Changes

"I painted the walls of their houses with the their blood."

"I painted the walls of their houses with the their blood."

=== Ultimatum to Deeras ===

=== Ultimatum to Deeras ===

The furious Mosk-Sopoh began swift preparations 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 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.

Meanwhile, Deeras refused to submit to Mosk-Sopoh and the family was able to put together a 10,000-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.

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.

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 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 mere year after the battle at Kees, in late autumn, Deeras 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.

The toorians then pursued the Negy and almost caught up with them, but were forced to follow them beyond Dol, essentially playing into their hand again: the Negy quickly vanished among the mountains and hills, and then hit the toorians on their way out. This time the trap was even tighter and Mosk-Sopoh's troops suffered enormous losses, with the gole barely saving his own life.

The toorians then pursued the Negy and almost caught up with them, but were forced to follow them beyond Dol, essentially playing into their hand again: the Negy quickly vanished among the mountains and hills, and then hit the toorians on their way out. This time the trap was even tighter and Mosk-Sopoh's troops suffered enormous losses, with the gole barely saving his own life.

=== Pact with Deeras, neutrality of Ydoh Rol ===

=== Pact with Deeras, neutrality of Ydoh Rol ===

The decimation of Ydoh Rol sent shock waves across [[Tarnaria]], since to [[Xaewoon]] believers Ydoh Rol was a sacred land that was supposed to be guarded by Dolysohs. This was immediately viewed as a challenge to the Dolysohs rule by many, but, surprisingly, the events of the Pale Grape led to the strengthening of both Toor and Dolysohs grip on power, as they proceeded to resolve some of the issues through politics and diplomacy.

The decimation of Ydoh Rol became big news across [[Tarnaria]], since to [[Xaewoon]] believers Ydoh Rol was a sacred land that was supposed to be guarded by Dolysohs. This was immediately viewed as a challenge to the Dolysohs rule by many, but ultimately the events of the Pale Grape led to the strengthening of both Toor and Dolysohs grip on power, as they proceeded to resolve some of the issues through politics and diplomacy.

Mosk-Sopoh wanted, in fact, to respond with an immediate campaign on the Laeooy Coast to restore his family's honor, but was held back by [[Meerō Lōblyn]], who suggested better preparation.

Mosk-Sopoh wanted, in fact, to respond with an immediate campaign on the Laeooy Coast to restore his family's honor, but was held back by [[Meerō Lōblyn]], who suggested better preparation.

At the same time, a number of nobles led by [[Uroh Tydon]] began to suggest a neutral status for Ydoh Rol, distancing it from Toor and ensuring that no Xaewoon state would ever attack it. This was opposed by [[Brone Forod]] who viewed the connection of the Dolysoh court to Ydoh Rol as crucial to Dolysohs power. Uroh Tydon argued in response for the Dolysohs to establish and take the title of the Guardians of Ydoh Rol, which would be a formalization of the Dolysohs claim to rule over Ydoh Rol. Forod believed that the title of a gole was higher than any other title in the land, and that the Guardian of Ydoh Rol should be subservient to the Gole of Toor.

At the same time, a number of nobles led by [[Uroh Tydon]] began to suggest a neutral status for Ydoh Rol, distancing it from Toor and ensuring that no Xaewoon state would ever attack it. This was opposed by [[Brone Forod]] who viewed the connection of the Dolysoh court to Ydoh Rol as crucial to Dolysohs power. Uroh Tydon argued in response for the Dolysohs to establish and take the title of the Guardians of Ydoh Rol, which would be a formalization of the Dolysohs claim to rule over Ydoh Rol. Forod believed that the title of a gole was higher than any other title in the land, and that the Guardian of Ydoh Rol should be subservient to the Gole of Toor.

However, Uroh Tydon's case was helped by the outcry directed at Deeras, since its troops entered Ydoh Rol with malicious intent. The [[Oaleed]] began raids on Deeras in retaliation, and [[Maird]] imprisoned one of the Deeras family members. As a result, Deeras reached out to the court in Gaskal and pledged loyalty in return for protection and support. Specifically, Deeras wanted the Dolysohs to legitimize their place as the land of the Negy and at the same time as true Xaewoon followers.

However, Uroh Tydon's case was helped by the outcry directed at Deeras, since its troops entered Ydoh Rol with malicious intent. The [[Oaleed]] used the situation to set up their raids on Deeras, and [[Maird]] imprisoned one of the Deeras family members. As a result, Deeras reached out to the court in Gaskal and pledged loyalty in return for protection and support. Specifically, Deeras wanted the Dolysohs to legitimize their place as the land of the Negy and at the same time as true Xaewoon followers.

The pact between Toor and Deeras was finalized in 1853, which improved the reputation of the Dolysohs, who were seen as the makers of peace which would in turn defend Ydoh Rol, as well as a projection of their political influence. At the same time, this served as a formal recognition of Deeras as a sovereign state, which became a vassal state that was to pay tribute. It remained independent militarily, but in practice both Deeras and Toor tended to support each other in war, which meant that the Dolysohs turned a serious adversary into a strong ally. The pact was sealed with a marriage between Mosk-Sopoh's daughter [[Mylyn Dolysoh]] and [[Kolom Deeras]], the son of [[Faan Deeras]].

The pact between Toor and Deeras was finalized in 1853 and a mission to bring back the captured family member from Maird was successful, which improved the reputation of the Dolysohs. They were now seen as the makers of peace and defenders of Ydoh Rol. At the same time, this served as a formal recognition of Deeras as a sovereign state, which became a vassal state that was to pay tribute. It remained independent militarily, but in practice both Deeras and Toor tended to support each other in war, which meant that the Dolysohs turned a serious adversary into a strong ally. The pact was sealed with a marriage between Mosk-Sopoh's daughter [[Mylyn Dolysoh]] and [[Kolom Deeras]], the son of [[Faan Deeras]].

While this action ensured the recognition of Deeras by Toor, it essentially triggered a [[Oaleed-Toor conflict|several century conflict]] between Toor, Deeras and the Oaleed people, as the Oaleed continued their raids against the Negy.

While this action ensured the recognition of Deeras by Toor, it essentially triggered a [[Oaleed-Toor conflict|several century conflict]] between Toor, Deeras and the Oaleed people, as the Oaleed continued their raids against the Negy. It also put additional pressure on Toor to subjugate the Laeooy Coast.

In 1854 Mosk-Sopoh proclaimed the neutral status of Ydoh Rol, while giving himself the title of the Guardian of Ydoh Rol. He also initiated a project to re-build the region after its decimation by Nadd.

In 1854 Mosk-Sopoh proclaimed the neutral status of Ydoh Rol, while giving himself the title of the Guardian of Ydoh Rol. He also initiated a project to re-build the region after its decimation by Nadd.

==== Preparation ====

==== Preparation ====

Apart from purely military measures, Mosk-Sopoh organized a diplomatic diversion, by secretly involving Troun in investing into the city of Jhet. Jhet was itself established and built with Toor's money, a fact that was kept a secret for over 50 years. By Mosk-Sopoh's reign the city was already becoming an important frontier and a gateway to further exploration of the lands to the west of Laeooy Coast, but it had minimal military leverage. This somewhat allayed the fears of Troun's court regarding persistent rumors of imminent payback from Mosk-Sopoh, them believing that Nadd is going to take the brunt of the blow and that Gaskal wouldn't involve Troun in such long-term transactions if they were planning to invade.

Apart from purely military measures, Mosk-Sopoh organized a diplomatic diversion, by secretly involving Troun in investing into the city of Jhet. Jhet was itself established and built with Toor's money, a fact that was kept secret for over 50 years. By Mosk-Sopoh's reign the city was already becoming an important frontier and a gateway to further exploration of the lands to the west of Laeooy Coast, but it had minimal military leverage. This somewhat allayed the fears of Troun's court regarding persistent rumors of imminent payback from Mosk-Sopoh, them believing that Nadd is going to take the brunt of the blow and that Gaskal wouldn't involve Troun in such long-term transactions if they were planning to invade.

==== Attack on Troun ====

==== Attack on Troun ====