>>2098973
Perhaps Dustyn's greatest mistake was to delay the war even further. The reasoning for this was that the Corintari army was "underprepared" and "undisciplined", and thus needed to be drilled without end; of course, the enemy regiments weren't that better, but Fludd believed that it would have given him the advantage he needed.

Finally, in 1588, Grandmaster Dustyn Fludd declared a crusade against the heretics of Anbennar. The war began with Corintari forces entering their troops into the Adeanist-controlled Escann territories. In just one year, all enemy forces were kicked out of Escann; however, the lands were left unintegrated, as to have a bargaining chip once the peace negotiations begin.

However, the path forward wasn't quite as clear. On one side, the treacherous Wexians with the Busilaris presented a major problem to the allied Corinites in East Dameshead and Esmaria; while the allies were holding off the enemy advances, it was only a matter of time before they'd fall. More support from Corintar in the region would certainly help. On the other side, the enemy had left West Dameshead and Lencanor practically undefended; taking these regions would by vital, and there was no better time to do so than now.

Ultimately, the Corintaris chose to march to Lencenor and the West; if the Adeanists of the west were defeated before they could establish themselves in the East, Corinite victory would be certain. And so, the Corintaris headed south of the lands of their Gnomish allies, besieging and barraging any city that'd get in their way. Everything seemed to go so well: Derrane liberated, Wineport taken in just 69 days, even the capital of Westdam falling! And yet...