The Second War against Nilfgaard

Journal entry

 * Unlike in the First War against Nilfgaard, there was no clear aggressor at the start of the second conflict. In early 1267 the kings of the North met at Hagge to prepare a plan for Cintra's reconquest. Foreseeing their intentions, Emperor var Emreis amassed a large expeditionary force on the Temerian border. He then masterminded a series of events that left the North ripe for invasion - a mages' revolt erupted on Thanedd Island, and Redania descended into chaos after King Vizimir was assassinated. All Emhyr needed now was a pretext, which he got when supposedly Aedirnian soldiers attacked the Nilfgaardian frontier fortress known as Glevitzingen. Armed with this excuse, Nilfgaardian forces marched north and thus began the second war.


 * During the war's first phase, the imperial offensive quickly swept across the North. The empire's army started by occupying southern Lyria. Rivia was next to fall, after a short siege. Then came the Battle of Aldersberg, followed by Menno Coehoorn's march into Vengerberg. King Henselt of Kaedwen seized this opportunity to dismember his neighbor and promptly signed a treaty with Nilfgaard partitioning Aedirn between them. Opportunistic elves also joined the empire's cause and for their trouble gained an independent realm in Dol Blathanna. King Foltest was the next rat to scurry from the sinking ship, signing a truce with Nilfgaard and grabbing for himself a portion of western Aedirn. Abandoned by his allies and left with the rump of his kingdom, Demavend, ruler of Aedirn, fled to seek shelter in Redania.


 * The war's first stage ended and its second stage began when Nilfgaard broke its truce with Temeria after a mere fortnight and two days. Its forces immediately entered Brugge and Sodden, and soon both lands were awash in blood. In short order Emhyr occupied all of southern Temeria and shattered Foltest’s troops at Maribor. The shrewd emperor then retreated for the winter to Sodden, where he prepared for a renewed offensive come spring.


 * No war in history saw such fierce battles as were waged during the great Temerian offensive undertaken over those fair spring days. The forces of the North, united at last, proved a worthy opponent and slowed the Nilfgaardian advance. This provided Emhyr's internal enemies with an opening to set in motion a plot designed to depose him. Weakened by the infighting (known as the Conspiracy of Nobles), the myth of its invincibility shattered, Nilfgaard then saw its mightiest army routed by northern forces near Brenna. The tide of war had clearly turned. Thus began the war's fourth and final phase. The North embarked on a counter-offensive, forcing the Imperial Army into a slow and bloody retreat. It was only a matter of time before armistice talks began, temporary truce lines were drawn, and the war drew to a close. Delegates from all parties to the conflict convened in Cintra to draft a peace treaty and establish a new world order. On the 2nd of April, 1268, the Peace of Cintra was signed, bringing to an end the Second War against Nilfgaard.