The Aphraim / Shaynor War

Wars between mages start for petty reasons and end with just as little ceremony. The Aphraim / Shaynor War is the prime example of this. 
What started as friendly banter between two commissioned bards ended in the highest casualties in a mage war to date. The series of battles also tarnished some landscapes beyond recognition and altered horizons for hundreds of years, sometimes permanently.

The Conflict

Prelude

Archmage Shaynor hosted all his lords and ladies at his court to discuss local grievances. One of the guests, already rising through the ranks, was Aphraim. A popular figure and far younger than the Archmage, he was talented with spells and magic, not to mention handsome and fair-tempered. His arrival already caused tensions between the two but usual negotiations went ahead.
In the post-discussions banquet, Aphraim and Shaynor's bards took part in a classic duet as a gesture of goodwill. There was friendly competition between the two until they started slinging poetical insults at each other. This bardic duel continued and when they ran out of material to insult their opponent personally, began taking shots at their masters. 
Infuriated, Shaynor told his bard to end his performance and commanded Aphraim to the do the same. Aphraim refused, instead offering a quip of his own into one of the verses. Archmage Shaynor, obligated to take this as a challenge to his authority, challenged Aphraim to an arcane duel.

The Engagement

Aphraim and Shaynor initially were the only combatants, with supporters merely cheering on their progress. Most of the guests, however, were intoxicated and tensions were high. Soon, there was an all-out brawl in the court and each mage took their side in the conflict.
The duel still hadn't ended as the next month dawned, so pressure mounted on Aphraim to back down or declare war. On the 4^th of Reaptide, he declared war on the Archmage and gathered his forces.

Outcome

Aphraim is made the new Archmage in a pointedly subdued ceremony. The Attendancy set up their new court in Shaynor's old fortress and the names of the dead (if identified) are carved into the stones.

Historical Significance

Contemporary sources paint Aphraim as overly accepting of the aether-shunned and a chaotic individual. Many thought Aphraim, though powerful and charismatic, wasn't fit for learning magic, let alone the role of Archmage. Shaynor notably held this opinion.

Legacy

"The dead were not our weapons, but our stalwart shield from further suffering."

— Archmage Aphraim

Though records of Archmage Aphraim remain few and far between after his coronation, his ceremony and ascent to the title were well-recorded. His "chivalrous" actions prompted literature of all kinds, whilst also putting down magiocracy in general. The war itself helped contribute to the current hostile attitudes to magic, with recorded casualties and environmental damage from the prime reasons. 
Since Aphraim's side was far more interesting to archivists and historians, Shaynor's true opinions, thoughts and values are lost to history, instead filling the void of villain in weaved tales. Contemporaries who saw his rise to power and rule paint him as wise and encouraging to his mages. This image was scrubbed out by scribes, artists and historians, looking to explain the events that kick-started such tragedy.

In Literature

Future plays (normally tragedies) paint Aphraim as a benevolent underdog, hoping to free the aether-shunned from oppression. No outright oppression of these people existed at the time, but a Camelan view persisted that only good may triumph, even in history. Some of these plays depict Aphraim and Shaynor as cousins or brothers, though no blood ties were believed to existed between the two.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

119

Ending Date

122

Conflict Result

Shaynor is killed in battle

Belligerents

Shaynor's Attendancy

Aphraim's Attendancy

Strength

At the start of the war, there were 26,800 mages that sided with Shaynor. Serving under them were around 14,000 aether-shunned unpaid servants.

32,409 mages sided with Aphraim. Their aether-shunned forces were better recorded, numbering at approximately 15,300.

Casualties

10,668 mage casualties. One of the highest suffered in a mage conflict. Since records on aether-shunned soldiers and civilians are scant in this era, the number is speculated to be much higher.

8,017 mage casualties. Aether-shunned soldiers suffered a recorded 10,149 casualties. Aphraim made a point of engraving these names into the stones of the fortress he took from Shaynor.

Objectives

To uphold Shaynor's position as Archmage, whilst also invading nearby areas.

To prove Aphraim's worthiness as the new Archmage and through this bring in better standards of living for the aether-shunned under his dominion.