The Ulzathir Invasion of Solvarria was Zain's campaign to conquer Solvarria after the failed Thalassai invasion. It ended in victory for Ulzathir, with Archibald installed as Solvarria's ruler.
Background
Solvarria had fought alongside Ulzathir at Terranova, suffering losses equal to its ally's. Its leaders demanded an explanation from Zain, who gave none. Solvarrian separatists then approached him, offering to serve under his rule instead of their own government.
Zain wanted to demonstrate that Ulzathir remained strong after its defeat. Solvarria's fertile lands offered a way to reduce dependence on food imports from Haverloch, while its technology could improve Ulzathir's transport and defenses. The separatists' request also gave him a justification for the invasion.
Course of the campaign
In 5365 AX, Zain organized Ulzathir's troops in Ishtanûr and left Qadir governing the capital. The army crossed the desert by sandship, leaving aetherships behind to delay detection. Khezriya directed the troops, while Ishqari was assigned to acquire and adapt Solvarrian technology. The ships carried large supplies of essence cores.
Archibald met the army at the border and had prepared Lumenbury as its base. Resistance intensified as the army advanced toward Sol. The capital's blue and golden shields, sustained by shield generators, held for months. Zain ordered his forces to avoid damaging the land and using excessive violence. Destroying the capital with meteors would have defeated his purpose, so the army continued the siege.
Ulzathir launched a surprise attack on Redcliffe and cut it off, intending to drain Sol's essence reserves. Archibald's people followed Zain's commands, while Ulzathir's cities supplied the campaign. Neither Thalassai nor Haverloch intervened during the siege. With Archibald's cooperation, Ishqari and her researchers began adapting Solvarrian technology, testing some of it in sandships.
Aftermath
Solvarria fell, and Archibald became its ruler. Zain left the final work of the occupation to Khezriya and returned to Ishtanûr at Qadir's insistence. Solvarrian troops joined his army, and Archibald sent engineers to Ulzathir to prepare a rail connection between the nations.
The Ulzathir Invasion of Solvarria was Zain's campaign to conquer Solvarria after the failed Thalassai invasion. It ended in victory for Ulzathir, with Archibald installed as Solvarria's ruler.
Background
Solvarria had fought alongside Ulzathir at Terranova, suffering losses equal to its ally's. Its leaders demanded an explanation from Zain, who gave none. Solvarrian separatists then approached him, offering to serve under his rule instead of their own government.
Zain wanted to demonstrate that Ulzathir remained strong after its defeat. Solvarria's fertile lands offered a way to reduce dependence on food imports from Haverloch, while its technology could improve Ulzathir's transport and defenses. The separatists' request also gave him a justification for the invasion.
Course of the campaign
In 5365 AX, Zain organized Ulzathir's troops in Ishtanûr and left Qadir governing the capital. The army crossed the desert by sandship, leaving aetherships behind to delay detection. Khezriya directed the troops, while Ishqari was assigned to acquire and adapt Solvarrian technology. The ships carried large supplies of essence cores.
Archibald met the army at the border and had prepared Lumenbury as its base. Resistance intensified as the army advanced toward Sol. The capital's blue and golden shields, sustained by shield generators, held for months. Zain ordered his forces to avoid damaging the land and using excessive violence. Destroying the capital with meteors would have defeated his purpose, so the army continued the siege.
Ulzathir launched a surprise attack on Redcliffe and cut it off, intending to drain Sol's essence reserves. Archibald's people followed Zain's commands, while Ulzathir's cities supplied the campaign. Neither Thalassai nor Haverloch intervened during the siege. With Archibald's cooperation, Ishqari and her researchers began adapting Solvarrian technology, testing some of it in sandships.
Aftermath
Solvarria fell, and Archibald became its ruler. Zain left the final work of the occupation to Khezriya and returned to Ishtanûr at Qadir's insistence. Solvarrian troops joined his army, and Archibald sent engineers to Ulzathir to prepare a rail connection between the nations.
Thalassai later took Solvarria by surprise, with Hadrian and Anshar leading the attack and cutting its trade lines with Ulzathir. Archibald held Lumenbury at the border. Zain's subsequent attack on Pyrenis drew Thalassai's forces away, briefly returning Solvarria to Archibald's control. After Zain's defeat, Solvarria's former government was reinstated. Hadrian and Anshar warned that unrest remained possible.