The Battle of Koubaru

Military action

(CHANGE THIS TO BE MORE IMPACTFUL AND EARLIER TO BE THE CATALYST TO CREATE THE FIRST REPUBLICS   Lavennic forces become surrounded at the small town of Koubaru in southern Celvesso. In the worst military defeat of the war, the Seriphanese relentlessly bombard the ancient fortified city, and for three gruelling days the city is held. The Seriphanese eventually overtake the defences, and no Lavennic soldiers survive. Consequentially, the defeat, while a major blow to the Lavennic war effort, becomes a rallying cry for Lavenna, and strengthens the multicultural bonds being forged during the war. It becomes a potent image that Aldanti, Sülvondish, Borashti, Kofarsi, Vardish, Celvessans Voreitans and Matroshki all fought and died side by side.

The hilltop vista visible in all directions across the scorched, barren dunes of the high Bestomu desert in Celvesso, is a small, fortified town known as Koubaru. Today, the town is all but abandoned, with nothing but the endless whistling of the desert winds billowing through its winding streets. But just a decade earlier, it was the sight of one of the most transformative events of the entire continental war for Lavenna. In mid Ovranta 469 a major Lavennic offensive north into Celvessan occupied territory had largely stalled, and the fifth and sixth divisions captured the town of Koubaru relatively easily due to an armed resistance from the inhabitants, and garrisoned themselves there to wait for logistical support. However, the Seriphanese took them by complete surprise and advanced across the scorching desert in under a day, completely surrounding them. What followed was a gruelling several weeks of stalemate. Koubaru had been well stocked by the Triumvirate, and a large underground network of storehouses allowed the defenders to hold out for quite some time. However, these same underground tunnels would ultimately be their downfall. The Seriphanese gained intel from local shepherds of the positions of multiple tunnels, and flooded through the defences. The defenders put up fierce resistance, but ultimately were all slaughtered ruthlessly. No prisoners were taken, and all survivors were promptly executed- including the inhabitants of the town. In essence, the Seriphanese wiped it off the map.   While a total defeat and strategic loss for the rebelling forces, luckily there had been plenty of updated intel on the situation up until the last moment of frantic defense sent to Provisional Army Command, and ultimately this was relayed to the populace. Interestingly, the fifth and sixth divisions that had been totally lost had been unique in the provisional army in that they were composed of service members from almost each rebelling republic, not just one. They were part of an attempt at fostering shared unity between units, where before the army had been rife with miscommunication and cultural animosity. These divisions, whose sons and daughters had come from every corner of Lavenna, being wiped out not only galvanised the population, it also burned a shared multicultural fervour that transcended borders. Aldanti, Sülvondish, Borashti, Kofarsi, Vardish, Celvessans Voreitans and Matroshki all fought and died side by side. After this defeat, over a dozen new multicultural divisions were organised, and existing ones supplemented with foreign companies. This marked a turning point in both the war, and Lavennic history. For decades after the battle, the rallying cry of "remember koubaru" could be heard across the entire landmass. Even Kannostans and Cerulsians took it up.