The Glass War

Thandavan citizens knew the Paladins would come. The smoke from fires they left in their path could be seen for miles. Their soldiers took to the beach, preparing to defend their home. They thought they could win. It was their turf, after all.
But soon it was different. Enemy and ally blood stained the sands, but the Paladins kept standing. They would not stop, not even for death.
Then, their commander revealed herself, sword in hand, emanating magic the elven soldiers had never seen. She raised her blade, a flash of holy light.
The beach was turned to glass.

The Conflict

Prelude

The Order of Martalia faced their followers faltering in belief. Old fears of Thandavan elves began to resurface. The current Seer of the Order at the time convinced Emperor Kratoch to allow clerics to partake in a Mission to Thandava in order to spread the Song to the elves and secure holy artifacts. Upon arrival, the clerics were attacked and killed, as Thandava formally rejected the notion beforehand and gave prior warning. Estea declared war in response to the attack.

Battlefield

Majority of battles took place near or in the Estrellan Wilds, though it was difficult for many Estean troops to cross Taaj Ridge. Many battles took place in or near cities and towns, especially along the coast.

The Engagement

Massive troops were unable to cross the mountains, so small squads of elite Paladins did most of the fighting. For the first couple years of the war, Estean forces were losing. That is, until a Paladin was finally able to secure an ancient Order artifact and send it to Estea. The greatest minds and magic scholars were called on to extract information and create new weapons and spells for the Paladins.

The Paladins dominated the battle field with their new, powerful weapons and magic. Even when Thandavan forces were able to fatally wound their opponents, the Order's light magic was able to revive their forces en masse. This caused battles to drag out much longer than any seen before, seeming to never end.
The first engagement that fully showcased their new powers was the Battle of Ayuni Cove, where a Paladin Major turned the beach to glass. They soon took the village of Ayuni for Order occupation. Thandavan towns such as Ayuna were occupied, allowing the Order to "reeducate" the elves. The elven became prisoners in their own homes, slaves in all but name.
Some Thandavans realized very quickly that they would be unable to take the Estean forces head on. They needed to work covertly to take out their leaders, and thus the Maena'Ha was formed as an assassin organization. Working closely with a revolt group, known as the Red Glass, they assassinated Emperor Kratoch and major leaders within the army, leaving Estean forces scattered and leaderless.

Outcome

Although it was Estea who won most of the battles, Thandava won the war thanks to the Maena'Ha.
Paladin forces are forced out of Thandava. A new council is appointed, which immediately attempts to patch relations with Thandava anad reform the government without causing too much distress. A new Empress is put on the throne as a figurehead with little to no power. Thandavan villages are freed from Order occupation.

Aftermath

Estea becomes a constitutional monarchy, the Emperor/Empress title no longer holds the same authority from the past. The Order is effectively shut out from formally influencing government. The Council makes moves to amend laws that give the Order too much power.
Paladins go through withdrawals from experimental healing magic and many no longer have an accurate sense of pain, some losing all sensation.
Families in Thandava have been fractured, many orphans being taken in by temples. Many Thandavans are left scarred, physically and emotionally.

Historical Significance

Technological Advancement

Paladins recovered part of a religious artifact that allowed them to create new healing spells. They were incredibly powerful, allowing a small troop to keep fighting long after they would have been defeated. Paladins were also given experimental magic armor and weapons, one being the Dawn's Tears. Most of the spellblades were destroyed or already depleted of power by the end of the war.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

Cycle 84, Year 8, Month of Gods

Ending Date

Cycle 85, Year 10, Month of Dark

Conflict Result

A truce is called upon the assassination of the Estean Emperor and deaths of other major Estean leaders