Raelor's Rise

Raelor's Rise was a war for conquest and unity led by King Raelor Vayne across Ashdrad.

The Eastlands
Raelor first landed at Oldwater Bay and immediately began a long-term siege of Oldmoat, the seat of House Coldoll. Trade routes were easily cut off by land and sea, and Oldmoat was not prepared and they didn't even know who Raelor was. There were multiple meetings in which Raelor spoke with Oldmoat's lord, Petar Coldoll, who at first though Raelor was mad. Then he realised he was serious. The siege lasted only nine days before Oldmoat yielded to Raelor.

The Northlands
Main article: The Conclave in Highgate

Worried by the near threat of invasion, Lord Dalar Daike, Prime of the Northlands, organised a parley between himself and Raelor Vayne. He persuaded his vassals in House Rotsar to let him use Highgate as he did not want Raelor coming any further into the Northlands than necessary. However, this did not come free: the Rotsars demanded that, as payment, Dalar's eldest son, Daron Daike was to wed one of the many daughters of House Rotsar: Tanea Rotsar. Dalar agreed, and the two became betrothed.

At the parley, Dalar struck another deal, this time with Raelor Vayne. He swore to submit the Northlands to him instead of going to war, and as a reward for loyalty, Raelor promised that the man would be well rewarded with a position in his court. Dalar was pleased with this, assuming that Raelor would soon die when conquering one of the other kingdoms. But with that, he was wrong.

Raelor soon took over the Northlands to utilize its castles and roads and advantage points, and his next target was the Midlands.

Resistance
Main article: The Northern Rebellion

Just six years into his reign, Raelor was betrayed by Dalar Daike and the other northerners in the Northern Rebellion. This was the first and only major attempt to oust him from power, but was quickly crushed by the combined forces of the Southlands, Midlands, and Westlands, but the Eastlands chose to support the north. Shortly after Dalar surrendered to Raelor again, he died from wounds sustained in the Battle of the Iron Crossing, leaving his son Daron to rule the Northlands.