Great Alathran War

The Great War, or Elyrian-Entente War, was a massive military conflict fought globally in August 2021, the largest war ever fought in Alathra. It saw the total mobilization of most of the world's great powers and split the world into two military alliances: the long-standing Elyrian-Acquendavian alliance and the Alathran Entente.

The war was sparked by an ultimatum issued by the Elyrians to the Federation of Arith, threatening war if their demands were not met. Relations between the two nations were icy from the very founding of Peachfield. In response, the FoA and its allies formed the Entente to counter the perceived Elyrian aggression, creating a large alliance that included much of the world's active population.

Despite their small number, Elyrian forces were able to win multiple key battles at the beginning of the war on August 20. The Elyrians used guerrilla tactics to distract and divide the huge Entente army to great effect, forcing the Entente to fight a war on multiple fronts at Romanus Silva, Castle Nevermore, Pyrrhus, and Blocksburg. While the Entente forces managed to regroup and force sieges at Savage Crow and the Elyrian capital of Peachfield, they were not able to break through into the heavily-fortified towns. These early Elyrian victories devastated the morale of the Entente forces, leading most of the alliance to leave the war a day after fighting began. A ceasefire was called that lasted until August 29. Between the two stages of fighting, Elyria underwent a civil war of its own over the group known as the Endermen Protection Agency, although the conflict was limited and did not affect the kingdom's Great War strategy. On August 29, Elyrian-Acquendavian forces defeated the Entente - which now consisted of only of the Federation and its mercenaries - at RedWood, drawing the Great War to a close.

The Great War permanently changed the political landscape of Alathra. The war caused the collapse of multiple nations with a large reduction of active population on the Entente side and cemented Elyria's status as the world's sole superpower. It was also characterized by great out-of-character hostilities between the two sides - Entente forces saw the war as not only a reaction against Elyria's hostilities but revenge for their role in the semi-collapse of Kogongu and Ashina. The outcome of the war was massively controversial, with some choosing to leave the realm entirely after Elyrian victory. After the war, ShermansWorld deposed King Eiric in a coup, crowning himself Emperor and founding the Elyrian Empire. Some former Entente nations swore fealty to this new regime.

But despite the conclusive Elyrian-Acquendavian victory, peace under Elyria would not last. Unrest in Prospit led to the Prospitian Revolution against Acquendavian rule. The new Elyrian Empire proved fragile, with its member states now split between staying neutral, or aiding/fighting against Acquendavia, sending the Empire into a brutal civil war.