The First Soul Wars
Once upon a time, there was a world which knew peace. There were, of course, minor disagreements between despots and monarchs. The occasional invasion or genocide. But generally speaking, the people lived peaceful and uninteresting lives. The various cultures and civilisations had long since found their places in the grand scheme of things, and were mostly content to leave each other be. The Gods, having wrought this place from their imaginations through the force of their will, and imbuing it and all who dwelt there with a small piece of their own Divine vitality, grew bored and turned their attention elsewhere as they sought distraction and entertainment on their long voyage through eternity.
While the Gods grew bored, others grew interested. The lack of Divine intervention posed an opportunity. Powerful beings from the Outer Planes plotted to assault the Material Plane in order to enslave the mortals there and lay claim to their souls, bolstering their power and providing a chance to mount an attack on the Celestials with an advantage. Many were suspected to be involved, or proudly boasted of their involvement, but due to their natures, it was rarely clear if the claims were empty braggadocio or sincere. What is known, is that the Demon Princes Orcus and Dagon, and the God Bane, were implicated in many of the disasters and atrocities that occurred.
During the Soul Wars, there was a schism amongst the Dragons caused by the involvement of such powerful beings. Some chose to remain aloof and uninvolved. They would claim neutrality, or some such excuse. Many of their own kind, and many of those involved on both sides, saw them as craven or opportunistic and to this day there is a gulf between those who still live.
Some Dragons saw the opportunity to gain power and prestige, and sided with the Demons and Bane. Some sought to protect the mortals from the threat, of which many were unaware until the sky boiled and the ground flowed like blood through abattoir runnels.
The war took it’s toll on all sides. Landmasses were shattered and reformed. Populations obliterated. Ancient civilisations were torn asunder like wet tissue in a tornado. Every day brought fresh horrors for the mortals. They were simply unprepared and unable to respond to such a threat with such little notice.
Witnessing the massacre, and understanding the threat it could pose to the delicate balance in place between the forces of Good and Evil, a coalition was formed. Led by Tymora and Chronos, a group of Gods called a council to put forward the case for intervention. Unable to garner the support needed to bring the full force of the Divine, Tymora and Chronos derided the Gods for their prevarication and pledged their coalition to the fight.
Lady Luck and Old Father Time joined with several lesser Gods and Celestials and delivered the World from Evil. Once the battle was joined, the mortals found that their champions had unerring skill in battle. Their armies could arrive at battlefields days ahead of time. In one case, they arrived the day before setting out. Enemy weapons would twist violently as they were about to deal a killing blow, and become lodged in the ground. The wounded would find that they would heal overnight, often becoming stronger and healthier than before. Forests would sprout overnight, blocking the advance of Demon armies. Battles would be disrupted by wild animals charging into the fray.
With the support, however indirect, of the forces of Good, the incursion into the Material Plane was thwarted and the Demons and Bane were beaten back. However, the damage was done and the world forever changed by the trauma it had endured. As the war had progressed, reality began to unravel in places. Cities would appear and disappear. Time and causality became unreliable. Consequences may no longer have actions which caused them. This caused havoc in many royal lines. Generations later, the face of the world still bears the scars of the terrible magics unleashed.
The battle was won. But the war would continue.
The Conflict
Outcome
Civilisations lost, populations crushed.
Aftermath
The world was torn usunder, and remade anew. The timeline was restitched as best it could be. Civilisations became wary of the Gods. No longer seen as protectors and sources of prosperity, many peoples now considered them selfish and untrustworthy.
Historical Significance
Legacy
Causality is still unreliable. Some areas are still scarred by the powers wielded.
Conflict Type
War
Start Date
-497
Ending Date
0
Conflict Result
Bane and His Cabal were defeated in a pyhrric victory.
Belligerents
Strength
Bane (God)
Orcus (Demon Prince)
Zlaagoth (Great Old One)
Mershaulk (Dragon)
Dagon (Great Old One)
Tharizdun (God)
Rannagar (Dragon)
Astronax The Fallen (Celestial)
Other infernal, demonic, celestial, draconic, and abbherent minions.
Casualties
Mershaulk (Dragon)
Rannagar (Dragon)
Objectives
To subjugate the mortal population and turn the Material Plane into a factory farm, sacrificing large numbers of mortals in order to harvest their souls and power complex spells and machines.
Strength
Chronos (God)
Tymora (God)
Skraal (Dragon)
Kelemvor (God)
Ravagwyn Falldreamer (Elven Hero)
The Elves of Nelus
The Dwarved of Forgehome
The Dwarves of Throndor
The Tabaxi of Mau
Assorted groups of mortals.
Casualties
Skraal (Dragon)
Ravagwyn Falldreamer (Elven Hero)
Objectives
To counter the threat from Bane and His armies, and to provide the Material Realm with protection.
Neutral
Led by
Strength
Raven Queen (God)
Selune (God)
Torm (God)
Silvanus (God)
Mystra (God)
Moradin (God)
Bahamut (Dragon)
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