The Pearl Conflict

The Pearl Conflict is one of the darkest chapters in Altanaeum’s history, a war fought over the mystical pink pearls of the Titan Snails, creatures native to the ground world. What began as clandestine raids by sky pirates escalated into a devastating conflict that shook the fragile balance between the sky realms and the ground world, leaving a legacy of mistrust and sorrow.

Origins

The pink pearls of the Titan Snails were first discovered during exploratory missions to the ground world. These pearls were imbued with immense magical energy, capable of amplifying spells and enhancing enchantments far beyond ordinary means. Word of their power spread quickly, and they became a coveted treasure among Altaneans, particularly the rogue sky pirates who sought wealth and glory at any cost.

Despite the prohibitions of the Charter of the First Descent, illicit expeditions to harvest these pearls began. The first raids were small and discreet, but as the demand for the pearls grew among Altanean elites and skyfae factions, so did the scale and brutality of the incursions.

The ground world’s defenders—primarily fey, giants, and druids—responded with increasing hostility. Tensions mounted as the Altaneans ignored warnings to stop their raids, leading to skirmishes and, eventually, all-out war.

Key Players

Sky Pirates: Led by the infamous Captain Kael Vyris, the pirates were the first to exploit the pearls, smuggling them into Altanaeum and selling them at exorbitant prices. They formed uneasy alliances with rogue skyfae, who had their own uses for the pearls.

Fae and Giants: The ground-world fey, led by the enigmatic Mist Queen Ilyara, and the giant clans of the Stonefold Forest united to protect the Titan Snails. For the fae, the pearls were sacred, representing the life force of the snails and the balance of nature.

Altanean Forces: As the conflict escalated, factions within Altanaeum took sides. The High Council sought to enforce the Charter and end the raids, while some rogue leaders, enticed by the pearls’ power, secretly funded the pirates.

Titan Snails: The Titan Snails themselves were gentle, immense creatures with shells that gleamed with magical patterns. As non-aggressive beings, they became tragic symbols of the conflict, hunted for their pearls while unable to defend themselves effectively.

Turning Point

The conflict reached its zenith during the Battle of the Luminous Abyss, a fierce confrontation in a massive canyon where the Titan Snails migrated to breed. The pirates launched a large-scale raid, accompanied by mercenaries and rogue skyfae. The ground forces, bolstered by the giants and druids, mounted a desperate defence to protect the snails and their sacred pearls.

The battle was catastrophic for both sides. Magic clashed with raw strength, and the very winds of Altanaeum turned volatile, disrupting the airships and scattering combatants. Entire swaths of land were scarred by the destruction, and countless lives were lost.

The Altaneans’ victory came at a terrible cost: the magical backlash from the pearls harvested during the battle disrupted the delicate balance of the sky realms, causing violent storms and destabilizing floating islands.

Aftermath

The High Council was forced to intervene, condemning the rogue factions and pirates responsible for the raids. Captain Kael Vyris was captured and executed, but many of his allies escaped, disappearing into the sky’s hidden reaches.

To repair relations with the ground world, the Council issued the Pact of the Still Winds, a treaty promising that Altaneans would never again harvest the pearls. This treaty came with harsh reparations, including the surrender of key airships and magical artefacts to the ground-world fey and giants.

Despite these efforts, the scars of the Pearl Conflict remained. The ground world became wary of Altanaeum, its people mistrusting any skyborne visitors. Within Altanaeum, the conflict sowed division, with some viewing the Charter of the First Descent as a failure, while others blamed the Council for losing access to a priceless resource.