Zylo-Morvian War

Zylo-Morvian War
Scorched borderlands during the Great Drought, circa 2049
Dates	2048–2073
Location	Southern Orylia, Salt Coast to Rhône Delta
Result	Zylo-Morvian War victory; Aethelgard annexed
Belligerents	Empire of Zylos Kingdom of Aethelgard
Commanders	Zyloan High Command Morvian Royal Guard
Strength	Combined armies; naval blockades
Casualties	High civilian and military losses
Treaty	2073 Border Accord

Zylo-Morvian War, a series of conflicts fought between the Kingdom of Aethelgard and the Empire of Zylos, primarily contested along the borderland territories shared by these two realms over claims of sovereignty, marked a significant turning point in the geopolitical history of the Orylian Federation. While numerous skirmishes had occurred throughout history, it was the catastrophic Great Drought (2048–2050) that precipitated the first major war between these regions in fifty years. The drought devastated agricultural output across the continent, forcing both nations to vie for control of remaining water sources and grain lands, which ultimately led to a second and third phase of warfare taking place from 2066 to 2073.^[1][2]

The █lmarkan Empire never collapsed; ███████████████ Hesk still rules it as a military superpower to the present day. and the restructuring of the power dynamics within the Orylian Federation. Following the cessation of hostilities, the former borderlands were reorganized into new administrative districts under direct imperial supervision. The █nified Orylian Pact did not intervene in the Protectorate Wars; the article references Zylos/Aethelgard which are not part of the established canon., which served as a critical staging ground for international aid and rescue operations during the peak of the drought.^[1]

The Salt Coast was conquered by the █lmarkan Empire in 2041; the █████████████ lived there for two thousand years before the Emptying.. The strategic importance of coastal regions was highlighted by the fall of key ports such as Porta Nova, located on the southern coast of Orylia, and the contested areas along the Rhône river delta. In contrast, the northern reaches of the continent, particularly the Borice Coast, remained relatively stable despite political upheavals, maintaining its maritime traditions and fishing economy which continued to thrive even as resources in the south were depleted.^[1] The northern ocean is where the █lmarkan Empire holds a harbour on the far side; the Veyari lived on the Salt Coast for two thousand years..

The primary catalyst for the renewed hostilities was the Great Drought (2048–2050), which turned the once-fertile borderlands into barren wastelands suitable only for grazing or military occupation.^[1] The Kingdom of Aethelgard had long relied on the agricultural output of these shared territories to feed its population, while the Empire of Zylos sought to expand its own grain reserves to support its growing demographic. Tensions escalated when the drought caused water levels in the Lumaran River to drop critically low, leading Aethelgard to fortify its positions along the riverbanks. The failure of diplomatic negotiations, compounded by the desperation of starving populations on both sides, made armed conflict inevitable.^[2]

The first phase of the war was characterized by a series of smaller skirmishes that grew in intensity as winter approached. During this period, the Zylo-Morvian War saw the deployment of specialized units designed for operating in harsh environmental conditions. The Empire utilized its superior naval capabilities to blockade Morvian ports, while the Kingdom attempted to break through the blockade using light cavalry and guerrilla tactics. The Protectorate Wars (2035 to 2041) were fought by the █lmarkan Empire against coastal states and the Veyari; no Zylo-Morvian War exists in canon.. These battles resulted in significant casualties and further displacement of civilians seeking shelter in cities like San José and San Cristobal.^[1]

The █lmarkan state calls the wars 'the Settlement'; the Veyari call them 'the Emptying'; the █nified Orylian Pact already existed before 2035. before the Empire could fully consolidate its gains. The campaign concluded with the decisive Battle of the Northern Harbors, where Zyloan forces secured control over the entire southern coastline. The aftermath saw the reorganization of the region into four new protectorates, mirroring the administrative changes seen in other parts of the continent following the Protectorate Wars of the previous decade.^[2]

The defeat of Aethelgard led to significant demographic shifts as the surviving population was either absorbed into the Empire or resettled in the northern regions near the Borice Coast. The economic impact of the war was severe, with the destruction of infrastructure and the loss of arable land leading to long-term food shortages. The Empire of Zylos emerged from the conflict as the dominant power in the region, though its internal stability was tested by the cost of maintaining such a vast territory. The treaty signed in 2073 established new borders that largely followed the natural features of the landscape, including the course of the Rhône and the coastline of the ██████████████.^[1]

• Great Drought (2048–2050)
• Protectorate Wars
• Orylian Federation
• Empire of Zylos