Chrysant War
The Chrysant War was one of the bigger Regalian conflicts that occurred in the last few decades, but notably more impactful to the Naga populations of Aloria, reducing their numbers to about half their population and ending only 11 years ago. While a declaration of war was never made, what spurred the first conflicts which would lead to five years of battle was when Empress Mikuni first learned the art of summoning sea serpents, and this knowledge spread to the Regalian Archipelago. Regalia’s Imperial Fleet gathered at Girobalda days before the first cannons were fired, and set sail toward Hadar to seek out Empress Mikuni and ensure the Naga could no longer threaten or negatively influence the Holy Empire.
Beginning of the War
When the Regalian ships first arrived near Hadar, a small Nagan force was sent their way to determine why they were there. Taking this as a sign of threat and aggression, the Regalian ships were quick to gun them down, and while no declaration of war was made, this event was arguably what set the path of war in motion. After this, the Regalian Fleet began to split up into groups of about 12-30 ships each, combing the seas around Hadar and using this as a way to overwhelm and overcome any Nagan opposers. The Regalian ships were sent after Nagan naval ships and military bases, destroying small cities and towns along the way to ascertain their influence and ensure the Naga could not convene in hostile manners. As a result, the Naga began to seek out desperate measures. Noting that the Regalians were holding nothing back, they reciprocated, sending the full force of their military after the enemies and attempting to assail Regalian ships to oblivion.
Progression of War
Morale in Regalia was high as the war moved into its second and third year. At this point, numerous noble families drafted their first-born sons into the war, and the families that worked for them eagerly followed, giving Regalia a solid military to attack the Nagan forces. While the forces were unpaid, they awarded themselves by ransacking Nagan villages, pillaging any loot they wanted or needed and attacking any who stepped in the way. With more resources being put toward the war efforts, the prices of iron, wood, beef, and fish on the open market began to increase dramatically. Soon, rationing came into effect. At the end of the fourth year, the Battle of Shu-Ling occurred, setting the stage for the final Battle of Feng Huang.
Battle of Shu-Ling
Throughout the war, the Imperial Fleet plowed through Hadar, bombarding island towns and coastal settlements to rubble with their ships. However, this practice was not possible when Regalia first arrived at Shu Ling, an archipelago consisting of three mountainous islands northeast of the capital. Most of the towns in Shu Ling sat high on the mountains, and were therefore impervious to cannon fire. In addition, a shallow reef flanked either side of the island, preventing the Regalian ships from sailing around it. The only way into the kingdom by ship was through the lagoon that sat nestled between the islands -- however, this was heavily guard. After destroying and setting up camp in the port town of Yufukusu, which sat at the base of the largest island, the Regalian Fleet marched up each of the steep mountainsides. On the first and largest island, the humans struggled to get up the mountain as forces led by General Zhi-Ding assailed them. However, the Regalians pushed them back up to the city of Sen-Yin, which sat in the snowy peaks. Thousands were slaughtered, General Zhi-Ding among them. At that point, the Regalian forces moved on to the other two islands, marching up the mountains and destroying all settlements they found. The Naga warriors were in disarray with the loss of their general. Shu-Ling was ravaged and burned, and the king met his end. With one of the largest states in the Chrysant Kingdoms destroyed, there was only one major Nagan stronghold remaining in Hadar: Feng Huang, the capital city and the seat of Empress Mikuni.
Battle of Feng Huang
The Imperial Fleet sailed towards the capital of the Chrysant Kingdoms, in the center of Hadar. Meanwhile, the Dragon Fleet, the pride of the Nagan navy, awaited them. About a thousand ships sat outside the Feng Huang harbor, awaiting their attackers. When the Regalians did arrive, they tore the Dragon Fleet ships apart with their cannons, which the Naga lacked. The Nagan fleet volleyed arrows at the humans and their ships, but this did little. Many crews, however, boarded Regalian vessels, hijacked the ships, and used them to ram other warships. Even with these tactics, the Dragon Fleet was losing. Sensing that defeat was imminent, Empress Mikuni went to the prow of her flagship, and used magic to summon a grand sea serpent as a desperate attempt to try to sway the battle in their favor.
The sea serpent roared with bestial vigor, and Naga everywhere stopped what they were doing and bowed down. Within minutes, the serpent had already decimated six Regalian ships when it swam up to the Regalian flagship. Just as it was about to send itself at it, a great thundering sound erupted. A Human battleship had fired a full broadside volley into the beast, killing it instantly. The Nagan forces looked on in disbelief, while the Regalians rejoiced. With their greatest weapon gone, the Naga were once again outmatched, and the remainder of the Dragon Fleet was sunk and destroyed.
The victory at Feng Huang spurred the Emperor to move on to their capital city. To finally crush the Naga and demoralize them enough to prevent any future revolts, the Regalian Fleet heavily bombarded the capital city, reducing most of the structures to rubble and killing thousands upon thousands. To further demoralize the Nagan opposers, Empress Mikuni was captured and beheaded on the spot for her followers to see -- a last blow against a crippled nation. With the capital gone, and the great Dragon Fleet destroyed, the Imperial Fleet dispersed all over Hadar, destroying the remainder of Nagan settlements that had not already been attacked.
End of the War
When all had been said and done, Regalia packed up and went home to a joyful celebration across the Regalian Archipelago. With the end of the war, the Naga were reduced to half their numbers -- mostly comprised of the Slither subrace. However, battles and small wars continued with the Maiar. This, mixed with their inability to pick themselves up after the Chrysant War’s widespread devastation, left their numbers a mere 5% of what they had been five years before. The political landscape was vastly changed by this event -- all Naga were from then on seen as tricksters, and to this day are rarely trusted by the other races. Any surviving Naga have spread out to other lands, and often remember the war as a terrible thing. Most try to forget and move on. All in all, the war lasted five years, spanning from 286 AC-291 AC, claiming thousands and thousands of lives, and changing the way the Naga have lived since.
Accreditation
- Written by The_Shadow_King3, Fellbeast58blue, and Ryciera
- Processed by Ryciera, Azas, and MonMarty.