The Tyrangor War (1315-1317 ANE)
| Five Councils Coalition | Grimjaw's Warbands |
| Commanders | |
| Iron Marshal Theron Blackforge High Councilor Velaine |
Warlord Grimjaw Kazrath Khephraz the Sky Tyrant |
| Strength | |
| • Conscripted militia (bulk forces) • Cairune airship crews • Bhel Kurzum heavy infantry & engineers • Illyndra battle mages • Quelenthalar rangers & druids • Ecleptara navigation specialists • Iron Pact elite mercenaries |
• Three coordinated warbands • Desert goblin tribes • Blue dragon support |
| Casualties | |
| Iron Pact: ~800 killed, ~1,200 wounded Militia forces: ~2,400 casualties Civilian refugees: ~6,000 displaced |
Tyrangor forces: ~3,200 killed Desert tribes: ~1,800 casualties Khephraz wounded and retreated |
The Tyrangor War was a two-year period of conflict that began with extensive raiding and enslaving campaigns in the south, culminating in a devastating six-month military campaign where most decisive actions occurred within the final month. The conflict tested the Five Councils' coordination and revealed significant weaknesses in the region's defense systems.
Background (1312-1315 ANE)
Warlord Grimjaw Kazrath spent three years unifying the goblin tribes in the southern desert. Throughout 1315 ANE, his forces conducted systematic raids on coastal settlements and orc camps in the far south, burning villages and capturing slaves. The Five Councils initially treated these attacks as a bandit problem rather than organized military action. Only when raids began striking deeper inland settlements did the scale of coordination become clear, forcing the councils to begin military mobilization.
Southern Refugee
"They treated it as a bandit problem for two years while my village burned. They say the Five only cared when the raids threatened their trade routes."
The Military Campaign (1316-1317 ANE)
After nearly two years of raiding had weakened southern defenses and gathered intelligence, Grimjaw Kazrath began the war proper in early 1316 ANE. Spending most of the year positioning his forces and conducting increasingly bold inland raids, he forced the Five Councils to scramble together their armies and march toward Cairune for a coordinated response. His strategy was tactically sound: draw the Five Councils' main army into a march toward Sorrow's Reach, then launch a surprise attack through Stonemarch Pass to strike them from behind before they could disengage and return. In the final month of 1316, he deployed his largest force to Sorrow's Reach on the coast, designed to pull the Crescent's primary military strength into position. Meanwhile, two smaller but elite warbands would advance through rough terrain to punch through the lightly defended pass and rush to hit the engaged Five Councils' army from two sides.
Khephraz's presence posed extreme difficulties for Cairune's skyships, severely limiting their reconnaissance capabilities. The Tyrangor forces exploited this advantage, ensuring that Crescent scouts could only observe and report on the largest warband moving toward Sorrow's Reach while the other two remained hidden until they struck the pass.
The Battles
Sorrow's Reach
The Five Councils deployed their main army to counter what appeared to be the primary Tyrangor force at Sorrow's Reach, committing to the march as Grimjaw Kazrath intended. The coastal engagement developed into a grinding battle that tied down the Crescent's military strength.
Stonemarch Pass
Stonemarch Pass, located about a day's march from Cairune in the mountain system that runs south and west along the coastline, was supposed to fall quickly. Light garrison forces should have been overwhelmed by two coordinated warbands supported by Khephraz the Sky Tyrant, whose lightning attacks proved devastatingly effective against traditional fortifications.
Instead, the Iron Pact mercenary companies held the pass against overwhelming odds. Iron Marshal Theron Blackforge commanded the defense, maintaining discipline despite heavy casualties and constant dragon attacks. What should have been a swift breakthrough became a prolonged siege that committed Grimjaw Kazrath's forces to an engagement he hadn't planned.
The Collapse
With the pass still held, Grimjaw Kazrath's timeline collapsed. The Five Councils army at Sorrow's Reach quickly recognized the pass attack but faced the tactical challenge of disengaging from the coastal battle and making the long march back to the pass while still under pressure from the largest Tyrangor warband. Caught between the Iron Pact's defense and the approaching army, Khephraz was wounded and forced to retreat. Without dragon support, Warlord Kazrath's forces routed back across the Southfury River.
"Marshal Blackforge's genius wasn't tactical innovation; it was recognizing that Khephraz was young and impatient. He baited the dragon into prolonged attacks rather than quick strikes, forcing tactical errors that older dragons wouldn't make."
Immediate Consequences (1317-1322 ANE)
Population Displacement
Thousands of refugees fled north during the conflict. Most settled in Cairune due to its proximity to the fighting, creating "Groundtown"—a sprawling refugee camp below the floating city that became permanent. War veterans unable to afford city housing remain in these lower districts, creating ongoing class tensions.
Kessa Ironboot, Groundtown Resident
"Five years later, still living in refugee camps. A few plague scares. This is home now."
Economic Impact
- Southern farms were destroyed, increasing dependence on northern agriculture
- Food prices rose significantly across the region
- Cities accumulated substantial war debts from mercenary contracts and reconstruction costs
- The coastal region has still not been properly rebuilt and resettled
Political Effects
The war exposed serious coordination failures within the Five Councils system. Ongoing debates about military reform continue, but no consensus has emerged on solutions.
The Iron Pact
The Iron Pact mercenary companies emerged as folk heroes, leading to increased recruitment and higher contract prices. Their membership tripled in the years following the war.
Key Figures
Warlord Grimjaw Kazrath - Tyrangor commander who escaped the final defeat and remains active in the deep desert, reportedly rebuilding his forces.
Khephraz the Sky Tyrant - Young blue dragon whose wounds forced his retreat to the desert wastes. His current status and intentions remain unknown.
Iron Marshal Theron Blackforge - Led the Stonemarch Pass defense and became a living legend throughout the Crescent.
High Councilor Velaine - Cairune leader who coordinated the successful coastal defense operations.
Current Status (1322 ANE)
The war officially ended in 1317 ANE, but its effects continue. Refugee populations strain city resources, reconstruction remains incomplete, and intelligence reports suggest Tyrangor forces are regrouping in the southern desert. The conflict demonstrated both the Crescent's defensive capabilities and the fragility of its political coordination.