East Keltian Collapse

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East Keltian Collapse
Part of Streïur uis Faïren, Wars of the Dispossessed
Top: Republicanos advancing into Ciudad de Anahuaco; Bottom: Map of northeastern Keltia prior to the collapse, 1736 AN.
Location Anahuaco, Cerulea, Normark, San Lucido(Vegno) Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Confederacy of the Dispossessed  Cerulea Blood Cultists Green Einhorns Black Host  Republicanos	Raspur Pact  Anahuaco  Normark  Vegno
Shireroth	Support  Aerla  Benacian Union  Celebarad  Constancia  Nouvelle Alexandrie  Moorland

The East Keltian Collapse refers to a series of political and military upheavals that occurred in northeastern Keltia during 1737 AN and its aftermath, resulting in the fall of several Raspur Pact-aligned nations. The collapse primarily affected Normark and Anahuaco, while also destabilizing neighboring Cerulea. This event marked a significant shift in the balance of power on the continent, weakening the Raspur Pact's influence and allowing for the resurgence of the Confederacy of the Dispossessed. The suspicion of Shirerithian support for the campaign which knocked out two regional allies of the Benacian Union was a notable feature of contemporary discourses regarding the rapid upheaval in the north eastern corner of the continent.

In mid-1738 AN, the Confederation also used the opportunity of the instability of San Lucido following the NKRS epidemic, to invade the country under the control of Vegno.

The collapse was precipitated by a combination of factors, including internal instability, the ongoing Benacian War, and the gradual fracturing of the Raspur Pact alliance system. The Second Cerulean Revolution in late 1736 AN and early 1737 AN led to Cerulea's disintegration into The Green, creating a power vacuum that emboldened opposition forces. Taking advantage of this chaos, the reinvigorated Confederacy of the Dispossessed launched successful offensives against Normark and Anahuaco, ultimately leading to the collapse of both nations' governments. Further contributing to Anahuaco's demise was the spillover from the Andilar Wars along Anahuaco's eastern frontier.

As the situation deteriorated, several Raspur Pact allies initiated emergency operations to secure strategic assets and personnel. Notable among these was Operation Northern Light, a joint effort by Nouvelle Alexandrie, Constancia, the Benacian Union, Natopia, and Oportia to extract key scientists, engineers, and officials from the falling nations. Simultaneously, Hurmu conducted Operation Dariolin to evacuate loyalists and secure important cultural artifacts from Normark.

The collapse triggered a massive refugee crisis, with millions fleeing the affected areas. Neighboring countries, including Nouvelle Alexandrie, Aerla, and Moorland, struggled to manage the influx of displaced persons and initiated resettlement programs. The Benacian Union would subsequently take the lead in resettling a significant minority of politically reliable Normarkers in the Governorate of Absentien. The economic aftershocks of the collapse contributed to the Recession of 1737, which impacted many Raspur Pact nations and further weakened the alliance's cohesion.

The East Keltian Collapse represents a pivotal moment in recent Micran history, reshaping regional dynamics and calling into question the long-term viability of the Raspur Pact as a dominant geopolitical force. The Confederacy of the Dispossessed, having enjoyed such stunning success, has deemed the moment "The Great Resurgence" in its propaganda.

Anahuaco buckles

The Fall of Anahuaco details the events immediately leading to the collapse of the Anahuaco Empire. It relies heavily on Raspur Pact sources.

The Eastern frontier of Anahuaco saw significant spillover from the Andilar Wars, where the tribes and kingdoms uniting under the banner of the King of Beorg-Dur organised into the Black Host. Intervening forces from Celebarad attempted to restore peace on the Andilari peninsula, but were unable to prevent the destruction of various border towns of Vicario.

Along Anahuaco's northern border with Moorland, the MAF was deployed to help secure border crossings and deal with the emerging refugee crisis spilling over into Huntsland. As a partner within the Raspur Pact, marines from the MAF coordinated with allied command to perform an extraction of high-ranking assets from Ciudad de Anahuaco. Beyond this, Moorland recognized the humanitarian crisis unfolding at its feet and began a coordinated effort to allow refugees to enter the country. King MacMartin noted that only refugees entering legally through official checkpoints would be allowed a path to citizenship. As of late 1737, seven checkpoints had been established while the rest of the border was closed and patrolled by armed guards. Anyone caught trying to enter the country illegally is either turned away or directed to a checkpoint. Moorland's government has created a special citizenship program just for Anahuaco's refugees allowing that expedites the process of citizenship and assimilation into Moorlander society.

Invasion of San Lucido

In the aftermath of the widespread turmoil caused by the Northern Keltia respiratory syndrome, the region of San Lucido, under the control of Vegno, found itself acutely vulnerable. The epidemic swept through its population, leading the government to initiate a massive disinfestation campaign aimed at eradicating the mosquito species responsible for spreading the virus. This campaign was accompanied by s large-scale evacuation of citizens to temporary shelters in the main capitals. The evacuation effort left San Lucido’s towns and infrastructure largely deserted, with only a few isolated residents who had chosen to remain, despite government advisories to stay indoors for safety.

Seizing upon this vulnerability, the Confederacy of the Dispossessed launched a coordinated invasion of San Lucido, advancing by sea and air to exploit the weakened defenses and political instability gripping the region. The Confederation’s naval units approached San Lucido’s coastlines, landing armed forces along strategic ports and coastal villages, while a fleet of aircraft transported additional troops and equipment to key inland locations. This dual-pronged assault overwhelmed San Lucido’s already stretched defensive resources, as government forces had been redirected to manage the epidemic response and disinfestation logistics, with many personnel redeployed to evacuation support efforts.

The invasion was further facilitated by the internal chaos following the government’s public health interventions. The sweeping disinfestation measures and the large-scale evacuation disrupted daily life, sowing confusion among both those who had been evacuated and those who had remained. Fear and uncertainty spread as residents witnessed military aircraft and ships from the Confederation entering their territory. For the citizens in San Lucido, the presence of a new occupying force on top of the health crisis was devastating, and their trust in government protections rapidly eroded.

The few Vegnese Armed Forces present in the territory of San Lucido had the sole task of planning the evacuation operations of the citizens and were completely overwhelmed by the invasion. The first attacks were recorded in the cities of Commenda and Santa Markovia, where the defeats of the few Vegnese armed forces were decisive and overwhelming.

After securing the cities of Commenda and Santa Markovia, the Confederacy of the Dispossessed advanced further into Lucidese territory with an almost unstoppable momentum. The next cities—Garda, Pandolfia, Cammarata, and Nuova Cossa—fell in rapid succession, each succumbing with little resistance as the Confederacy capitalized on the significant lack of Vegnese military presence. These cities, devoid of sufficient armed defenses, became easy targets for the Confederacy, which moved quickly to establish its dominance.

Meanwhile, the few remaining Vegnese Armed Forces rallied in the strategic city of Goffia, their last bastion of resistance. Here, Vegnese commanders and troops reorganized amidst mounting pressure, knowing this was potentially their final line of defense.

Refugee Crisis

The collapse of Normark and Anahuaco triggered one of the largest refugee crises in recent history, with estimates suggesting that tens of millions of people were displaced. The crisis particularly strained the resources and infrastructure of neighboring nations in Keltia, while also testing the cohesion of the already-weakened Raspur Pact alliance system in managing the humanitarian emergency. The refugee crisis had significant economic implications, contributing to the Recession of 1737 as host nations struggled to absorb the costs of refugee support and integration programs. The crisis also led to demographic shifts in receiving regions, particularly in Absentien and northern Moorland, where refugee communities began establishing new cultural enclaves.

Norse Exodus

The fall of Normark led to a massive exodus of its Norse population. The Benacian Union took the lead in coordinating the evacuation and resettlement of Norse refugees, with the majority being relocated to the Governorate of Absentien. This organized resettlement program focused particularly on those deemed politically reliable, especially those with ties to the Humanist movement. Additionally, Nouvelle Alexandrie accepted approximately 115,000 Norse refugees, primarily settling them in the North Lyrican region due to its cultural similarities with their homeland.

Moorland, being one of the closest neighbors of Normark geographically and a longtime ally, also opened its doors to Norse refugees. Emergency response teams were deployed to the Kells to construct a humanitarian relief center consisting of temporary shelters and medical facilities. The MAF was deployed to construct a military road from Nevermoor west through the Green to Inverkell. While not passable via normal civilian transportation, the road allows military transports access to the Strait of Haifa via a land route. Military transportation will be utilized to transport refugees hoping to resettle in Moorland back east. Makeshift portage is also being constructed at the harbor to allow ships to dock and load refugees for a longer journey north around Mercury. These seafaring vessels will likely offload refugees at other countries that are currently offering aid. Nearly a million Norse refugees are expected to enter Moorland, most of which have cited interest in settling in Burwood, which still has a sizable Norse population carried over from Ostland.

A Norse refugee camp outside the town of Yandarlo in Aerla.

Aerla was also heavily impacted by the collapse of Normark. Most refugees were sent to camps in the Transcaledonian Territory for temporary accommodation before they would be allowed to settle in Aerlan cities. Several border crossings were converted into processing centers were background checks could be conducted and were doctors could vet refugees for illnesses. The largest camp was the one located roughly 10 km outside of the town of Yandarlo, which housed upwards of 15,000 refugees mostly from the western regions of Normark. Despite the best efforts of health specialists at the border, inspectors from the Ministry of Health reported outbreaks of diseases such as Smallpox, Diphtheria, Influenza, and most notably Northern Keltia respiratory syndrome among camp populations. Thus, the Ministry of Health began requiring vaccinations against such diseases at border checkpoints if vaccination records were unable to be presented to medical staff. Port Aerla was also opened to Norse vessels seeking shelter from pirate attacks, with Naval Security Forces being placed in high alert in the Bay of Makonnia.

Anahuacan Diaspora

The Anahuacan refugee situation proved more complex, with between 4-7 million people fleeing the collapsing empire. As the largest Martino-speaking nation in Micras, Nouvelle Alexandrie faced significant pressure to accept Anahuacan refugees despite not sharing a direct border. The Federal Assembly established a special commission to manage the anticipated influx, though the geographical distance meant many refugees would need to traverse multiple borders to reach New Alexandrian territory.

Moorland, sharing a direct border with Anahuaco, became a primary destination for fleeing Anahuacans. The Moorlandic government established seven official border checkpoints while maintaining strict control over the rest of the frontier. Under the direction of King Alpin MacMartin, Moorland implemented an expedited citizenship program specifically for Anahuacan refugees entering through legal channels, aiming to facilitate their integration into Moorlandic society. Burwood, already facing a gigantic influx of Norse from Normark, could only accept a small amount of Anahuacans for re-settlement. Huntsland, which has the largest amount of Anahuacan people, was able to accept around 50,000 refugees; although this stretched the resources of the region. Most of the remaining refugees are being directed to the ports of Newhaven, where ships have been chartered to bring them to hospitable destinations such as Nouvelle Alexandrie.

See also

• Norse settlement of Absentien
• Operation Northern Light
• Operation Arctic Exodus
• Operation Dariolin
• Recession of 1737
• Anahuaco
• Normark
• Cerulea