The First Hascadian Civil War

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The first Hascadian civil war

For as long as anyone can remember Järnsida had ruled over the kingdom of Hascad. They ruled fairly and brought about an age of prosperity to Hascad unrivaled elsewhere in the world. The name Järnsida is tied to the country. They were responsible for transforming the collection of squabbling hill tribes which once inhabited Hascad into the well structured organised armies which were the envy of the world for a time. They built strong relations with the Duskadians to the East cementing the lasting alliance with a series of marriages. There however was a problem between the ruling Järnsidas and their people. Järnsidas owing their origins to a strong tribe that once roamed the lands of Hascad had kept true to the beliefs of the tribes. They believed in a great many gods and attributed various things to them much to the disdain of the Hascadian people, who for the most part had converted to the following of one god named Henar. With the exception of a few hilltribes and the Duskadians to the East.

The Järnsidas ruled unchallenged for years until the year 1416 when prince Henrik Järnsida was born, securing the throne of Hascad for another generation. The country celebrated for a time. However, brewing in the marshes and swamps was a horrid pestilence that would mark the birth of the prince forever. The plague would turn families against each other, parents would abandon their children in a futile endeavour to avoid contracting the disease. Those who followed Henarism saw this as a direct sign from god that the pagan Järnsida rule was to be removed and one which held the correct beliefs was to be instated.

Across the country a noble house by the name of Straume was desperate for the coming of a sign marking the downfall of the Järnsida rule. They saw this to be it. They gathered their forces and began a march across the country, heralding the downfall of the Järnsidas with each town they passed, many flocked to unite under their banner and any who provided resistance to the grand army were quickly crushed and scattered as the march on the capital continued. Months passed to years and the Straume armies finally reached the walls of the great capital city Husker Du. Waiting for them was a rag tag army of peasants and once great soldiers stricken with the plague. The king himself saw it fit to command his armies on the very threshold of his great capital. He sat atop a hill which domineered the landscape and placed his armies around it. He was then faced with a horrendous sight. Hordes of determined and well drilled soldiers marching in perfect ranks singing as they took their positions on the battle. A tense standoff ensued as emissaries were sent back and forth before the battle, alas no resolution could be reached and a last ditch battle was inevitable. The king posed a valiant defence, however only his band was at full fighting strength. The disease rife in his ranks sapped the power from his most prestigious fighters resulting in a rather embarrassing defeat attributed to the anger of the one true god. The battle lasted a few bloody days resulting in the Järnsida armies being crushed, regiments of once proud soldiers were crushed on the very doorstep of their capital.The king fled within the walls and endured a siege for almost a year. The king fled to his palace, locking himself within as his people toiled below to endure the starvation and disease. The prince, who was now 4 was his only heir and it was guaranteed that if the Straume rebels entered the capital he would be killed. He decided that in order to preserve the life of his son he’d have to give his own. The queen and the prince were taken to the docks and boarded a boat, they fled under cover of darkness out and across the water unseen to the patrols on the shores. By morning they were gone and had arrived in Duskad.

The king stood atop the battlements and gazed down upon the siege camp surrounding his city. He resolved to go down in history for this last act of valour. He descended and gathered a band of men 100 strong and outfitted them to the best of his ability. They then sallied out and fought until the last was cut down. A white flag was then hoisted above Husker Du and in the year 1420 Walter Straume took the crown much to the anger of the tribes and nobles that stayed loyal to the Järnsidas till the bitter end.

The new Straume king then summoned all the barons and lords who swore oath the Järnsidas. They were taken to the palace and given a choice. They swore oath the new king or would die for high treason. Most chose to swear homage to the king and were allowed to keep their lands and holds, those who defied were beheaded and their lands were shared among the supporters of the Straume pretenders. Although the Straume king was sure his rule was certain, many of the nobles and barons who swore oath to him kept in secret correspondence with the Queen and Prince now seeking refuge in Duskad.

Years passed, 26 to be precise and the prince now a noble in Duskad was eagre to retake his rightful seat on the throne before support died out and too many had forgotten his family and their claim.

Back in Hascad the plague continued running rampant through the land. Many wondered why when the Järnsidas had been deposed why the pestilence had not been lifted and why harvests had not returned to their usual bountiful state. The new king had ruled in a rather mediocre way. Stability in the realm had dropped as many began to doubt the new king. However, they would rather keep a mediocre ruler over one who believed in the wrong god.

The time came and the Prince in Duskad gathered a large and ordered Duskadian army and embarked across the land into Hascad. His incursion was noticed, heralds spread across the land spreading the word that the Prince had returned with an army to claim his throne. As he marched he was joined by many of the tribes who 26 years prior were humiliated by the rebel armies. They swore oath to the Prince and agreed to return him to his throne if he would give them land of their own. Nobles who kept in contact with the prince now flocked to him with their armies.

A few months into the incursion and the country is in turmoil. Those loyal to Straume now resolve to hold as long as they can and rebuke those who seek to dethrone their ruler.