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KT vs Havoc (2011)

A brief but intense melee

Table of Contents

War Details
Introduction
Origins
Escalation
Expansion and StJude’s Defiance
Final Phase: The ICON Continuation
Aftermath
Sources and References

War Details#

Dates	Spring – Late 2011
Combatants	Knights Templar [KT] and successor Knights of Unreason [ICON] vs Havoc Unleashed [HU], later joined by Empire of Qingdao [EQ], Revenge of the Elves [RES], Champions [CHAMP], and Harmless? [H?]
Outcome	Collapse of KT and ICON; RES–CHAMP coalition declared victory, though total outcome remains debated
Standout Leaders	Baughb, StJude [KT, ICON]; Johnny112 [HU]; Clavicus Vile [EQ]; The_Dude [RES]; AmrothAnguireal [CHAMP]; Belthazor, Nokigon, and members of Harmless?

Introduction#

The KT vs Havoc / ICON War (Spring–Late 2011) was one of Illyriad’s earliest large-scale conflicts and among the first to involve multiple confederations. What began as an internal leadership schism within Havoc Unleashed [HU] evolved into a regional war that drew in some of Elgea’s most influential alliances. The conflict ended with the destruction of Knights Templar [KT] and its successor, Knights of Unreason [ICON], while establishing the RES-CHAMP coalition as a dominant bloc in early Illyriad politics.

Origins#

In the spring of 2011, several members of Havoc Unleashed [HU] broke away from the leadership of Johnny112 to form a new alliance, Knights Templar [KT], led by Baughb and StJude. Early clashes between the two sides were governed by informal rules of engagement: no sieges or city destruction. However, tensions escalated when KT began thieving and blighting smaller Havoc settlements. With limited diplomatic visibility mechanics available at the time, HU players manually tracked KT agents, uncovering their operations and declaring open war.

Escalation#

Veteran players including Amroth Anguireal, Belthazor, and Nokigon intervened on Havoc’s side, destroying KT’s first siege attempt against Johnny112’s capital. The Empire of Qingdao [EQ] later joined the campaign, extending the fighting through the summer of 2011. After Baughb was suspended for multi-accounting, KT’s leadership faltered, and the war’s focus shifted toward suppressing the remnants of the rebellion. This phase drew in the confederated pair of Revenge of the Elves [RES] and Champions [CHAMP], who viewed KT as destabilizing and moved to assist their allies.

Expansion and StJude’s Defiance#

Under pressure, StJude attempted to widen the war by declaring hostilities on several other alliances, hoping to rally sympathizers. The move backfired, isolating KT further and bringing Harmless? [H?] into the conflict on the side of RES and CHAMP. By early autumn, KT’s infrastructure was collapsing and its player base scattering. The rebellion that had started as a dispute over leadership had by then become a full-scale confederation war.

Final Phase: The ICON Continuation#

Following KT’s collapse, StJude reorganized his remaining supporters under a new alliance name: the Knights of Unreason [ICON]. On October 4, 2011, he announced ICON’s formation on the forums in the post titled “The Dude and Amroth”, naming The_Dude of RES and AmrothAnguireal of CHAMP as his chief enemies:

“ICON will be reformed under another name, those players who wish to stand up to tyrants and bullying are welcome to join! … The Dude and Amroth have declared their intent to siege my cities from the game.”
— StJude, Illyriad Forums, Oct 4 2011

Five days later, on October 9, 2011, The_Dude formally declared war on ICON on behalf of Revenge of the Elves [RES]:

“RES supports its Confed partner Champ which has previously declared war on ICON. RES has its own casus belli, as well.”
— The_Dude, Illyriad Forums, Oct 9 2011

This phase marked the formal conclusion of the KT rebellion. ICON, now effectively KT under a new banner, was systematically besieged by RES and CHAMP forces. With Harmless? assisting logistically, ICON’s cities were destroyed one by one. StJude’s final posts reflected both defiance and exhaustion, declaring that he would “fight until the end.” Within weeks, ICON was dissolved, and its players either deleted or joined neutral guilds.

Aftermath#

The destruction of KT and ICON ended one of Illyriad’s earliest multi-alliance wars. The RES–CHAMP confederation emerged strengthened, cementing its leadership role in early Elgean politics. Though Havoc Unleashed [HU] survived, it never fully recovered its former prestige, while KT’s fall became a cautionary tale about rebellion within established alliances.

The precise outcome of the war remains debated in later accounts, with some forum commentators suggesting ICON’s collapse was more an internal implosion than a conventional military defeat. Nonetheless, the conflict demonstrated the new scale of coordination possible among Illyriad’s alliances, foreshadowing the structured wars that would dominate the game’s next era.