The Celestial War

The Celestial War is regarded as a war that shattered the Grand Kingdom of Authuris; a kingdom that spanned the entire continent in which it was named, and created the world as is known today. With Arthuris split up between Bolavidorr, the Empire of Atroya, the Ashlands and the Scattered Kingdoms to the North. There is not a lot of information that survived the War about the before times and this has taken an almost mythical aura as some claim that the War is only an epic about the creation of the world.
Many stories have come from the Celestial War as heroes rose and fell, Celestials arose and a whole people sacrificed themselves and disappeared. During this period, great heroes fought against the Darkness and many found themselves Risen as newly formed Celestials. Their stories weave throughout many passages regarding the War and has been the only period of time that Celestials have been created in such number. Yet, these where not the only results of the War. A race known as the Valar was captured, enslaved and tortured. Turned into many of the Bestial Races known today (such as the fearsome Orc and the Olcan) and even the rare that were turned into one of the seven Demon Lords. Near the end of the War it is said that they sacrificed themselves to write within the Book of Anihunt.
Scholars can confidently pinpoint many of the more important moments of the war due to the assistance of adventurers finding ancient records detailing parts of the War. These are not a complete history of what took place, but more of a summery in the order that scholars agree with. There is still much debate upon what had occurred during this period as this is by no means a complete ledger of what took place through this period of time.

The First Breach

This period of time marks the start of the War of Celestials; it is when the enemy of Anihunt, the deity Na-Rahan entered into the Tenth Realm. One of the points of contention is how Na-Rahan exactly entered the Tenth Realm as various stories and myths circulate regarding the start of the Celestial War. One of the more common stories told in Celestial Temples across Bolavidorr is that the draconic deities, Zenotaran and Xanatharax, were making their rounds around the border of the Tenth Realm. There they encountered a tendril of darkness worming its way from a crack in the barrier. The story then splits in two; the first describe how the two began to burn and freeze the tendril to no effect so they retreated to gather help. The second is that the tendril burst and attacked the dragons they retreated and returned with a greater force. At that time Na-Rahan had entered and was fought back by the Celestials. However, Na-Rahan had entered, corrupting a single individual, one who could create the most harm.

Another story describes how servants of Na-Rahan opened a portal from the Ninth Realm and the Tenth, allowing Na-Rahan to enter.

However, the case, Na-Rahan pushes his way into the Tenth Realm and begins to wage war against the Celestials who rushed to the defense of the Tenth Realm. When this occurred, the followers of Na-Rahan joined him and began to make pushes into the places of the Tenth Realm; such as the Celestial planes and Aaon itself. Many stories of heroism and defeat come from this period of time and some stories have been created over the centuries.

ADarkus Reveiled

The Valar, now known as ADarkus erupted from their iron tower with large host of new and terrifying creatures. The bloodthirsty Orcs, the ferocious Wolf-Hybrids, flying humanoid crows and other creature made for ADarkus' army surged forth and coated the land in bloody battle. Many battles took place during this period of time as ADarkus tore the Grand Kingdom of Authuris apart with his monstrosities. Word comes to the people of Authuris that these creatures are captives and prisoners of ADarkus; tortured, mutilated, changed and sent to fight. This created a further fear from the defenders as they learned that they were fighting their own people, making them hesitate in any battle that took place. Due to this, Authuris lost much.

The War was in full swing and ADarkus went a step beyond his previous experiments. He captured any Valar and Celestial that fell before him alive and turned them into terrible weapons known as Demon Lords. Only twelve in number, they contained all the power of the Valar, but corrupted and selfish. They too were turned against the forces of Arthuris and even sent far into different lands east, west, north and south; to prepare those lands for ADarkus' arrival. The Epic of Selene and Mathis takes place during this time period as Selence, the Celestial of the Moon was taken by ADarkus.

Near the end of this period of time the Grand Kingdom of Authuris was defeated. The kingdom was shattered, fragmented and only pockets of rebellion remained. ADarkus finally had control over the continent.

The Stand of ALightus

In the south eastern part of the continent a woman led a small rebellion against the forces attacking her town. Her name was Alyssia and she and those strong enough managed to defend the town for a period of time. Word of her victories spread through the defeated continent and many people flocked to her. Naming her ALightus, both in contrast and defiance to ADarkus. She raised an impressive army with the sole aim to either defeat ADarkus or claim back the land. Or to die, as it was better to die than live in the land of the cruel ADarkus.

It is suggested that she had the power of the Celestials and the Valar behind her. It is also said in some stories that Alyssia was in fact a Valar that was Raised due to a godlike heroic action. All scholars can tell, is that her spear was a very powerful artifact that contributed to her victories.

"It stuck with the power of lightening, glowing with embers, as strong as the bones of Aaon itself. Shining the way for Alyssia ALightus' victories." - Jollygolly.

The leader of the Olcan, a humanoid wolf-like creature came to Alyssia in secret and gained a truce between them as the Olcan had no wish to be slaves to ADarkus. This truce lasts even today between the descendants of Alyssia and the Olcan. The Olcan turn against ADarkus and fought under the banner of the ALightus, turning the tide slightly against ADarkus.

Break of the Demon Lords

The powerful weapons of ADarkus, the Demon Lord's broke away from ADarkus as they became as powerful as Celestials. As a collective group, they struck against a surprised ADarkus. Leaving into separate planes of existence. They too became independent, and this struck a massive blow into the army of ADarkus. At this point of time, many other ofthe beast races rebelled. Including a number of Orc tribes under the leadership of the Orc Devonor. Who was raised to a Celestial and became the God-King of the Orcs who rebelled. They sailed for the Frozen North and settled a city known as Landing.

The Demon Lord's stopped actively participating in the War at this point of time.

Valar's Farewell

Even though the armies of ADarkus and Na-Rahan have been greatly hindered by the rebellions of the Demon Lords, the Olcan and Devonor, there was still a vast amount of strength in their forces. The War had gotten to a stalemate as either side just couldn't defeat the other. The last of the Valar, five in total, had a plan. Using a vast amount of stealth and finesse, they managed to discover the ritual ADarkus had used many years previously to summon a page of The Book of Anihunt. The plan was to summon a vast amount of strength from the nine previous Realms created by Anihunt and destroyed by Na-Rahan. They were aware that such a contribution into the Book would require a large sacrifice. These five Valar remained true to their duty and thus were willing to accept the sacrifice in order to end ADarkus for good. They created portals that allowed new races, gods, heroes and villains to move from their dying or dead Realms into Aaon to order to give them a second chance to defeat Na-Rahan and ADarkus. The price of such a powerful creation was the destruction of the Valar. The destruction of the Valar is a point of contention within some circles as there is no proof regarding the death of the Valar. It is speculated that there may be a Valar or two somewhere within the Tenth Realm. Either in hiding or in exile.

The Final Battles

With the combined force behind the ALightus banner; the people managed to push through and retake many places that once belonged to ADarkus. Alyssia carved herself a large kingdom on the eastern coast of Authuris, splitting the continent in two and providing a stable place to continue pushing against the forces of ADarkus.

At this point of time, the battle against Na-Rahan was also succeeding as the Celestials, joined by new powerful heroes, managed to push Na-Rahan back into his entrance point. Eventually, pushing him back through the crack into the emptiness of Na-Rahan's destruction.
At long past Alyssia and her armies surrounded the Iron Tower of ADarkus and there both Alyssia and ADarkus fought in single combat. Using her spear, Alyssia entombed ADarkus in living stone. Trapping him, but unable to kill him. She left him there in his tower. Anihunt then created a dimension that encircled the Iron Tower which Anihunt closed all access to and from.
This marked the end of the Celestial War Alyssia took the south-eastern point of Arthuris as her own (Bolavidorr) and gave the lands above and beside to the beast-races (The Tribelands) and the Elves (Kilnorel). Others settled where they wished in what was left of Authuris. From here is when the counting of years began as during the war, the official way that Arthuris used was either changed or left in the past.

There is some evidence that contradicts the idea of a single civilisation that had existed that spanned the entire continent by the name of 'Arthuris', it could be argued that the concept of Arthuris might be a folktale created to present an ideal utopia before the events of the Celestial War.

Professot Resward.

Conflict Type

War