Interior Campaign

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Interior Campaign

Location of the Ny'Sænuri territories in red and the Duchy of Yogryg'dri in yellow
Date30 May - 3 July 1885
Location
Ny'Sænuri territories, Aikthudr'zhur
Result Cryrian Victory, continued insurgency until the Sack of Highdrilian
Belligerents

Ny'Sænuri Clans

  • Ctuidhor
  • Azerre
  • Iuzebhax

Kingdom of Cryria

Duchy of Yogryg'dri
Commanders and leaders

Vhaondesz Ctuidhor Id'ithross Azerre

Nillo Iuzebhax

King Albert of House Leidensen

Governor-General Melker Öberg

Duchess Tyxhun Yogryg'dri
Strength

3,200

2 artillery pieces

585

2 artillery pieces
Casualties and losses

200 KIA

5 executed

2 artillery pieces captured

7 KIA

15 WIA
Hundreds of civilian deaths in Iuzebhax

The Interior Campaign, also known in Aikthudr'zhur as the Independence Effort, was an armed conflict between the Kingdom of Cryria, its Aikkian allies, and the Ny'Sænuri clans of the Aikkian Interior. The war lasted from 30 May to 3 July 1885 and ended in a Cryrian victory.

Background

Cryrian influence in Aikthudr'zhur had historically been limited to coastal areas around Highdrilian and Evralrod. Beyond these lay a mountainous region controlled by a patchwork of clans and duchies who were loosely sworn to the House of Ny'thudr'zhan. However, by the 19th-century the Albertine government in Cryria recognized Aikthudr'zhur as an important position for maintaining the Cryrian sphere of influence in northern Novaris.

Key to this was the construction of the Highdrilian - Ctarost Railway by the Norsian Concern. While the Railway helped extend the Concern's power and supported some nascent mining and lumber operations while offering a land connection to the Varentine League, it more importantly served to extend Cryrian power throughout the Interior. The Railway tied the Aikkian duchies together by means of a Cryrian-controlled transportation network, and was also accompanied by a series of Cryrian fortifications at key points and mountain passes. Aikkian elites remained heavily fragmented at this time, and the presence of Cryrian protectors was often viewed as more palatable than a potential takeover by a neighbor. The construction of these trade links to the coast and the Varentine League further worked to the financial benefit of Aikkian rulers, and the Concern often relied upon the private armies of local aristocrats to act as enforcers.

Later Cryrian economic actions under Governor-General Krister Kraskne pushed those same ducal houses to the brink of ruin and deeply indebted them to the Concern. While this ended any semblance of autonomy among the aristocracy, it also drew the ire of the Aikkian elite and general population. Chief among the Norsian Concern's opponents were the three Ny'Sænuri clans - The Ctuidhor, Azerre, and Iuzebhax. These groups resided in the most mountainous depths of the Aikkian Interior, and had a long tradition of opposing the power of first the neighboring duchies and then the Cryrians. Similarly, neighboring duchies often claimed different Ny'Sænuri territories to be under their jurisdiction, and these claims were recognized by the Norsian Concern to both maintain aristocratic support and to foster conflict between the rival groups.

The fact that Ny'Sænuri territories bisected the Aikkian Kingdom almost inevitably drew them into conflict with any unifying efforts in Aikthudr'zhur. This was the case with the Norsian Concern's constructions, which ran through Ny'Sænuri lands without regard for their inhabitants under the claim that the rightful rulers of these territories - the duchies - had given their assent. Between 1867 and 1884 the Ny'Sænuri engaged in sporadic acts of banditry against the Highdrilian - Ctarost Railway. The presence of the Ny'Sænuri as a center for resistance was increasingly recognized as a threat as Aikkian discontent towards Cryrian policies grew. In 1885, Governor-General Krister Kraskne was replaced by Melker Öberg, who made the disarmament of the Ny'Sænuri a priority.

Prelude

Öberg inherited a regime that was, in his words, "Both too weak and too strong." The Norsian Control's tightening grip had begun to both openly undermine the legitimacy of the Aikkian institutions it relied on while also uniting the Aikkian populace in their anger towards foreign interference. Öberg's chief concern was that the Aikkian aristocracy and monarchy, resentful of their lost independence, might now begin to make common cause with the Ny'Sænuri, who had remained largely beyond Cryria's economic levers of control. Indeed, Öberg may have found a self-fulfilling prophecy, as his own belief that Leidenstad needed to do away with local intermediaries and take a more direct form of control over Aikthudr'zhur served only to further alienate local leaders. Öberg himself deeply distrusted the Aikkian aristocracy and believed them to already be a lost cause.

Despite this, Öberg found something of an ally in the ambitious Duchess Tyxhun of Yogryg'dri. All east-west trade in Aikthudr'zhur passed through Yogryg'dri lands, and while the Duchy could not directly tax Concern-owned transit routes it still derived income from this travel. Yogryg'dri's indispensability granted it a special status under the Concern, one which would be threatened if the Ny'Sænuri disrupted the flow of trade. Yogryg'dri soldiers were used heavily to protect segments of the east-west trade routes, and were often placed under the command of Cryrian advisors. Shortly after Öberg's appointment, Tyxhun extended secret entreaties to the Governor-General and offered to conduct her own campaign against the Ny'Sænuri, provided that her troops receive Cryrian weapons, Ny'Sænuri lands be granted to Yogryg'dri, and Yogryg'dri be allowed to levy taxes upon the Concern's trade through its borders. This offer was discussed in Öberg's reports to Leidenstad, as were his reasons for initially rejecting it:

 
 
While sorely lacking in the fields of reason and martial decisiveness, the leaders of the Aikkians still possess a form of low cunning with which they manage their flocks. With none is this more true than the Duchess Yogryg'dri, who offers herself as an ally that would once again invoke the old Aikkian rivalries to our benefit. Yet with the price she demands - Arms, wealth and land - leave no question as to her intent. The Duchess would see herself a Queen and amass her power at our extent, and once done would doubtless seek to do away with us as she does with her own countryfolk.
 

 

Vhaondesz of Ctuidhor

Even more troubling for the Cryrians however, was that a younger and much more aggressive generation was coming to power among the Ny'Sænuri, one which was prepared to eschew more traditional conflicts in favor of adapting to the new intrusion on their lands. On the same day that Öberg took power in Highdrilian, the elders of the Ctudhor clan elected a nekomimi named Vhaondesz as their chief. Vhaondesz had previously gained infamy for robbing a Concern payroll shipment worth around 8 million SHD at 2020 rates. This feat not only won him notoriety and support among the Ny'Sænuri, but also a price on his head and a means by which to fund future insurgencies.

Cryrian agents later determined that two of Vhaondesz's daughters were betrothed to the chiefs of the Azerre and Iuzebhax clans while a third served as a handmaiden to Duchess Shocti of Cxiorr'ithi, the only major Aikkian aristocrat without any existing conflicts with the Ny'Sænuri. For the Norsian Concern, these arrangements represented a budding anti-Cryrian alliance centered upon Vhaondesz, and the selection of a wanted bandit as a local ruler was not something that Öberg could ignore.

War

Odhner Expedition

Under the First Treaty of Highdrilian, the Norsian Concern was empowered to pursue and make arrests against Aikkian citizens who violated the Concern's property or personnel. Traditionally, the Concern had preferred to work through local authorities in order to ensure that Aikkian rulers shared in any popular anger that might arise. However, so long as Vhaondesz remained deep in the Ny'Sænuri territories, he was beyond the reach of any normal enforcers. Furthermore, Öberg mistrusted the Aikkian government and aristocracy, and was disinclined to rely upon them for a task as sensitive as apprehending a Ny'Sænuri clan leader.

By May 1885, Cryrian agents began to report that the Ny'Sænuri under Vhaondesz's direction were working to smuggle firearms to secret training camps in the Aikkian Interior. Determined to finally deal with Vhaondesz, Öberg ordered an expedition to enter the Interior and arrest the Ny'Sænuri leader. A 400-strong force of Aikkian soldiers and Cryrian officers was placed under the command of Lukas Odhner, a veteran of the Foreign Legion who had previously fought in various Älemsi conflicts. According to the officers under his command, however, Odhner was inexperienced with the mountainous environment of the Interior, and critically underestimated the degree to which the Ny'Sænuri could use it to their advantage. Later analysis also found that the Odhner Expedition was hindered by poor mapping of the region.

First Battle of Thybbis Pass

Odhner's forces departed from Highdrilian by train and entered the claimed territory of the Ctuidhor clan on 30 May 1885. They established a base of operations at Fort Eriksen, where Odhner received word from Cryrian agents that Vhaondesz was travelling with a small party on his way home from a meeting with Iuzebhax chief Agodha. The only route back to Ctuidhor lands for the Ny'Sænuri leader was through the Thybbis Pass, and Odhner took his entire expedition to either intercept Vhaondesz or pressure the Iuzebhax to surrender him by threatening the clan's core territories.

Such a large force moving through the interior did not go unnoticed however. Adogha Iuzebhax was already bound to defend Vhaondesz as both a family-member and a host, and the Cryrian soldiers moving through her lands simply could not be ignored. Odhner's expedition was hindered by its own unfamiliarity with the terrain and the hostility of the local population, which provided Adogha and Vhaondesz with constant updates on Cryrian movements. Odhner passed through the undefended Ctuidhor village of Cxoxhis and reached Thybbis Pass on 31 May. There he found not Vhaondesz, but nearly twice his number in Iuzebhax warriors waiting in ambush.

Unbeknownst to the Cryrians, Adogha had led her forces in small groups through a series of smaller passes in order to flank Odhner's column. However, the Ny'Sænuri preparations had been rushed and they lacked the modern firearms needed to take full advantage of the situation. The Ny'Sænuri instead had to rely on older muzzle-loaded muskets which severely curtailed their rate of fire. The Cryrians meanwhile were taken by surprise, but held their discipline. In the ensuing skirmish, three Cryrian officers and two allied Aikkian soldiers were killed, along with another four Aikkianauxiliaries wounded. Ny'Sænuri forces quickly melted away and left ten of their dead behind when it became apparent that Odhner's command would not shatter of its own accord.

Despite the light casualties taken by his force, Odhner chose not to pursue the retreating Ny'Sænuri. Cryrian officers correctly assumed that Vhaondesz was not present in the area, and feared another, more deadly ambush. Instead the Cryrians withdrew back to Cxoxhis for nightfall. This decision was later widely criticized in Leidenstad, and is generally cited as the reason for why the First Battle of Thybbis Pass could be considered a Ny'Sænuri victory as the clans were able to both protect Vhaondesz and delay a Cryrian invasion of more important Iuzebhax lands.

Siege of Cxoxhis

12-pounder field gun on display at the Royal Gallery in Highdrilian. Two similar cannons were used by the Ny'Sænuri at the Siege of Cxoxhis.

Returning to Cxoxhis, Odhner's soldiers quickly forced out the small local population and established makeshift fortifications. From the village, Odhner could still control the main route between Ctuidhor and Iuzebhax lands, and he hoped to use it as a base for further reconnaissance of the region while planning a more systematic invasion of the Iuzebhax that would bring the Ny'Sænuri to an open battle and force their surrender. However Ny'Sænuri forces had not remained dormant either. On April 1, Odhner's scouts reported the movement of large Ny'Sænuri columns, and by the end of the day found that Cxoxhis was surrounded by a force of 2,000 warriors. These had likely been drawn from Vhaondesz's insurgent camps and were well-equipped with modern rifles. They also brought with them two 12-pounder field cannons. While there are scant surviving records of Ny'Sænuri planning during the war, Odhner's reports indicated that this Ny'Sænuri army had likely been waiting nearby to conduct a second ambush after the Cryrians pursued the first failed attempt at Thybbis Pass. However, as the Cryrians had pulled back to Cxoxhis, they now chose to lay siege to the Expedition.

According to Odhner's subordinates, the Cryrian commander was pleased to hear of the Ny'Sænuri movement. By his estimations, this army represented the largest and most dangerous and well-trained portion of the insurgent forces in the Interior, and he now had a chance to bring them to a decisive battle. Further Cryrian reports indicated sightings of both Adogha Iuzebhax and Vhaondesz Ctuidhor in command of the Ny'Sænuri. As such, Odhner decided to hold Cxoxhis and instead send word back to Fort Eriksen requesting reinforcements to crush the insurgents. With normal lines of communication severed by now, the Cryrians sent a small courier party led by Mira Palme to alert Fort Eriksen. Palme survived attacks by hostile locals and escaped a betrayal by her Aikkian escorts before arriving alone at Fort Erkissen five days later.

A nine-day long siege developed at Cxoxhis. The Ny'Sænuri held a significant numerical advantage, but suffered from limited amounts of ammunition and lacked the training and discipline to conduct large-scale infantry actions. Meanwhile, the Cryrians enjoyed a defensible position, with supplies and captured food stores to sustain themselves. Despite this, the Ny'Sænuri launched several assaults on Cxoxhis over the course of the siege, ultimately losing 42 of their warriors at no cost to the Cryrian defenders. Despite the urging of his subordinates, Odhner was reluctant to conduct any sorties of his own, as he was unaware of the Ny'Sænuri ammunition shortages.

Öberg Expedition

Odhner's caution carried through his missive to the garrison at Fort Erikssen. While Odhner had hoped that reinforcements from the Fort would be sufficient to destroy the Ny'Sænuri even at their exaggerated strength, local commanders now feared that the insurgents had formed a capable army that could pose a serious threat to Cryrian formations. The fog of war was worsened as other Ny'Sænuri groups began to rally across the Interior, and communications between the eastern and western portions of the Kingdom had been effectively severed within a week of the siege's start. As such, the garrison instead dispatched a request to Öberg for the immediate deployment of Cryrian units in Highdrilian.

Wary of blindly throwing his reserves into the fray and without the numbers to control the Interior, Öberg finally turned back to the Duchess of Yogryg'dri. Ultimately, the Governor-General offered the Duchess a part of what she had originally desired - Recognition of her claims to Ny'Sænuri lands, and weapons with which to uphold them in exchange for placing Yogryg'dri troops under Cryrian command to quash the rebellion. However, Yogryg'dri would not be granted leave to levy taxes upon the Norsian Concern's activities in its lands. As the insurrection risked causing unrest in her own territories and threatening her incomes, the Duchess soon accepted the proposal.

However, Öberg had come to expect duplicity on the part of the Duchess, and now sought to outmaneuver her. On 9 June, Cryrian and Yogryg'dri forces assembled outside the Khuilalb Barracks. There, when Öberg was expected to publicly offer his thanks to the Duchess before the combined army, he instead presented her with a missive from the court in Highdrilian, which exercised royal authority to personally commission her into the expedition, which would be personally commanded by the Governor-General. The scene was recorded in Öberg's reports to Leidenstad:

 
 
I was quite pleased to present the Duchess Tyxhun with her commission, knowing that she would not be able to refuse in front of the soldiers she herself had just committed to war. To her credit, she remained unfazed and immediately commanded her attendant to fetch her an officer's pistol and sabre. The Duchess then informed me that as the individual of highest rank within the combined forces, she would now take command of the expedition. I then informed her in turn that His Highness had instead personally given me leave to command, and that her rank was overridden. That I was common-born, I think, greatly enraged her - I would say that we made an enemy on that day, but I have learned to see the Aikkians for what they are.
 

 

By drafting the Duchess into the relief mission, Öberg effectively removed Tyxhun from her base of power and take her far away from the Gloaming Throne at a time when the Norsian Concern's distraction might have been exploited. It also ensured that the Duchess would be personally seen as partaking in a Cryrian punitive expedition against other Aikkians, thus alienating her from the general population, cementing the rifts between the Ny'Sænuri and Yogryg'dri, and permanently tying her to the Concern. Lastly, Öberg hoped that by forcing King Håkan to give the order, he would not only form a new divide between the Ny'Sænuri and the court in Highdrilian but also create future conflicts between the Duchess and the King.

Relief of Cxoxhis

Ny'Sænuri leaders had by now become well aware of the Öberg Expedition's assembly, and sought to once again disaggregate their own forces. On April 10, Vhaondesz abandoned the largely fruitless siege of Cxoxhis as a relief column of roughly 100 Cryrians approached the village. The reinforcements soon linked up with the Odhner Expedition, and Cxoxhis was quickly turned into the staging ground for a new push into Iuzebhax territory.

Houzhess Column

As the Ny'Sænuri sought to go to ground again, the Öberg Expedition launched a second invasion into the Ctuidhor homelands in an effort to force Vhaondesz's hand. The column entered Ctuidhor territory on 20 April, but encountered no resistance save for sporadic and ineffective gunfire from insurgents that quickly melted away as their ammunition ran low. Cryrian and allied forces quickly occupied the village of Houzhess with little resistance.

Azerre Column

The third prong of the Öberg Expedition was directed towards the Azerre Clan. Id'ithross Azerre was known to be a close ally of Vhaondesz, and was bound by marriage to the Ctuidhor Clan. However, the Azerre homelands had thus far remained largely untouched by the ongoing fighting, and Öberg was quick to order that the Clan now face its due reprisals. With the best trained and equipped Ny'Sænuri still in Iuzebhax, there was little left to face the Cryrians and their allies in Azerre. By 23 April, Cryrian and Yogryg'dri forces had reached the village of Azerre. Id'ithross and twenty of his soldiers were killed in the ensuing skirmish, which marked an end to effective resistance in the region.

Battle of Iuzebhax

Cryrian forces consolidated their position in Cxoxhis in the days following the siege. While smaller campaigns raged on in Ctuidhor and Azerre lands, Iuzebhax had now become the focus of the war. Öberg firmly believed that the bulk of Ny'Sænuri power was still located in the territory, as well as their most important leaders. Öberg now personally took command of the forces at Cxoxhis along with Duchess Tyxhun, and began formulating a new push into Iuzebhax that would threaten the clan's core territories and force the Ny'Sænuri into battle.

On 17 April, Öberg's forces moved through the Thybbis Pass unopposed, and began conducting a wide campaign of destruction against undefended Ny'Sænuri settlements as they progressed towards the town of Iuzebhax. The damage brought on by the Cryrians was a conscious effort formulated by Öberg, which he described in his personal journal.

 
 
A good commander must be a student of history, and nowhere is this more true than in this backwards land. Here, amidst the savages, we wage yesterday's war - In truth, a feudal war, of the kind once waged between Queen Lielsta and the Veiled King. The weak refuse to give battle, and the strong must compel them to do so. Thus we turned to our time-honored ally - The chevauchée.
 

 

This strategy proved successful, as the campaign created pressure on Vhaondesz by his Iuzebhaxi allies, who reportedly threatened to abandon him if their homes were not defended. This pressure was only worsened by Vhaondesz's failure to mount a second defense at Thybbis Pass.

Despite his misgivings, Vhaondesz eventually reorganized his army to give battle at the town of Iuzebhax. There, some 700 Ny'Sænuri warriors were gathered along with most of Vhaondesz's precious firearms, as well as his two cannons. They faced roughly 400 Cryrians and Yogryg'dri, who had brought two guns of their own.

The battle at Iuzebhax was the last major clash of the Interior Campaign, and proved to be a decisive defeat for the Ny'Sænuri. In heavy fighting on 23 April, two Cryrian officers were killed and another eleven wounded. In exchange, the Ny'Sænuri lost nearly 130 of their best soldiers, including several important leaders. Among these were Adogha Iuzebhax as well as her wife and Vhaondesz's eldest daughter, Oxela Ctuidhor. Vhaondesz's second eldest, Iadyza, was also killed in a skirmish shortly after the main battle.

The remaining Ny'Sænuri forces were badly routed, however, Vhaondesz himself was successful in eluding capture. The Öberg Expedition took full control of the town, and Iuzebax resistance was effectively ended. As in other instances throughout the Campaign, the lopsided results of the battle of Iuzebhax can be attributed to disparities in ammunition, firepower, and discipline between the two parties. While outnumbered, Cryrian forces could fully utilize their firearms and were far more experienced in making use of their limited artillery support. In contrast, Ny'Sænuri cannons did not fire at any point in the battle, and while Ny'Sænuri warriors proved to be motivated and tenacious, they were forced to resort to suicidal bayonet charges and hand-to-hand combat as their ammunition quickly ran out.

Fall of Ctuidhor

On 27 April, the Iuzebhax, Azerre, and Houzhess columns united and advanced onto Vhaondesz capital of Ctuidhor. The town was undefended, with no sign of Vhaondesz himself. A Cryrian flag was soon hoisted over the settlement, and nearly sixty prisoners captured on various Ny'Sænuri raids were released.

Aftermath and Legacy

The Fall of Ctuidhor marked the end of significant combat operations in the Interior Campaign. The leaders of two major Ny'Sænuri clans had been killed, and all significant Ny'Sænuri settlements were occupied by the Öberg Expedition. Despite Vhaondesz's escape, his army, which had been carefully built and equipped in the Highlands, was thoroughly destroyed at Iuzebhax. After the Fall of Ctuidhor, five more Ny'Sænuri leaders were executed under the supervision of Öberg, while another twenty were sent to Morgenstjernen Prison in Cryria as hostages. In addition, approximately 4,000 firearms were seized from Ny'Sænuri caches.

Rather than immediately returning to Highdrilian with his forces, Öberg decided to lead the Expedition through the western Aikkian duchies to display Cryrian hegemony and force in the region. The local Aikkian aristocracy quickly submitted to the Expedition's power. Upon reaching the borders of Cxiorr'ithi, Öberg compelled Duchess Shocti to surrender Akilixa Ctuidhor, Vhaondesz's youngest daughter who had been serving as Shocti's handmaiden. Akilixa was then handed over to Duchess Tyxhun's custody to be used as a hostage in the event of Vhaondesz's return to launch a new insurgency. The Campaign officially ended on July 3, 1885, with the formal disbandment of the Öberg Expedition and the end of remaining Ny'Sænuri resistance.

Death Toll and Atrocities

The Interior Campaign was characterized by a significant disparity in the death toll, with approximately two hundred Ny'Sænuri combat losses compared to only seven Cryrians and Yogryg'dri. This outcome can be attributed to the vast disparities in firepower and discipline between the two sides. The majority of Ny'Sænuri losses occurred during the disastrous Battle of Iuzebhax when they engaged in open combat against Cryrian forces.

While civilian losses from the Campaign went largely unrecorded, it is estimated that Öberg's raids resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Iuzebhaxi noncombatants.

Reactions in Cryria

Initially, the development of the Interior Campaign received little coverage in the Cryrian metropole. However, the public's awareness of the conflict grew significantly due to the Siege of Cxoxhis. The image of outnumbered Cryrian soldiers valiantly holding out against a horde of Ny'Sænuri savages in the Aikkian frontier was sensationalized through penny dreadful-style novels, which had become increasingly popular in 19th-century Cryria. Cryrian newspaper outlets and the emerging Tomorrow Ministry were quick to seize upon this phenomenon. Increasingly sensational accounts of Cryrian military heroism and exploits reached the Kingdom's ears in the weeks following the Campaign's conclusion.

As the commander of the Campaign, Melker Öberg was widely praised for his handling of the conflict. His policy of strict reprisals was seen to have been successful, as Ny'Sænuri raids on Norsian Concern interests effectively ceased. Öberg's victory brought him personal fame in Leidenstad, as well as a knighthood from King Albert. The Campaign also solidified his position in Aikthudr'zhur. As Governor-General, he now not only oversaw the administrative aspects of the Cryrian presence in the Kingdom but also commanded unprecedented loyalty from local military units. The uncompromising positions taken towards the local population remained a hallmark of his career, and ultimately contributed to the brutal Sack of Highdrilian.

A second knighthood was bestowed upon Mira Palme, whose journey to Fort Eriksen made her a minor celebrity in Cryria.

In contrast, Lukas Odhner faced significant criticism for the failures of his initial expedition. Civilian authorities in Leidenstad scrutinized Odhner's decisions for both his initial underestimations of the Ny'Sænuri and later a lack of aggressiveness and initiative, particularly in relation to the withdrawal from Thybbis Pass and the subsequent siege at Cxoxhis. Odhner was summoned back to Leidenstad for a hearing, but he was fiercely defended by his allies within the Cryrian military. Öberg himself refused to publicly support any detractors of his former subordinate, even though his private writings echoed many of their statements. Ultimately, Odhner was found to have acted competently. He would never be given another field command again and instead spent the remainder of his career as a teacher at the Leidenstad Military Academy.

Impacts on Aikthudr'zhur

Independence Effort War Memorial in Ctuidhor

The Interior Campaign brought about devastating consequences in Aikthudr'zhur. The power of the Ny'Sænuri clans was shattered, with their central leadership either dead or captured alongside their best soldiers and military stockpiles. This ended the last bastion of resistance against Cryrian power and allowed the Norsian Concern to apply its influence virtually unchecked. Some Ny'Sænuri fighters including Vhaondesz vanished into hiding despite sweeping Cryrian manhunts to ferret them out. These remnants were unable to ever muster an independent insurrection again, but many of them later resurfaced during the Sack of Highdrilian.

Duchess Tyxhun profited greatly from the Interior Campaign, which reopened the East-West railways and doubled the size of her domain through the seizure of Ny'Sænuri lands. Her forces also received limited quantities of Cryrian weapons, including all four of the 12-pounded field guns used in the Campaign. However, the Duchess was now seen as a Cryrian puppet, and she was in the unenviable position of needing to occupy the restive Ny'Sænuri territories. Her experiences with Melker Öberg, the Governor-General of Aikthudr'zhur, left her deeply embittered towards him, and any hopes of an equal partnership with the Norsian Concern had been thoroughly dispelled. This newfound hostility in turn led to her critical actions during the Sack of Highdrilian.

The Interior Campaign also had significant implications for other Aikkian institutions. The campaign underlined the impotence of the Aikkian monarchy, while also demonstrating the Norsian Concern's ability to enforce its own order with only a veneer of legitimacy from the Gloaming Throne. Other Aikkian aristocrats were similarly shown to be powerless in the face of Cryrian encroachments.

The Ny'Sænuri had not always been popular among other segments of Aikkian society, but their resistance towards Cryrian rule served as a beacon of inspiration for future efforts to restore the Kingdom's sovereignty. The Ny'Sænuri leaders who were deported to Cryria became known as the Lost Twenty within Aikkian nationalist circles. Despite frequent petitions for their release by both the Aikkian leadership and Cryrian anti-imperialists, all twenty spent the remainder of their lives in Cryrian custody. Prison records indicate that their remains were ultimately cremated and scattered into the sea.

Although the Interior Campaign soon passed out of Cryrian cultural consciousness, it remains an important part of the Aikkian national mythos, particularly among the modern-day Ny'Sænuri. Leaders such as Vhaondesz Ctuidhor are still widely celebrated, and 31 May, the date of the victory at Thybbis Pass, is a national holiday in Aikthudr'zhur.