Quetzenkel front

The Quetzenkel front was a Urcean-led theater of operations of the Final War of the Deluge fought in Quetzenkel and in neighboring regions of Varshan. Launched simultaneously with the Invasion of Cetsencalia, the initial invasion of Quetzenkel by Varshan stalled out due to topographical concerns, better organized local resistance, and operational failure on the part of Varshan. Following the initial defense, the Quetzenkel front became an area of buildup for both sides culminating in a major allied offensive out of Quetzenkel down the central ridge of Varshan and Varshan's eastern valley, with Urcean troops reaching Anzo from this front by 2024. The fall of the city on May 21, 2024 marked the final conclusion of the front.

Background
In 2013, a civil war erupted in Quetzenkel which was exacerbated by the arrival of the Sons of Levantia terrorist group in 2014. The invasion of the Sons of Levantia created a major succession crisis and dissolution of the country into rival factions. Varshan warned Urcea not to intervene until 2015, when a negotiated settlement between both countries recognized Telucti Cheveyo's claim to the country. Cheveyo, a Varshan-born warrior caste billionaire who converted to Catholicism and resided in Levantia, was viewed as a candidate that would allow both countries to retain some influence. In mid 2016, Quicksilver Industries-armed and trained forces crossed from Varshan into Quetzenkel under Cheveyo's leadership, calling themselves the "Legitimists". The Legitimists prevailed by the end of the year, and Telucti Cheveyo was crowned the first King of Quetzenkel. Disappointing Varshani policymakers, Quetzenkel immediately join the Nysdra Sea Treaty Association and did homage to the Apostolic King of Urcea, definitively aligning the country with Urcea. Over the course of the late 2010s, Urcea and other Occidental powers considerably invested in Quetzenkel, leading to major economic development and rising standards of life.

Despite its clear geopolitical defeat, Varshan would not forget what they perceived as the betrayal of Cheveyo. Varshani leadership perceived that the presence of a Urcean-aligned Quetzenkel posed a significant threat to Varshan's soverieignty, and the country began military planning for the invasion of Quetzenkel in the event of war between Varshan and Urcea.

Initial invasion
Upon its entry into the Final War of the Deluge, Varshan intended to complete two lightning campaigns to eject Urcea from Cetsencalia and Quetzenkel within six months, committing more than two million combat personnel to the task. Due to the lesser presence of the Royal and Imperial Army in Quetzenkel, Varshani forces believed the 4-to-1 advantage over local defenders would be enough to induce Quetzenkel to surrender. The initial invasion also planned on having sympathy from the local population, which it did not expect from the neighboring Veltorines of Cetsencalia. Consequently, only 400,000 men were committed to the invasion of Quetzenkel.

On the morning of April 15, 2021, the Varshani Army crossed the border and defeated light resistance by Quetzen Domestic Terrestrial Defense Corps (DTDC) border guards and began to push north from the south-central border of the country. Their advance was accompanied by the dropping of Quetzeni-language pamphlets which continued for two weeks until the Royal Air Force established aerial supremacy over the country. Armored forces of the DTDC quickly advanced south from garrisons outside the capitol city of Akwesasne, meeting advanced units of the invasion force and defeating them in detail. Quetzenkel activated its entire reserve force on April 22, 2021, though mobilization of these forces would not be available for some time. The DTDC quickly reinforced the southern part of the country and established static defenses. The invading Varshani forces did not expect heavy resistance and could not immediately make up the losses of its advance armor forces, stalling the campaign.

During the initial invasion, forces from Corumm were stationed in Akwesasne and southern Quetzenkel, ostensibly to "protect against unrest in the Kingdom". These forces allowed Quetzenkel to deploy as many forces as possible to the southern border, allowing more than a hundred thousand combat personnel to take the field when Varshani forces anticipated half that number.

Corummese withdrawal
As the southern border stabilized in early late summer 2021, Corumm announced it would be withdrawing its forces citing the lack of a committed war effort by Urcea, although later media sources revealed that Corumm was preparing for its counterattack against Varshani forces in Xisheng due to Corumm's own lack of forces in the theater. The withdrawal lead to a brief closure of the Nysdra Sea by the Royal Navy, precipitating a tense but brief diplomatic showdown between Urcea and Corumm that was only resolved by the personal intervention of Riordan VIII in his role as King of New Yustona. The withdrawal meant that large numbers of Royal and Imperial Army forces had to be withdrawn from the Invasion of Cetsencalia, a withdrawal that most analysts believe played a decisive role in the fall of New Constanz later in September. The Corummese withdrawal, in addition to its effect on Urcean deployments, also significantly disrupted the Varshani invasion plans for Quetzenkel, forcing a halt in operations and reevaluation that gave the Urceans sufficient time to reinforce the country.

Cobalt campaign and relief efforts
The Confederation of Prevalia entered the Varshan War on February 25, 2022, announcing its intent to assist in recovery efforts for the nations impacted by the conflict. That day, most of Prevalia's naval forces departed from Vorsenke and Varena armed with medical supplies, construction materials, and foodstuff to aid the civilians who were victims of the war. Alongside this assistance were 10,000 Prevalian soldiers, mostly Naheans, who were to arrive at Quetzenkel as part of Operation North Star. The deployment of soldiers was joined by air raids on Anzo. In response, the Free Varshan Society, made up of Prevalians opposed to the war, bombed the Brennna Cathedral on March 12, 2022, killing dozens of Naheans. Following the attacks, Operation Cobalt Prince was launched on April 7, 2022, with some 120,000 Prevalian soldiers under the command of Isaak Schwan launched a southward offensive into the mountains along the Quetzenkel-Varshan border in an attempt to puncture the lines and drive into the Varshan heartland. Although initially a success, Varshan had trapped Prevalia's forces deep into their lines, and on April 25, 2022, they launched an offensive to surround 90,000 of Schwan's forces deep in the mountains. Recognizing his position, Schwan dug in and with help from Prevalian aerial forces, established the Cobalt Fortress to hold out until assistance arrived.

Despite promises of a counterattack to relieve the fortress never materializing, the Siege of Cobalt Fortress was initially a success. Varshan's attempts to force a surrender failed, with the Prevalians knowing that surrender meant torture and eventual death. Instead, as time went on, they held out despite starvation, lack of medical supplies, and the bitter cold of the mountains. Within two months, the 90,000 trapped in the fortress was reduced to 63,000 by June 2022. Allied support from the air ameliorated the crisis of supplies in the short term and allowed for the evacuation of wounded Prevalians. In August 2022, Isaak Schwan was named Marshal of Nahe and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and as a result was evacuated from the pocket. His replacement was Fabian Schaeffer, who planned to have the 50,000 left in the pocket to evacuate north towards friendly lines. Martin St. Clair began an operation to life the siege and to help Schaeffer break out from the fortress. In October 2022, the Urcean offensive began, and on December 3, 2022, Prevalian forces after abandoning the fortress managed to push north and reunited with friendly forces. Of the 120,000 Prevalians involved in Operation Cobalt Prince, 53,000 were killed 30,000 were wounded, and 10,000 were missing. Only 27,000 Prevalians escaped the Cobalt Fortress unscathed.

The Siege of Cobalt Fortress was a propaganda boon for Prevalia, and the idea of the Cobalt Spirit began around this time of national unity despite adversity and dedication to the homeland. Recruitment efforts skyrocketed from April 25 to December 3, 2022, and by the end of the year close to 500,000 Prevalians had arrived to fight in the conflict. However, the high casualty rate saw public opinion for fighting the war reduced. Recognizing this, most of Prevalia's military actions following the Siege of Cobalt Forces were mostly in the air and at sea, with Prevalian soldiers mostly being relegated to becoming an occupation force in Varshan. The political impact of this siege also went beyond the military implications, as the nations that assisted the Prevalians trapped behind Varshan's line quickly became close allies.

Aftermath
Successes in the Quetzenkel front allowed for the Royal and Imperial Army to reach Anzo from the north and begin the taking of the city, culminating in the Fall of Anzo and the end of the Final War of the Deluge. Following the conclusion of the war, Quetzenkel was compensated with significant lands along the central Varshani ridge populated Quetzen-related peoples as part of a general NSTA strategy of surrounding Varshan with capable self-sustaining nation-states. Much of the defensive perimeter envisioned by Quetzenkel's borders following the Treaty of Electorsbourg was based on lessons from the Varshani invasion of the country.