The Epileptics

The 37th Battle of the Arterra, fought between the legions of Xabaxes & Hetortion

## History

The Epileptics are an ongoing series of border wars between the Three Tyrants of Lake Augur, Daedrax, Hetortion, & Xabaxes. The three tyrants are considered to be the most powerful of the seven Eye Tyrants, and control the rich lands surrounding Lake Augur, a major center of production, population, and agriculture in Eluseus. There have been over 300 documented 'Epilipts' since the Partition of Karvhat, as well as countless small scale border skirmishes. These conflicts typically occur between two of the three tyrants, while the third remains neutral while covertly assisting whichever side is losing ground. Major border changes have never come of these conflicts, though the border towns of Arduux, Helfast, Euryli, and Cruxys have repeatedly changed sides over time. In rarer cases, two tyrants will align with each other to take down the third if they are perceived as being too powerful or prosperous.

The Epileptics have had a paradoxical effect on the Lake Augur region, as though they kill thousands of mortals each year they have also spurred innovation and opportunity for the residents of the citadels of Xabrax, Hetorch, & Daedrux, whether it be by social mobility through legion enlistment, research funding, or lucrative war production contracts. The tacit agreement between tyrants to keep the wars of limited scale allows their urban centers to prosper without the threat of destruction, while only the wretched agrarian borderlands actually feel the brunt of the violence.

Despite these surprising benefits, the misery caused by these nearly annual wars should not be understated. Scholars from outside colleges in Bakuet and Kreankh estimate a yearly average death toll of almost 100,000 mortals from combat and devastation alone, though these same scholars rather pragmatically suggest this culling could limit the occurrence of famines in years of drought or pestilence.

Though violence is commonplace throughout Eluseus, the Epileptics are unique in their predictability and limited geopolitical impact. These battles have been the proving ground for many new weapons and inventions, notably the rifled cannon, arquebus, optical instruments, manufactories, & steam power. Medical science has also been greatly advanced by the Epileptics, allowing precious battle mages to focus their energies on destructive magic instead of healing spells. The doctrine of the Tyrant legions is under constant refinement in an effort to gain an edge, and three Tyrant's have gradually specialized in different areas of warfare, with Daedrax's legion focusing on mass assault backed by mage assault squads, Xabaxes on heavy artillery, both magical and conventional, and Hetortion on breakthrough focused elite units.

### Notable Epilipts

#### Daedrax's Folly

At the end of the 13th century, Daedrax had been riding a wave of unfettered expansion for almost two decades since the Fall of Oburoos, having almost doubled the size of its realm through southern expansion and colonization of the open frontier, as well as successful campaigns to capture Euryli and Helfast. Jealous and fearful of an off-kilter balance of power, Xabaxes and Hetortion made an unprecedented secret alliance to knock their rising rival down a peg, launching a joint invasion in the early summer of 1301. This Epilept, known colloquially as Daedrax's Folly, is likely the bloodiest and most expansive of the border wars to date, with scholars from the three colleges of Augur estimating a minimum death toll of at least 300,000. Ultimately Daedrax would lose control of its Augur borderlands, but retain its southern colonies, a pyrhic victory for Xabaxes and Hetortion. Their so-called "Violet Alliance" would almost immediately break down following the war's conclusion, returning the region to its status quo.

### Spillover Conflicts

In more recent times, spurred on by the Fall of Oburoos, the Epileptics have sometimes ranged beyond the borders of the Augur Three, and small, short border wars have seen the ceding of territory to the three tyrants;

- In 1284, Daedrax's legions seized the mountain passes near the town of Korebyn in the Mistcaps triggering a border war with Gulbabrel. Daedrax sent the Xth and VIIth legions into the Kaleago to push this envelope furhter, however they never returned and are believed to have been completely destroyed by the Reaper of Mistmark, Gulbabrel. No further conflict has occured since, though trade has stopped completely between the two realms.

- In 1289, Xabaxes' legions seized the east bank of the Fragor Flow from Kreuk's Realm, causing a summer war which saw the Exalted Eye unable to retake its stake in the river.

- In 1295, Hetortion's legions marched from Zorpan to seize the Zygo Pass, the largest overland trade route through the Cranial Caps. This brought them into a brief conflict with Lorthok and Kreuk, though both these legions were quick to retreat after losing several skirmishes, taking defensive positions closer to the coast. Hetortion's legions would not push any further than this point, wary of fighting through the rugged Eyebights.