Runesbalkan Empire

General Information
The Runesbalkan Empire was a massive empire, 2nd largest nation ever on Planet Vortex, and the largest empire in Vortexian history.

Creation
The Runesbalkan Empire began very early in Vortex's history, as a very violent tribe known as the Rulsburg. They were a unique tribe as they were the only tribe to speak the language of Runesbalkan. The Rulsburg tribe expanded rapidly, destroying other tribes and becoming a kingdom. Languages changed over the years, and it went from Rulsburg to Runesbalk.

Medieval Era
The Kingdom of Runesbalk expanded rapidly and owned the southern half of the land that it's modern-day counterpart owns.

The Kingdom of Runesbalk then had been declared war on by the nearby Shtrongine Kingdom, and the Shtrongine were obliterated. In the end, Runesbalk annexed the Shtrongine Kingdom.

After a few years, they eventually declared war on the final kingdom that has their people: Kingdom of Watarlaj. They won a massive victory at the battle of Allenburg (now Oldtown), forcing the Watarlaj kingdom to surrender. That was when the Runesbalkan Empire was proclaimed.

Colonial Times
After becoming an empire, Runesbalk began rapid expansion, but sense it could not expand anywhere due to well defended enemies, the Runesbalkans looked over to the oceans. So, they went and colonized numerous areas. From Tornado Alley Island to Vortexia, from Supercellia to South Windica, Runesbalk had more colonies than the British Empire. Here are most of them...

Clenvilla (south windica)

Arintros (south windica)

Katherinia (Mount Katherine)

Neutronium (Supercellia)

Intricar (Supercellia)

Supercell (Supercellia)

New Runesbalk (Sorros)

Southern Sorrosia (Sorros)

Landara (Tornado Alley Island)

Tornadolandia (Tornado Alley Island)

Sandari (Tornado Alley Island)

Vortimus (Vortexia)

Neto (Vortexia)

Hazard (Vortexia)

Nimbus (Storm Island)

Stormia (Storm Island)

Arctica (Southland)

This is not all of the colonies, this is just a handful of them.

Runesbalk was doing well with their colonial tactics. Though at some point there was a major failure.

The Runesbalkan Invasion of Vortexia occured and was an attempt of subjugation of Vortexia into Runesbalk. They did what they always did: off-shore bombardment. However, Vortexia had artillery, and sank almost 250 Runesbalkan ships. The monarch of Runesbalk then declared this battle a lost cause and ended the invasion.

After this, Runesbalk had it's first uprising: Supercellia. Supercell colony wanted to join the rest of Supercellia: the Republic of Supercellia. They actually called Supercellia for support, and together they destroyed Runesbalk's forces in the island of Supercellia, while also stealing some equipment.

Runesbalk's empire was starting to crumble.

A Crumbling Empire
Runesbalk lost areas like Southland easily, but they tried very hard to keep Storm Island. All was well until they were funded by Supercellia, Southland and Superstorm Island. Thats where the Storm Islanders decided to all rebel. They completely overturned the government in the island, destroying a tenth of Runesbalk's total military.

The cultural differences in Runesbalk were the very reason why Runesbalk was falling apart. Runesbalk even got kicked out of Vortexia earlier because of Count Sterid.

Then, the 2nd bloodiest war in the history of the Island of Windsir would break out, as a fight over power would emerge.

Conflict
The Kingdom of Windsir and Runesbalk already did not like one another, and some time before world war 1, a massive, bloody war took place. The two already had high tensions, and were fighting for power. And finally, the tensions broke at exactly 7:01 AM one day.

A full on war broke out. Every weapon possible was used on the battlefield (except nuclear weapons). Even illegal weapons. Flamethrowers, bioweapons, chemical weapons, cluster bombs, landmines, etc. The single bloodiest conflict of the war occured as the battle of Mirrindasburg. The victor however was not Runesbalk. This one battle turned the tide of the war, and history of the Runesbalkan Empire.

In the end, Runesbalk was annexed by the Kingdom of Windsir. The war ended with hundreds of millions of deaths, making it one of the bloodiest wars in Vortexian history.

Many Windsyrians even still say that to this day, there are still lakes and rivers filled with the blood of soldiers.

However, Runesbalk's empire-based history did not end here.

The idea persisted in many minds of Runesbalkans.

Rebellion
During the 7th Windsyrian Civil War, Runesbalk rebelled against the government and went against all other rebellions. They took large swaths of land, and even invaded Storm island. Thankfully they got pushed out as allied troops entered the battlefield.

Runesbalk was pushed back, but they tried a final tactic: a nuclear strike. They used a nuclear bomb on Mirrindasburg, destroying the center of the city.

But then, Runesbalk was destroyed by the incoming forces. They even lived under occupation for months to ensure that they didnt rise up again.

Runesbalk's Empire was gone, once and for all, and was never to return.