Third Alteraci-Stromic War

The Third Alteraci-Stromic War was the third conflict between the Kingdom of Alterac and the Kingdom of Stromgarde. As a result of their defeat, the Kingdom of Alterac was forced draw back its borders and was significantly weakened, ending the Golden Age of Alterac.

Prelude
In 456 K.A, King Elric Perenolde ordered Stromic soldiers to raid the Northern Arathi Mountains and Hinterlands in disguise as Stromic Nationalists. The Kingdom of Stromgarde was forced to cede the mountains to the Kingdom of Alterac after the Second Alteraci-Stromic War.

In response, Queen Madison Perenolde enacted an embargo on the Kingdom of Stromgarde and prohibited commercial traffic through the Kingdom of Alterac bound for for from the Kingdom of Stromgarde. This disrupted Stormic's land trade, making it impossible to trade with the Magocracy of Dalaran, Kingdom of Gilneas and Kingdom of Lordaeron.

Despite negotiations, Queen Madison refused to lift the embargo. Looking to her husband and son as potentially more reasonable rulers, despite not knowing either of them, King Elric organized an assassination plot of Queen Madison Perenolde.

The Stromic agent, Martin Rogers illegally crossed the border by posing a Tirassian fishermen sailing to Southshore from Crestfall. Martin Rogers then safely made his way to Alterac City when Queen Madison Perenolde was making one of her popular and regular public speeches. Armed with a specially made crossbow, capable of hitting targets accurately from long distances, Martin Rogers shot at the Queen from a nearby building. His bolt pierced Queen Madison's chest, she died shortly after being escorted to a physician.

Avenging his mother, King Gregor Perenolde raised his banners and declared war on the Kingdom of Stromgarde swearing to accomplish what his predecessors had failed, conquering the Kingdom of Stromgarde. Though many argued that such a war would have been contradictory to Queen Madison's values of Alterac using trade to gain power.

Gathering Allies
King Gregor Perenolde reached out to King Greymane promising to cede Purgation Isle, marry his daughter and substantially reduce tariffs on Gilnean goods in exchange for support in the war. King Greymane agreed entering the Kingdom of Gilneas into the war.

On the other side, King Elric looked to the Kingdom of Kul Tiras a former enemy from the Second Alteraci-Stromic War. However, in recent decades the Kingdom of Alterac became a serious maritime trade rival with many business fleeting to the Kingdom of Alterac as a headquarters and the establishment of several colonies in the South Seas, now selling bringing more fierce competition in those markets. The Lord Admiral agreed to join the war, on the condition that if conquered, Southshore and all islands would be ceded to the Kingdom of Kul Tiras.

Battle of the Hinterlands Pass
Having already taken basic control of the Northern Arathi Mountains, the Kingdom of Stromgarde quick mobilized into the Hinterlands hoping to enter a force into the Hillsbrad Foothills. This Stromic army, under the command of General Zachary Halster easily defeated the meager Alteraci forces, setting camp in the pass between the Hinterlands and the Hillsbrad Foothills. From there, General Halster led his forces in a short guerrilla campaign throughout the Eastern Alterac Mountains.

Battle of Thoradin's Wall
Next, the rest of the Stromic forces under the command of King Elric Trollbane and General Dalton Wallis charged the fortified Thoradin's Wall under the command of future war hero, General Oliver Greenwall. The Stromic troops stormed the wall fortress, eventually breaking through the wall but only after a day of struggle General Oliver Greenwall escaped however, retreating to Durnholde Keep under Lord Malcolm Karlsburg. Before his retreat, however, General Greenwall slowed the Stromic advance by destroying much of the Wall, collapsing it on the main gate. This forced the Stromics to dig through the wall and repair it, preventing them from advancing immediately. This allowed for General Greenwall and Lord Karlsburg to receive reinforcements as Durnholde as they prepared for the Stromics to push through.

Siege of Durnholde Keep
After digging out the partially collapsed entrance of Thoradin's Wall, the main Stromic army pushed into the Hillsbrad Foothills. After receiving word of their success, General Halster halted his campaign and joined his forces with the larger Stromic army. The Stromic host then marched to Durnholde Keep now strengthened with larger numbers than expected, beginning a siege of the keep.

Reinforcements to Zul'Dare
Following the Tirassian capture of the island, the small Stormic Fleet of twelve ships sailed to Zul'Dare with one thousand soldiers as reinforcements to the three thousand Tirassian Marines. Assisting the Tirassians in the Duskhaven Landing.

Tirassian Offensive
At the same time of the Stromic Offensive, the Tirassian launched their own campaign as well. Lord-Admiral divided the fleet of seventy-five into two squadrons, placing the larger fleet of forty ships under the command of Admiral Nigel Kingston and the smaller fleet of thirty-five ships under Admiral Gerald Sinclair.

Battle of Southshore
Admiral Nigel Kingston's squadron of forty-ships, carrying 2,000 Kul Tiras Marines sailed to Southshore intent of taking the Alteraci port. The Alteraci Navy sailed out to intercept the Tirassian attack, but was easily defeated nearly being outnumbered by two fold. The Tirassian forces reached the harbor, sinking several merchant ships and defeating the harbor defenses. Then the Tirassian marines left the ships, securing the rest of the Southshore capturing the entire city.

Admiral Nigel Kingston then ordered Gull Isle, Herring Rock and Purgation Isle all to be taken. Successfully doing so, with the lack of defenses on all islands save Herring Rock which was blockaded after it couldn't be taken.

Capture of Zul'Dare
The thirty-five ships under Admiral Gerald Sinclair sailed to Zul'Dare, taking the island as had been done during the Zul'Dare War once again. Making it his base of operations as he waged war in the Gilneas Theater.

Duskhaven Landing
After receiving Stromic reinforcements, the Tirassian Navy departed from Zul'Dare, leading an attack on Duskhaven. After a failed attempt of stopping the landing by the Duskmist Fleet, the joint-Tirassian and Stromic forces successfully landed at and took Duskhaven. The Tirassian fleet quickly returned to Zul'Dare unable to afford it being taken, while the 3,000 marines,1,000 Stromic soldiers and now ten Stromic ships occupied Duskhaven under the command of Major Lorien Walters.

Siege of Durnholde Keep
After the Stormic host began the Siege of Durnholde Keep, the 2,000 Alteraci forces inside remained inside, well supplied refusing to allow the Stromic forces to breach the wall. The siege continued for months, contacting King Gregor that he shouldn't bother with lifting the siege, the inhabitants would hold out and he shouldn't risk losing the bulk of his forces in battle.

Assault of Southshore
After news of Southshore's capture reached the King, he dispatched 2,000 soldiers to retake the important port. However, this was unsuccessful, the 2,000 Marines holding the port.

Liberation of Duskhaven
Following the Tirassian-Stromic occupation of Duskhaven, King Greymane dispatched soldiers to retake the village, so close to his own manor. However, the initial attempt failed, the Tirassian Marines and Stromic soldiers repelling the Gilnean forces. Frustrated, a large portion of the Gilnean force was called back to finish them, even if it was a bit of an overkill and made them unable to join forces with the Alteraci.

The Gilnean army actually arrived just in time as Major Lorien Waters had prepared his forces for an attack on Greymane Manor, marching up the road to take the home of the King. Fortunately, the Gilnean forces prevented the attack and took Duskhaven after slaughtering the Tirassian and Stromic forces, sparing no one.

Blockade of Zul'Dare
Following the Liberation of Duskhaven, the remnants of the Gilnean Navy were dispatched to Zul'Dare to reclaim the island. However, they were unable to take the harbor, the Tirassian forces refusing to return their ships to harbor. Thus, a blockade began, though it was lifted a week later after a few reinforcements sent from Admiral Nigel Kingston's fleet joined the Tirassian forces and drove the Gilnean Navy into retreat.

Winter and Joining of Forces
WIP