The Sundering War

To understand The Sundering War, it's necessary to first understand some distict ideological differences between the nations of Ezarus and Ayonore.  
  • Ayonore was a nation steeped in reverence for magic, viewing it as a sacred connection to the divine and natural world. This belief extended to their governance, cultural practices, and their outlook on military engagements. Magic in Ayonore was controlled, tempered by restraint, and viewed as a responsibility as much as a power.
  • Ezarus, on the other hand, viewed magic as a means to achieve supremacy. With a more militaristic and utilitarian approach, Ezarus saw magic as a tool to conquer, subdue, and reinforce their power. Their society prized innovation and arcane weaponry, and they sought control over resources—especially magical ones—to fuel their ambition for expansion.
 

The Battle of the Verdant Valley

About 50 years before the Celestial Lance was fired, a disputed region called the Verdant Valley became a flashpoint. Situated between Ayonore and Ezarus, this fertile valley was rich in both agricultural and minor magical resources, coveted by both nations.   The Incident at Willowspire: In a tense standoff over the valley, Ezarusian soldiers established an outpost known as Willowspire within Ayonorean-claimed territory. In response, Ayonore dispatched its diplomatic envoy, led by Ambassador Duine Pakesor, to de-escalate the situation. Duine, a powerful sorceress respected for her pacifist ideals, attempted negotiation but was caught in a skirmish provoked by Ezarusian forces. Her death, seen as an affront to Ayonore, inflamed public sentiment, marking a critical turning point. Retaliatory skirmishes erupted, with small clashes over the valley becoming increasingly violent.   Ayonore dispatched the Hawkescowl, an elite order of rangers, to patrol the border and protect Ayonorean settlements, while Ezarus stationed troops to assert dominance over the contested area.  

The First Runegear Forge

As tensions escalated, Ezarus doubled down on its commitment to arcane weaponry, establishing the Runegear Forge of Vend'Makan. The forge became a hub of weapon innovation, producing enchanted armor, magical siege weapons, and elemental artillery. Among those who championed this development was General Hekurt Luan, an influential Ezarusian military leader and visionary in arcane weapon combat.   General Hekurt Luan: Known as the “Iron Lion,” Hekurt was charismatic, ruthless, and deeply committed to establishing Ezarus as a dominant power. He was an advocate of magical weapons that would act as “equalizers” against Ayonore’s more mystically inclined defenders. Luan's work led to the commissioning of the Celestial Lance, a secret project under his direct oversight, intended as the ultimate weapon to “end the Ayonorean threat.”  

The Sabotage of the Runegear Forge

Tensions reached a boiling point about a decade before the firing of the Celestial Lance, with an incident at the Runegear Forge serving as the catalyst for open hostilities.  
  • The Runegear Forge Explosion: A massive explosion tore through the forge, killing hundreds of Ezarusian soldiers, mages, and artisans. Though Ezarus claimed Ayonore was responsible for sabotage, Ayonore’s leaders, including the High Magister, vehemently denied involvement, arguing that Ezarus’s experimentation with unstable magic was to blame. The High Magister of the time was a pragmatic and respected leader, and attempted to call for an independent investigation, but Ezarus dismissed this as deflection.
 
  • Political Fallout: The explosion emboldened hardline factions within Ezarus, especially those aligned with General Luan. Public sentiment turned sharply against Ayonore, fueling calls for decisive action. Ezarus’s leadership increased funding for the Celestial Lance, accelerating the project with the intent to “strike first and secure peace.”
 

The Firing of the Celestial Lance

The ultimate tragedy struck when Ezarus, under Hekurt’s command, activated the Celestial Lance. This weapon was a massive conduit for elemental energy, designed to pierce through magical barriers and unleash an unstoppable arcane blast. Hekurt believed this decisive strike would force Ayonore into submission and end the conflict.   The Day of Destruction: Sravine, Ayonore’s capital, was devastated. In mere moments, its majestic spires, protective wards, and its people were obliterated, leaving behind the chaotic, unstable magic of The Heavenscar. Thousands perished, and the survivors of Ayonore were left to mourn and rebuild.  

Ayonore’s Retaliation

Ayonore’s response was slow, deliberate, and rooted in their values. While public outrage called for vengeance, the newly established theocratic government chose strategies that would assert their resilience and impose consequences on Ezarus without mirroring their brutality.  
The Shroud of Silence
As Ayonore mourned, the new High Magister Fujeski championed the Shroud of Silence, a retaliatory ritual that would suppress Ezarus’s communications and isolate key outposts. Fujeski orchestrated this campaign with the support of Ayonore’s complete diplomatic network, ensuring that Ezarus would feel the weight of isolation both domestically and internationally.  
The Veil of Memories
Grand Summoner Thirres Madhestor emerged as another influential leader in Ayonore’s retaliation. As one of Ayonore’s most gifted summoners, she led a series of earth-binding rituals that created magical wards over Ezarus’s vital mining sites, diminishing their access to arcane metals. Madhestor also pioneered the Veil of Memories, an enormous enchantment cast along the Heavenscar’s border, which evokes haunting visions of Sravine’s fall in the minds of those who crossed into Ezarus from the area.  
The Barta Soirai
With Ayonore’s shift to theocratic governance, many looked to divine intervention for justice. Thirres Madhestor and other high-ranking casters performed a ritual given the name Call of the Ancients, summoning god-like entities called the Barta Soirai to watch over the Ayonorean-Ezarusian border. These beings acted as silent sentinels, representing Ayonore’s reverence for divine power and signaling that Ayonore would not be conquered by fear or force.  
The Long Peace
High Summoner Glaetir Shohana, a newly appointed religious and political figure, took charge of the diplomatic front, crafting alliances and embargos against Ezarus. Under his guidance, Ayonore convinced neighboring nations to view Ezarus’s use of the Celestial Lance as reckless and morally reprehensible, gradually isolating Ezarus economically and diplomatically.  

Aftermath

The retaliatory actions of Ayonore reasserted their influence and power while demonstrating the calculated restraint that defined their approach to magic and war. Ezarus, struggling with isolation, economic challenges, and the haunting reminders of their actions, has faced considerable internal unrest. Meanwhile, Ayonore, led by the theocratic government of Skyestra, has come to be seen as a bastion of both resilience and divine protection.   The legacy of the Ayonore-Ezarus conflict continues to shape relations between the two nations. Key figures like High Majister Fujeski, Thirres Madhestor, and Glaetir Shohana are remembered as heroes and moral compasses for Ayonore, while figures like General Hekurt remain cautionary tales within Ezarus—a reminder of the costs of unchecked ambition and disregard for the sanctity of magic.

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