The War of a Thousand Ages

The War of a Thousand Ages is the, and forever will be, the largest and most devastating war that Draisomus has ever seen. With hundreds of millions dead, nations lost to history, and ecological disaster, Draisomus will never be the same.

While the war has not lasted a literal thousand ages, many people refer to it as such to show the hopelessness that it will ever end. Every time over the last several hundred years that the war was drawn to a stalemate and seems as though it might end, something happens to always escalate and elevate tensions.

Southern Aggression (~300 years before the Day of Dread)

The war began long ago when the modern day Imperium invaded and rapidly seized the nations to its south. A brutal and rapid campaign saw the Imperium swell to its modern borders in only 10 years. With most of the northern forces concerned with securing the border with the Demon Wastes, and the southern army busy trying to suppress the newly conquered peoples, the war reached its first age of stagnation. The Imperium continually threatened invasion of the west, citing ancient territorial claims, but did not act on the threats of sometime.

Formation of the Western Alliance (~200 years before the Day of Dread)

While the nations of the west were constantly wary of invasion by the Imperium, a lack of action grew complacency. Small states in modern Bruaca began joining forces and forming alliances and Neperus began drawing the bulk of their industry and population back from the border with the Imperium. Despite these preparations, no one was ready for an attempt from the south, least of all Almothar.

The Imperium mounted a naval invasion across the southern crossing. Something that was unexpected because of the large population of sea monsters that made their home there. Taken completely by surprise, the nations of the west sprung into action, forming the Western Alliance. An alliance of Bruaca, Ostela, Neperus, Almothar, and the Dwarven Holds. By their combined forces, the Alliance was able to push back the invasion and savage the Imperial Navy. Almothar committed to watching the southern pass, ensuring they would never be taken by surprise again. The great magic minds of the academy bewitched the woods closest to the eastern coast of the nation, making it nearly impassable for those trespassing.

The Last Campaign (50 years before the Day of Dread)

After many, many more periods of aggression and stagnation. The Imperium made its largest and most desperate push into the Watchlands, hoping that a breakthrough would turn the war in their favor. Emperor Engal II, father of Emperor Brimir and grandfather of Empress Ellarian, led the campaign himself. While initially the Imperium made large strides into the Watchlands, the advent and deployment of the Warforged project turned the tide yet again.

The Final Battle (25 years before the Day of Dread)

This campaign finally ended with the Final Battle, called perhaps out of hope for the end of the war. A gruesome battle, one of the most deadly of the entire war, saw the introduction of the Neperians’ latest invention, the firearm. While crude and primitive, these new forms of weapon decimated the imperial forces, drawing them back to the current border of the Watchlands. This battle also saw the death of the Emperor himself, dying at the hand of a Bruacan Warforged battalion sent on an infiltration mission. While none of the Warforged survived, their sacrifice is forever remembered.

An Attempt at Peace (3 Months before the Day of Dread)

During the most recent period of stagnation, Emperor Brimir, did something never before done by an Emperor of the Imperium. He reached out to the leaders of the Western Alliance for peace talks. These talks made progress, supported by both Emperor Brimir and his son, heir to the throne. Prince Golevar. Princess Ellarian resented the thought of giving up the territorial claims of her family, but out of a love for her father and brother, put up with the talks.

The Day of Dread

As if out of nowhere, the entire north of the Imperium was destroyed. No one knows why it happened or who caused it. The Alliance blamed the Imperium citing experiments on weapons of mass destruction gone wrong. The Imperium blamed the Alliance on taking advantage of peace talks to sow chaos. Whoever or whatever is responsible is to blame for countless deaths, the destruction of numerous cities, and the creation of an inhospitable region full of unknowns.

What was once the capital of the Imperium and the original lands of the nation, was no more than a wasteland. Those on watch in Obraca claimed only to see the rapid expansion of a wall of fog. That wall that now stands on the border, hundreds of feet tall, obscuring any view into the land. Weirdly it seems as though the destruction expanded out exactly to the borders of the empire, and not a step further.

A New Empress (5 years after the Day of Dread)

The ascension of Emperor Ellarian to the throne marks an end to any hopes of peace. Driven by anger for the destruction of her home and death of her family, and believing that the Western Alliance is to blame. Her rule was immediately marked by an increase in military production, and a crackdown on subversive activity in the south. A dark time for the continent of Draisomus.