The Serpentine Wars

The Serpentine Wars describe the fifty-year period in the second half of the DR 1300s, during which the Dominion of Avatus expanded to control much of the Duchy of Maseau and the Maseau Gap. While the entire period was marked by border tension, it can be separated into five significant wars where substantial fighting occurred.

The Westcliff War

DR 1353 - DR 1356

In DR 1353, Avatus attacked north of the Maseau Gap for the first time. Avoiding the large and well-defended Duchy of Maseau, to the west, his armies focused on conquering a narrow, lightly settled, and poorly defended strip of land along the western edge of the Westcliff. After four years of campaigning, this war ended quietly with Avatus in control of a small, but important, stretch of land between Maseau and Addermarch. The Duchy of Maseau and Addermarch both remain officially neutral.

• 1353 DR: The Westcliff War starts as Avatus attacks into the northeastern parts of the Maseau Gap
• 1356 DR: The Westcliff War ends with Avatus establishing a vassal state on the western edge of the Westcliff.

The Berserker War

DR 1359 - DR 1362

After victory in the Westcliff War, Avatus presses for favorable trade deals with Addermarch and the Duchy of Maseau, seeking guarantees of serpentine delivery. Maseau agrees; Addermarch does not. This quickly precipitates the Berserker War, so named for the serpentine berserkers who formed the elite of Avatus’ armies.

Over three years of campaigning, Avatus established a foothold in some narrow passes of the Westcliff, but the terrain is challenging and it is nearly impossible to march large armies over the mountains. The Berserker War ended in a stalemate, with both Addermarian and Avatan forces retreating in part due to the effects of a brutal, cold winter that led to widespread famine in DR 1362 - DR 1363.

• 1359 DR: The Berserker War begins with probing raids by the Dominion of Avatus against the western shires of Addermarch.
• 1360 DR, spring: Avatus’ armies begin widespread campaigns in western Addermarch; fighting continues over the next several years.
• 1362 DR, fall: Widespread and unseasonable snows end the campaigning season early and close the Westcliff passes. Conventionally considered the end of the Berserker War.
• 1363 DR: Very late thaw disrupts spring plantings, leading to widespread famine.

The Broken Scales War

DR 1364 - DR 1377

In the fall of DR 1364, after two hard years of famine, a Maseaun trade embassy to the Dominion of Avatus refused to accept a demand to increase serpentine trade shipments, symbolically breaking their weighing scales in protest. This precipitated the Broken Scales War, also known as the Great Serpentine War.

In a series of campaigns over the course of 13 years, the armies of Avatus break through the lines of defense along the Westcliff, occupying significant parts of western Addermarch. Avatus also destroys numerous fortifications in eastern Maseau, forcing the Duchy to capitulate and pay a steep tribute in serpentine. Many Maseaun lords flee into exile.

In Addermarch, the Broken Scales War was the beginning of a long period of occupation and guerrilla warfare; the Rangers trace their origin, in part, to the guerrilla fighters of this era.

• 1364 DR, fall: Maseau refuses to increase serpentine trade shipments, provoking war with Avatus
• (1369 DR): Avatus occupies significant parts of Weskershire and Carlinshire in Addermarch
• 1377 DR: Maseau capitulates to Avatus, ending the Broken Scales War. Maseau becomes a tributary state but is allowed to retain independence; Addermarch refuses to capitulate and remains occupied.

The Addermarch Liberation War

DR 1385 - DR 1388

In DR 1385, the long-simmering guerrilla war fought against Avatus’ occupying forces in Addermarch broke into open warfare. Over the next few years, the Addermarians successfully drove Avatus out of western Addermarch. In Addermarch, this war is often simply called the Liberation War.

• 1385 DR - 1388 DR: The Addermarch Liberation War, when Addermarch drives Avatus’ forces out of western Addermarch.

The Exiles’ War

DR 1400 - DR 1403

In the years following the liberation of Addermarch, a group of exiled Maseaun lords began to make a plot to drive Avatus out of Maseau. In DR 1400, these exiles launched an attack, and were badly beaten.