The Virgandian-Marssalan War

INTRODUCTION
The Virgandian-Marssalan War was a decisive war fought between the Principality of Virgandia and the Kingdom of Marssala, two rival powers in southern Eithlith, between 1545 and 1560. It resulted in the capture and sacking of the ancient city of Marssala by Virgandian forces under Balos I, and the founding of the Virgandian Empire.

BACKGROUND
Following the collapse of Elven civilisation and thusly the near extinction of the elven race, humans began to assert their dominance over southern Eithlith, building new kingdoms with the ruins and technology of abandoned elven cities. The strongest of these new human kingdoms were Virgandia and Marssala, which were both fortunate enough to have elven refugees living in their territory, among whom there were scholars who offered their services in alchemy, engineering and architecture to their new masters. With this knowledge, Virgandia and Marssala built great cities and amassed mighty armies which subjugated nearby settlements into their rule, at the same time also mining rare materials and creating masterful works of art and jewellry that gave them their wealth. As 2 expanding powers, Virgandia and Marssala were bound to have a conflict of some sort when they met.

The borders of Virgandia and Marssala first met when the former captured the city-state of Nolas. Immediately, both nations began to capture as much land as possible before the other could, and when there were no more city-states to annex, troops began to build up on the border. Tensions rose, and the 2 nations began to plot the downfall of their rival. Skirmishes and occasional expeditions across the border often took place, with patrolling warriors from one side spending the night in a village in foreign territory, incurring an encounter with warriors from the other side the next morning, or a similar incident occuring within their territory. Many times these would result in violence, and it was clear that the path to war had begun long ago.

THE WAR
In 1545, war was officially declared, with Balos I of Virgandia invading Marssala at the head of an army consisting of over 15,000 cataphracts and 35,000 infantry, according to primary sources. For a week they roamed the countryside, attacking and sacking villages and towns. It is said that when the messenger bearing news of war arrived before the King of Marssala, the king immediately ordered the sacrifice of 100 lambs and the initiation of 100 new female priests in order to bring good fortune. The Marssalan forces then set out to meet the Virgandians in battle. Many details of this decisive pitched battle are missing - casualties and its exact location are still unknown to this day - but what is clear is that the Virgandian advance was stopped and pushed back after a bloody and very costly battle.