Mosk-Sopoh Dolysoh
| Mosk-Sopoh Dolysoh | |
| The Destroyer | |
| Gole of Toor | |
|---|---|
| Reign | 1848-1870 FR |
| Predecessor | Meerō Dolysoh |
| Successor | Beejetoh Dolysoh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1829 FR |
| Died | 1870 FR |
| Parents | Meerō Dolysoh and Toves Goonoh |
Mosk-Sopoh Dolysoh, born Mosk Dolysoh and also known as Sopoh II and Mosk Sopohed, was the fourth gole of Toor, notable for conquering the Laeooy Coast, destroying the major city state of Troun and ending Tirna's status as an independent kingdom.
Mosk grew up in Gaskal and was Meerō's eldest son. Having turned 12, he accompanied his father on the 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."
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.
Reign
Mosk chose to rule under the name Sopoh and was referred to by Ludoh as Sopoh II and by Porteek as Mosk-Sopoh. A version of the latter name can also be spotted in the inscriptions in the Gaskal royal palace, written as "Mosk Sopohed", which can be translated as Mosk of Sopoh.
Campaign against Tirna
Mosk-Sopoh opened his reign with an immediate march on Tirna. This campaign is known as the Green Cherry and was a resounding success, which also earned the new gole respect among his Jeens.
Unlike his father, Mosk-Sopoh was not in the habit of preparing for a campaign for years, instead putting together an army quickly and counting on the element of surprise. Additionally, he introduced the idea of first attacking Tirna from water and then, when most forces would be focused on the coastal side of the city, enter it from its southern gates. As Toor did not have warships, the attack was commenced at night, with hundreds of sailing ships carrying archers that began to fire flaming spears. This set Tirna's port and fleet on fire.
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.
A relief in the Gaskal royal palace shows the toorians bringing back the spoils of war. The inscription below says:
"I painted the walls of their houses with the their blood."
Ultimatum to Deeras
Meerō honored his father's agreement with the Deeras family and Deeras was treated as an independent land. However, the consensus of nobility in Gaskal was that Deeras should at some point be confronted and begin contributing to the treasury. Uroh Maadoh became the negotiator with Deeras and established regular correspondence with them.
By the end of Meerō's reign, Uroh Maadoh began sounding the alarm that the population of Deeras had increased dramatically, due to the many Negy opting to migrate to the region and settle. Uroh Maadoh argued that Deeras might become a threat to Toor and choose to invade like they have during the reign of Opol.
The new gole was much more receptive to Uroh Maadoh. After the army returned from the campaign against Tirna, Mosk-Sopoh sent a convoy, led by Uroh Maadoh, to inform the Deeras clan that their senior representative is to travel to Gaskal to pay respects to the new gole.
"As a friend of your glorious house, allow to voice a humble piece of advice. Do bring gifts and offerings, as the gole is impatient and watches his visiting friends with a greedy eye."
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
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!"
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.
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 Urnoty, Jojnoh and Aagaloh.
Uroh Maadoh warns about Deeras and Mosk-Sopoh adds pressure. At this time naddians attack and meanwhile Deeras instigates an invasion by hiring several armies from Oaleed and others. Mosk-Sopoh is not able to respond to the naddians and Ydoh Rol is ransacked. Mosk-Sopoh invades Deeras and defeats their main city, but is badly defeated on his way out of the mountainous area. At this time Troun invades. Mosk-Sopoh responds and is successful, but a lot of losses and Ydoh Rol is again ransacked. Meanwhile, Deeras invades southern Toor. Mosk-Sopoh then marches to quell the invasion. Deeras forces retreat and toorians follow and again dealt a huge blow on the way out, with Mosk-Sopoh almost losing his entire army. Naddians meanwhile completely destroy all the fleet of Toor and decimate Ydoh Rol again. Mosk-Sopoh then marches on Nadd and Troun. A battle at Tirna ruins. Eventually Nadd and Troun are defeated. Deeras gets bad rep due to their entrance into Ydoh Rol and Barud prepares for an invasion. Deeras then reaches out to Mosk-Sopoh and agrees to become his subject in exchange for protection. However, both sides remember that the war is costly and Deeras and Toor never again enter into a military conflict.
Nadd survives Mosk-Sopoh due to a superhero warrior Mran Gantorn from Gantolia arriving. His powers have shielded the city without neither him nor the citizens realizing that they were about to be attacked.
