Asger War

The Asger War was a conflict that started in **512PR** between the Nirvan Republic and Ilaka. It is the first of the three major wars in the 5th Century, the others being the War of Revenge and the Second Uhekian Mage War.

## Background

In **510PR** a group of Ilakan raiders crossed the border near the Lorenzo River and raided a Nirvan village, looting what they found and enslaving the residents.

Angry and looking for a solution, the Nirvan Republic sent a representative named Aulus Sellic to discuss matters with Ilakan King Argiris Kostides. When Aulus arrived he gave a series of demands: the return of the citizens, the punishment of the people involved and a small amount of monetary compensation. Furious, Argiris kicked him out,

When Aulus Sellic became Consul in **511PR**, he began a campaign to assault both Ilakas and King Argiris’s reputation.

Not wanting it to continue, Argiris threatened to declare war on the Nirvans over the incident, preparing his army at the same time. When he heard silence, he felt victorious.

Behind the scenes, the Nirvans had begun building two armies, one commanded by Vibius Calenus of the Calenus Faction and Quintus Catulus of the conservatives. As the more accomplished commander, Vibius was given 6 legions, though he would later raise the number, filling it with Thurim and Lorenzen allies. Quintus was given 4 legions.

Having already prepared his army, Argiris began raising a new one to deal with the two-pronged assault.

## War

On Asunak 3 **512PR** Vibius and the Nirvans crossed the border near the Lorenzo River and began raiding Ilakan lands. The Ilakan army, led by Alkis Vatio, marched out to meet him. Two days later on Asunak 5, Quintus crossed the border from the Agrippa province on the Western side and began raiding.

Unable to turn back now, the Ilakans and Vibius met near the village of Sora.

### Battle of Sora

*See: Battle of Sora*

The Battle of Sora was only a minor battle, but allowed the Nirvans and Ilakans to understand how one another fought in person, rather than relying on scrolls. Even though the Nirvans and Vibius won, both sides had achieved tactically what they were hoping for.

### Breaking into Dalsgaard

Now that the Ilakans had retreated for the time-being, Vibius and the Nirvans were able to advance on the Eastern Front. Reports say that he even joked about re-invading the Lorenzen Kingdom, but made sure that it was away from his Lorenzen allies.

When taking the Ilakan towns and villages, he made sure to keep the peace, fighting small battles against the populace but allowing them to surrender and avoid enslavement. This came with its own set of inconveniences, slowing down their progress considerably and allowing Alkis to use his newly gained information to march against Quintus.

### Western Front

Hearing that the Ilakan army was coming his way, Quintus decided to build a series of fortifications to protect the hold he had already created in the region. Using the building skill of the legionnaires, he aided his defence with a series of walls, extending far and wide.

When Alkis arrived, he besieged and destroyed some of the outstretched fortifications, claiming the political victory. Still, Quintus did not make a move, knowing that since the Ilakans only had one army, Vibius would place enough pressure on Alkis to move away.

Eventually the campaign season ended with only one notable battle, the Nirvans conquering Dalsgaard and some of the old hold of Meldgard.

### 513PR

In **513PR**, negotiations of peace between the two nations were not on the table, allowing the war to continue. Vibius took joy in it, expanding into Laurid and winning a series of minor battles that allowed him to take the hold within the month. In Mak, the situation improved for Ilaka when a new army under the command of Vaso Cosmotis entered the field.

Immediately this meant trouble for Quintus. The commander withdrew closer to the Nirvan border, keeping by his fortifications to protect him. Eager for battle, Vaso went on the chase, leaving Alkis to move to the Eastern Front to deal with Vibius. On the chase, Vaso and Quintus eventually ran into each other, fighting in a 3 day battle (Battle of Aralus). At the same time, Alkis met Vibius on the field (Battle of Coraeus).

### 514PR

Hearing no word from their King and the armies, the Ilakans across the Rhine began to rebel against the Nirvan invaders, hurting their supply lines and resisting whenever they could. They were dubbed by Vibius as the Lost Ilakan Cause. Though he soon ate his words, when the rebels hit his supply lines and attacked some of the Nirvan settlers, forcing him to bring his army back to protect them and stop the chaos. Quintus had much more success, his set of fortresses too intimidating to attack.

By mid-year Alkis left Serdica, putting the Eastern Front Ilakan army on the move. This time, they chose not to target Vibius, instead leaving a detachment to help the rebels slow the progress. Instead their target was Quintus, joining up with Vaso and meeting him in the field at the Battle of Kardir.

After the defeat and death of Quintus and his legions, Vibius was the only remaining Nirvan army in the war. Being awarded another legion to aid in his efforts while the Agrippa Province’s defences were increased.

### 515PR

Bored and confident with his own ability, Vaso decided to split from Alkis and march out to meet Vibius in battle, ignorant of the reinforcements that Vibius had acquired. At first, Vibius was cautious, unsure what the army was doing, initially believing it was the combined force still. So, he pulled back to his forts, watching and waiting.

Vaso, again overconfident, chose to pass by the forts and make his way to the river. Now aware of what was happening, Vibius marched out and met Vaso at the Battle of Hocos.

### 516PR

Vibius and Decimus returned to Nirva for a short time in Febtuary, attending the funeral of Gallio Aebutus. Despite having his private approval, King Argiris was forced to make Alkis act, facing mounting pressures back home. It was not helped when Vibius sent out a legion to raid the countryside, enslaving many ethnic Ilakans.

Vibius was happy to meet him, marching out to a flat battleground, rather than using many of the hills near his location. Alkis received this as a now or never act, fighting Vibius in the Battle of Posonan around mid-year.

After the battle, Vibius spent the rest of the year raiding deep into the lands of Ilaka, trying to weaken their economy to make his later conquest much easier. Relying on his network of scouts, he felt confident enough to split his army up in portions, allowing the other Legates to get experience and learn. At the end of the campaigning season, Vibius would choose not to weather with his troops, instead returning home to his family.

During the winter the Ilakans set up a series of forts on their border, protecting them from raids.

### 517PR

When Vibius returned, the Nirvans tried to continue their raiding, but found instead the fortresses that had been built during the winter. While they were not that much of a threat, each required a lengthy siege, wasting time for the Nirvan army who wanted to raid and fight.

By the end of the campaigning season, there only remained two fortresses. Bored, Vibius decided to go with a different approach, rather than political pressure, he would lull the young King into a fight. Instead of fighting the last two fortresses, he marched around, spouting claims that their king was weak and that Vibius would make a better ruler of their ‘piss-weak’ nation. Then, he targeted Kinyo, Argiris’s wife, shouting that at least he married a true Nirvan, rather than their King who had to look elsewhere.

Soon, Vibius got his wish, the King personally raising a proper army at the end of the year, leading it himself. When he heard the reports, he sent a scroll to the King, writing.

“Make sure this time it’s not so easy, at least get a command structure or something.

Love, your good friend and military advisor, Vibius Calenus.

PS: Tell your wife to keep the crown warm, I’ll be there soon.”

The letter did not go over well in the Ilakan court, much to Vibius’s amusement.

### 518PR

In **518PR** the final battle of the war was about to begin. Raising a large army, Argiris marched out to meet Vibius, ignoring his advisors.

Still on his campaign of character assassination, Vibius chose a better battleground for himself, finding a hill near a plain. While waiting, he made sure each of his soldiers had an extra set of javelins, and recruited some slingers.

Argiris and the Ilakan army arrived in late Mak. The two would fight in the Battle of Dimale. Vibius and the Nirvans once again achieved a decisive victory, killing King Argiris at the same time.

## Ilaka Surrenders

After the Battle of Dimale, Argiris’s son, Nasos, took the throne at the age of 7. Through his regent, the country sued for peace. The Nirvan Republic would later agree, sending Vibius and Consul Arruns Aebutus to discuss the terms.

The city of Kras was an uneasy place when the Nirvan army commanded by Vibius arrived, the Nirvan general confidently walking into the city, having fulfilled all promises he made during his verbal campaign.

The discussion terms are a bit hazy, though came out that Ilaka would pay a large sum of money to the Nirvan Republic, cede the lands taken by Vibius, be unable to wage war for the next 50 years unless accepted by the Senate and Vibius would be allowed to take the Ilakan Crown, fulfilling his last promise. Ironically, the Nirvans forgot to request the lands taken near the Agrippa province back, though the land gained was much greater.

## Legacy

Other than maybe the Second Lorenzen War, the Asger War stands as one of Vibius’s greatest accomplishments, and one of the greatest accomplishments of the Nirvan Republic, facing much harder opponents who were more prepared for warfare.

It would only be eclipsed by the War of Titans, Vibius being dead by this point.