Lore - Cygnar

Situated in the middle of western Immoren, Cygnar is the crown jewel of the Iron Kingdoms. Cygnar has the largest population, the best arcane mechaniks, the most resources, and the best gunsmiths in all of Immoren. Despite these advantages, they are beset on all sides by enemies who would destroy her as a nation in order to take over her fertile lands and abundant resources. Her cities are among the most modern in western Immoren, and it's peoples more accepting and accommodating then the citizenry of any of the other nations.

Cygnar’s military prides itself on having the most disciplined and best-trained soldiers in western Immoren, as well as providing them with the resources and equipment to overcome nearly any challenge. It has earned a reputation for defeating its enemies even while outnumbered, with an emphasis on the quality rather than the quantity of its infantry and warjacks. Cygnar’s warjacks have a wide range of capabilities and incorporate sophisticated military-grade cortexes that make them highly effective whether controlled by warcasters or ’jack marshals. The army has changed considerably in recent years to incorporate gains from industrialization and mechanika and now stands at the cutting edge of technological ingenuity applied to the arts of war.

Cygnaran’s are a proud industrious people. Due to the guiding philosophy of the spirit of Cygnaran law, the average citizen enjoys a higher quality of life and freedom compared to the citizenry of other nations. See also Lexicanum article on Cygnar (this link will take you to a separate fan-site).

Most of this article is Cygnar's view on history, as recited by Demorgue Gadsden, Professor of History of the Cygnaran University of Caspia.

Cygnaran Demographics

Ruler
Leto Raelthorne: King from 594 AR to 611 AR, then became the Regent Julius Raelthorne: King from 611 AR to present
Government Type
Parliamentary Monarchy
Capital
Caspia
State Religion
The Church of Morrow
Ethnic Groups & Approxomate Population
Census taken at approximately 600 AR (pre-Oblivion) 3,400,000 Capsian 2,700,000 Midlunder 1,200,000 Thurian 400,000 Morridane 265,000 Gobber 242,000 Trollkin 180,000 Ryn 135,000 Bogrin 120,000 Rhulfolk 90,000 Ogrun 80,000 Tordoran 20,000 Idrian 18,000 Khard 14,000 Umbrean 12,000 Scharde 1,000 Iosan 300 Nyss
Languages
Cygnaran (Primary) Llaelese Ordic Rhulic Khadoran Sulese Caspian (dead) Caspian, now considered a dead language, is the largest language family in the Iron Kingdoms. Cygnaran and Sulese are derived from it, but you can find hints of it in Khadoran and others. The first runic magics were written in Caspian.
Climate
Temperate in the north and central regions. Moderated by prevailing southwest winds, with more than half the days overcast in the north. In the south, subtropical to tropical with frequent showers.
Terrain
Mostly rugged hills and mountains in the central regions (Wyrmwall); mostly flat or gently sloping along the Black River to the east; high plains along the northwest and central banks of the Dragon’s Tongue River; swamps along much of the coastal lowlands in the south and southwest.
Natural Resources
Coal, Petroleum, Mercury, natural gas, Sulfur, Tin, Copper, Limestone, Iron Ore, Pyrite, Salt, Clay, Chalk, Quartz, Arable Land.
Notable Towns & Cities
Caspia Steelwater Flats King’s Vine Fharin Bainsmarket Corvis Fellig (Bordertown) Armandor (Bordertown) Point Bourne (Bordertown) Five Fingers (Bordertown) Ceryl New Larkholm Orven Ramarck Highgate Mercir Clockers Cove
Military Installations
Northguard Stonebridge Fort Falk Fort Balton Fort Whiterock Westwatch Eastwall Southshield Sentinel Point Naval Fortress.
Cultural Site/Feature of Interest
Great Cygnaran Observatory Ingrane Henge Hold Nine Stone Demonhead Pass Tomb of Lost Souls Fort Rhyker (Ruins) Fisherbrook Deepwood Tower
Heraldic Colors and Symbols
Blue and Gold banners, with the Cygnus, a heraldic swan. This symbol dates back to the unification of Cygnar at the end of the Rebellion and was formalized in the Corvis Treaties.
Education
The Strategic Academy The Sunbright Academy The Caspian University Corvis University University of Ceryl There are also institutes of learning hosted by the Fraternal Order of Wizardry, and the Order of the Golden Crucible, as well as the Militant Order of the Arcane Tempest.
Coinage
Gold Crown, Silver shield, Copper farthing. Also the Gold Swan, the Gold half-crown, and the Silver half-shield.

Pre-History

Though there is debate between scholars, the history of the land that would later become the nation of Cygnar, would begin in approximately 5500BR. After the founding of what has become known as Ancient Icthier, the cradle of human civilization. Geth the Sage-Priest, and Belcor the Warrior-Priest led an Exodus from Icthier, as the land had become overpopulated and food had started to become harder to grow, and thus scarce. This 700-year exodus led by these Operative Menites ended with several settlements around the Black River, some as far north as the Marchfells, some as far south to the location where the Black River empties into the Gulf of Cygnar. Much of what we know about this time period comes to us from the records of the Priests of Menoth. However, due to the extreme nature and view the church holds today, our records are incomplete as we only have the records shared to us from the lesser sects that hold more moderate views.

The Molgur

The Operative Menites were not the only group of individuals to settle in these lands. Tribes of Ogrun, Trollkin, Gobbers and Barbaric Shamanistic Human clans began to amalgamate into a complex prehistoric tribal society. These Shamanistic Humans began to learn to tap into a destructive force, something akin to a cousin of Magic. – The power of the Devourer Wurm. What is known about this time today comes from the oral history of the remaining tribes that descended from The Molgur that can still be found from the North Forests, Thornwood, and the Northern and Eastern Midlunds, where their ancient ancestors once lived. One tribe of specific prominence we call the Thran, claims to be a direct descendant and unbroken lineage from this time.

The End of an Era

Around 4000BR, an event occurred, known to us as “Time of the Burning Sky”. Other cultures and sources seem to reference this event, known by other names, but all occurring in or about the same time. Other names include, “The Great Cataclysm”, “The Catastrophe”, and “The Ruin of Lyoss”. Records of this event come to us from the Sage Angrund, and he described the events, here is our best translation to this day: “A tremendous bright light in the east presaged the destruction, when the night sky become like day, but with a baleful intensity that soon faded and was replaced by howling winds and storms. The earth opened to swallow entire towns on the eastern fringes while a rain of fire lasting sixty days and sixty nights blasted the region”

It was during this event, the landscapes of Immoren changed. It was as if overnight, the northwestern lands of the Bloodstone Marches, which had before been a land of verdant plains, turned hostile. Lakes dried up, Livestock became ill and died, all manor of life was changed in an instant. The venerable city of Icthier, the cradle of mankind, was left abandoned, and would remain so for several millennia. Before this time, there was no mention of the Stormlands, and some of its more dangerous inhabitants were seemingly not seen before in Western Immoren.

The Warlord Era

We have long held the beginning of the Warlord Era to be the foundation of civilization. It is during this time archaeological evidence as well as architectural evidence suggests that settlements grew to be more permanent fixtures to life. City planning, as well as Stonewalls, suggests that during the years following the Time of the Burning Sky were especially harsh and unforgiving. Around the mouth of the Black River, several smaller settlements banned together for common defense, they formed the first city of what would become Cygnar, Calacia. Given its geographic location, it was largely an unaffected area after the Time of the Burning Sky, and the people who fled Icthier inflated the population of the area drastically. Though largely incomplete, records dating back to the time say at the formation of the Hold of Calacia, there for counted 50,000 men, women and children, and in a short span after its founding, records indicate that that number was over 300,000.

Valent of Thrace -The beginnings of Modern Cygnar

Valent of Thrace was a Menite Priest-King who was the uniting force of the smaller communities into the City of Calacia. It is unknown when he was born, however, records obtained from the Church of Menoth indicate he was a good and pious man, trained in accordance with their Cannon of True Law, and in accordance with the teachings of the first Priest-King Cinot. It was Valent who commissioned the first walls and fortifications of Calacia. These defenses, to protect the city and its inhabitants from the Molgur became known as the “Shield of Thrace and under its protections, the city’s inhabitants were able to live safely and allowed the city to grow.

It was during this time the Calacians were able to devote time and energy into other pursuits then just survival. Science, Technology, Architecture, Music, Culture, all grew. They mastered iron, and steel, as well as inventing the recurve longbow. They fashioned metal armor and formalized a militant structure with a city watch as well as professional warriors to fight and defend the city and its denizens from Molgur raiding parties. We even see examples of the precursor to formal armies rallying around a Menite priest who led and used his connection to the divine as a weapon against the Molgur by setting them on fire with Divine Might. In the Songs of Calarth, a book written by a lyricist of the same name, we have a record of one of these ancient prayers.

“scaythed the eyrth, and grant’d thym the stryngh of strong boughs und thee flighty spyd of morcats,”

The Shield of Thrace, spanned the distance between the fortress of Eastwall and the Salt Vale Lake. During the time of its construction, the wall was itself 18 feet high with a 30-foot tower built every mile or so, complemented by a heavily guarded gate every five miles. In modern time, not much of the original low-lying wall still exists, as over time, materials were scavenged to help build the taller walls as the city grew.

Priest-King Golivant

In 2230BR the man who would eventually come to prominence as Priest-King Golivant was born. Not much is known about his early life. But we know upon maturity, he arose to Priest-King after receiving a Divine Mandate and was given the Blessing of the Lawgiver to rule the Kingdom of Calacia. Under his rule, the now Kingdom of Calacia pushed the Molgur north of the Wyrmwall, leading to mass retaliation of the Molgur. A great final battle took place at the Shield of Thrace, one who’s very outcome would influence the fate of Western Immoren. A Mogur Army led by The Trollkin Chieftain named Horfar Grimmr, attacked the Shield of Thrace, and was able to successfully scale the battlements and overwhelm the defenders. Golivant led the army of Calacia to confront the foe, bringing with him the very fire of Menoth. Golivant and Grimmr would fight several times in this battle over many days. Eventually the Menites gained the upper hand, and Golivant’s forces were able to push the Molgur back and regain control of the battlements. Grimmr was defiant upto the time of his death. However, upon his death his army was scattered. Golivant took this time to begin a 10 year campaign to end the Molgur. The results of this bloody crusade were that the tribes cast out of lands surrounding Calacia, most being pushed north to resettle in the far frozen mountains. Some went west and settled in the Scharde Islands. The tribes who chose barbaracy, continued to worship the Devourer Wurm, but never again as a unified people.

Golivant ruled for 25 years after concluding his war against the Molgur. Upon his death the Kingdom of Calacia fractured during his succession crisis. Several factions struggled for power, resulting in Golivant’s son being assassinated as he attempted to ascent to the throne. Civil unrest followed until 2051BR when Golivant’s grandson, Golivant the Third united the kingdom once more, and renamed it Caspia. Under his rule, Golivant the Third saw Caspia expand and grow. Caspia’s walls rose ever higher and taller. Golivant consecrated these new walls in the name of Menoth and deemed their constriction a holy work. It is from this work and time that Caspia was given the moniker “The City of Walls.”

The end of the Warlord Era was a time of great strife and growth, as a result stability increased. The primitive tribesmen were defeated and subjugated. New innovations marked the end of the era including, Crossbows, Steel blades, production facilities such as waterwheels and mills.

The Era of The Thousand Cities

Caspia prospered on its rise to be the greatest of the southern kingdoms, even after the collapse of the Molgur and the Dark Kingdom of Morrdh. During this Era, fortified towns and cities looked to increase their security and prosperity by forming a confederation of fiefdoms north of Caspia. Around 1850 BR, these fiefdoms formalized into the Midar, and later as the Midlunds. At this time, they never solidified under one king, instead keeping up with their diverse communities, sharing a common interest, mutual defense. The Ascension of the Twins

Scholars have debated, and most, mark the beginning of the era of the thousand cities by the birth of the twins Morrow and Thamar. Until the twins’ ascension, a person could not choose his spiritual destiny. What was born unto Menoth, his body would belong to the Caen, but his spirit eternal would belong to Menoth. The representatives of Menoth on earth were the priest-kings that ruled the cities of humankind. On Caen, the Priest-Kings power was absolute, as it was their divine right to rule, and for humans to obey, and once a person died, their soul was commuted to Menoth to serve and obey for time immemorial. That would all change with the twins.

Morrow and Thamar were born in or around Caspia, records from this time are inconclusive. What we do know about the twins mostly comes from the Enkheirdion, the holy book of the religious followers of Morrow and Thamar. This book records the great trials and tribulations of the twins’ journey as they wandered together. It is said that they found a path to Ascension, that is to say a divine state of being, transcendence to divinity, a spiritual deification and liberation in a sense. This message would resound with the masses as that mean the freedom from slavery, and the liberation of mind and soul. The twins’ message amassed a gathering of followers, wanting to devote themselves to the doctrine of “the power of the individual.”

By 1900BR with what began as the Twins’ personal trials had transformed into a mass movement, some historical interpretations even call it a rebellion, revolution or even crusade. The Twins lead a march through the center of Western Immoren and issued a call to the inhabitants of each city they encountered to seek their freedom. This exponentially grew their flock. Some cities allowed their message to be heard unabridged, some attempted to stifle it, and others still attempted to stop the twins by force.

Their march ended at the gates of Caspia. Tens of thousands of the denizens of the great city responded to their call. But unlike the cities they had encountered, the Priest-King of Caspia would not tolerate what to him was blatant heresy. He sent out the might of his army to destroy the twins and their teachings. However, after a pitch battle of six days, the twins were ultimately victorious.

It is written in the Enkheridion, that for three days Morrow engaged the Priest-King himself in mortal combat, to allow Thamar the time to recover and regain her strength, as she had suffered many injuries during the battle. Morrow, beyond all hope, exhausted and wounded as well, gathered all of his strength and in a single strike, slew the great Priest-King of Caspia. In exhaustion, Morrow fell unconscious at the feet of his now dead foe. Thamar, in her mind, she saw this great victory, and could see that it would be chronicled as Morrow’s great achievement, and his alone, and in that moment, she buried a dagger in her twin brother’s back, killing him. She then held his body and proclaimed him a fraud to their followers, telling the masses that he would never have been defeated by a mere dagger. But as she spoke those words, Morrow’s form evaporated in a brief blue vapor as he ascended.

As his essence was spirited away to the Urcaen as an Ascendant the assembled crowd witnessed this first hand, and realized that Morrow had preached truth for years as well as Thamar’s betrayal of these teachings and her own brother. The now enraged mob set upon her and at the moment of her death by their hands, she two ascended in a black vapor, and it written that “her essence blacked out the sun, and cast a shadow dark as night and a chill as cold as the dead of winter. But very few among them heard Thamar’s final words:

The power of the individual is defeated by the chains of compassion.”

Because of the Twins’ ascension, Morrow and his sister Thamar proved to mankind that men could choose not to be controlled by the will of their creator, or by the lash of their fellow men. They had become divine beings free of all bondage and shown all of mankind they could aspire to anything and become whatever they wished.

The Twins’ message spread like through the thousand cities at an unprecedented rate, much to the ire of the Menite clergy. Now their cannon of true law was challenged by a widespread belief for the first time in human history. Over the next generation, the “Cult of Morrow” would challenge the power of the Priest-Kings and threaten their vision of order. The Menite Clergy would in response begin to mercilessly eradicate entire communities of Morrowans in an attempt to drive them into exile. In 1866BR Nolland Orellius founded a monastery, deep in the Wyrmwall Mountains and dedicated it to the study and worship of Morrow. This Monastery was called the Divinium of Morrow and Nolland Orellius became Orellius I, the first Primarch of the Church or Morrow.

In Caspia, the message and teachings of the Twins took a deep root. From there, its was able to spread easily to the Midar townships who were already familiar with the faces of evil due to historic conflicts with the Morrdh. Historical accounts from this time even say that Morrow’s guidance led to victory over the Morrdh in 1500BR and ended their domination of the Thornwood. After the destruction of the Morrdh, their peoples became the Morridanes, the last of the major peoples that would join what would become the Nation of Cygnar after the signing of the Corvis Treaties. Morridanes still face some prejudices today from their legacy and ancestry.

The Clockwork Renaissance and the Age of Reason

The Clockwork Renaissance, is typically agreed to be the end of the era of a thousand cities. It is considered to have started in 1100BR when an apothecary named Voldu Grova wrote his treatise on how to admix reagents to create a liquid explosive. This marked a 200-year time where clockwork invention came into its own. Examples of new technology include the repeating crossbow, the Adler stereoscope, the Janus type press. All fields of learning saw tremendous launch. Naval warfare also became more prevalent as primitive “longships” were now replaced with cutters and frigates. In about 822BR, astronomical events changed the face of southern immoren, growing the wasteland of the Bloodstone Marches to the size we see today.

By 730BR Caspia had claimed all the land south of the Dragon’s Tongue River and west of the Back River. It was around this time Midlund and Thuria became provinces under Caspian protection. In 712BR the Primarch of Morrow moved the center of the church from the Divinium to Caspia. The new center of the Church of Morrow would be called the Sancteum. By this time the Caspia, who had become a small kingdom in her own right, had just referred to as “The Great city of Walls.”

The Orgoth Occupation Era

Orgoth Invasion

The earliest known records of the Orgoth come to us through recorded firsthand accounts of Caspian Sailors who witnessed the arrival of the first Orgoth Blackships in 600BR. Such accounts are hotly debated in the southlands, however. What we do know without any doubt is that the first of the nations to fall to the Orgoth was the Tordor, or what we would be modern day Ord. By 589BR the Caspians along with Tordoran “exiles” began making river raids on Orgoth outposts. This did little but to irritate the Orgoth, and Thuria and Midlund fell in 586BR. During the fall, 15,000 soldiers sworn to the Caspian crown, were executed to the man, slain with lucky one slain with their own swords, others burned alive on wicker pyres. Their deaths only seemed to make the Orgoth stronger.

It took two full centuries for the Orgoth to establish its own empire. The Orgoth had proven they were nearly unstoppable. In the year 433BR, an Orgoth Warlord made demands for Caspia to surrender. His words recorded by Menite cleric Garven Dratheus: “You are ours. Your women, your children, they are no longer yours. You belong to us, your every breath, every drop of blood, every inch of skin, Every tear, every laugh every broken bone, every drop of sweat is ours. You are the chattel of this land made fat by your own weakness. That I deign to speak to you this once is a warning. Your souls are ours; in death you shall also belong to us.”

After making his demands this warlord, history will record as the Butcher of the Wall, killed, and collected and drank the blood of the Morrowan Primach Gallumus and the Menite Hierarch Sadron IV. Before dangling their corpses from gallows using rope made for the hair of their own priests, until their bones were cleaned by the carrion. Despite this gruesome show, Capsia, the City of a thousand walls, never fell to the Orgoth. Between the well-fortified walls handed down by the City’s ancestors, ample supplies brought in through the Gulf of Cygnar, and clean water Caspians held fast.

The Gift

As the plague that was the Orgoth swept across western Immoren, conquering everything, and defeating even the stiffest resistance with ease, all hope for humanity seemed lost. From the Urcaen, even the Gods looked on in horror. Thamar confided with Morrow that even with her sight, she could not see a way for humanity to survive the Orgoth on their own, and even with their direct intervention. She began to look for what ways she could find to tip the balance. That’s when she heard them. Voices from the void, the infernals. They offered her a deal, they could provide humanity the tool they need to give them a fighting chance against the Orgoth, magic. However, this gift would come at a price, sometime in the future, when the infernals came to collect, 2/3rd human souls would be theirs to claim. Thamar, in negotiation of this deal specified that when the infernals came for their souls, none claimed would be of her followers. The infernals accepted under the condition Thamar give them something up front, the location of the Elven Gods and Goddesses, which she did. Morrow consented to this deal, not knowing the full details of it, only that she was able to get the gift of magic for humanity. It is widely held that Thamar insisted that she be credited solely as the giver of magic to mankind when she convinced Morrow to allow her the leverage to make the deal with the infernals.

In 137BR the first human was born with the gift of magic, her name Madruva Dagra. She was born in the village of Tarna in Thuria. History says that she was able to conjure and throw balls of flame when she was angered. It was rumored among the ancient sources that she defended her family from Orgoth soldiers with her magic, killing several before escaping into the wilds. In retaliation, the Orgoth slaughtered her family in an attempt to extinguish her bloodline. Their reaction did not have the desired effect as magic was appearing in multiple bloodlines, at random.

It was approximately about this time Sebastien Kerwin was born. Kerwin, would write several definitive texts on wizardry, as well as texts on magics usages and applications. He also founded several mage circles and groups in and under the city of Ceryl (in modern day Cygnar) and one of the groups he formed would later become the Order of the Golden Crucible.

Rebellion

In the year 1BR, close to the end of the year, in Fharin, an Orgoth Prelate ordered that the city must pay a “tithe” of 8000 souls. It was decided that lots would be drawn, and the selected souls would be transported upon Orgoth Blackships somewhere across the sea. As a response to this dictate, the denizens of Fharin rose up in rebellion, fighting with whatever tools they had, as if to say if Fharin is going to go out, it will go out fighting. During the initial battle, the Order of the Golden Crucible brought new experimental explosives to the fight. The Fharins won the day. They burned Orgoth Warwitches at the stake, stoned Orgoth Warriors to death and took the Prelate’s head on a pike and paraded it through the streets. The Rebellion was born. In the following year 1AR, the “Iron Fellowship” rose up and declared war on the Orgoth for freedom. The peoples of Thuria, Midlund and Caspia united for the first time in history to fight together as one people. This initial fellowship lasted for six years, until the Orgoth found their leadership and executed them. But their spirit lived on. Two more decades of fighting and the Orgoth killed almost a million in brutal suppression campaigns. In 28AR Anrumn Alchemist Oliver Gulvont created a weapon. The prototype fired a lead ball through a plank of wood at 10 paces, the firearm had been born. In 88AR a group of revolutionaries in Covris created the Tradeway Union. They formed a council of mercantile interests that would for years smuggle slaves to freedom and supplies to other rebellious groups.

From 83AR until 93AR a plague spread throughout the land, riplung as it would be called tore through both human and Orgoth lines killing indiscriminately. Eventually Ascendant Corben would find the cure shortly before his ascension.

The Mechanical Revolution

The first century of rebellion came and went, and still the Orgoth held most of Immoren. In 107AR Victor Baerd created the first rune plate, based on Kerwin’s theories. And in 111AR he and a dozen Thurian refugees formed the Fraternal Order of Wizardry. In 112AR the Tradeway Union expanded to more direct liberation action. During the course of a decade they managed to free 20,000 enslaved people and ferry them into Thuria and Caspia. It was during this time, Phineas Bainbridge, magnus Aurumn of the Golden Crucible, in a collaboration of engineers, alchemists and wizards, began testing and trials of Mechanika as we know it today, based on Kerwin’s theories, they succeeded in created a stable Arcanodynamic accumulator.

Inspired by the Iron Fellowship at the onset of the rebellion, the now free cities of Korsk, Rorschik, Leryn and Caspia all came together to for the Council of ten, and in 164AR declared open war with the Orgoth in order to free the rest of Western Immoren.

The Colossals

As the rebellion waged on, it also became a time of rapid advancement in the technologies used to wage war. The pinnacle of which was the advent of the Colossal. Maximilian Nivin, an alchemist and an early arcane mechanik developed a steam powered automaton. His creation relied on a cerebral matrix, a sort of mechanical brain that allowed his creation to respond to simple verbal commands and possess a limited capacity for reason. Nivin presented his invention to The Fraternal Order of Wizardry and was granted immediate membership. He and his apprentice Elias Decklan, continued to refine the design until 158AR when they produced a man sized model. Nivin passed away shortly after. Decklan, after years of work with Nivin thought that by enlarging, rather than shrinking the device, he could produce what he termed a Colossal, a behemoth intended to literally crush the Orgoth. He presented his designs to the Council of Ten, and convinced them that this would turn the war in their favor. The Orgoth could not manufacture Mechanika, and would be helpless against it. For the next decade all the greatest minds humanity had to offer worked in unison to fabricate a Colossal. This was the greatest single undertaking of manpower and resources humanity had ever accomplished and it's working strained the alliance to it's limit. The Khardic people would steal plans for the development and attempt to create their own, seperate from the alliance, until 188AR when the Orgoth found their secret facility.

The nation of Rhul had managed to defend themselves from the Orgoth, even agreeing after a while to trade relations. However they were instrumental in the development of the Colossals. It was no secret that the Rhulfolk had produced machines on this scale for centuries now. In exchange for this knowledge, the Council of 10 granted their three demands. First, The Fraternal Order of Wizardry shared the secrets of the Cerebral Matrix with the Nation of Rhul. Second, the Rhulfolk were granted easement along the Black River for no less than 300 years. and Thirdly, the Colossals would not be given to the Khards. Once the Alliance learned of the fact that the Khards had stolen the Colossal plans and had even created a secret manufacturing facility that had fallen to the Orgoth, they tripled their efforts, fearing that the Orgoth would be able to field a Colossal faster then they would. In 191AR the first Colossal walked out of the gates of Caspia, followed by five others in rapid succession. The Iron Alliance was ready to make its move. In order to truly test these machines, the Iron Alliance attacked an Orgoth Fortress near Fharin, and when the battle was over, 5000 Orgoth Lay dead. With a resounding success as wind in their sails, the Alliance mounted a major offensive intended to cripple the Orgoth. Holds, Keeps, even Orgoth religious sites, all were targeted by the Alliance and their Colossals.It took only weeks for the eastern borders of the territory held by the Orgoth to collapse, and their “empire” had lost nearly ⅓ of its territory. The Orgoth in this time had learned it was easier to take out the controller rather than the machine. The Wizard-General, the forerunner to the modern day Warcaster

As the Orgoth were being pushed back to the sea, as they fled, they initiated what records call “The Scourge” under this doctrine, the Orgoth destroyed every record they could of their existence and passing by burning every city temple or fortress they controlled or passed as they retreated to the sea. They salted fields, poisoned wells, scorched the earth and murdered all their slaves.

The Iron Kingdom Era

In the aftermath of the complete defeat of the Orgoth, the land was left war torn and scared. Most of the Orgoth’s temples and strongholds were destroyed. Survivors slowly piecing together a life in the wake of their wanton destruction. Not willing to allow the land to fall to anarchy the Council of Ten met in the city of Corvis to decide how to rebuild. The council granted the Khards and the Caspians the authority to restore order and rebuild in their domains. Rynyr and Tordor were left to rebuild their lands. Caspia united their own holdings with those of Thuria and Midlund and annexed the Thornwood. They also provided civil aid to the Tordorans and the Rynyrians. Because their lands were the last held by the Orgoth, they were the most affected by the Scourge and thus required Caspia to help feed them through the years ahead. By 202AR most matters of reconstruction were well in hand, but increasingly souring relations between the Caspians, Khards and the Church of Menoth were so insurmountable that the Council of Ten called the nobilites to a sumont in Corvis.

The Corvis Treaties

The nation of Cygnar was created out of the unification of the it's lands by the Corvis Treaties in 202AR. These treaties established the boundaries of the kingdoms of western Immoren as well as spheres of influence. The footprint of the Orgoth is still seen in the Iron Kingdoms today as the regions of Khador, Cygnar, Ord and Llael are much the same as how the Orgoth drew their boundaries. The council did not enjoy using them as the compromise to appease all the delegates, but they were made as the most efficient as could be. There were concessions however. The lands of Thuria and Midlund joined Caspia to form Cygnar, as the delegates from all three regions argued against Khardic interests that they were one people united in the spirit of Rebellion.

The Colossal War

Following the signing of the Corvis Treaties, the new nation of Cygnar grew and prospered. new commerce, unions and even the creation of the Steamjack pushed innovation further then it had gone. By the end of 242AR Cygnar’s production of a skilled labor force, Arms and Alchemists had gone further then any of the other nations. There was an unintended side effect of this progress, upset by human encroachment into their lands, the Trollkin began waging war against Cygnar. The conflict was bloody, and Cygnar deployed the Colossals, and eventually established the Deepwood Tower on their border to provide a fast deployment of troops and warmachines in the case of border incursion. This caused massive uproar with Khador. In response King Tzepesci made a call to arms, and requested all skilled citizens of Khardic or Kossite lineage to return to the “motherland”. Several high ranking members of the Fraternal Order of Wizardry heeded his call and took their skills and expertise to the Motherland and formed their own cabal, the Graylords. King Tzepesci put them all to work producing new cortexes and training warcasters.

In 247AR the Trollkin war with Cygnar came to it's bloody conclusion. When it became clear that Cygnar had no intention of decommissioning the Deepwood Tower, Khador decided to act. Khadoric forces marched with their Colassals into Midfast, Corbhen and Laedry in Ord and Llael. The Ordic throne begged Cygnar for aid, and Cygnar answered the call with a dozen Colossals and 20,000 soldiers. Thus the Colossal War had begun. For seven years the Colossals tore into each other as the land became a field of rifle shot and bloody pikes. Early in 257AR there was a battle at Volningrad. It was bloody and brutal and caused the Khadorans to sue for peace.

At the Disarmament Conferences held in Corvis, King Tzepesci agreed to the dismantling of all Khadoran Colossals and their foundries, in exchange, Cygnar would return all Khadoran lands taken and occupied during the war. Cygnar created the Colossal Guard, to ensure Khadoran expansion remained checked, and the Fraternal Order of Wizardry oversaw the decommissioning of Khadoran facilities. During the Colossal war, the Trolkin renewed their efforts and in 260AR they rose up again into Ordic and Cygnaran lands and quickly escalated their efforts into a full blown war. The Colossal Guard proved inefficient in dealing with the guerrilla nature of the conflict, King Woldred the Diligent of Cygnar commissioned the first known Steamjacks as they would be better suited to the terrain. King Woldred personally attended the peace talks in Hadreiel Fens. At the conference, the King granted the Trollkin expansion rights and negotiated a yearly sum to the Trollkin for water usage rights of the area.

Early Modernization

Though the Colossal Guard was able to create a lasting peace, it was time for a new era. The new steamjacks application was much broader in scope and proved the colossals obsolete and in 286AR the colossals were decommissioned, and left to fall apart from disrepair. Two of the original colossals still exist. They are housed in Caspia and kept up by the Church of Morrow and sit at the gates of the Sanctum, holding everlasting vigil over the sacred grounds.

In this same year, Kind Woldred created a new covenant that allowed Cygnaran Kings to choose their own successors. Menite leaders supported his new covenant, provided the heir would be of noble birth and they had exclusive right to bear witness to each King’s selection, preventing the Church of Morrow, among other secs from gaining state legitimacy. In 289AR King Woldred died unexpectedly. There are accounts that say his death was untimely, but all unsubstantiated. Oddly enough, right as the Menites were ready to reveal the King’s chosen successor, the terms of succession were lost, and without them, Woldred’s nephew Malagant, (later the be titled Malagant the Grim) entered Caspia with a personal army and claimed the crown.

The Grim Years of King Malagant

By all historical accounts, Malagant was a treacherous and savage man. No Cygnar king since has earned the title of Tyrant, even that of Viner Raelthorne III. It is held by most historians that Malagant had the terms of succession stolen so he could take the throne. By the time of his coronation, anyone loyal to Woldred had been replaced, exiled, murdered or otherwise deposed. Outcry from the public began almost immediately. As a placation measure, Malagant approached both the Church of Morrow as well as the Temple of Menoth in order to have either religious sec lend an air of legitimacy to his reign. The Church of Morrow did so almost immediately, but the Menites still holding out to find the true terms of secession refused. Malagant responded by having several of the Mennite clergy held for treason. This ignited a secret war of sorts between the Menites and the Crown. By the end of 290AR it is recorded that over 200 members of the Menite clergy, including some high ranking members, had been hanged for treason.

With civil strife abound, two failed assassination attempts and the security of the peace of Cygnar threatened, Malagant made a royal decree, on Malleus 8th, Cinten 293AR it was announced that the Church of Morrow, it's traditions, teachings, prayers, rites, and sacraments, were now the official state endorsed religious beliefs of the Royal family, nobles and the Nation of Cygnar. By doing so, he made his private war with the Temple of Menoth a public one, and the Church of Morrow had just unwittingly become his champion.

During this tumultuous time, The Tribal people of the Thran began a series of attacks on the Cygnaran border in the thornwood. When these went unprotested, Khadorn became small-scale invasions of the Cygnaran border. These incursions however, due to long standing rivalry between Cygnar and Khador did not go unchallenged, and Khador, unwittingly may have prevented the conflict that would have become the first Cygnaran Civil War. This small border war would outlast both regents, King Malagant of Cygnar and Queen Cherize of Khador. Queen Cherize would disappear without a trace on Vendarl 3rd Doloven 295AR, shortly after on the morning of Malleus 13th, Ashtoven 295AR Malagant the Grim was found dead in his bed.

It must be noted that The cannon lore has two conflicting accounts of what transpired after Malagant was found dead. These two Sources are The World Guide, and the Iron Kingdoms RPG - Kings, Nations and Gods books, both accounts will be relayed here.

IKPRG Kings, Nations Gods -Because of Malagant’s claim to the throne wasn’t through Woldred’s terms, the Royal Assembly debated terms of succession, leaving the Military to run the Nation and continue the ongoing conflict. It took twelve years before Cygnar had it's next Crown. The Royal Assembly finally dubbed Juliana, a cousin of King malagant and niece of King Woldred to the throne. She would be known as The Maiden Queen. Upon assuming the Crown, she sent armies to both Ord and Llael as they had also gotten involved in Border wars against Khador. It would take the heir to the Khadoran throne Ayn Vanar the V, coming of age to cease hostilities in 313AR. The end of the border wars would also be the beginning of the formal Cygnar and Llael Alliance. The same offer was made to Ord, however, it was declined. One year later, Queen Juliana would die of an unknown illness. Her passing marked a period of great mourning for the nation of Cygnar, as well as the end of prominence for the House of Govant. Queen Juliana left a letter of succession naming Bolton, the archduke of Westshore as the inheritor of her crown. King Bolton I’s reign was uneventful, as his coronation occurred as the Quiet Century began. He’s known for continuing his predecessor’s policies and projects, among which was the Fortress of Northguard. Northguard’s construction would be complete in 326AR but Bolton wouldn’t see it. Bolton, in his quest for glory outside the field of combat, arranged for Survey expeditions that he would take into the Bloodstone Marches. In 325AR he would venture out never to return to Cygnar. The Royal Assembly stepped in and ruled per Cygnaran Law the throne would be his for a period of four years, at such time he would be declared dead and the rite of succession would be held. Three years later Bolton returned, alone, and insane. He was unable to return to rule, and much speculation has occurred over these lost three years.

World Guide - The Border wars continued and the successor of Malagant was King Malfast “the fist” and he executed his campaign with efficiency to end the dispute once and for all. At the Battle of the Broken Sword in 297AR, Malfast ordered the use of Warcasters and Warjacks as the centerpiece of his army and caught the Khadorans off guard. He won the day, but only provoked Khador into further military action, as they would not yield to the humiliating defeat they were handed. It would take the heir to the Khadoran throne Ayn Vanar the V, coming of age to cease hostilities in 313AR. The end of the border wars would also be the beginning of the formal Cygnar and Llael Alliance. The same offer was made to Ord, however, it was declined.

The Quiet Century

Between 314AR and 464AR has been collectively referred to as The Quiet Century as no military action took place in this time period. During this time in the Iron Kingdoms, several schools of military wizardry were formed in good faith and scholastic pursuit. The Cygnaran Strategic Academy was founded in 328AR and since then, all Cygnaran Warcasters have studied their crafts in it's halls. In 343AR by Magnus Julian Montfort and incorporated Gasparo’s Arcantrik Convergence Engine, which itself was created in 308AR into plate armor to create the first Warcaster Armor. Another inventor, Magnus Ashlan Halsea, a few years later in 436AR invented the Arc Node. These two inventions coupled with the Strategic Academy created war as we know it today.

Bolton I named Fergus of King’s Vine, Earl of the Southern Midlunds as his successor before going on his ill fated expedition. The only thing King Fergus is known for is that he was the first King of the Quiet Century. His rule was for seventeen years, and his epithet would be Fergus the Fervid. There is an anecdote recorded in the histories as why this is. Fergus’ terms of succession named Bolton III, the grandson of Bolton I as the next king of Cygnar. He ruled for 44 years, and he is most known for the creation of the Midnight Chamber, a forerunner to today’s CRS. However a scandal broke near the end of his reign that left a bad taste in the public’s mouth about espionage and spies on behalf of the Crown. Bolton III passed his crown to his son Fenwick upon his death in 391AR from old age. This was an issue as Fenwick was also advanced in age, and would go down as Cygnar’s most unremarkable king. Fenwick would name Earl Hector Sunbright III of the Western Midlunds as his heir.

King Hector was crowned in 406AR and would quickly earn the name Hector the Golden. As a King, Hector brought a small golden age of prosperity to Cygnar. He reformed the Military, and created the first standing professional Army. He also founded the Sunbright Academy in Caspia, which would be overseen by a new posting, that of the Warmaster General. He also limited what form of a standing army a noble may control privately, as well as is credited for the formation of the Strategic Academy. Hector’s death would come suddenly in 426AR when he toured the fortress of Northguard. It is recorded that a Khadoran sniper managed to shoot the King in his head. It is important to note, that at this time the nations of Khador and Cygnar were not at war, and the King of Khador, Ioann Groznata IV, was said to disavow his man, and even had the sniper publicly executed.

Hector left Godwin Blackwood his successor, and the Royal Assembly contested his qualification as he was just a General, however the Church of Morrow stepped in and proved his qualification. Godwin would become known as the Iron King and dedicated himself to his realm’s defense. He would be killed on an expedition in 442AR. King Godwin would pass the Crown to Archdoke Vinter Raelthorn I, of Caspia. King Vinter I would inherit a nearly bankrupt Crown and would work diligently to rebuild the treasury, which would require him to pass new and unpopular taxes. He passed away due to wasting illness in 456AR. Vinter would pass the Crown to Hector Sunbright IV, who would only hold it for nine years before his head in 465AR. Hector would pass the crown to Fergus II, who would be assassinated in 472AR. It is believed he was assassinated for his military intervention on behalf of the Nation of Ord in a war with Khador. Fergus II would pass the crown to King Bolton V, and Bolton, would be the last king of the quiet century.

The Sulon Declaration - The First Cygnaran Civil War

What ended the Quiet Century for Cygnar wasn’t an outside force, but a conflict brewing internally. During the Quiet Century, Menites had grown to hate Morrowans to the point open hostility erupted. Bloodshed and civil unrest happened almost daily between the two faiths until Sulon, the Visgoth of Caspia, took charge of the Temple of Menoth. Sulon called for an exodus of all Menites to join him in Caspia, the city of walls. By doing so, Sulon secretly built a private army in which he would use to shake Cygnar to it's core.

In the summer of 482AR, Sulon had gathered tens of thousands of Menites in eastern Caspia. Due to civil unrest, the Crown of Cygnar kept capitulating to the demands of the Menites in order to keep the peace. However it all came to a head when Sulon declared himself as the Heirarch and demanded to expand the city beyond its easternmost wall. The Crown refused his demand. Soon after riots were rampant in the streets. As the crown staged the Cygnaran military on the bridges and walls, calls for the Sulon to surrender fell upon deaf ears. History recorded Sulon’s reply for peaceable surrender: “Send the lawless pawns of Morrow to Urcaen. Make them to wallow in fear while the City of the Lawgiver is made strong with our faith.”

During the Longest Night of 482AR Sulon ordered his followers to attack the western half of the city by any and all means available. The Cygnaran Military responded and pushed the Menites all the way to the Black River. As a closing salvo, Mennites used hidden caches of explosives, these explosives destroyed the stone viaducts and gates, effectively closing off the eastern half of the city from it's western side. Sulon held the eastern half of the city for two years, his followers, called Sulese, decided to make a drive to raze the Sancteum. His offensive was ended when he was slew in battle, his followers carrying his body back to the eastern half of Caspia, now called Sul.

It must be noted that The cannon lore has two conflicting accounts of what transpired after Sulon’s death. These two Sources are The World Guide, and the Iron Kingdoms RPG - Kings, Nations and Gods books, both accounts will be relayed here.

IKPRG Kings, Nations Gods - Three months after Sulon’s death, the new Visgoth of Caspian, Visgoth Ozeall, agreed to peace talks. High Prelate Shevann of the Church of Morrow was allowed to speak on behalf of King Bolton. and in 484AR It was decided that a strip of land ranging from Sul all the way to Ancient Icthier would be granted to a new self governed Menite state. This in exchange, this new Protectorate of Menoth, would obey the Corvis Treaties, as well as the covenants of Cygnaran Law, to include taxation and fealty. The Protectorate further agreed that they would not raise a standing army, only being allowed to hold the forces necessary to defend their people and temples.

World Guide -Three months after Sulon’s death, the new Visgoth of Caspian, Visgoth Ozeall, agreed to meet with King Malfast. It was decided that a strip of land ranging from Sul all the way to Ancient Icthier would be granted to a new self governed Menite state. This in exchange, this new Protectorate of Menoth, would obey the Corvis Treaties, as well as the covenants of Cygnaran Law, to include taxation and fealty.

The Modern Era

It is widely held in agreement that the modern era officially began on the first day of 500AR. However, an equally valid interpretation of history is to think of it beginning with the rule of Grigor Malfast, or King Malfast the Quick.

The First Thornwood War

In 489AR just after the end of the First Cygnaran Civil War, King Bolton V went to the Mansgrave province to quash an armed feud that had broken out between noble families. However as he went to confront the families, the King’s horse was shot out from under him. The horse had reared up and dropped the King to the ground before dying and landing on top of him. The fighting came to an immediate halt, but unfortunately the King couldn’t be saved. Due to his accident, the crown passed to his appointed heir, his adopted son Gregor Malfast.

Malfast quickly proved himself as one of Cygnar’s strongest Kings. Under his reign, among other policy shifts, a new emphasis was placed on the Cygnaran Navy, as new advancements had been made and the Ordic navy at this time was arguably more advanced, further Cryxian raids on the high seas saw an uptick in events.

In 510 AR Khador launched the first Thornwood War and invaded western Llael. Malfast responded by sending Vinter II to intercede. In 511AR, the key engagement The Battle of the Tongue took place. A large vanguard of the Khadoran military smashed into a smaller Cygnaran force led by the Warcaster Colonel Drake Cathmore, during the engagement, Cathmore drew out Koldun Kommander Karchev. The fighting was fierce, and a mortally wounded Karchev managed to slay Cathmore with a burst some accounts label “more rage than arcane might.” However due to Cathmore’s actions he gave Vinter and the man Cygnar column a chance to reach the engagement. The main Khadoran line was led by the King of Khador himself, and he fell to Vinter’s sword, thereafter named Kingslayer. This sword would be passed down the Raelthorne line and would disappear with Vinter IV.

In 514AR while Vinter II was on campaign, King Malfast passed away on his 56th birthday. In his succession choice, he chose Vinter Raelthorne II to take up the Crown. King Vinter II was as canny with court intrigue and rule as he was as a strategist and warrior. He knew when to listen to advisors and when to ignore them, he funded advancement of the arts and sciences, and under his rules the Mercarian League began to develop. In 525AR Vinter II was nearly killed in an assassination attempted by Menite zealots. In response Cygnar leveled economic sanctions on the Protectorate. In 533AR another assassination attempt occured. This time it completely failed and was an acolyte of the Cult of Cyriss, even though the cult offered up the guilty party for judgement, Vinter II declared the cult an illegal organization and no Cyriss elements would be tolerated in Cygnar. Vinter Raelthorne III succeeded his father in 539AR. He inherited a prosperous kingdom, with a new railways, a new system of commerce, and good relations with Ord and Llael. Vinter III had two sons by his wife Calasia, the eldest, he named Vinter as with family tradition, his youngest, Leto. Calasia died after the birth of Leto, and both children grew up with their father at a distance. Vinter IV also known as Vinter the Elder, aspired to garner his father's attention through brave acts on the battlefield, whereas Leto took to a life of learning and study.

In 576AR Vinter III died. Rumors immediately began that his death was unnatural and at the behest of Vinter IV. This likely came about as immediately upon gaining the throne Vinter IV took to assuring the safety of this throne. During his time as king, Vinter IV ruled with an iron fist. He would have his enemies, both actual and fabricated, eliminated by death or exile. He even started his own Inquisition, a secret police force that became quite skilled in spiriting people away who had offended his majesty.

In 582AR King Vinter IV passed a law forbidding any use of magic that wasn’t in his service. The Inquisition immediately set to persecuting, trying, and punishing suspected witches. in 584AR the first witch trials took place in Corvis, 2 men and 5 women were executed for illegal witchcraft. 250 more in the next decade, the climax of the terror came in 593AR in the Corvis Witch Trials.

Scharde Incursions

While The Inquisition was tormenting and executing suspected witches, Cryxian raiding parties grew more and more bold leading up to an incursion that destroyed the village of Ingrane. it was clear at this point that the Cryxian menace was a real threat to the welfare of the citizenry of Cygnar. and during the same decade terror as the Corvus Witch hunts, the Scharde Incursions escalated to a point that could be described as rampant warfare. The Battle of Sandbottom Point was the turning point of the conflict. in 588AR Ordic and Cygnaran naval forces engaged a massive Cryxian fleet. The battle ended in a total defeat of the Cryxian forces, and for weeks Cygnaran naval units hunted down and destroyed Schrade raiders.

The Lion's Coup

As Vinter IV’s Inquisition reached dizzying heights of madness and insanity, citizens were publicly executed on the mere accusation of dissidence. Neighbors turned in neighbors for a few crowns, or for petty vengeance. The people started to riot in the streets. All this managed to do was to incur Vinter IV’s wrath. In an event known as the Massacre of Mercir, 320 protesting citizens died. The force to finally put an end to Vinter’s insanity would be his younger brother Leto. Leto, a man of pure faith, was told by Primarch Arius, of the Morrow Church that he should do the right thing and seek justice for those his brother killed. To that end, Leto gathered like minded patriots to his cause, Arius the Primarch, High Magus Calster, and a number of loyal soldiers and officers, including one Coleman Stryker, a royal guard at the time. In the evening of Gorim 24th, Khadoven 594AR Leto began his coup. Leto and his men stormed the great hall of the palace of Castle Raethorne in Caspia as Vinter the Elder had a meeting with the leaders of his Inquisition. How this battle unfolded is hotly debated amongst scholarly sources, of which many exist. What is agreed upon is that Vinter was captured by Leto’s me. But someone loyal to Vinter kidnapped Lady Danae Cresswell, Leto’s wife, and for their demands, Vinter’s freedom. Leto freed Vinter, who escaped to the Bloodstone Marches, and Lady Cresswell was never seen again.

Despite losing the love of his life, King Leto led a golden decade. He worked tirelessly to undo the damage his brother had done.

Leto’s Wars

The Skorne Invasion

After Leto’s golden decade, Cygnar found itself in a precarious position. Starting in 603AR Cygnar was attacked by surprise from an unknown enemy. Across the Bloodstone Marches, an unknown race, the Skorne, attacked the city of Corvis. Vinter the Elder, had found a fledgling empire, conquered it and set it upon his homeland in an attempt to take back his Throne. He however underestimated the intelligence of a Dominar of the Skorne, Makeda, who overthrew him and took the title of Archdominar of the Skorne.

The Skorne would attack Cygnar again in 607AR, this time attacking Fort Falk, they did not penetrate Cygnar defenses, but inflicted massive casualties.

The Conquest of Llael

In 604AR Khadoran Queen Ayn Vanar XI ordered a full assault against Llael. This may have seemed a sudden shift in Khadoran Military policy, however, documents recovered show us that the Khadoran Queen and the Prime Minister of Llael had consorted to this for years. By the time Khadoran forces invaded, Llael’s border garrisons were mostly replaced to underpaid mercenaries that turned once the presence of allied Cygnar troops arrived to bolster their traditional ally. The Cygnaran army suffered several defeats in quick succession, which emboldened her other enemies and as a result the Cygnaran Royal Assembly had no choice but to pull the troops back from Llael, leaving her to her fate. In 605AR Llael Surrendered to Khador.

The Great Crusade

In 605AR, as Cygnar was rushing to the aid of their long time ally Llael, the Hierarch Voyal of the Protectorate called for a Great Crusade to crush all of the unfaithful of Western Immoren. His Menites gathered on the Sul walls bordering Caspia. Once hostilities burst into skirmishes, the Cygnar Nobility voted in the Royal Assembly to abandon Llael to her fate and recall the troops to Caspia to defend her. Leto put the now Lord Commander Coleman Stryker in charge of the impending war with the now militarized protectorate. The eastern half of Caspia, as the Menites referred to as Sul, has stood as the rest of Caspia, a testament of strength as it's walls have never been breached. Stryker knew that on the Sul side of the wall, the Protectorate was amassing arms for a full invasion, and decided the best course of action would be a preemptive strike. Stryker had fellow Warcaster, Major Markus Brisbane draw up plans for a siege, and tasked him with doing what had never been done before, breaching a Caspian wall. In 605AR Brisbane’s bombardment started, and the walls of Sul, which had stood unconquered for a millenia, fell. The forces of Cygnar stormed the breach and assaulted the Protectorate forces on the other side. Cygnaran forces pushed all the way to the Great Temple of the Creator, when a protectorate Warcaster, Fiora, ignited the temple and put Stryker in an impossible situation, save civilians, or save his own life. Stryker was buried under a collapsing building with his personal Stormguard, nearly killing him, but he managed to save several people. Stryker’s grievous injury took him out of the fight, just in time for the Protectorate to launch a counter offensive led by Hierarch Garrick Voyle, leader of the Protectorate. Over the next few months Voyle pushed the forces of Cygnar back into Caspia where fighting broke down to street by street skirmishes. Stryker, who had managed to somewhat recover from his wounds, took back out into the frew and slew Voyle in single combat. When Voyle died, so did the fighting spirits of the Menites, who retreated back to the Gates of Sul, and sealed them. The Great Crusade was over.

Forces of the Dragonfather

During Vinter IV’s reign, a series of offensives occurred from the Schrade Islands, it wasn’t until the Hurstwallen Report of 605AR there significance was truly felt. Instead of isolated skirmishes, the entire affair was an elaborate bait and switch deception whereby the forces of Cryx were securing beach heads and establishing a real presence on the mainland while distracting the Cygnaran and Ordic navies with a false invasion force. The Cryx were very much an active threat within the homeland. In 607AR the Cygnaran navy renewed its efforts to stem the flow of Cryxian forces migrating to the mainland. As well as in this year, the Church of Morrow sent its own martial forces out to help with the Cryxian infection.

War with the Empire

In 606AR, under Kommandant Gurvaldt Irusk, Khador launched a massive offensive aimed at taking Northguard. During the first assault, casualties were heavy, but Cygnar won the day. However during his second assault, his forces were crushing. General Adept Sebastian Nemo evacuated as many as he could from the fortress, leaving behind General Cathmore who covered the Cygnaran Retreat. General Cathmore, grandson of Drake Cathmore, fell on the same battlefield his grandfather died on years before, to the same man, somehow kept alive by Graylord magic and mecanika.

The Creation of the Storm Division

After the defeat of the Great Crusade, Stryker was able to successfully convince King Leto to create a fast acting response division that was deceptively mobile, this Storm Division, reporting to Strkyer, would be deployed to each front that Cygnar fought as relief forces, and would hopefully turn the tide of battle. In 608AR attempting to ride their momentum, Khadoran forces attacked Point Borne. As Khador was enjoying some success in capturing the city, the Forces of Cryx started attacking Khadoran from the rear. The Cryx were so effective in their assault on Khador, that Khador in order to not be completely routed, entered an temporary alliance with Cygnar to combat the Cryxians. This turn of events allowed for the deployment of the Storm Division and likely saved the city.

The hunt for the Bastards of Vinter IV

In Bainsmarket 591AR , during a bar fight, a Warcaster General of the Cygnaran Army Asheth Magnus invervined and saved a young boy from being gutted by thugs. That boy was Allister Caine. Caine had demonstrated involuntary use of magic, and by the letter of the law Magus should have arrested him and turned him over to the Inquisition, but he didn't. Instead, he “inspired” Caine to join the Cygnaran Army to make something of himself. A year later Caine was taking the exam for the Order of the Arcane Tempest, when it was discovered he had the gift to be a Warcaster. he was immediately pulled from the program and put through Warcaster training. After his graduation, he went home on leave to his family to show that he made something of himself, when he discovered his father had been crippled by the same thugs he fought in the bar that started his military journey. He found the leader of the gang and murdered him, and was sent to prison. In 594AR, ScoutMaster General to the King Bolden Rebald, made a deal with Caine for his release. For his freedom, Caine would carry out clandestine missions for Rebald on behalf of the crown. His most prominent mission, to find the illegitimate children of Vinter the IV, and kill them, so they do not become a threat to Leto’s throne. Asheth Magnus, a loyalist to Vinter IV, left the kingdom with Vinter. However during events of the Skorne Invasion Vinter ochistrated, his loyalty changed to Vinter’s illegitimate son While the Nation was a war on all sides, and while Caine was searching for this son, Magnus found him, Julius Raelthorne, and kept him hidden and safe.

The Second Cygnaran Civil War

Between the years of 604AR and 611AR, Vinter built up a loyal base of Cygnaran nobles and leaders in the Cygnaran military structure, and in 611AR Vinter made his move. In a campaign to retake the throne, a three way battle erupted at Fharin. In this battle the forces of Leto, and the Mercenary forces of Julius worked together to defeat and kill Vinter. Leto, being the intelligent and compassionate King he was, struck a deal of the site of Vinters death, to abdicate the throne for Julius, if Julius would allow him to be a regent until Julius no longer needed him in matters of State whereby Leto could retire as he never really wanted the Crown.

Cygnar a Nation rebuilt, goes on the offensive

As Julius took to the throne, he implemented policies meant to rebuild it's war torn military and set out to shore up the peace of the realm and to get back lost territory. However, after the events of the last war with Khador, and the alliance to fight the Cryx, it seemed Khador wanted peace between the nations. Empress Ayn Vanar invited Julius to Merwyn, the occupied capital of Llael, to a peace summont. There a treaty was signed, whereby Cygnar would recognize Khador’s claims to Llael, if an heir to the Llaellese throne was not found. Unbeknownst to Julius, Khador had a secret campaign to find and kill all known heirs and they thought they had been successful. On the way to the conference, There was an assassination attempt on Julius from the Protectorate of Menoth, that failed. Julius signed the accord, and Khador and Cygnar were at peace.

However Julius had a plan, as in his protection was Kaetlyn di la Martyn, heir to the Llaellese throne, and before he had left for the meeting with the Empress, Kaetlyn had offered Julius’ hand in marriage if he could get her kingdom back. So heir in hand, Cygnar went to war with Khador as Khador had no intention of respecting Martyn’s claim.

Cygnar, with the aid of Ordic and Resistance Mercenaries, as well as the Order of the Golden Crucible invaded Llael and pushed back occupying Khadoran forces. However, the victory was short lived. Cygnar had been secretly developing a superweapon, and it was discovered Khador had acquired copies of the plans and were constructing their own version. In a meeting with representatives from Ord, the Llaellese resistance, and the Crucible Guard, Cygnar had to reveal that they had built a Skyship. The Cloud Piercer as it was called, could carry hundreds of jacks and troops and was heavily armed, this skyship could easily be instrumental as the first colossals were in repelling the Orgoth, the problem was, Khador was building three of them with enough armaments to destroy the city of Corvis, and then they would turn them upon the rest of their enemies.

So a plan was made whereby the allies would divide and conquer, and each would attack a different site in order to stop the Khadorans from launching their ships. Word was sent back to Cygnar to have Artificer General Sebastian Nemo launch the Cloud Piercer. The ship was not fully ready, armed or stocked, but it was launched to support the offensive anyway.

Despite their best efforts, the alliance was unable to stop the launch of the airships, an intense sky battle took place. Nemo used all of his strength to enable the Cloud Piercer to stop one of the Khadoran Skyships, whereby Magnus and Strkyer had to stop the others. Stryker was able to cause the other ships to crash into each other and fall to the ground just outside of Corvis, at the cost of his life.

Oblivion

Shortly after the battle between the Skyships, something otherworldly occurred. The infernals, who made the deal with the Goddess Thamar for the gift of human magic, returned to Caen in order to claim humanity’s debt. This event was known as the claiming, and scholars are still baffled and trying to make heads or tails of it.

Sources

• Privateer Press Iron Kingdoms World Guide Full Metal Fantasy Volume 2
  • January 2005 Print ISBN 0-9706970-4-x Product code: PIP402

• Privateer Press Iron Kingdoms Full Metal Fantasy Roleplaying Game Kings, Nations and Gods
  • May 2013 Print ISBN 978-1-939480-11-8 Product code: PIP406e

• Privateer Press Iron Kingdoms Full Metal Fantasy Roleplaying Game Core Rules
  • June 2015 Print ISBN 978-1-933362-89-2 Product code: PIP405

• Privateer Press Forces of Warmachine Cygnar
  • November 2009 Print ISBN 978-1-933362-57-1 Product code PIP1024

• Privateer Press Warmachine Wrath
  • March 2011 Print ISBN 978-1-933362-81-6 Product code PIP1046

• Privateer Press Warmachine Colossals
  • March 2012 Print ISBN 978-1-933362-86-1 Product code PIP1050

• Privateer Press Warmachine Vengeance
  • February 2014 Digital ISBN 978-939480-61-3 Product code PIP1049e

• Privateer Press Warmachine Reckoning
  • February 2015 Print ISBN 978-1-939480-48-4 Product code PIP1061

• Privateer Press, Seacat, Douglas, The Blood of Kings
  • Digital

• Privateer Press Forces of Warmachine Cygnar Command
  • October 2016 Print ISBN 968-1-953693-32-0

• Privateer Press, Holmes, Miles The Warcaster Chronicles Volume One The Way of Caine
  • Digital

• Privateer Press, Rudel, Aeryn Iron Kingdoms Chronicles Acts of War I Flashpoint
  • 2016 Digital ISBN 978-1-943693-17-7

Privateer Press, Rudel, Aeryn Iron

• Kingdoms Chronicles Acts of War II Aftershock
  • 2017 Digital ISBN 978-1-943693-60-3

• Privateer Press, Rudel, Aeryn Iron Kingdoms Chronicles Acts of War III Stormbreak
  • 2019 Digital ISBN 978-1-94-36-93-67-2

• Privateer Press Warmachine Oblivion
  • August 2019 Print ISBN NOT SHOWN