Wolgos Scourge

Wolgos Scourge

Image description: From top left to right and down: Three Wolgos conscripts in the Mirapan hills with decapitated Stolvic Commonwealth (SOC) soldier trophies, Coalition aerial bombing during the retake of the Qilqo Islands. Tepetak after its liberation by Livaria and Kamura. Bone fields of Mirapan after the mass butchering of SOC citizens to feed the Wolgos troops. Coalition convoy under attack by a Wolgos tempest in the Chalim Strait
Important engagements:	tbc, Battle of Somme
Date:	7598-7603
Location:	Altaia, Anaria, Western Davai, D'Runia, Shangti
Result:	Defeat of the Wolgos
Resulting treaties:	- Treaty of New Xedun
Belligerents
Aedeland Cassia Chaska Fisks Livaria Nestor Halland Helreich Kamura Arvor	The Bind
Commanders and leaders
File:Gothan entente flag.png tbc	File:Gbind flag.png tbc
Strength
TBC	TBC
Casualties
Military Casualties 7 Million Coalition Servicemen	Military Casualties 4 Million Wolgos (Hlrike and conscripts), 1.1 million Ak'lam and Eokoesr Slave troops
Civilian casualties: 42 Million Humans	Civilian casualties: 22 Million Wolgos, 12 Million Ak'lam, 11 Million Shriaav & Eokoesr, 3.6 million Mizuet

The Wolgos Scourge was a major war that took place from 7598 to 7603.

Prelude

Bind-Vittish Relationship

In the years leading up to and during the Pan-Stoldavic War, under the rule of Gwretaido Prawiros Ghruxhuorsunus, Vittmark enjoyed significant covert support from The Bind. This support was channeled through the Vittish proxy of Fisks. Wolgos-manufactured artillery, machinery, ammunition, and arms, rebranded with Vittish insignia, were transported in large quantities to Vittmark via the Arctic trade routes. This aid was crucial in enabling Vittmark to keep Häverist forces at bay and assert its claims and territorial integrity during the war.

The aid from the Bind came with political strings attached. Covertly, the Vittish government had to encourage politicians and the media to question the legitimacy of Häverist control over Rissland, portraying their rule as an occupation to the rest of Anaria. The aim was not to support the Wolgos claim, which was untenable across Anaria, but to advocate for a free Eokoesr state. This strategy helped sow discord and weaken the Häverist position, aligning with the Bind’s broader geopolitical interests.

The relationship between the Bind and Vittmark continued into the early stages of the Wolgos Scourge. Vittish politicians and newspapers played a key role in depicting the initial phase of the Scourge as a conflict confined to Altaia between the Wolgos and Häverists. This narrative helped soothe concerns across Anaria, buying the Wolgos more time and room to maneuver. However, this facade of a strong relationship began to crumble with the invasion of Cassia, the southern native nations, and the blocking of the Winthorp Strait. The illusion of cooperation abruptly ended with the severing of the Fisk air route and the subsequent invasion of the Fisks islands, signaling a clear and final break between Vittmark and the Bind.

Burning Wall Doctrine

Image depicting worker assembling tank shells for the military build up in the Bind, The vast majority of the nations industry geared for war production.

The Burning Wall Doctrine was a comprehensive war and foreign policy strategy employed by the Bind, characterized by an aggressive, all-encompassing military approach designed to rapidly and deeply penetrate neighbouring territories. This doctrine envisioned the Bind, once bolstered by an immense industrial military build-up, launching a series of overwhelming shock and awe attacks across all its borders. The primary goal was to establish a relentless, expanding front that would continuously push outward, engulfing and consuming neighbouring regions in a bid to subjugate the entire globe under Wolgos rule—a lofty and hubristic ambition pursued under the leadership of Gwretaido Prawiros Bhérh3ih2osonos.

The doctrine began with a massive, coordinated military offensive aimed at achieving rapid and decisive victories. Utilizing the full might of the Bind’s industrialized military, including advanced weaponry, mechanized infantry, and air support, the initial attacks were designed to overwhelm enemy defences and create deep incursions into their territories. Once the initial offensive established a foothold, the Bind transitioned into a state of total and unending war, mobilizing all available resources, both military and civilian, to sustain the war effort. The economy, society, and government were all geared towards supporting the continuous expansion and maintenance of the war front.

A critical aspect of the Burning Wall Doctrine was the concept of the "burning wall," referring to the Bind’s borders, which were in a constant state of aggressive expansion. The doctrine emphasized relentless pressure on all fronts, ensuring that the Bind's influence and control steadily extended into neighbouring territories. This slow-burning advance was intended to consume and integrate these regions into the Bind over time. To achieve this, the Bind invested heavily in a significant industrial build-up, producing vast quantities of arms, ammunition, machinery, and other military supplies. This industrial base was meant to ensure that the military could sustain prolonged campaigns and maintain the intensity of the offensive.

As the Bind’s forces advanced, they were meant to establish fortified positions and supply lines, effectively digging in to secure newly acquired territories. This strategic entrenchment in theory helped solidify gains and created a resilient front that could withstand counterattacks, thereby maintaining the momentum of the expansion. The doctrine also incorporated elements of brutal psychological warfare aimed at demoralizing enemy populations and military forces. The initial shock and awe attacks, combined with the unending nature of the conflict, were designed to break the will of the opposing nations, making resistance seem futile.

The Burning Wall Doctrine also had a grim and brutal component concerning the fate of conquered populations. Those who fell under Wolgos control were faced with enslavement or extermination. Newly conquered territories were quickly integrated into the Bind’s war economy. Resources from these regions, including raw materials and labour, were assimilated to support the ongoing military campaigns, creating a self-sustaining cycle of expansion and exploitation. The continuous state of war created a dynamic and ever-changing front, which not only served to weaken and fragment opposing states but also allowed the Bind to adapt and refine its military strategies in real-time.

In essence, the Burning Wall Doctrine represented an ambitious and ruthless vision for the Bind’s future, leveraging its industrial and military capabilities to subjugate humanity under Wolgos rule. This strategy aimed not just for regional dominance but for global conquest, using relentless warfare and brutal tactics to enforce the Bind's supremacy. Under the rule of Gwretaido Prawiros Bhérh3ih2osonos, this hubristic ambition was pursued with unwavering determination, leaving a lasting impact on the geopolitical landscape.

First Year - Seemingly anti-SOC war

War opening: Operation Dwóghtis (Revenge)

Dhmónospṛ̥téwos (Rushing demon) mass attack across the Silver River plains and the Ak'lam savannah, artillery support and new mass-produced Wolgos tanks using coal synthetic diesel breakthrough razor wire and dragons teeth defences in key positions. The Dhmónospṛ̥téwos attack utilises tanks, motorbikes and mobile infantry to spearhead deep into the Mirapan common hold. Engineering corps behind the lines lay rail tracks to create three key connections to the Stolvic Orderist Commonwealth (SOC) rail system using their gauge and modified locomotives, establishing a supply route.

Mirapan's defensive lines and forces were decimated, and waves of Hellish infantry from the Grunland commonhold cut through as the Wolgos moved towards the Elfas hills, where the SOC was setting up a defensive position. Scorched earth tactics destroy means of civilian resistance and all crops, supplies and stores requisitioned. Civilians are made to work en mass to cultivate fast-growing crops to feed wolgos war ration livestock (beetle grubs, rats and earthworms). Where cultivation is not practical, civilians are forced to clear and gather all available vegetable matter across the landscape and sort out unfit plants for feeding earthworms or grubs. Those unable to work were executed and processed as meat for rations, and children were separated into camps to be cared for by selected elderly women and to be kept as hostages to incentivise the occupied population to work.

The Wolgos allowed small groups of starving SOC civilians to head towards enemy lines to deliver demands from the wolgos for food supplies to feed the SOC citizens under their occupation. The demands stated that the wolgos would not feed filth with their own resources and that if the SOC did not send supplies, their citizens would perish. When the SOC sent supplies, they were either redirected to feed Wolgos livestock or just allowed to rot with minimal amounts going to the SOC citizens. The point was to affect the morale of SOC soldiers and the government while draining resources. The Wolgos regularly dispersed propaganda leaflets towards the SOC lines and towns, highlighting the plight the SOC citizens under the Wolgos occupation suffered because the SOC government refused to send aid.

Second Year - Maximum Wolgos reach

Sha Al-nee-nee (Brilliant sun rebellion)

Sha Al-nee-nee insurgents marching through one of their deep tropical forests hideouts.

The Sha Al-nee-nee insurgency, also known in Hallish, was a mass resistance against Wolgos occupation that began in the Dohtlizhchil Peninsula, then known as Primrose Land; the insurgency spread as far as the Azenal Mountains and Xochipehua Valley. The movement was characterized by bringing together old enemies and rivals into a brotherhood to counter the existential threat of the Wolgos. The movement brought both natives and colonial settlers together to such an extent that the toppled colonial administration and forces of the Crownland colonies, in many places, seemingly melded seamlessly into the insurgency.

Beginning in the third year, shortly after the Wolgos occupied the coast of the Dohtlizhchil Peninsula in the second year of the war, the obliteration of Garland City and the mass detainment of its population prompted native elites, notable anti-colonial figures, settler leaders, and the colonial administrators to convene and agree to work together to resist the Wolgos invasion. The colonial administrators and local leaders had, for months before the invasion, been prompted by the Wolgos' advances from the north to prepare for an inevitable confrontation, uniting unlikely allies to formulate a plan of action and stockpile weapons. At first, the movement had no official name.

When the Wolgos attacked Garland City, a large portion of the city had already been evacuated along with key weapon stockpiles, hospitals, and anything the movement could use to resist the incoming onslaught. A Wolgos naval bombardment decimated most of the city, and when they landed, they found an almost deserted ghost town, with less than twenty percent of the expected population remaining. The movement had taken anyone they could deep into the forested hills and tropical wilderness, and every village and town the Wolgos occupied seemed to have large portions of their population vanish before their arrival.

The Wolgos hunted for civilians and colonial forces deep in the forests, but the thick tropical landscape allowed the movement to use guerrilla warfare to wear down the Wolgos. The invaders slowly retreated to the towns, cities, and colonial infrastructure they had captured, where they began to use psychological terror tactics by exploiting the populations they had imprisoned to lure the insurgency out of the forests for open warfare.

As expected, the Wolgos used women and children as bait for the insurgents, trying to tug at familial and compatriot ties. They staged barbaric demonstrations of power with ritualized and prolonged executions and deployed poison gas to flood hectares of forest. Nevertheless, it became increasingly perilous for the Wolgos to venture beyond the coast and the towns they firmly held. Roads winding through the forests became "corridors of dread", where every bridge required stopping to check for sabotage. Wolgos poison gas tactics had limited impact, as the humid environment drastically reduced their effectiveness, forcing the Wolgos to waste precious fuel on mass flamethrower operations to burn hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest just to secure roads and railways.

The name Sha Al-nee-nee, meaning "brilliant sun," refers to the revenge measures the insurgency took on captured Wolgos. Ill-suited to the tropics, the Wolgos, when captured, were frequently stripped and tied between standing poles under the blazing tropical sun to suffer its effects. Within minutes, their albino skin would sunburn, causing intense pain and blistering within a few hours. By the morning of the second day, their skin would be raw and peeling off their bodies, and many died by the afternoon of the same day. The sun-mutilated corpses of the Wolgos were frequently dumped on roads or near Wolgos outposts to ensure their comrades found them.

Fourth Year - Beginning of the Collapse

Dohtlizhchil Liberation

Livarian sortie flying over the exploding Wolgos tempest swarm mothership Rudhróspéh2wr̥ IX, destroyed by a joint Arvor-Livarian operation.

On Herfa 22nd, 7602, Operation Morskyi Borsuk (Sea Badger) commenced at eleven in the morning, close to midday, when the sun was at its highest and the Wolgos were least inclined to be at their most alert. Midday was the hardest hour for the Wolgos, especially on clear and sunny days. Arvorian intelligence, in coordination with the Sha Al-nee-nee, launched a massive assault on the Wolgos airstrip located on the outskirts of the destroyed Garland City. The insurgents, reinforced with mortars, were tasked with causing maximum chaos—damaging aircraft, fuel tanks, and the airfield itself—with the goal of crippling Wolgos air superiority.

The Sha Al-nee-nee attack lasted over an hour, their fighters swarming in a desperate, suicidal wave to overwhelm the heavily fortified Wolgos defences and reach the hangars and airfield. While the vast majority of the attack force perished, a determined few hundred breached the defences, setting explosives in the hangars and targeting the synthetic diesel tanks. Their efforts resulted in the collapse of multiple hangars and the detonation of fuel reserves, effectively crippling the airstrip for at least the next twenty-four hours. The Wolgos swiftly eliminated the remaining insurgents who had made it to the airfield; only a dozen stragglers from the main wave survived, while a few dozen more were captured.

Posters for "Letayushchiye Asy" and "Emerald Giants"

Three hours later, as the Wolgos scrambled to restore their air superiority capabilities, a couple of squadrons of Livarian and Arvorian fighters and naval dive bombers appeared in the sky. Braving a deadly onslaught from Wolgos anti-aircraft (AA) defences, the coalition aircraft pressed forward to strike at the heart of the Tempest Swarm mothership guarding the bay. Though Wolgos AA defences shredded many of the coalition planes, the absence of Wolgos fighters in the skies left the Rudhróspéh2wr̥ IX mothership vulnerable. At 15:22, it was struck repeatedly on its deck by torpedoes, igniting swarm ship refuelling line manifolds.

The torpedo impacts triggered a series of cascading explosions that unexpectedly breached ammunition bulkheads and set off the stores of munitions. Raging fires quickly spread across the mothership, eventually sinking it in Garland Bay. The sinking of the enormous Rudhróspéh2wr̥ IX mothership, along with damage to nearby supply ships, left the H1néwn̥toswódr̥gwéru (9th Water Spear) Tempest Swarm with no choice but to retreat—or risk being stranded in the bay. With only nineteen motherships remaining, the Wolgos found their once-dominant control of the Julian Sea severely diminished, and the possibility of regaining it now uncertain.

Five days later, Wolgos land forces began a full retreat, receiving orders to withdraw by rail to the Azenal Mountains to bolster defences at the Broken Crown corridor leading to Connack’s Passage. True to their nature, the Wolgos ensured their retreat was as destructive as possible. Railway sleepers were torn up in their wake, rendering rail lines unusable, while nerve gas was unleashed on the civilian populations in their internment work camps. The Wolgos’ scorched-earth retreat led to catastrophic loss of life, with eight per cent of the population of the Dohtlizhchil Peninsula perishing in its aftermath.

The events have been immortalised by the Hallish film "Emerald Giants" in 7635 and the Arvorian film "Letayushchiye Asy" in 7650.

Final year and peace treaty

First Peace Conference

"On Estorun 40, 7603, the plains of the Junction Valley lay quiet outside the ruins of Wreith, a once-thriving Wolgos town now reduced to rubble. The town, with only block walls and crumbling remnants of houses and workshops remaining, marked the boundary of the Allied front in their invasion of the Bind. Deep past the Nuss Valley and on the fringes of New Xedun, Wreith stood as a stark testament to the ravages of war. Today, however, there was an unusual silence. No artillery fire echoed across the valley, no gunfire shattered the stillness. The gentle breeze of the dry alpine valley whispered through the artillery-scarred landscape, carrying with it the scent of burned forests and fields. It was a balmy, sunny late spring day. Among the rubble and rocks, the delicate hues of spring flowers peeked through, adding a serene splash of color against the desolate backdrop of destruction. The cargo rail yard of Wreith, one of the few remaining structures, had been swept clean. Tables were laid out with water jugs and glasses, prepared under the station's ornate yet utilitarian awning. Dust gently drifted across the concrete platform, setting a spartan scene for what was to become a history-defining event. Representatives and top brass from Livaria, Helreich, Arvor, and Kamura trickled out of the station's cargo hall through its large open steel sliding doors. They looked into the distance, towards the horizon where the Wolgos defense lines lay, just beyond their line of sight. In the silence, the representatives waited, some glancing at their pocket watches, anticipating the stroke of 4 PM. Just a few minutes past the hour, a billow of dust appeared on the horizon, initially a distant speck disrupting the skyline. As the minutes passed, the cloud of dust grew larger, moving steadily towards the station. A small convoy of Wolgos cars approached, their large black bodies polished to a shine, a luxurious juxtaposition against the surrounding desolation.

As the convoy drew closer, the representatives straightened, their expressions a mix of anticipation and wariness. The arrival of the Wolgos delegation marked a significant moment in the conflict—a potential turning point in the efforts to negotiate an end to the hostilities, the anticipated surrender of the Bind, and a future where the Wolgos no longer were a lingering threat to global peace. The Wolgos state cars, their fluttering flags making a turn, approached the station with a sweeping curve, making a grand entrance to the vicinity of the station, stopping before the Allied delegation. But something was not as expected. The tinted windows of the cars gave little insight into their contents, and a few tense minutes of silence and trepidation passed before any activity was forthcoming from the automobiles. All doors opened simultaneously and the seven-feet-tall Wolgos representatives and High Hlrike Paladins exited their state cars, in their clean war uniforms and immaculately groomed, stern, thuggish faces. But they were not alone, and the sight caused the stomachs of many in the delegation to sink, their blood turning cold as if the temperature had dropped, their official demeanor turning to dismay in some, umbrage in others, and disgust in a few. The merciless Wolgos and psychopathic killers that had wrought so much destruction and pain on countless millions were beaming wide, faux-warm smiles with a nurturing demeanor, as they brought out from their cars, led by their hands and carried, human children. They playfully led them forward by the hand, as if they were warm carers and not the oppressors that had kept them, their mothers, and fathers imprisoned in camps by the millions in near-starvation conditions.

With a smile, a faux warm chuckle, and a beaming greeting, High Paladin Wéyros Dáwosonos waved at the human Allied dignitaries as if they were close friends, carrying a human Stoldish girl in his arms. She clung to his clothes and put her arm over his shoulder. The children looked thin but clean, dressed in fine and clean Wolgos children's clothing. They had a look of confusion; some smiled as they held the hands of the towering Wolgos, others uncertainly clung tightly to their clothes, and a few cried even as the Wolgos that led them tried to warmly reassure them. Some of the older ones looked petrified and tried to sprint forth, but their Wolgos handlers held their wrists like a steel vice. In perfect but heavily accented Halish, High Paladin Wéyros Dáwosonos addressed the speechless human delegation, beginning a monologue with feigned warmth and gravity, "It is a calm day, a calm day to reflect on how far we have come. No longer are we simply Wolgos and Humans, divided by our differences. The winds of fate have woven our destinies together. Our futures are now inextricably linked, bound by the trials we have endured and the hopes we hold for a peaceful tomorrow." He gestured gently to the children, who stood uncertainly by the Wolgos representatives. "Look at these beautiful human children. They yearn for peace, for an end to the suffering that has touched us all. They stand here today as a reminder of our shared hominidity and the fragile bonds that connect us." His voice grew softer, yet carried an unmistakable weight. "But let us not forget the profound responsibility that lies before us. The lives of millions, both Wolgos and Human, hang in the balance. These children, like all those under our care, are the innocent hearts beating in the shadow of our conflict. Their fate is intertwined with the decisions we make here and now."

Wéyros's eyes gleamed with a mix of sincerity and something darker. "We must strive for a future where their dreams can flourish, free from the chains of war. But remember, this hope comes at a price. Should this conflict persist, should the fires of destruction not be quenched, the consequences will be dire—for all of us. The devastation that could follow would leave none untouched, none unscarred." Letting his words sink in, Wéyros Dáwosonos hugged the human girl tightly with his strong arms, the gesture warm yet menacing. The girl gave out a gasping breath, her eyes wide with fear. His grip tightened for a moment, making her wince, before he slowly loosened it, patting her head gently. The human delegates watched in horror, their stomachs churning at the sight, the threat clear in Wéyros’s piercing and intense gaze."

War at sea

Sea Tempest doctrine

During the Wolgos Scourge, the Wolgos Water Horde developed an innovative naval doctrine known as the Sea Tempest Doctrine. This strategy deviated significantly from the prevailing naval tactics of the time, which emphasized large warships and dreadnoughts. Instead, the Sea Tempest Doctrine called for the use of numerous small ships, reminiscent of the countless and overwhelming drops of rain in a tempest. This approach aimed to achieve dominance through sheer numbers and high-speed manoeuvrability.

At the heart of the Sea Tempest Doctrine were the small, agile corvettes. These ships, with complements of no more than fifteen crew members, were designed to swarm vast expanses of sea at high speeds. Their primary role was to overwhelm larger enemy vessels, such as cruisers, battleships, and dreadnoughts, through rapid and coordinated attacks. To extend the range and punching power of the corvette swarms, each tempest horde included at least five destroyers and a command cruiser. The destroyers provided additional firepower and protection, while the command cruiser coordinated the swarm's movements and tactics, ensuring effective communication and strategy execution.

Central to this doctrine were the logistics ships, particularly the motherships. These large, armoured cargo ships carried vital supplies such as fuel, ammunition, and engineering components, acting as mobile bases that allowed the swarms to conduct prolonged operations far from port. Motherships were typically escorted by destroyers or anti-aircraft gunboats to defend against enemy attacks. Tending fleets played a crucial role in supporting these operations, escorting motherships to zones of operation and bringing back depleted ships for resupply and repair. Motherships were usually stationed close to occupied ports or bays for additional protection, creating a secure and efficient logistics network.

The Sea Tempest Doctrine's success relied on the strategic deployment of these diverse fleets. The corvettes engaged in hit-and-run tactics, leveraging their speed and agility to outmanoeuvre and overwhelm larger, slower enemy ships. The destroyers and command cruisers provided critical support, ensuring that the swarms could deliver powerful, coordinated strikes. Logistical support from motherships and tending fleets enabled the Wolgos to maintain a sustained presence in contested waters, allowing them to project power over large areas, disrupt enemy supply lines, and create constant pressure on opposing naval forces.

Allied naval strategy

The Wolgos Sea Tempest Doctrine fundamentally challenged orthodox Anarian conceptions of naval warfare and sea power, largely focused as it was upon large surface vessels that sought to establish and exercise control of the sea. The first phases of the war saw the Bind’s Water Horde secure numerous naval victories against the nominally superior and technologically more advanced Stolvic Commonwealth Navy. However, the necessity of the Stolvic Commonwealth to disperse its fleets in order to protect its far-flung commonholds and keep supply routes open between Stoldavia and Altaia provided the perfect conditions for the Sea Tempest theory. In a bid to protect its supply routes, Stolvic cruisers would patrol various sea lanes, but despite the limited range of the Wolgos swarm taskforces, they were able to successfully ambush and overwhelm the Stolvic vessels, resulting in heavy casualties to both the surface fleet and the merchant marine. In response, the Stolvic Admiralty committed larger ships to the eastern Stolvic Ocean, but numerous losses, including most significantly the battleship Reikland, resulted in a serious reappraisal of conventional fleet tactics.

The entry of Livaria and its empire into the war, the largest Anarian naval power aside from the Stolvic Commonwealth at the time, similarly resulted in a reappraisal of its own conventional naval strategy. While the Livarian Admiralty had the benefit of learning from the mistakes of the Stolvic Commonwealth during the early phases of the war, the naval command was initially resistant to major overhauls of fleet disposition, believing that the growing numbers of the coalition would tip the balance in the Allies’ favour at sea (while also remaining highly cautious about the tenuous non-aggression agreement with the Stolvic Commonwealth).

While the growing number of Allied vessels did influence and limit Wolgos fleet movements across the eastern Stolvic and Southern Shangti, this was insufficient to contain Wolgos sea power. Traditional Anarian fleet-in-being concepts, which had reduced the number of naval engagements during the Pan-Anarian War, did little to deter the Wolgos Sea Horde. The Bind’s smaller surface and submarine vessels were much easier to replace than the large battlefleets of Anarian navies, and so the same fleet-in-being logic no longer applied. As a result, the Livarian Navy suffered a number of significant losses during its first year in the war, including the loss of the aircraft carrier KRK Korol’ Storomyr and its escort, the battleship KRK Pomsta (Revenge).

The Wolgos Scourge would reinforce the importance of naval aviation and aircraft carriers as crucial reconnaissance assets capable of interdicting and deterring Sea Horde swarming tactics. Meanwhile, the war resulted in the relegation of the battleship as the principal offensive capital ship class, in favour of the much faster battlecruisers and heavy cruisers. The limited fire power of the Wolgos ships meant that battleships were less significant during the war. A battleships’ lower speeds and the limited need for thick armour, given they were not going up against other heavily-armed battleships, meant that battlecruisers rapidly became the principal capital ship, together with aircraft carriers. Agile and relatively quick battlecruiser and aircraft carrier task forces were assembled to identify and interdict Wolgos motherships that steadily pushed the Sea Horde back towards the coast.

Livarian naval strategy

Livarian and Stolvic losses forced the Livarian Admiralty to develop a new strategy in 7XXX, which was conceptualised as a grand maritime counter-offensive to reassert Allied command of the sea and facilitate the invasion of Wolgos-controlled Altaia, including the occupied Stolvic Commonholds and Livarian colonies. The Livarian Admiralty, in cooperation with allied nations, developed a multi-phased strategy to strategically defeat the Wolgos Sea Horde and facilitate the invasions of Altaia.

1. The first phase involved concentrating commercial and naval vessels to better protect against lightning swarm attacks, preventing individual ships or small task forces being overwhelmed and isolated. Convoy escorts became a vital feature of this strategy and reduced overall coalition losses, but did not prevent the Sea Horde from being able to retain the initiative at sea.
2. The second phase focused on seizing the initiative and curtailing the Sea Horde’s ability to attack on its own terms through systemically targeting motherships. The Livarians utilised naval aviation to identify the Wolgos command ships; these slow vessels were then vulnerable to fast, battlecruiser task forces. By targeting the Sea Horde’s logistics and command ships, coalition naval forces were steadily able to reduce the range at which swarming Wolgos attacks could be launched. As the months wore on, this effectively allowed the Livarian Navy to reprioritise ships that had been on convoy escort and home waters protection to support counter-offensive operations closer to the Altaian coastline.
3. The third phase focused on reasserting sea control over the eastern Stolvic Ocean and the strategic straits leading into the Shangti Ocean (namely the Sea of Nayaraq, Connack’s Passage and eventually the Chalim Strait).
4. The fourth phase focused on supporting amphibious operations on mainland Altaia, which in turn initially focused on retaking the southern tip of the continent and then snaking up the continent to open up new fronts – including the liberation of Koskiya.
5. The fifth and final phase expanded naval operations to support allied efforts to blockade and facilitate the eventual invasion of the Bind.

Wolgos Technological and Strategic Developments

Skelsékwos-9

Skelsékwos-9, was a pivotal chemical weapon and first ever deployed nerve agent developed before the Wolgos Scourge and first deployed by the Wolgos during the Siege of the Bassinstadt Urbanate. This pesticide-derived nerve agent marked a dark development in the art of warfare, leaving an legacy on the rules of war and legal frameworks of international law.

Skelsékwos-9 was engineered in Guild of Divinators laboratories of the Bind, where Wolgos chemists, driven to apply newly developed pesticides for other uses as they build up for the incoming war, sought to create a weapon that could decisively break enemy resistance. The agent was derived from a potent pesticide, modified to enhance its lethality, persistence and ease of dispersion.

The compound was developed under the highest secrecy, with its creators experimenting on both animals and human to perfect its devastating effects. The result was a nerve agent that acted relatively quickly and irreversibly, targeting the nervous system and causing excruciating pain and eventual death.

The use of Skelsékwos-9 was widely condemned by the international community. The Coalition, upon discovering the extent of its deployment and the suffering it caused, classified its use as a war crime.

Mechanism of Action and Symptoms of Skelsékwos-9: Skelsékwos-9 operates by disrupting the normal functioning of neurotransmitters, specifically acetylcholine, in the nervous system. Upon exposure, the agent inhibits the key enzymes responsible for breaking down acetylcholine. This inhibition causes an accumulation of acetylcholine at nerve synapses, leading to continuous stimulation of muscles, glands, and central nervous system receptors.

Within seconds of exposure, victims experience a burning sensation in the eyes and throat, accompanied by uncontrollable tearing, drooling, and nasal discharge. The skin in contact with the agent begins to blister and peel, causing intense pain. As the agent spreads through the body, severe muscle spasms, vomiting blood, and foaming at the mouth occur. Victims suffer from convulsions so violent that bones can fracture. The continuous muscle contractions lead to respiratory failure as the diaphragm becomes paralyzed. Victims endure excruciating pain as they suffocate, often remaining fully conscious until the very end. Death typically follows within minutes to hours, depending on the dose and route of exposure.

Hóstnepṛtes (Bound to Purify) Corps

Captured Eokoesr and Ak'lam Hóstnepṛtes with distinctive corps tattoos given to them during indoctrination.

The Hóstnepṛtes were a military corps created by the Wolgos starting in the late second year of the war. Their ranks came exclusively from the Eokoesr, Ak'lam and other enslaved humans of the Bind, and they were pressganged with little choice into training and indoctrination camps. At the camps, the male slaves underwent a torturous regime designed to break down their minds, identities and will so the Wolgos could rebuild them and shape them into indoctrinated troops aligned with Wolgos dogma. The indoctrination regime included outright ritualised torture, starvation, and deprivation, with increasingly longer moments of reprieve accompanied by dogma lectures. The troops had drilled into them promises of exaltation and of being purified to the same level as the Wolgos so that through their heroic effort, they would walk alongside the Wolgos as brothers once the war was finished.

The Hóstnepṛtes were equipped with cheaply made arms designed for human use and ease of construction; their uniforms also used scaled-down wolgos patterns. These corps endured harsh conditions, subpar rations and inhuman discipline from their Wolgos commanders but nonetheless fought for the Bind with the yearning that promises of spiritual exaltation, brotherhood, and a life worth living would be fulfilled.

In practice, the troops were used as fodder and for operations likely to have a high mortality rate to spare as many Wolgos casualties as possible. When conditions were dire, the Wolgos had no compulsion to take their arms away and butchering as food for themselves, which some surviving Hóstnepṛtes recalled in horror when they witnessed it and realised they meant nothing to the Wolgos. Nevertheless, they were occasionally rewarded with strong drinks and oere and captured enemy women to satisfy physical needs.

Documents found after the end of the war highlight that the Hlrike command had no intentions of fulfilling any promises to the Hóstnepṛtes; the contrived path to spiritual exaltation was believed by the Hlrike command to be an impossibility and a lie. The ultimate plan was for the Hóstnepṛtes slave soldiers to be "retired" after a couple of years of service in a cyclical fashion.

Prisoners Of War

Wolgos

Wolgos POWs generally faced much more benevolent treatment under captivity with the Allies compared to the harsh conditions humans experienced under Wolgos rule. Despite the Allies' efforts to treat the Wolgos POWs humanely, a significant portion still died in captivity due to unique and challenging circumstances.

One of the most significant challenges was meeting the nutritional needs of the Wolgos. The war conditions and logistical difficulties made it nearly impossible to provide the Wolgos POWs with the necessary 5,000 calories of mostly animal protein per day, which is essential for their survival and health. Standard human military rations, which are carbohydrate-heavy, were inadequate and constituted starvation food for the Wolgos. This disparity in dietary requirements led to severe health issues among the Wolgos POWs.

The lack of an animal protein-rich diet, crucial for providing the Wolgos with essential nutrients like taurine, resulted in widespread health problems. Many Wolgos suffered from blindness, joint degradation, and a condition similar to scurvy due to the deficiency of these critical nutrients. The Allies, constrained by a war economy and the need to prioritize their own troops and citizens, struggled to meet these intense dietary needs.

Efforts to improve the situation included attempts to supplement the diet of Wolgos POWs with available animal proteins, but these measures were often insufficient. The Allies faced immense logistical hurdles in transporting and distributing adequate food supplies amidst ongoing conflicts and resource scarcity. Moreover, the Allies lacked a deep understanding of the specific dietary needs of the Wolgos, which further complicated their efforts.

Humans

In the first two years of the war, human POWs under Wolgos captivity were subjected to extreme and inhumane treatment. Initially, the Wolgos did not even recognize these captives as prisoners in the conventional sense. Instead, they were regarded as spoils of war, potential food sources, or labor assets to be exploited by the state. The Wolgos, confident in their impending victory, dismissed the pleasantries of war and quickly processed prisoners as property or battlefield sustenance. Those who survived this brutal initial phase faced severe hardships and violent treatment. Many were distributed to soldiers' families as spoils of war, effectively becoming property of their captors.

As the war progressed and the tides began to turn against the Wolgos, their approach to POWs underwent a significant shift. Finding themselves on the defensive, the Wolgos re-evaluated the strategic value of human captives. All POWs previously given as spoils were recalled to camps built deep within New Xedun. New and old POWs alike were subjected to medical treatment, albeit minimal and often inadequate, and provided with basic rations and blankets. Despite these provisions, the conditions remained harsh, and punishments were common.

The Wolgos' revised treatment of POWs was framed under their own interpretation of "humane" treatment, which, while an improvement over the initial brutality, still fell far short of international standards. This change in approach was driven by the recognition of the potential value of POWs as bargaining chips. Preserving these prisoners became a strategic necessity, ensuring that they could be used in negotiations and exchanges as the war drew closer to a possible conclusion.

War Crime Trials

Trial of Bhérh3ih2osonos

Gwretaido Prawiros Bhérh3ih2osonos was deposed as the ruler of The Bind by the High Council of Paladins soon after the first peace conference. Bhérh3ih2osonos agreed to the demands of the Paladins to sacrifice himself as part of the peace settlement and consented to be handed over if the Allies demanded his surrender. The Allies did demand his handover, and in 7603, Blots 24, his trial began.

Bhérh3ih2osonos was prosecuted by a mix of Livarian and Arvorian military command lawyers before a panel of six judges from different Allied nations. His defense team consisted of three high-command-appointed Wolgos foreign law theorists. The trial was highly anticipated and publicized, attracting numerous reporters from Allied nations, some of whom were appointed as official photographers and film camera operators. Despite the anticipation, reporters and the public failed to get answers to the burning questions the victims and the public had about the war.

From the outset, Bhérh3ih2osonos presented himself as remarkably pleasant and charming. He smiled warmly at the judges, greeted the prosecution with courtesy, and seemed genuinely interested in the proceedings. His demeanor was one of calm and collected composure, which stood in stark contrast to the horrific nature of the accusations against him. Bhérh3ih2osonos was often preoccupied with his appearance, appearing well-groomed and in an impeccable and fashionable Wolgos suit of the era. He respectfully saluted all present and politely requested a warm pot of chamomile tea to drink from during the trial.

When questioned about the war crimes and atrocities, Bhérh3ih2osonos displayed an uncanny ability to reframe his actions. He spoke eloquently, often redirecting the narrative in ways that seemed almost plausible, if not for the gravity of the evidence against him. For instance, when asked about the harsh treatment of prisoners, he replied with a sincere tone, "It was never our intention to cause undue suffering. Our methods were aimed at maintaining order and discipline, which, in turn, prevented greater chaos and loss of life. Many of our actions, though harsh, were driven by a desire to establish a stable environment, even for the humans under our control." When asked about obliterated towns and cities turned to cinder, Bhérh3ih2osonos would deflect the blame to their inhabitants' unwillingness to cooperate. "Our forces often encountered civilians willing to turn their settlements to ashes rather than cooperate. When our forces attempted to provide security and order, they were most violently rewarded for their merciful actions."

His answers were often accompanied by stories that cast the Wolgos in a more positive light, subtly gaslighting those present. "I recall instances," he would say, "where our forces would dig through rubble to save trapped children, children we took under our care for years while the war progressed, children callously cast aside by their parents and so-called communities."

Bhérh3ih2osonos had a knack for turning accusations into perceived misunderstandings. When confronted with testimonies of torture and inhumane experiments, he smiled gently and said, "These were unfortunate and isolated incidents, misinterpreted by those who witnessed them. Our scientific endeavors were always conducted with the use of unsavory and potentially dangerous elements plaguing the safety of occupied territories. These leaps in academic understanding aimed to advance medical knowledge that could benefit both Humans and Wolgos. Undue hardship experienced was caused by saboteurs seeking to libel our respectability."

Throughout the trial, he worked hard to sow seeds of doubt and confusion. His charm and superficial agreeableness made it difficult for the prosecution to paint a coherent picture of his guilt. He often praised human qualities, albeit in a patronizing manner, which further muddled the perception of his true intentions.

Despite the overwhelming evidence and emotional testimonies, Bhérh3ih2osonos's demeanor never wavered. He maintained his pleasant facade, even expressing a sort of paternalistic regret for the pain caused, without ever admitting to any wrongdoing. "It is deeply regrettable," he said in his final statement, "that our actions have been so gravely misunderstood. My hope is that, in time, the true nature of our intentions will be recognized." Many found it disconcerting how Bhérh3ih2osonos could express solemn concern and regret yet almost instantly switch back to his warm and smiling demeanor and then make grandiose statements. "Dlrocha has taken the millions of souls that perished during the war. They are on the path to unity with the creator; their deaths will forge greater understanding between our species."

This approach left the public and the victims feeling deeply unsettled. The trial, rather than providing clarity and justice, became a bewildering spectacle of manipulation and gaslighting. Bhérh3ih2osonos's ability to reframe the narrative and present his actions in a superficially positive light only deepened the sense of injustice.

Trial of Dr Dhéh3omnsonos

Dr. Dhéh3omnsonos became infamous and prominent in the allied consciousness after the liberation of Tepetak by the Livarian military. During the three-year occupation of Koskiya, Dr. Dhéh3omnsonos took over the central hospital in Tepetak. Although officially tasked with supporting the local population, his true mission was to advance research proposals from medical and pharmacological institutes in the Bind.

Dr. Dhéh3omnsonos made no effort to assist the local population. Anyone seeking medical assistance unwittingly became a research subject. When the occupied population began to avoid the facility, Dr. Dhéh3omnsonos tasked Hlrike knights with rounding up subjects, usually healthy individuals, from the streets of Tepetak. The facility had a 100% fatality rate, with subjects and patients dying from experiments, vivisections, organ extraction, shock, or what Wolgos doctors termed "professional play."

The evidence left behind by Dr. Dhéh3omnsonos' team was plentiful. Vivisections were conducted without anesthetic and often filmed, clearly depicting the suffering of the subjects and the callousness of the Wolgos doctors who mocked or purposefully inflicted more suffering on the victims for their enjoyment. When the Livarians found the abandoned facility, they discovered it was filthy, with piles of decomposing corpses mutilated in various ways. Still-living subjects were mutilated in ways that had no medical or research value, with permanent damage and slowly fatal alterations designed to cause prolonged and desperate deaths.

The Livarians also found a ward where the Wolgos had revived an old avenue of research that had previously failed. Wolgos doctors opened the craniums of subjects and punctured or removed parts of their brains in an attempt to create subservient automatons. The Livarians found almost two hundred men and women chained to the walls in complete filth and body waste. Their craniums were open, sometimes forcefully cracked, with brains exposed. Some were already maggot-ridden or dead.

In 7603, on Suna 33, Dr. Dhéh3omnsonos's trial began. Evidence was presented by people forced to work in the grim environment, surviving victims, and Livarian liberators. Due to its vile graphical nature and the likelihood of causing intense controversy, much of the evidence had to be censored for the public and sealed for ten years.

Dr. Dhéh3omnsonos found the trial amusing and recalled many details and experiences with glee, sharing them with sincerity and enjoyment, often mocking and derisively recalling victims who had left an impression on him. He answered every question from the prosecution in great detail and with curiosity, sometimes mocking the prosecution or questioning the intelligence of the judges and prosecutors when they expressed emotion to the evidence.

At no point did Dr. Dhéh3omnsonos show remorse. On several occasions, reporters had to be removed from the gallery or had their notes censored due to the disturbing nature of his testimony.

Trial of Paladin Lúghos Pékwosonos

Paladin Lúghos Pékwosonos was a key general involved in the invasion of the Stolvic Orderist Commonwealth's (SOC) Altaian Commonholds, notorious for the Siege of the Bassinstadt Urbanate between 7599, Herfa 10, and 7600, Vetrun 9. The siege culminated in the total depopulation of the urbanate, with only ten percent of the original population surviving.

The prolonged siege caused the inhabitants to endure immense hardship, including starvation, disease, grievous injuries, and the complete destruction of their landscape. The final months of the siege drove the inhabitants to desperate and barbaric acts to survive the pervasive starvation.

The month of Solma became infamous in the history of the city for the first use of nerve gas in warfare against civilians. Artillery barrages towards the end of the month, using shells carrying the newly developed Skelsékwos-9 pesticide-derived agent, caused the greatest loss of life throughout the siege. Around 32% of the population perished in slow agony as Skelsékwos-9 spread across the city, corroding nerve connections. The successful use of Skelsékwos-9 led to its application in more restrained uses throughout the war, along with irritants such as mustard gas.

The urbanate surrendered on Vetrun 9 of 7600, but the city's remaining 450,000 people found no reprieve. The Wolgos, frustrated by the long siege, unleashed their fury on the population. Rape, torture, widespread butchering, and cannibalism were rampant during the occupation. When the city was ordered to be depopulated on Estorun 36 and its remaining population was moved to internment camps in the mines of the Osray House state, only 78,000 of the original inhabitants remained.

Paladin Lúghos Pékwosonos himself ordered the urbanate's leadership to be rounded up, have their heads skinned, and their skulls cleaned while alive. He took their cleaned skulls as trophies for the taking of the urbanate. Four of these skulls were recently found in the possession of his descendants as family heirlooms.

Paladin Lúghos Pékwosonos's trial began under a cloud of anticipation and intense scrutiny. The trial was conducted by a tribunal of Allied judges, with prosecution led by representatives from the SOC Altaian Commonholds, Arvorians, and Livarians. His defense team, composed of Wolgos legal experts, much like other Wolgos defense teams, was more concerned with theatrics and the comfort of the accused, unfamiliar with human trials.

From the outset, Pékwosonos exhibited a cold and calculated demeanor. Unlike Bhérh3ih2osonos, who had employed charm and manipulation, Pékwosonos relied on a veneer of military professionalism, superiority, and detachment. His appearance was immaculate, and he maintained a stoic expression throughout the proceedings, showing no visible remorse or emotional response to the harrowing testimonies presented. When he did show emotion, it was largely directed at reporters, and he sought to project a chivalric, almost suave image, as if trying to cultivate a celebrity status.

When questioned about the use of Skelsékwos-9, Pékwosonos responded with clinical precision. "The deployment of Skelsékwos-9, a marvel of Wolgos ingenuity," he stated, "was a strategic necessity to expedite the siege's conclusion and to advance the art of war. Prolonging the conflict would have resulted in moral cost for my troops and I had to use the opportunity to test out a promising weapon. Our intent was to minimize the war's duration, thereby reducing long-term casualties on both sides and further destruction of infrastructure."

His justification for the atrocities committed during the occupation was equally devoid of empathy. "War," he explained, "inherently involves acts of extreme violence and retribution. The actions of my troops were driven by the strain of prolonged combat, their need to satiate their urges and the need to assert control over a hostile population. These measures, while severe, were aimed at ensuring the urbanate's complete submission and preventing even the possibility of an insurrection."

Throughout the trial, Pékwosonos attempted to reframe his actions as necessary in the pursuit of a broader strategic goal. He was unable to comprehend the prosecution's framing of his actions as evil and their dichotomies of right and wrong. His defense team argued that his decisions, while brutal, were within the bounds of wartime conduct as understood by Wolgos military doctrine and always framed his actions as commendable within a framework of efficiency and harmony.

The most chilling moment came when Pékwosonos recounted the fate of the urbanate's leaders. "Their execution," he said without flinching, "was a symbolic act, intended to demonstrate the futility of resistance. By taking their skulls and displaying their mutilated bodies, we conveyed a message of absolute dominance and deterred rebellion."

Despite his calculated rationalizations, the overwhelming evidence of his actions' barbarity left an indelible impact on the court. Survivors' testimonies painted a starkly different picture, revealing the unimaginable suffering and horror inflicted upon the urbanate's inhabitants during the siege and occupation.

The trial concluded with Pékwosonos being sentenced to death. Unlike the dignified and ritualistic execution of Bhérh3ih2osonos, Pékwosonos's execution was conducted by the SOC in a New Hoffnung prison yard and presented in theaters across the SOC.

Sentences

Gwretaido Prawiros Bhérh3ih2osonos

The sentencing of Gwretaido Prawiros Bhérh3ih2osonos was a carefully choreographed affair, balancing the demands of the Allies with the Wolgos's need to preserve dignity and uphold their cultural values. The Hlrike, acutely aware of the necessity to conclude the affair swiftly and eliminate a compromised figure who could jeopardize their exile and survival, orchestrated a process that satisfied the Allies while maintaining the ritualistic and prestigious elements of their society.

After the trial, which exposed the extent of Bhérh3ih2osonos's crimes and manipulations, the panel of judges, under intense scrutiny and pressure, delivered a verdict that combined both the need for justice and the cultural expectations of the Wolgos. Bhérh3ih2osonos was sentenced to death, but the execution would be carried out by the Hlrike under the observance of a select panel of Allied representatives.

In a secluded, forested glade near the village of Lerghakros in The Bend state of the Bind, overlooking the serene Husster Lake, an idyllic clearing was chosen for the execution. A purpose-built platform adorned with luxurious carpets and intricate tapestries was set up, offering a panoramic view of the tranquil surroundings. On the platform, a finely crafted table was laid out with an exquisite Wolgos tea set, complemented by a comfortable and elegantly designed chair.

At six PM, as the sun began to set on Suna 15, Hlrike dignitaries gathered atop the platform, encircling the table and chair. The atmosphere was solemn, with the air thick with the scent of blooming wildflowers and the sound of rustling leaves. Allied observers stood at a respectful distance, keenly watching the proceedings with a mixture of curiosity and solemnity.

Bhérh3ih2osonos ascended the platform with a calm and composed demeanour, his impeccable and fashionable Wolgos suit contrasting sharply with the gravity of the occasion. The Wolgos began chanting and reciting prayers, their voices melding into a hauntingly beautiful chorus. Bhérh3ih2osonos took his seat, maintaining his dignified presence, and politely requested a warm pot of chamomile tea.

Two of his peers, with meticulous precision, prepared his final cup of tea. The warm breeze of the summer evening gently swayed the surrounding trees as Bhérh3ih2osonos lifted the fine china cup to his lips. He sipped the tea slowly at first, savouring the delicate flavor, before eagerly drinking it down. He then settled back into his chair, closing his eyes in silent contemplation.

Minutes passed, and soon Bhérh3ih2osonos's body began to react to the lethal concoction. His colleagues, in a display of ritualistic solidarity, covered his mouth to prevent him from vomiting and held him down as his body convulsed in pain. The scene was both tragic and ceremonial. Moments later, Bhérh3ih2osonos lay still, lifeless in his chair.

As the last breath left his body, Wolgos bagpipe music filled the glade, its mournful notes echoing through the trees. The Hlrike joined in unison with a solemn chorus, their voices rising and falling in harmony. Bhérh3ih2osonos's body was gently laid flat on the platform, arms stretched to his sides. A finely crafted mahogany box with intricate bronze inlays was placed just beyond his head.

A Hlrike, with a ceremonial axe, approached the body. With a swift and precise motion, he decapitated Bhérh3ih2osonos and severed his hands, placing them reverently in the mahogany box. The head, symbolizing the seat of his soul, and the hands, the makers of his life, were to be transported with the Hlrike to Kupeya in the far south.