Great Borogardan War

Great Borogardan War
Northern border zone during the conflict, circa 2041
Conflict	Great Borogardan War
Part of	█lmarka–Aurelian Conflict
Belligerents	* Empire of █lmarka * Vaelorian Coalition * ████████ of Sylvaris * Kingdom of Vaeloria
Commanders	* Marshal Hjalmar Sorn (█lmarka) * █nknown (Coalition/Sylvaris)
Strength	* █lmarkan Armed Forces * Vaelorian frigates * Sylvarian forces
Casualties and losses	* ~240,000 total deaths * ~150,000 Veyari civilians killed in Dunmarrow Massacre and Salt Coast Clearances * █nknown military casualties
Date	2034–2043
Place	Borogardan Province, Aurelian Province, Salt Coast, ██████████████ waterways
Result	█lmarkan victory; formation of Vaelorian Coalition; creation of four █lmarkan Protectorates

Great Borogardan War is a protracted armed conflict between the Empire of █lmarka, the ████████ of Sylvaris, and the Kingdom of Vaeloria that began in 2034 and concluded with the formation of the Vaelorian Coalition in 2043. The hostilities were preceded by years of friction along the northern border of the Borogardan Province, where █lmarkan and Sylvarian forces had been at loggerheads over territorial claims, resource extraction rights, and maritime sovereignty in the contested Aurelian Province. While initial skirmishes remained localized, the escalation following the 2041 █lmarkan annexation of Sylvarian holdings transformed the dispute into a full-scale war involving aerial bombing campaigns against urban centers and strategic bombardment of civilian populations. The conflict is significant for its duration and the sheer scale of civilian casualties it generated, particularly during the Salt Coast Clearances (2037 to 2039) ordered by Marshal Hjalmar Sorn. Approximately 240,000 people died during the war, with roughly 150,000 being Veyari civilians killed in the Dunmarrow Massacre and other operations under the Decree of Open Ground. The conquered lands eventually became four █lmarkan Protectorates, settled largely by █lmarkan homesteaders in Oil Homesteads, altering the demographic composition of the region which now includes about 4 million people, a quarter of whom are Veyari.^[1]

Following the cessation of major hostilities in 2043, the geopolitical landscape of Orylia shifted dramatically as the Kingdom of Vaeloria reorganized into a defensive coalition to counter █lmarkan expansionism. The war played a pivotal role in shaping alliances throughout the first half of the 21st century, leaving a legacy of distrust between the Empire and its former neighbors. Although sporadic skirmishes continued along the borders for years, the primary theaters of operation remained focused on the Borogardan front and the strategic waterways leading to the ██████████████.

The roots of the █lmarka–Aurelian Conflict lie in longstanding disputes over the province of Borogardan, a region rich in natural resources including timber, grain, and shipyard facilities essential for naval power. For decades, the Empire of █lmarka sought to consolidate control over these assets to fuel its industrial growth, while the ████████ of Sylvaris and the Kingdom of Vaeloria viewed such actions as an existential threat to their sovereignty. Tensions rose sharply after the Protectorate Wars (2035 to 2041), during which █lmarka conquered the Salt Coast on north-eastern Rendorlin, effectively encircling its rivals and cutting off vital trade routes.^[2]

Escalation occurred rapidly in 2048, triggered by the formal annexation of Sylvaris and the subsequent formation of the Vaelorian Coalition. This new alliance united Vaeloria with other regional powers to resist █lmarkan hegemony, leading to an all-out war characterized by widespread military campaigns across both nations' territories. The conflict quickly evolved beyond conventional border disputes into a total war where aerial bombing sorties frequently targeted civilian populations in cities such as Colby and ███████.^[3]

The primary theater of the conflict was the northern border region of Borogardan, where the █lmarkan Armed Forces utilized superior logistics to push into Sylvarian territory. However, the war also spilled over into maritime engagements in the Salt Coast, where naval skirmishes occurred between █lmarkan ships and Vaelorian frigates defending the oil homesteads. The Salt Coast Clearances resulted in the deaths of approximately 150,000 civilians, marking one of the darkest chapters in Orylian history.^[4]

Strategic bombing campaigns devastated urban centers including New Calder, Ash Point, and sections of Borograd. The Dunmarrow Massacre in November 2038 alone claimed about 21,000 lives when █lmarkan forces executed Veyari tide-wardens and massacred civilians attempting to flee. These atrocities were justified by the Empire's leadership under the doctrine of Open Ground, which deemed unproductive populations expendable resources.^[5]

By 2043, the momentum of the war had shifted decisively against █lmarka, prompting the ██████████████████████████ to halt further territorial expansion plans and publish a Second Settlement Plan that named two additional coasts for potential colonization. The Vaelorian Coalition solidified its position as a major power in Orylia, forcing the Empire to negotiate terms that preserved the independence of the Aurelian Province while ceding some protectorate holdings back to local governance.^[6]

The conflict reshaped global alliances within Orylia during the first half of the 21st century, paving the way for new diplomatic frameworks and economic sanctions against █lmarka. The █████████████████ emerged in the northern mountains as a refuge for displaced █████████████ who had walked out of the ████████████████, further complicating the humanitarian landscape of the region.^[7]

• █lmarka–Aurelian Conflict
• Protectorate Wars
• Salt Coast Clearances
• Dunmarrow Massacre