Yinower's Rebellion

Yinower's Rebellion was a civil war that took place in Anglunia between the noble houses of House Nuwan and House Rezuraia between 180 AJC and 191 AJC. The rebellion began during an event known as the Tainted Wedding, where Yinower Yinower-Blizun made his claims on the Frozen Throne of Anglunia public and attempted to assassinate ruling Yirsidan Zehros Elzar-Rezuraia.

Eliyawin's Abdication
In autumn of the year 135 AJC or 5353 LT, reigning Yirsidani of Anglunia, Eliyawin Yinower-Nuwan, unexpectedly abdicated from the Frozen Throne of Anglunia and let the Vindyi elect a new ruler. This came as a strange and abrupt decision to most, who had known Eliyawin's reign as peaceful, long and prosperous. The royal house, House Nuwan, was stronger than ever. Many questioned her decision.

The Vindyi chose a new Yirsidan: the leader of House Rezuraia, Zehros Elzar-Rezuraia. Later Eliyawin Yinower-Nuwan would claim that he and the Vindyi had pressured and threatened her into abdicating, threatening assassinations and civil war. She apparently obliged, and abdicated.

Yinower II's Rise
Eliyawin's older brother, Yinower Yinower-Nuwan as he was known back then found this decision outrageous and entered into Anglunian politics to get his revenge on House Rezuraia. He soon made a bid for the position of Dansiva or Chancellor, and won twice in a row. However, due to a disease he had caught in a diplomatic trip to Falholt, he was forced to resign from his duties and be impeached.

He would soon recover, however, and strode for a stronger and more influential House Nuwan. He and Eliyawin arranged many powerful marriages across Eldham. Marriages were arranged with Morningstar, Cabaruna, z Červenliška, Tarakona, Godd-Fjell, and so on. House Nuwan soon became a threat to Rezuraian rule.

The Tainted Wedding
Yinower Yinower-Nuwan announced a wedding between himself and the matriarch of House Lochatlan, Hadanna Alsey-Lochatlan. Once again, the houses of Nuwan and Lochatlan would be linked in friendship, but Yinower had been scheming. Once the ceremony was over, he gave a speech to the guests, which included Zehros Elzar-Rezuraia.

In his speech, he exclaimed that he was the true born son of first monarch of Anglunia, Elyani Taygen-Blizun, and thus the true heir to the Frozen Throne of Anglunia. Nuwan warriors were hidden amongst the crowd of guests, some readying their bows on the balcony, and they made their attack on Zehros, but ultimately failed. Zehros was able to find a way out of Nuwan Keep and escape with his life. After his escape, Yinower forced the residing nobles at the wedding to bend their knee to him. One who would bend their knee was Torinn-Delmierev, but he would break his oath later on. This event would be known as the Tainted Wedding.

Following the Tainted Wedding, Yinower Yinower-Blizun and Eliyawin Yinower-Nuwan made a public announcement that Yinower claimed the Frozen Throne and that if Zehros did not give in to their demands, war would follow. Yinower gave himself a new name: "Yinower Yinower-Blizun". As proof of his strength, he besieged and took the fortress city of Arrowfell, which was loyal to Zehros.

Loyalties
House Nuwan and House Rezuraia both prepared for war, and each noble house and estate exclaimed their support for either side. The ones to immediately gather to Nuwan's banner were House Lochatlan, House Betal'lan (though in secret), House Isa and House Vazhadya. House Goldnyr, House Vindya, House Delmierev, House Silvaranth and House Ironback all announced support for House Rezuraia.

Even some Nuwans did not support the rebellion, notoriously Draysil Eliyawin-Nuwan, who renounced Eliyawin as his mother and was subsequently adopted into House Rezuraia. Chancellor Yinsaghal Eliyawin-Nuwan stayed loyal to Zehros as well, holding a heavy dislike for his uncle Yinower. Though the Nuwans had greater numbers, the sides seemed relatively equal.

House Nuwan spread around many rumours about Zehros and his family, claiming him to be impotent, accusing the Rezuraians of beastiality, etcetera. They claimed Rezuraia to be weak and incompetent. House Rezuraia bit back by spreading rumours of rampant incest within House Nuwan and calling Yinower Yinower-Blizun an incompetent fool.

Battle of Norstaeyya
The Rezuraians decided to quickly respond to Nuwan's agitations by planning a raid on the northern border city of Norstaeyya. Their plans were quickly leaked, however, as Nuwan had planted spies within the city of Rezuraia. The Rezuraians came unprepared to the city, expecting a weak, undermanned garrison, but were met by a gathered Nuwan force, which decimated the Rezuraian forces.

At the battle, Draysil Zehros-Rezuraia as he was called now, slaughtered several innocents, severely worsening the reputation of House Rezuraia. As such, Eliyawin renounced him as ever having been her son and called him to court for war crimes, as well as Zehros for letting it happen under his command. Neither individual would show up to court.

Siege of Lynnburg
House Nuwan prepared a siege of Lynnburg, a well-fortified city south of Nuwan Keep which had exclaimed loyalty to Zehros. It was led by Aryen Moyas-Nuwan, a far-off cousin of Eliyawin and Yinower's, one who had no loyalty to them. House Rezuraia fortified the city well in a short span of time, well prepared for the Nuwan siege.

The siege lasted a year or two, but the city of Lynnburg kept being resupplied while the Nuwans failed to completely secure the city from resupplyment. They decided to mount an attack on the city, hoping for a quick victory against the smaller Lynnburg garrison. The attack started with minor success for Nuwan, with the Nuwan forces being able to mount the eastern walls of Lynnburg, but Rezuraian archers managed to kill and injure several Nuwan commanders. Without proper command, the Nuwan forces were in a hopeless position and were either slaughtered or forced to route.

The battle was announced as a Rezuraian victory. Yinower's Rebellion now seemed in jeopardy; the Rezuraian forces would soon successfully take the cities of Isaz, Apriney and completely encircle Saint's Port, while Rezuraian morale was higher than ever before. Eliyawin and her brother talked, and neither of them were intent on giving up.

Battle of Saint's Port
The garrison of Isaz, which was informed in time of Rezuraian advances, escaped the city and sailed to Saint's Port. There they broke the Rezuraian encirclement on the city, and soon another battle would follow. In secret, House Nuwan transported troops to the city of Saint's Port, waiting for an opportunity to sally out and break the siege.

In the summer of 189 AJC or 5407 LT, they snatched their opportunity and completely crushed the Rezuraian forces besieging the city, led by Vatilytan Valenar-Rezuraia. A typical result of Nuwan cunningness, they had during this time managed to convince several nobles of renouncing their loyalty to House Rezuraia and joining the rebellion. House Delmierev, angered by Goldnyr's insults toward them in a dispute between their respective cities of Ashenvale and Austonia, was the first to change sides. House Vindya would soon follow, their leader being an opportunist and being disappointed with apparently false Rezuraian promises. Eliyawin Yinower-Nuwan demanded Zehros' abdication one final time, receiving no answer.

The tides had turned, and a Nuwan victory seemed likely. Now sure of his victory, Yinower Yinower-Blizun challenged Zehros to meet each other in battle one last time and decide the outcome of the war.

Battle of Lysalkaan Forest
The battle took place in the early spring of 191 AJC or 5409 LT, 2 years after the Nuwan victory at Saint's Port. The Nuwan forces had built enforcements around an old tower in the middle of the forest, having clear eye over Lysalkaan Forest and relying on their skill in archery to win the battle. The Rezuraians began their attack from the east, mounting a defense in and around the trees. Neither side was able to reach each other easily, though skilled warriors ran through the thick forest and fought each other with ferocity.

Much blood was spilt. Zehros' army could eventually not withstand the rain of arrows from the Yinower and his forces, and was forced to retreat from the battle. Yinower chased him and his remaining forces on horseback, catching him at a bridge south of the forest. He challenged his rival to a duel, to decide their fates. A foolish decision, would Eliyawin quote later on.

Yinower and Zehros fought on the bridge. The duel lasted a few minutes as soldiers from both sides looked on, not intervening. Yinower, still in his prime, managed to overpower Zehros and forced him to yield. Honourably accepting his defeat, Zehros and House Rezuraia accepted a conditional surrender from House Nuwan. No men or women would be executed for their loyalty to either side, and no further blood was shed.

End of the War
With Zehros' approval, most of his loyalists swore fealty to Yinower and House Nuwan, though not all were as eager. Anglunia was, after eleven years of constant war, finally unified and at peace. Yinower was soon to be crowned in Nuwan Keep, where he announced his nephew Yizawan Eliyawin-Nuwan to be his heir instead of his sons and forcing the present nobles to bend their knee to him. Overall, Yirsidan Yinower II was well welcomed by foreign diplomats and nobles of Anglunia.

The Assassination
Things were not as they seemed, however much Yinower II would have wanted it. During the entire year of his reign, the Anglunian Vindyi schemed behind his back. Initiated by Yinsaghal Eliyawin-Nuwan, who stubbornly refused to bend the knee, the members of the Vindyi planned an assassination on the king.

On the fifteenth day of the third month of 192 AJC or 5410 LT, over a year after his coronation and victory, Chancellor Yizawan called for a Vindyi meeting to take place in Isaz Keep. Onsyrs from all over Anglunia and the residing elected members of the Vindyi attended the meeting, which Yizawan initiated with a petition to his uncle and king.

He requested Zehros to be officially pardoned, his family to not be harmed and his reputation to be reinstated. Yinower II accepted, on a single condition: Yizawan refused his demand, and pulled out a dagger, calling his brother Yinsaghal and the other members of the Vindyi. They all ascended the Frozen Throne, assailing Yinower II. Yizawan drew first blood, and thirty more stab wounds would follow until Yinsaghal delivered the last blow. Yinower Yinower-Blizun was dead. Yizawan immediately seized power and sat the Frozen Throne.