The First Succession War

Military action

Following Oudellar's death, his counselors war over who will be king.

Following Oudellar's death at the hands of Tocran and Tocran's subsequent execution, Odalla was without its king and one of its counselors. Oudellar's twin sons were infants, and unable to rule in their father's place. Their mother, aided by Oudellar's bodyguard, Gemb, fled with the twins to the home of her father, Ipoletus.   The counsel met on the day following Oudellar's funeral to discuss the succession. Two counselors rose to prominence, both desiring the title of king, while a third group desired that a regent rule in the place of Oudellar's eldest son, Sodus, until he came of age to rule in his father's stead. The counsel decided that the 14 years needed for Sodus to reach the minimum age was too long for Odalla to prosper without a king, and they initially gave their support to Pedridas of Limagor, who was the eldest of the two prominent counselors campaigning to be king. Pedridas gave a speech in which he reminded the counsel that the fractures which divided Aeulo led to its destruction, thus the counsel should be united in whatever decision they made.   This solidified the resolve of the counsel to make Pedridas their king and his sons after him in perpetuity. However, Rhydivern of Lihasis, the other prominent counselor renounced Pedridas and persisted that he be crowned instead. Rhydivern rallied his supporters to his cause and openly challenged Pedridas to face him in combat. The winner of the duel was to receive the crown of Oudellar as his prize. Rhydivern was 30 years younger than Pedridas, and still in the vigor of his youth, whereas Pedridas had long since passed his fighting days. Thus, Pedridas refused the challenge, but Rhydivern insisted. Rhydivern fomented the passions he had stirred in his supporters until one of them drew a sword and slew an aide to one of the counselors who supported Pedridas. This began what became known as The First Succession War.   The counselors on both sides called for their personal guards, and those that sided with Pedridas made their exit from the counsel chambers. Each counselor on both sides returned to his city, while Rhydivern seized control of the capital. Rhydivern sent an expedition to hunt down and kill the twin sons of Oudellar, but that expedition failed due to the strength of the Scylliae under the command of Chieftan Ipoletus--the boys' grandfather.   Pedridas returned to his fortified city of Limagor and sent out a call to arms to all able-bodied men in the city and its surrounding villages. In addition to the 3,000 he already had in stationed in Limagor, Pedridas raised another 16,000 men, raising his total to 19,000. The counselors who pledged Pedridas their support raised 57,000 troops to the cause, bringing the total to 76,000 men. They wintered in Limagor and similar cities across Odallan territory and spent the cold months training for the war that was sure to break out with the first thaw of spring.   Rhydivern and his supporters gained the 15,000 troops of the capital city, and raised another 48,500 men, who also spent the winter training for spring. Pedridas learned of Rhydivern's numbers from his scouts and spies, and despite having a numerical advantage, Pedridas believed that Rhydivern still had the upper hand, due to geographic features of their respective territories. Pedridas then sent out an expedition of his own to find the twin sons of Oudellar, but his purpose differed from that of Rhydivern. Pedridas sought a treaty with Ipoletus of the Scyllliae, believing that the Scylliae, by virtue of Oudellar's marriage with their princess, Guensida, also had a right to the throne of Odalla, and, as they were native peoples, the Scylliae might be able to elicit the support of other native peoples to Pedridas' cause.   Ipoletus saw this as an opportunity for his grandsons to regain their father's throne, so he heartily agreed to Pedridas' terms. Ipoletus then sent out his own envoys to a few of the other aboriginal tribes. The Grygissi, a tribe of giants who lived on the Islands of Vorma, brought 2,500 men. The Haustoen, who lived in the mountains of Tryphad, brought 18,750 men. The Scylliae themselves committed 22,670 men to the fight. Ipoletus also sent envoys to the Bublate and the Orti, however, both refused to commit any men the fight.   The addition of the troops from the native peoples of Odalla gave Pedridas almost a two-to-one numerical advantage over Rhydivern, however the fighting abilities of the native groups had not yet been seen nor tested by the Odallans. This gave Pedridas considerable hesitation over the winter of 27 O.A., but, sensing this, Ipoletus traveled to Limagor to discuss strategy and teach Pedridas about the capabilities and fighting styles of the new peoples now under his command.   When winter's snow began to thaw, Pedridas summoned the army to meet him in a forest clearing. He divided his main army of Odallan soldiers into three companies, and put the native peoples under the command of Ipoletus. Pedridas marched on the capital, and did so in such a way that he was sure Rhydivern's men saw him. Rhydivern called the whole of his forces to defend the capital. While Rhydivern's troops were at the capital, Ipoletus set his forces to destroying the weakened cities of Rhydivern an his counselors.   When news of Ipoletus' attack reached Rhydivern, it stirred an internal revolt in his ranks, so he marched out of the capital to face Pedridas. The battle lasted for 9 days, and, despite the strategy of Pedridas, Rhydivern's men forced Pedridas to abandon the field.   Pedridas retreated to Limagor, and joined with Ipoletus in sacking the cities belonging to Rhydivern's counselors. The months that followed brought much destruction to the lands belonging to Rhydivern, and as the warmer months began to draw to a close, Rhydivern met Pedridas in the countryside of his city Lihasis in what is now known as The Battle of the Harvest Festival. Pedridas and Ipoletus dealt Rhydivern and his army a devestating blow. 21,740 of Rhydivern's men fell on a single day, and Rhydivern surrendered to Pedridas at Lihasis.   Pedridas executed the conspirators and became the second king of Odalla one month following the battle.