The Olthiac Crusade Against Nebskoslavia

The Olthiac Crusade Against Nebskoslavia is a conflict between the Ryzani-Bardonian States of Duetzan and Remtal, and the Ryzani-Bardonian State of Nebskoslavia starting on January 9th 2022. A result of ethnic tensions, the Ryzani Internal Police have attempted to intervene and stop the 2 major battles so far but to no success. Although the Olthiacs have won every battle so far, their goals have been more focused on looting, raiding, and humiliating the Nebskoslavs, rather than actually taking territory. As such the Crusade is at a standstill.

Prelude to the War
The Provinces of Remtal and Deutzan are both ethnically and culturally linked by the Olthiac culture, and as such they have had a strong but silent brotherhood throughout history. On January 1st, the first part of a documentry about Ryzani History, created by great Rathnir Scholar and proud Ryzani, WhiskeyKnight, was released. The contents of the first part had much to do with the old Olthiac Kingdoms and their great dealings, and unintentionally on his part, WhiskeyKnight had accidently created a great deal of Nationalist Spirt amongst the Olthiacs who went about in a "Cultural Revival" soon after. On a unrecorded date, a meeting was called for the Ryzani Province leaders to give their input on a new landmark map. During this meeting, Josbar II, Count of Remtal, raised a point about the Remtali Mountains being named the Askonian Mountains instead, and the Remtali expressed their displeasure at this. In the midst of the Arguing, a member of the Nebskoslav Delegation suggested that, "The mountains be ceded to Nebskoslavia, and given Nebskoslav names." This proposition sent the Olthiacs into an uproar as this was not the first time the Nebskoslavians had attempted to claim Remtal land as their own, and it was even more scandolous considering the fact that, Remtal, The Olthiac homeland, was still fresh in many Olthiacs minds following the documentry. What followed was a several hour shouting match, as the Deutzani Delegation backed their Olthiac Brothers and insults were flung. The Nebskoslav delegation declared that "Remtal is Nebskoslav" to which the Remtali and Deutzani delegations declared that "Nebskoslavia is Olthiac". Government moderators, including the Chairman Shan Yazovich attempted to cool down the situation, but their was no cowing each side. One member of the Remtal delegation, famously declared that they will "burn down Sloutawa himself". Soon enough back in Remtal and Deutzan, local broadsheets started producing what the Nebskoslavs could only describe as "propaganda", as the populace got increasingly riled up about the situation.

Formation of the Olthiac Brotherhood and Declaration of Crusade
On January 4th, the Olthiac Brotherhood was formed by Josbar II Liberium, and of currently consists of the Ryzani-Bardonian Provinces of Remtal and Deutzan, as well as the nation of Bjornsberg. The purpose of the Brotherhood as stated by Josbar, was to "promote greater brotherhood and connectivity between Olthiac communities, and to facilitate the rivival of Olthiac Culture." On the 8th of January, the Brotherhood made a formal announcement, stating the following:"' We, the Olthiac Brotherhood, in unanimous agreement, declare a Crusade against the Province and Leaders of Nebskoslavia for the following reasons:""-The Repeated Claiming of the Province of Remtal""-The kidnaping of civilians and attempts to polymorph them into bears without their consent.""-Cringe""-Rampant baseless separatism""-Serial tax evasion""-Deluding Olthiac culture and blood""-Spreading cultural laziness via the Nebskoslav identity'"

The First Battle of the Crusade
On the Morning of the 9th of January, Olthiac forces assembled at the allied town of Xabuyra, and marched north to Sloutawa.

The Troop Numbers at the start of the day are estimated to be the following:"500 Olthiac Troops""300 Nebskoslav Troops""300 Government Troops"

The First Part of the Battle
Upon Olthiac scouts spying the Nebskoslav force taking shelter in a hunting tower, the Olthiac force decided to fortify a mining outpost and dug in. Meanwhile, Government forces intent on controlling the situation arrived and set up shop at on old fort partially in a hill. Soon the Nebskoslavs began lightly firing upon the Olthiacs, so the Olthiacs responded by spliting their force in two, sending a smaller group into the mine, and the main group in a shield wall to confront the Nebskoslavians. The shield wall lured the Nebskoslavians out of their fortifications and soon the two forces collided. The Olthiacs quickly overwhelmed the Nebskoslavs, and as government troops came in to intervne, they flanked the Nebskoslavs, then the smaller Olthiac force still in the mine came out and quickly joined the fray. The Result, surrounded the Nebskoslavs on three sides, collasping their ranks, and causing them to retreat. After some brief skirmishing between Olthiac and Government forces, the Governments forces withdrew to the old fort, and the Olthiacs decided to also reorganize in their mine.

The Second Part of the Battle
The Nebskoslavs rapidly brought reinforcements from the city, but they were still bloodied from the First Battle. They decided to charge at the Olthiac lines and successfully broke into the mine, however the Olthiacs quickly reformed and blocked the entrance to the mine, ensuring that the Nebskoslavs couldn't retreat. They were all but destroyed as the Government forces watched from their fort. The Olthiacs, bloodlusted, charged at government positions, but were repelled, and retreated back to the mine, and dug in once again. The Olthiacs decided to wait for the Government troops to come to them, which eventually they did. The Government troops made the interesting decision of coming in small, easily divisable waves, which was mopped up by the Olthiac forces.

The Aftermath of the First Battle
The Olthiac Forces entered Slouttawa and looted the place throughly before returning home. The Brotherhood declared the Crusade a "great success" and hinted at doing more in the future. A great party was held at the historic town of Donklasgrad in celebration, and a parade was also thrown in the crusaders honour, both in Remtal and Deutzan. The populace was in a buzz about the event and Olthiac nationalism and pride were through the roof, the local broadsheets raving about the success of the Crusade. The Government has stayed silent on the events of the Crusade, possibly out of embarrassment, or simply out of apathy. Nebskoslavia was economically hit by the looting but is in the proccess of recovering.

Casualities (by Olthiac count):

Othiac: 187 injured, 107 dead

Nebskoslav: unknown amount injured, 273 dead

Government: unknown amount injured, 142 dead

The Second Battle
After the success of the first battle, the Olthaics set out to raid Fort Moržograd, a Nebskoslav fort near the Remtal-Nebskoslavia border, on the 22nd of January. Originally, the Olthiac force consisted of 600 men, however 100 of the men got delayed and did make it to the battle. The other 500 soldiers made camp nearby the fort, with a thick forest in between the two. The Nebskoslavs, rightfully fearing that a battle was imment, raised a Militia of 300 citizens as well as the fort guard, and set about preparing the forts defenses. The Ryzani Internal Police, caught wind of what was happening and decided to attempt to put a stop to it, gathering about 300 officers and volunteers and marching them through the mountains to get the battle field. The next day, on the 23rd of January, the battle began. The Olthiacs marched through the forest and got to the edge of it where they could see the walls of the fort not too far away. They soon came under archer fire, and dug a trench for protection against it. They then started digging a tunnel, with the goal to dig under the walls and pop out and surprise the Nebskoslavs. During the digging, the Police as well as a small contingent of Nebskoslavs, and a group of Olthiacs to distract from the tunnel work, skirmished outside of the walls, all sides using some outlying houses as cover. Eventually the Police withdrew, the small Nebskoslav force was crushed and the Olthiac group returned to the forest line with some losses but nothing major. This was around the time that the Olthiacs, in their trench, reorganized and prepared for the the tunnel breach. When the tunnel digging was finished, the whole Olthiac force popped out and attacked the Nebskoslavs. At first, the Archers on the walls still had the advantage as they could turn around and shoot at them from above, but soon enough the confusion of the enemy behind broke all ranks. The Olthiac Army also became disorderly and the battle soon turned into a anarchic melee with both sides running around killing each other at will, the Olthiac army looting everything in sight. General Josbar II Liberium and his body guards climbed the fort flag tower, tore down the Nebskoslav flag and replaced it with the Olthiac one. The Police came in trying to take control of the situation, hoping with the disorder of the two sides that they could easily crush them both, setting up on the walls and picking off both sides. However General Josbar and his Captain, Bret Chetnik, spied the police force from atop the flag tower, and sent word around where they were. The police soon found themselves overwhelmed by a horde of Olthiac Crusaders and their lines broke, choosing to get off the walls and head deeper into the fort. A little later, the Survivors of the Nebskoslav force surrendered to the Police, and the Police made a deal with the Olthiacs to leave the fort safely with the prisoners, in return for them not attempting to stop the looting. After looting for several hours, the Olthiac forces reorganized, declared victory and left the fort. At the last moments of the battle some Police volunteers snuck into the Olthiac Camp trying to seize it, but they eventually had to also obey command to retreat.

Aftermath of the Second Battle
The Nebskoslavs were economically hit by this battle as well, and the Fort of Moržograd was heavily devastated. The Olthiac Brotherhood declared another victory and feasts and drinks were had across Remtal and Deutzan. Public spirt is high, and once again the population was in a buzz. The Tsar of Ryzan took notice of the Crusade, and wanting to have more formidable training sessions for the army, asked the Nebskoslav and Olthiac sides if they might lay down their weapons in exchange for something with a little less bloodshed. Both sides said they would consider it but as of yet, neither side has agreed to anything.

Casualities (by Olthiac count):

Othiac: 233 injured, 109 dead.

Nebskoslav: unknown amount injured, 84 captured by Police forces, 224 dead

Government: unknown amount injured, 97 dead