The Cabali War

Kerine has been no stranger to conflict. The tribes of Utsum of the south-central deserts are constantly warring since their conception. Territory disputes among goblin settlements were common, often leading to brief but violent altercations. However, the scale of the Cabali War was unprecedented, and thoroughly changed the landscape of Kerine both physically and culturally. The conflict ranged across the entirety of the continent, bringing in nearly all of the sentient races of Kerine into this war. As a result, country and race relations after the conflict were forever changed, and the sociopolitical consequences of it are still felt in present day Kerine.

Prelude to War, Tensions Rise

When the pilgrims from Metiria arrived at the shores of the Bot'Ilu, history became forever demarcated by the ark's landfall (AAL, after ark landfall; BAL, before ark landfall). The Tirians from Metiria, having left the crowded island country of their birth, began to spread out and settle around the Bot'Ilu. They united under the leadership of the captains of the ark ship (known as The Beucephalus), particularly the third of five captains heading the voyage, Aelin Idoran. Eventually, the developing city of Kradence and the eventual empire that would become the Idoran Empire came in contact with the goblins of Kerine.

The goblins of Kerine generally refer to the native Goblin, Hobgoblin, and Bugbear races that populated most of Kerine. While not unified under a single ruler or culture, there were numerous civilized goblin settlements scattered about Kerine. There was, however, accounts of a hobgoblin around 50 BAL by the name of Duv'Enral Tolvir that was beginning to travel the span of Kerine in hopes of united the disparate goblin people under a single group or nation.

As the Tirians settled the bay, word of these new people were brought to Duv'Enral's attention. Bearing food, clothing, and knowledge, the hobgoblin traveled from his southwestern home all the way to the central bay of Kerine in hopes that these new people might enjoy the same peace and unity he tried to promote. Duv'Enral was welcomed by the fledgling Idoran Empire, and the two groups spent the next three days discussing their histories and cultures while reveling with food and drink. Cultivation practices were shared from both groups, with the goblins teaching the Tirians of their crops and game while the Tirians shared their plants that were cultivated to grow directly in water. Tirians were taught of the powerful Lua that presided among much of Kerine, and the goblins were educated on the Doctrine of Hell & Earth. Furthermore, in exchange for empty land that the Tirians could call home, the goblins were taught metallurgical practices from Metiria.

Time passed, and the Idoran Empire began to spread outward from the bay, developing minor settlements both to the north and south. Land and territory disputes began to happen more frequently, though they were civil at first. When these disputes began to became violent, reports were sent to Duv'Enral in hopes that he might find a way to placate or subdue the encroaching Tirian threat. Envoys and messages were sent to the Idoran Empire, though either none arrived or they were not heeded. As a result, Duv'Enral saw the antagonism levied against the people he wished to unify and turned on his previously diplomatic stance with the Tirians. Slowly, relationships between the Empire and goblins began to sour as land disputes became more common, and Tirian storehouses and towns began to mysteriously get raided.

The Battle of Blazing Spears, Conflict Erupts

It took decades for the goblins and Tirians to break into open conflict. During that time, however, Aelin Idoran knew that Duv'Enral might try to sway the other sentient races of Kerine against them. One such people, the Krenian Elves of the Thana'Savian Wilds just southwest of the bay, were identified early on as a strong potential ally. Due to their proximity to the Bot'Ilu, should a larger conflict erupt, their lands could act as a powerful staging point by which either side would wage war against the other.

Duv'Enral, in frustration after hearing of the Thana'Savian elves' dealings with the empire, decided to launch a controlled strike to take out their envoys negotiating with the elves. Since they had greater knowledge of the wilds and its surrounding lands, the goblins assumed they would have the advantage against the ambitious Tirian diplomats and the soldiers sent to guard them. Their assumption would be proven correct as when night came, the goblins struck against the Tirian diplomats swiftly and precisely, causing little to no damage against the native elves that lived there. In frustration of this loss, as most of the diplomats had perished, the soldiers of the Idoran Empire began to feign a retreat, lighting the forests the Thana'Savian Elves called home. As the pursuing goblins were caught in the flames, the soldiers took advantage and pushed into the inferno, slaying every goblin in the battle. The conflict would be known as the Battle of Blazing Spears, as accounts state that the conflagration was so intense, that warriors from both sides were fighting with spears and arrows with burning shafts.

The aftermath of the battle would see the goblins and Thana'Savian Elves unified by Duv'Enral under the Cabali Dynasty, openly hostile towards the Idoran Empire and its people.

The Craigside Ambush, the Cabali Gain the Advantage

As the war raged across Kerine, the Idoran Empire was poised to push the Cabali back to their southwestern stronghold of Duvenrune. It wasn't until Duv'Enral was directly caught off guard by an attack that the tide began to shift in the goblins' favor. In the rocky south-central mountain range, a large battalion of Idoran soldiers had gotten intel on Cabali supply movements and had planned to stage an ambush.

What wasn't in the intel, however, was that the leader of the Cabali, Duv'Enral Tolvir and wagons weapons were the cargo being transported. As the Tirians descended upon the caravan, the strategies implemented by Duv'Enral on in his territory allowed the Cabali to out maneuver the Idorans, crush the attack, and take prisoners which eventually gave crucial information to the Cabali war effort. Unfortunately, while it was a massive victory for the Cabali, Duv'Enral was slain facing the brunt of the Idoran attack force.

The tide began to shift in the Cabali's favor after this battle due to the information teased from the minds of the Idoran soldiers. Locations of people of importance, scout locations, major supply routes, and much more were made aware by the Cabali under the leadership of one of Duv'Enral's advisors, a goblin named Uriog Karak.

The Arcallium, Arcane Devastation

The war lasted for centuries. The Idoran Empire grew frustrated that even after their leader's death, the Cabali still fought tooth and nail in this conflict. Worse yet, they were gaining ground and pushing towards the capitol of Kradence. The empire needed a new way of dealing with the goblins, but had nothing.

Then came a discovered that changed Kerine forever. A cold-mannered tiefling slave, captured by pirates in the shantytown that would eventually become Dregden, managed to free herself and journey her way north to the capitol of the empire. She held on her person nothing but oversized clothes she had taken from homes during her travels, and a linen bag around her neck which carried the shattered remains of her horns. Rumors say with a snap of her fingers, she was able to throw the royal guard of Kradence into the bay without breaking a sweat. Demanding an audience with the emperor, the tiefling Larissa brokered a deal with Aelin Idoran.

Larissa, in desperation, learned of a new form of magic. Divine magic from belief and deals with the Braumfaturas along with natural magic mainly derived from the Lua of Kerine were used by both sides of the Cabali War. However, while divine and natural magic were known to both the Idorans and Cabali and was mainly used defensively, this was new and could be used offensively. Larissa carved runes into stone, paper, and weapons, willing into existence great power by ones mind and knowledge. The tiefling stated that in return for teaching this magic to a handful of Aelin's most trusted officials, Larissa would have a permanent position at her side and funding to continue studying this magic. A deal was struck, and on that day, Larissa took on the surname 'Dominance' as arcane magic was born.

Decades passed, and while the Cabali grew confidence and raided ever closer to the gleaming city of Kradence, nothing would have prepared them for what was to come. In 252 AAL, a purple aura emanated from Kradence that could be seen from across the continent. Then, atop marble disks littered with arcane runes, Larissa and ten other arcane mages burst forth from the city in a torrent of arcane energy. Cabali caught in the blasts were destroyed, either rending flesh from bone or turning them to dust. Projectile and magic attacks from the Cabali did little to stop the mages' advance, deflecting attacks as they flew through the air. Bit by bit, Larissa and her mages tore through war camps, settlements, battalions, and eventually over the course of a year, pushed the Cabali back to Duvenrune. In hopes of stopping the slaughter of their people, Uriog himself begged for peace from the Idoran Empire, to which Aelin gladly accepted. Officially, the bloody conflict lasting more than a century was brought to an end by eleven people.

In the peace arrangements, the Idoran Empire claimed much Cabali land that they would later expand to. In doing so, the empire also extended a hand for any Cabali wishing to integrate into Idoran society. Some accepted, some did not, and many Cabali and Idoran alike harbor grudges for the ancestors of the other side to this day. While the conflict is always remembered for its tragic beginning and brutal duration, it is also remembered as the foundation by which a multitude of beautiful cultures were born from the mixing of Cabali and Idoran traditions, as well as the creation of arcane magic.