Holy War of Kellodia

The **Holy War of Kellodia** was a war fought between Mon Altrya and Kellodia from 128 to 135 AD.

In 127 AD King Dyrdis I of Kellodia outlawed Adeleynism in Kellodia and had begun religious persecutions against followers of the God's. King Kolgrim I wrote to the High Patriarch for permission to raise an army and launch a Holy War for Kellodia. The High Patriarch agreed to support the Holy War and sent 100 warrior monks to march with the Altryanese army. The Patriarch of Mon Altrya, Lukara announced that he would also march with the army, as although he was no warrior, he would advise the King on religious matters.

The Holy War of Kellodia was fought for seven years, until Kolgrim defeated King Dyrdis. Kolgrim had Dyrdis executed and placed a Kellodian King on the throne loyal to Mon Altrya and Adelyenism, making Kellodia a vassal of Mon Altrya. The lands of Mon Altrya now spread across the northern lands of North Orentia from the Marinoan Ocean in the west to the Nebulonian Sea in the east.

## Background

Aleran I of Kellodia began a crackdown on religion and began heavily taxing Adeleyn Temples. Adeleyn preachers and druids had previously been allowed to preach and hold services freely across Kellodia, but Aleran felt that the Temples had become too rich, too quickly and held too much power over citizens.

Upon Aleran's death in 126 AD, his son, Dyrdis I of Kellodia was crowned King. Dyrdis was a renowned and fearsome warrior. Under his fathers reign, Dyrdis had led the expulsions, arrests and massacres of the Kellodian Elves and was said to take great comfort and joy in torture. One of his first decrees was to pass a law banning all forms of religion across Kellodia. He announced the Second Cassantina Decree in 126 AD and without formal notification, unleashed his henchmen, known as the Dark Inquisitors, upon the lands. Overnight Temples were torched, religious clerics arrested and murdered and any adherents who attempted to prevent this were cruelly cut down. Citizens who were known to follow the teachings of Adeleyn were rounded up and executed and then later those who attempted to hide or give safe passage to Adeleynist's were also executed.

Many managed to escape Kellodian lands and found safety in Mon Altrya. When word reached Kolgrim I of Mon Altrya of the religious persecutions, he was said to be enraged. As a fervent Adeleynist, he felt compelled to raise an army to bring down the enemies of the gods.

## Holy War

Kolgrim led his Crusader army into Kellodia in 127 AD and quickly overcame Dyrdis' forces. Kolgrim found many Kellodians keen to switch sides and pledge allegiance to the Altryanese King as Dyrdis and many enemies within his lands. The war was to last seven years and upon Dyrdis' final defeat he was captured and bought before King Kolgrim in 135 AD in Torgar. Kolgrim gave Dyrdis the opportunity to repent his sins and accept the faith of Adeleyn, but was spurned by the former Kellodian King who spat at Kolgrim and shouted profanities about the false Gods. Kolgrim beheaded Dyrdis himself and proclaimed the lands of Kellodia as part of the Mon Altrya Empire.

Kolgrim crowned Alfred I of Kellodia as King of Kellodia to act as a vassal state of Mon Altrya. Whilst the lands of Kelodia were vast, they were relatively unpopulated and Kolgrim gifted vast lands to Altryanese Crusaders and Kellodians who had pled their allegiance to him.

## Aftermath

The lands of Kellodia were divided into smaller Dukedoms and Kolgrim awarded lands to loyal Crusaders and Kellodian nobles who had fought alongside the King. The Dukedoms of Tortavia, Cassantina, Salona and Orantania were formed.

The lands of Orantania were awarded to Duke Ulfwyn Kattadun.