The Celestial War

Summary

As if linked with history, fighting has been a cornerstone of the various peoples who inhabit Azera. Fights escalated to battles and further into wars between groups of peoples and all for the meaningless struggle for power and dominance over their local areas. The superior beings, including the gods and primordial beasts who created the planes, observed the conflicts that raged across the globe. The more destructive and vile deities, as well as a majority of the ____primordial beasts____, enjoyed the conflicts that occurred in the world. Some of the deities even encouraged or subtly instigated or initiated wars and fighting among the humanoids for their own entertainment and joy.

The deities who opposed the conflicts grew wary as they watched in anguish and sadness over the deaths of their children as they fought for unjust and unnecessary causes. The mournful deities met in secrecy, banded together, and planned their own conflict to remove the vile deities and beasts from influencing the humanoids any longer. On the 13^th of Elesais in 438, the saddened deities, now angered, declared their war against the other entities. Several of the Creator Gods quickly took to the battlefield against several of the Betrayer Gods and ____primordial beasts____. As the battles of these otherworldly entities raged across Azera many of the humanoids watched in bewilderment as the gods clashed against one another in near physical form before their eyes. Both sides of the conflict, in an attempt to swing the tide of battle, summoned to them the armies and hordes of celestial and hellish warriors that waited in their home planes. As beings flew down from the heavens and others rose from the cracking earth, they too clashed in colossal battles alongside their patrons.

Many decades passed as this seemingly eternal battle waged on. As grievous wounds were suffered on both sides, the Betrayer Gods gained a slight upper hand in the conflict. The Creator Gods feared that they would be unable to win bet on one last strategy, one they wished they did not need to rely on. While the battle-weary gods engaged in mutual combat, several of the wounded Creator Gods took the opportunity to meet with their followers and the followers of their allies on Azera in an attempt to plead for their aid in this extremely vital conflict. Within the year, massive armies of followers of the Creator Gods joined the fray and joined with the remaining army of celestial warriors. As their numbers swelled, the forces of the Creator Gods gained ground and eventually pushed the hellish forces back to their planes, sealing the planar gates behind them after trying to do so for eighty years. With the Betrayer Gods forces defeated, the war continued on for another two decades. However, during this time some of the most ferocious and vicious battles occurred. Millions of lives perished, thousands of celestial beings fell as well, and even two of the Creator Gods were severely, if not mortally wounded. In the last months of the war in 552, the Betrayer Gods were driven back to their planes of existence licking their wounds. The same was done on the Creator Gods side, as two of them were carried back and hidden within the celestial planes in hopes they would recover.

In the aftermath of the war, the remaining Creator Gods erected the Celestial Barrier . This barrier now serves as an intervening force that denies otherworldly entities from significant interference in the affairs of life on Azera, this includes both the Betrayer Gods and the Creator Gods to ensure that neither side would be able to bolster their influence and power once more. With both sides locked away on the other side of the barrier and the ___primordial beasts___ banished and sealed in hidden locations across Azera and the planes, the Celestial War was concluded, and so ended the Celestial Era.

Historical Basis

Evidence of the war is found throughout Azera. Large battlefields scar the world, while most are now washed away by the test of time and the continual growth of the world some remain desolate and barren landscapes. Archaeological digs around the battle sites often turn up credible evidence of the weaponry and significance of the battles waged across the world.

Spread

The Celestial War is known to have happened long ago as it is told in stories by generations past. More specific details of the events of the war, however, are known primarily to those who have had proper education and those who serve as temple priests and followers of the surviving deities.

Variations & Mutation

Small differences in the events of the war are bound to happen as the legend is passed from generation to generation when not read from religious manuscripts. Though the most imposing difference in stories is between the followers of the victorious deities and those of the defeated ones.

In Art

Many pieces of artwork have been created in honor of the surviving deities. Large statues and carvings have been created in the image of gods and their champions, the more prominent temples and churches have massive stained glass windows depicting the significant events of the war, there are even paintings of the battles of both man and god untied against the vile forces which can be seen in many influential person's homes.

Date of First Recording

The events of the war we recorded by many during those times but very few transcripts have survived both the war itself and time.

Date of Setting

From the 13^th of Elesais in the year 438 until the 3^rd of Mirtul in the year 552.