, the "Orange Tulip" was seen as a mediocre campaign, as nobody heard of the Hadeer in Gaskal, while the city-states of Troun and Tirna continued to be independent. The only redeeming quality of the campaign was significant loot brought with the troops, as well as the long-term value of infusing Toor with new subjects, namely the people of Brum and Gor.