War of Mages {Avion Wars}

In short, the Avion Wars was a 200 year conflict in Sprawn Valley over the wide use of Leray magic nationwide. This was one of the bloodiest magic wars ever recorded in Sprawn Valley history, and many today still feel the sadness of the great loss of many people back then, considering most of the damage was done by the Liberators.

The Conflict

Prelude

The conflict began with the idea of Eldora Tower's construction and function going public. Many within Sprawn Valley did not appreciate the idea that a veil spanning over the entire continent would be forced upon everybody, despite knowing that the enabled use of that magic source was always optional. Those who wanted to use and integrate Leray magic into society (the liberators) were in a state of opposition with those who did not want the expansion of Leray magic (the sentinels).

Deployment

Both sides soon took up arms against each other. The liberators used Leray magic as sourced from Leray crystals to fight and bring harm or death to those on the opposide side of the ensuing war. The sentinels, opposing Leray magic altogether used outdated and primitive technology to fight back. But evidence shows that double agents who used Leray magic may have assisted the sentinels in the war against the liberators.

Battlefield

Most of the war took place in the Junon sector of Sprawn Valley, while the toughest warzone became present day Eldora City. The smaller skirmishes only took place in the zones of the Iktal region and the Gulop region.

Conditions

The war was tough and lasted for 200 years without end or break. Many other nations decided not to get involved with the war, which is partially what many think expanded the duration of this onslaught.

The Engagement

This was essentially dangerous Leray magic against non-magical soldiers and thier weaponry. Back before the tower and crystal core were constructed, the use of ordinary Leray magic was still lethal against those it was used on, because there was no veil to protect anyone from harm.

Outcome

The third faction of the war came from and appealed to both parties involved. The liberators and sentinels of the warfare were held accountable for the damages, more so the liberators for engaging in the dangerous use of magic against those who would not wield it. Many war mages were sent to prison, some to death, and others to exile. It was decided by this third party to reassess the valid dangers of Leray magic through a veil on behalf of the Sentinels faction (before both factions were disbanded). Leray magic was deemed safe through the use of a safety system of the veil, but it was also decided by the freedom fighters that no citizen of Sprawn Valley shall ever be forced to participate into Leray magic. A handful of the people left the country to live elsewhere, too haunted by what they saw in that war to stay.

Aftermath

The purpose of the war for the Liberators was to drag the country into a new revolution of Leray magic. General distrust still surrounded Lysander Leray and his claims of the safe usage of Leray magic because those claims were still based on the idea of a wide area veil, which was not yet established. As popular as Leray magic was, many more did not want to trust or use a power that could bring harm to others, nor did they want any magic-related political system to rule their lives.
But after the war, the veil was installed through the country anyway. The third party retained inherited interests from both opposing factions, one for the expansion and use of Leray magic, and two to preserve the personal individual liberties of the nation's citizens, including the ability to opt out of magical involvement while maintaining a fair standard of living. Those ideas required both leadership and a mage council that would be capable of limiting that leadership.

Historical Significance

Because of the war, a lot of attention from other countries was placed upon Sprawn Valley. Many believe that the powerful distrust or fear of ordinary Leray magic stems from a collective memory of the war that existed in the past. It is because of this distrust that Sprawn Valley was incredibly late to establish any policy of foreign agreement or alliance.

Legacy

Most in Sprawn Valley remember the taught history of the war and what it was really about. One of the many motivations for all Leray wielders to use magic responsibly and honorably is driven from this historical war. One of the many abominations that came of it were magical marks, symbols installed into the skin that would often grant incredible power over others for the cost of some personal health factor. Symbols were quickly outlawed, and are considered treasonous as well as dangerous.

In Literature

The alternative name of the "War of Mages" is the Avion Wars as taught by all public school systems, including Leray training academies. Nothing is covered up about this war. However, in the deepest parts of Eldora Tower's hidden archives, it is rumored that the term "War of Mages" actually belonged on its own to a separate event occurring about a thousand years ago. Only the top tower mages know the complete history of Sprawn Valley, while the truth about the Avion Wars was not kept hidden.

Technological Advancement

The Sentinels faction wanted not to rely on magic to fight their battles, which put them at a severe disadvantage. Many offensive weapons such as the crossbow, estoc, falchions, and cannons were mixed with defensive technology such as wooden tower shields, brigandine armor, chainmail armor, and anti-personnel traps.
The Liberators relied on various spells of the Leray magic format to fight their enemies during this war. General use of magic was outlawed for a longer time before this period, but the use of Leray magic proved to the wielders that there were no negative health effects for doing so. Lots of powerful attack spells from war mages were developed during this time. For the Liberators, that was their key technology.
The Liberators also relied near the end of the war on magical markings, symbols installed in the body (which are permanent) that amplify special magical abilities, turning a single person into a weapon of war or a killing machine, while occasionally showing that symbols could be dangerous to the wielder. Teleportation magic was also a growing popularity near the end of the war, despite being a new ability at the time.
In addition to all of this, the favored use of any magic had an unfortunate attraction to the use of certain dark magic abilities, which was not well known during the time. The Sentinels wanted to fight for the right to use magic anywhere in the country at any time, but some were willing to go too far in order to make this accomplishment all too real. Many who look back at this historical moment pinpoint the depths of this bloody war to be the initial breeding ground for the very first ties to dark magical usage, and a dark mage underworld, despite being unable to undermine the results of the Liberators.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

1550

Ending Date

1759

Conflict Result

The liberators were held more accountable for the war's damages, but ultimatley got thier wish. Leray magic was to be installed throughout the nation.

Location

Sprawn Valley

Belligerents

Liberators

Sentinels

Strength

Relied on the usage of Leray magic and destructive spells.

Resisted Leray magic and stuck together as a collective family.

Casualties

Lots of casualties occurred, even a few among their own members. But this side suffered the least amount of losses.

The Sentinels suffered the most casualties, ranging by numbers in the ten-thousands.

Objectives

To install a Leray veil and enable Leray magic nationwide.

To stop a Leray veil from being installed preventing Leray magic nationwide. The group more so opposed the obvious oppression of their rights and freedoms of the land that would have occurred from the people in charge using that magic, so their resolve was more about honor and freedom than it was about the saftey of Leray magic.

Maps

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  Spawn Valley

  This is a world map of Sprawn Valley.