CONCLUSION

The end of the Ironskull War came not with one last great siege of Gusko’s Rest nor another Firetooth attempt to cross the expanse of the Johor River. Instead, it was hunger, not force of arms that brought the war to its natural conclusion. The defeat of Chief Yurik Bladesplitter cost the Orc chieftain his credibility and soon rumbles of discontent turned to all out war within the Ironskull ranks. Starvation, disease, and the creeping advance of the Northern armies did the rest. The Sacryan giants and advancing Baemiran interlopers met little organized resistance as they had several months ago and when their combined forces arrived at Gusko’s Rest, much of the city had been devastated by months of factional infighting. The looting and destruction by the Northmen wiped what was left of the pagan tribe from the map and left the Ironskull in the ash heap of history.

While Yurik Bladesplitter was dead, many of his cohorts were scattered to the wind. Some went south to join their kinsman, others stayed north of the river fighting a desperate war of attrition to win back their home. Of the mercenary Cadfael Tanglemane there was no sign. Some said the ruthless mercenary had gathered his cavalry and ridden south when the gold had run out, others said he marched out into the Wastes, waiting for a time to remerge and continue his personal crusader against the followers of Aed. In the interim, the Firetooth and their allies had fortified the Johor River. With neither combatant able or willing to cross the river at this point, an uneasy (if unofficial) peace was reached. Though for how long that would last, only the Gods could know.

SUMMARY:
-- Sacryan and Baemiran troops occupy Gusko’s Rest. Its division will be up to the two powers to decide (if Baemir doesn’t respond in two turns, city defaults to Sacrye automatically, stats of city will be PM’d).

- Baemir claims Hrak (Iron Village), 8 Gold, 1 Wood from looting.

- Sacrye claims Valgaz (Food Village) 4 Gold, 2 Stone from looting.

- Both Firetooth Coalition and Northern Allies experience GREAT UNREST in their newly conquered territories. All captured food and resource villages produce -1 resource per turn until partisan fighting ends; unrest may escalate into full scale rebellion if the situation is not addressed.