Apologies if this isn't as grand as the last one, and for the time taken to resolve / write this up.

"Disappointing." - Sfânt-Căpitan of Savitra, after hearing word of the Canaanite nation still existing

A Battle of Mercenaries

In the Kelgoi there existed two factions: pro-Canaanite and pro-Bagaroki tribes. Now, these tribes weren't inherently predispositioned towards one or the other, but instead were hoping to simply cash in on the offered pay for taking part in this conflict. Problem was, both sides had hired them. So, what better way to start the conflict than by simply fighting the tribes that were hired by the other side? You didn't need to travel much, and it still counted as participation, after all.

On the side of the Bagaroki came the Kailakoi (Inhabitants of Kailak), Karantoi, Keiroi, and Tougaloi, along with smaller bands of Slascii, Kaballoi, and Habucoi. They aligned for pay and because of the Bagaroki settlement of Kailak offering various opportunities for the tribes in the area. On the side of the Canaanites, the Latii, Birroi, and Habucoi tribes signed on for glory and - most importantly - wealth. So insistent were they on receiving their pay that they were able to get at least half of it up front (10/20), which they returned and distributed to their clans.

Pro-canaanite forces were able to move first (18vs17), but not fast enough to be able to cut the enemy Bagaroki forces off from assembling themselves. The Canaanite forces marched against Kailak and baited the enemy into coming to them from their fortifications (18/20). In the ensuing battle, tribal infighting between the three Canaanite mercenary factions ripped apart their organization (7), and they fell to the Bagaroki forces easily (15). The Bagaroki forces then boarded their ships, and set sail to meet with the main force.

Trade Wars and Naval Maneuvers

In preparation for this move, Bagaroki naval forces successfully stopped and began raiding Canaanite shipping (8), who were helpless against it (4) as the Canaanites had made a general call for all expeditionary forces to return home, and for the navy to be put at the disposal of guarding against a naval invasion from the Bagaroki. With this, the Bagaroki had almost complete control over the Mediteranian against the Canaanites, and with this control they seized control of all Canaanite settlements due to the mass call for defenders of the homeland and the pulling back of the entirety of the navy (no rolls; nothing to compete against). Dzeri, Haraac, and Asegon forces move to join the Bagaroki army as well.

In spite of this, Lituura had hoped to gain back some form of respect on the battlefield, and sent mercenaries to Canaan. Their ships were able to bypass this trade blockade (13 vs earlier 8), and join with Canaan proper and help in any land-born defense ( 1 to Canaanite rolls with these mercs in use). Due to the massive hit that their navy had taken in the past war, their ships were not able to help any maritime endeavors in any significant fashion.

Defensive Preparations

For over a thousand years, the Varics in the north had decried the Canaanite's very existence as sacrilege to their one God, as they had refused to accept their ways and taken up their own. The Canaanites knew this, and prepared in earnest against a potential land-invasion or intervention from the Savitrans or other Varic forces by establishing defenses and placing the vast bulk of their forces into the north and northeastern provinces of their lands. Here they waited, and prepared.

The navy, in turn, took up defenses between [Cyprus] and the mainland, operating the navy as a shield between these two landmasses and concentrating every boat they could into this area. Carthage, for its part, stationed garrisons within its cities, and distributed what naval forces they had to guarding their ports. This would prove to be successful, and their men rallied to it (20 - critical success) in defense of the nation. Their watch was stallwart, and their morale higher than ever. None would pass.

The Bagaroki sized up this force as they began preparing for an invasion of Carthage, but did not advance, as their men were shaken by these things they saw (2 4, near critical failure), and did not wish to advance despite the insistence of their commanders. Mercenaries grumble about pay, and threaten not to fight if they are not immediately paid due to the presence and sight of the unwaivering Canaanite navy. Many simply return home after being given this pay rather than waste their lives away, since they already had what they wanted. The Bagaroki looked at what they had gained - every settlement of the Canaanites, and complete trade domination over their once foremost rivals. Shipping from the Canaanites had been utterly stopped, and their control over anything outside of Canaan proper was eliminated. To advance forward against such a foe and waste this opportunity would be foolhardy in their minds, and would only give up what they had already won if the men waivered as they did now. With this in mind, they fell back... for now. In short, the Bagaroki did not lose - they simply did not engage due to the morale of their peoples.

The Canaanites saw this, and held their fleet, waiting for any potential Varic incursion before launching an attack of their own against eastern Bagaroki holdings. After all, they could not invade without an invasion army to back them, and the entirety of their army - save some garrisons - were situated in the north for the time being.

The Great Kharrubal

There would be no counter-invasion.

From the north came a host of Savitrans, looking to completely exterminate the Canaanites for their transgressions against God. With them came orders to burn, loot, enslave, pillage, and raze everything in their path, and everything they could in Canaan. No woman, man, or child was to be spared from this, for they had all turned away from God. So it was that they did this, and moved through the lands between them, taking everything they could and burning everything they couldn't. This was done for three reasons: Bolstering their own supplies, making any counter-attack harder for lack of supplies on moving north, and discouraging retreat as there was nothing to supply the troops with on a return trip.

With the fervor of God and the fear of potential starvation in the unsettled lands to the north, the Savitrans marched on, stalwart in their attack. They met with the Canaanites, and charged (3 4), only to meet a wall of Canaanite spears (17 3). Battle raged across the lines, with Savitrans (5 2) nearly repulsed by the Canaanites (4 4), until Strigoi Artaxias himself - the leader of the Savitran army - threw himself into the center line and urged his men to charge (16), plowing into the middle of the Canaanite line (7 5). From here, they broke apart and encircled the Canaanites (20 - critical success), who were surrounded(2 3, near critical failure). In a final push, the Savitrans (18 1) finally routed or killed the remaining Canaanite forces (10-3). Those who survived fled south, to warn the garrisons within the cities to prepare for sieges.

And prepare they did. The Savitran army wasted no time in laying waste to everything they possibly could, enslaving as many as they could to bolster their army with enslaved warriors (18). They took to the siege of Gebal, and burned it completely to the ground (20 - critical success - vs 2 - near critical failure). Not a stone stood atop each other; barely any survived, as almost the entire populace was pressed into service. Supplies were stockpiled from the ruined city, and the surrounding countryside looted. Sidon and Tyre were likewise besieged, though the Savitrans could not breach the cities here (6 vs 7 and 10 vs 14). They could not starve out the besieged, as they had burned the countryside to a crisp, and their supplies were already dwindling. Knowing this, they then returned to Savitra, content that they had laid waste to Canaan save for two cities and the southwestern provinces.

RESULTS

Specific results:

Should be noted that this is the last war that you can receive techs from, as it was declared prior to the implementation of the rule.

Minor Defeat: Lituura (All mercenaries defeated in the battle against Savitra, no pay received)

Average Defeat: Nil

Major Defeat: Canaan (Canaanite trade is almost completely eradicated. Canaan loses the northeastern 3 provinces. Canaan loses Messenger System, as the infrastructure of the nation is in shambles after their defeat. Bagaroki supplant all Canaanite trade, and take possession of all Canaanite settlements in roleplay. All trade with Canaan for tech this turn is to be denied to reflect this. It should be stressed that Canaanite production is at the very least halved, and it would be an immense strain to maintain their navy.)

Minor Victory: Asegon (received pay), Kelgoi (received pay from both sides), Carthage (suffered no defeat and is now poised to break free from Canaan), Dzeri (received pay), Haraac (received pay)

Average Victory: Bagaroki (supplanted Canaanite trade, seized all Canaanite settlements outside of Cyprus / the Levant, suffered no defeat)

Major Victory: Savitra (Killed, routed, or enslaved at least 3/4ths of the Canaanite army; completely razed Gebal; looted, pillaged, enslaved, and burned the three northeastern provinces of Canaan)