The First Holy War

The First Holy War was a theological disagreement between Concordia and Tzetrovia, in essence a misunderstanding that morphed into a bloody conflict. The Concordians, on the continent of Therimore, follow the polytheistic ways of The Maiden Mother and the rest of the Prime Nine. The Tzetrovites, to the south in Keterlund, practiced The Natural Order, a belief that man needs only to respond to two gods: Life and Death. Seeing the Concordians neglect to worship Life as a singularity, they believed that they needed to see the errors of their ways and give their devotion wholly to Life. Efforts to convert led to conflict, and the Concordians took these conversions as acts of war. After years of small battles across the Verlescent Sea and along The Broken Chain, the Tetrovites launched a full-scale surprise invasion of the Concordian coast.

For a short while, the Tzetrovites occupied Concordia and used it as a base of operations to expand further into the continent and convert all in their path. Their ultimate destination was of course the The Holy City of Perpetua, wherein resided the main temples to the Prime Nine. As the Tzetrovite army marched west, they swept through several small towns and villages, burning heretics and destroying those who refused to convert. Several Concordian spies learned of the Tzetrovite plans to sack the Holy City, and a huge defense was mounted at the temple. A large battle ensued, and eventually the Tzetrovites were turned away. The Battle at Perpetua was an immense victory for the Concordians and the continent of Therimore, a testament to the resolve and strength of the Therimorean people. The Battle has since become legend, and those who were involved in the defense of the Holy City were revered as heroes. Stories from the brave men and women who guarded the religious center of the continent were passed down through generations, some building up the mythos of the Battle to claim that the Gods themselves fought alongside the Therimoreans that day.

When the people in the occupied city of Concordia heard of the defeat of the Tzetrovite army at the Holy City, there was an uprising in the capital city on a scale the Tzetrovites could not predict. With their army split, the Tzetrovites were unable to hold Concordia, and were forced to retreat back to their side of Brumia, back across the Verlescent Sea.
The effects of the First Holy War were felt for centuries to come. The success of the Concordians further cemented the power Rocherran Dynasty, as it was under their leadership that the Tzetrovians were repulsed from the continent.