Achtotlan during the Endwar

Buildup
In 1911 the Golden Circle, a nationalist political movement was established in the capital city of Kaldea. Originally starting as a secret society with a distinct esoteric slant, and found by veterans of the failed rebellion of 1909, its membership became less exclusive over the years. By 1913, it had three-thousand members.

In 1922, as the Golden Circle gained in popularity and had become a major political movement, King Klavas III invited several leaders of the Circle to join the government. Several cabinet positions, including the office of Archminister, as well as several seats in the College of Benevolences, were granted to the Circle. This gained Ahrenrok widespread international condemnation, as the Golden Circle openly called for the expulsion of foreign elements from the Setic homeland. Representatives from Zossia argued that by inviting the Golden Circle into government, the king had violated the principles of the Concord of Aldahar. The move proved to be highly popular with the Ahrenic population however.

Consolidating its power, the Golden Circle government began a major industrial and military buildup within Ahrenrok. Behind the scenes it formed a secret pact with Transoxthraxia, another Setic nation that resented its subjugation to outside powers.

During the '30s, Ahrenrok's foreign policy became increasingly hostile, as the newly modernised army under the leadership of general XXX was increasingly prepared for war. The Golden Circle's covert chapters in the colonies began actively sowing dissent, broadcasting subversive radio messages and training clandestine militias. Inflamed by nationalist rhetoric spread by the Ahrenic government, 1936 became known as the Season of Terror. Random attacks on colonials and foreign clergy were perpetrated by Ahrenic nationalists, often in broad daylight. Tensions rose to a boiling point when in august that year, after the brutal public disfigurement and murder of the Zossian colony of XXX. Holding the Ahrenic government responsible, the Zossian foreign office demanded that Ahrenrok would hand over the ringleaders of the clandestine cells operating in its territories. Ahrenrok refused however, denying its ties to these cells. Infuriated, the Zossian colonial military began a series of manoeuvres near the border. A short skirmish with Ahrenic forces occured when Zossian soldiers trespassed the border, leading to the death of 8 Zossian- and 6 Ahrenic soldiers. Before the situation escalated in a full war, an emergency settlement was reached between the two governments. Ahrenrok agreed to temporarily halt its public broadcasts directed at the Ahrenics currently living in the colonies. At this point however, this radio silence would prove to do little to stop the violence perpetrated by Ahrenic nationalists and Golden Circle operatives. After only a month, the Ahrenic government resumed its broadcasts.

In 1938, when Transoxthraxia invaded the concession cities, Ahrenrok publicly voiced its support for this action, which further angered the colonial powers. At this point, direct war seemed almost inevitable, and a large scale mobilisation of forces began on both sides. However, the second half of 1938 marked the beginning of the Season of Revolutions, when large scale revolts and insurgencies began in the colonies. These insurgencies proved to be a major thorn in the sides of these colonies, as they diverted soldiers away from the front who now had to deal with partisan activity before a war had even begun. Rather than attempting to take territory, most of these insurgents targeted factories and military infrastructure, as well as government buildings. A few exceptions occurred however, as in the Commandery of XXX, where a short-lived 'Setic People's Republic' was declared. Another noteworthy example was the Pannoni colony of XXX, where the city of XXX was taken over by Ahrenic nationalists for fourteen days.

Endwar
Taking advantage of the chaos in the Commandery of XXX, the Ahrenic army launched a surprise invasion. The Zossian and Pannoni armies, expecting an imminent invasion as well, fortified their borders. However, the Ahrenic government made no further declaration of war. While it initially intended to launch a simultaneous invasion of the other colonies, concerns that the invasion plans had been leaked led to the offensive being postponed until January 1939. The invasion was to be postponed a second time until March, to the great frustration of Transoxthraxia. However, anticipating a pre-emptive attack by the Zossian military, Ahrenrok declared war on Pannon, Yeongseon and Zossia in February 1939.

The Ahrenic Royal Army made major advances under the leadership of their supreme commander, Warmaster Arzecan Kyhill. The strategy that was formulated by high command placed a heavy emphasis on speed and momentum, as the military leadership hoped to dislodge the colonial garrisons before they could be reinforced from their homelands. Although the defending colonial armies had anticipated an eventual Ahrenic attack, the initial push proved to be overwhelming. With the prospect of little help coming from the homeland, the Shirakawan Commandery of XXX surrendered on the 18th of July. The 'Setic People's Republic' and the lands of the Commandery were annexed and reintegrated into the Exquisite Kingdom. In the same year, the forces of the Zossian colony of XXX were successfully evicted and the territory occupied by the Ahrenic army, securing central Ahrenrok. With this front secured, the Ahrenic army was free to focus exclusively on the push towards the west, where the majority of the fighting was taking place.

The Ahrenic navy was less successful however, with its first naval offensive failing to secure the the coastlines of Pannoni and Zossian territories. Yet, a second offensive at the start of November, 1939, managed to rout the Pannoni fleet. Near the end of the year, Vice-Admiral Ivolan Tharu, commander of a large flotilla of submarines in the Neptic, managed to intercept a large transport fleet carrying Pannoni reinforcements for the Valeyan front. During his raid, Tharu managed to sink several Pannoni ships, killing an estimated 4000 Pannoni soldiers.

In 1940, fearing that its own navy would be unable to keep the Ahrenic waters under firm control, the Ahrenic government approachted the Empire of Yamatai. The Ahrenic-Yamatai Concordad was signed. Expecting victory on the mainland to be merely a matter of time, Ahrenrok sends Yamatai volunteer divisions to serve abroad against Shirakawa; the Ahrenrok Volunteers would later serve with distinction at the Second Battle of Enokaji.

While the Ahrenic military effort on land was massively succesful, the initial strategy of a lightning war to take the colonies before reinforcements could arrive, had failed. Ahrenic forces would suffer a major setback when newly arrived Pannoni forces managed a succesful push inland. However, general Vyskari, in command of the 6th Royal Army, managed to successfully outflank the Pannoni forces and cut them off from the mainstay of their army. Under the leadership of general Qhal, whom was renowned for his eccentricity and alleged insanity, the 4th Royal Army managed a successful push into Pannoni territory, assisted by Vyskari's forces. Qhal would die during the offensive however, personally leading a Terror-Bird charge on Pannoni lines, despite the fact that Terror-Bird cavalry was no longer an official part of the Ahrenic army.

Come 1941, the Ahrenic army began a massive joint offensive on all fronts. While the initial strategy of lightning war had failed to capture the colonies according to the original estimations of high command, its emphasis on strong concentrated force and mobility still proved hugely effective at dislodging the enemy forces. Under the pressure of the Ahrenic advance, the colonial forces began a retreat towards the coastline, preparing for an evacuation of military and civilian personnel.

The evacuation would commence at the start of the next year. Efforts were made by the Ahrenic navy to blockade the coastline to prevent an evacuation, but with little success. Apart from a few southern stretches of coastline, the Ahrenic navy proved unable to wrestle naval dominance from the colonial navies. Considering the scale of the operation, the evacuation was mostly successful. Several regiments were left behind however, either because they were assigned to buy time by holding off the Ahrenic army, or because they were not evacuated in time. Most heavy weaponry, such as tanks and canons, had to be abandoned to the advancing Ahrenic military. Vice-Admiral Tharu managed to organise a moderately successful submarine raid on the retreating transport ships. According to estimates, around 50,000 colonial soldiers were captured. A small holdout of Yeongseon soldiers in the north of Ahrenrok would remain until March however, when an offensive would evict the Yeonseon soldiers from their fortress in the mountains.

Following the successful eviction of colonial forces, the Ahrenic government consolidated their territorial gains. Defensive positions along the coastlines were built, preparing for the eventuality of an amphibious invasion to reclaim the colonies. At the same time, the Ahrenic army began a second buildup to make up for its losses in the previous years. The industrial capacity of the former colonies was mobilised, and many Ahrenics that had been living under the previous colonies were now drafted into the army. Vyskari, having been called back to the capital, was appointed Quartermaster-General of the Golden Circle government, being responsible for the nation's armament programme.

With the colonies taken back, the Golden Circle government began a series of massive purges in these newly re-acquired lands. Officials that had been involved in some way with the former colonial governments were executed or sent off to forced labour camps. POWs received similar treatment. At the same time, foreign colonists were also rounded up deported, to serve as slave labour for the Ahrenic war machine. These colonists, so the Ahrenic government reasoned, did not only violate the honour of the Ahrenic nation, but also posed a threat to the new order. Half-breeds -the offspring of a colonial and a native parent- were deported alongside the colonists as well, as they and their Ahrenic parent were considered race traitors.

During this period, many executions were especially brutal and public. In particular, as per a decree by the government in Kaldea, former high-ranking officials of Pannon, Yeongseon, Shirakawa and Zossia, were publicly executed by beheading. Captured high-ranking officers of the colonial garrisons were executed as well. In particular, Pannoni leaders, having been regarded as especially cruel in their treatment of the Ahrenic population, were subjected to humiliating treatment and deaths.