Morning Crusade
This page is about the first Morning Crusade. For information about the event started by the Dawn Guard, see Second Morning Crusade.
The Morning Crusade was the name given to the war against the Shadow Tyrant from 1384 DR to 1385 DR.
Series of Events
In Mirtul 1381 DR, Ryker Dolan began raising allies to stand against the Shadow Tyrant. Hamraeg Dimhelm agreed to champion Ryker's cause to the Dwarves, who began manufacturing arms and armor in secret.
On the Eleventh of Hammer 1382 DR, Ryker met with the Elves, who were reluctant to join the fight, as their lands had been mostly free of the Shadow Tyrant's forces. On his way back to the Iron Mountains, Ryker was stopped by Adsalor Silverfrond and his contingent of rangers, who wished to aid Ryker's cause.
In Ches 1382 DR, the Dwarves began construction of armories and training areas in Bilgunar.
On the First of Mirtul 1383 DR, Eler Golegal convinces the Council of Nine to pledge Elven forces to Ryker's cause. Two months later, Elven forces join the Morning Crusade in Bilgunar. This troop movement likely made the orcs aware of the resistance.
In Marpenoth 1383 DR, the orc warlord Gaakt Mugdul rounded up a number of civilians in Candeba and executed them, claiming they were members of the resistance.
On the Fifth of Hammer 1384 DR, Ryker Dolan, Adsalor Silverfrond, Hamraeg Dimhelm, and the other senior officers meet to discuss battle strategy for three days straight.
On the Twenty-ninth of Hammer 1384 DR, elven rangers formed a defensive line along what would become the southern border of the Realm of Eregrond.
On the Thirtieth of Hammer 1384 DR, dwarven forces secured the pass on their western border.
On the First of Alturiak 1384 DR, Ryker Dolan marched his forces east from the Iron Dominion into what is now the Kingdom of Men. For the rest of that year his forces liberated cities and villages up to the Clyh Mountains, where a defensive perimeter was built.
Starting on the Second of Hammer 1385 DR, Ryker pointed his forces west: sweeping up to the elven border, then splitting and heading south. Ryker led his forces towards the Shadow Tower while Neldrun Enroh led another division south toward the ruins of Radalas.
On the Twenty-third of Ches 1385 DR, Ryker's division laid siege to the Shadow Tower.
Beginning on the First of Tarsakh 1385 DR, cavalry from Enroh's division began harassing orc defenders and leading them away from the ruins of Radalas.
On the Fourteenth of Tarsakh 1385 DR, Enroh's division arrives en masse and began to lay siege to the orc stronghold.
On the Fifth of Kythorn 1385 DR, Ryker Dolan, Adsalor Silverfrond, and Hamraeg Dimhelm climbed the Shadow Tower and slew the Shadow Tyrant. Knowing that he would not stay dead without destroying his phylacteries, Hamraeg bound him with holy magic and the three buried him beneath the ruins of the tower.
On the Tenth of Kythorn 1385 DR, Enroh's forces breach the stronghold. During the breach, Enroh is slain by Gaakt Mugdul, who is in turn killed by a young dwarf named Fargrim Longbeard. After the death of their warlord, the remaining orcs are quickly defeated.
