Battle of the Plain of Tears

The Battle of the Plain of Tears was a short, direct conflict between Azunai's Rebellion and The Empire of Stars, led by Zaramoth the Unmaker. It occurred in 844 at the climax of the First Age. Both sides brought the full strength of their armies to the battlefield and neither commanders were remotely aware of the repercussions that the battle would have on Aranna for the next thousand years.
== Prelude ==
The Azunite tribe was originally part of the Empire of Stars and was peacefully incorporated at the founding of the Empire. When Zaramoth became Emperor of the Empire of Stars, his ascension caused a civil war to break out, with Zaramoth mercilessly having everyone slaughtered that did not bow to him. The Azunites played their position diplomatically, allowing Zaramoth to rule so long as they lived. Zaramoth also outlawed magic in his empire, save for those who were absolutely loyal to him. When Azunai became the tribal chieftain of the Azunite tribe, he declared an open rebellion against Zaramoth.
Zaramoth initially believed that Azunai's uprising was little more than a regular rebellion that had to be put down violently. He sent a small army to crush them, however the Azunite army reportedly destroyed the invaders. This sparked a full scale war between The Empire of Stars, and the thousands of refugees and discontent soldiers and groups who joined Azunai's banner following his initial victory. For the first time in the history of Zaramoth's rule, a rebellion had occurred that survived it's first battle.
After several battles and skirmishes with the Empire, Zaramoth finally had enough and joined the battle himself. Zaramoth brought the full force of his combined armies to meet Azunai at the Plain of Tears. Aware that he was now supremely outmatched, Azunai sought out the Agallan Giants for a strategy to win the battle. Although initially unwilling due to the subjugation of his people by Zaramoth, Elandir forged the Shield of Azunai for Azunai. Azunai then returned to his people to lead the battle from the front lines.
== Belligerents ==
=== The Empire of Stars ===
The Empire of Stars was initially founded by Ianisha when she united the Ilion tribes on the lake of the Chalice of Stars in year 0. The Azunite Tribe joined shortly after. The Empire of Stars then expanded aggressively over the course of the next thousand years and soon came into direct conflict with Zaramoth's empire in Southern Aranna. The Empire seems to have been largely tolerant of the collective races that it ruled over, so long as they obeyed the laws. When Emperor Veransk III died, he left the throne to Zaramoth. This sparked a civil war across the empire, resulting in the secession of the 10th Legion in Ehb and the people of Lescanza. Zaramoth's rule over the Empire was cruel and vindictive, anyone who rose up against him was swiftly executed and even the smallest crimes were punished by death. Zaramoth's army was already larged prior to his ascension, and the addition of thirteen battle hardened legions made him even more powerful.
=== The Azunites ===
Initially part of the Empire of Stars from it's founding, the Azunites launched a full scale rebellion against The Empire of Stars when Azunai became the Tribal Chieftain. The Azunites divided it's army into four parts. Those with the magical skill of foresight but were weaker with other magic were marked with an Open Eye. Mages who did not have the power of foresight, but were otherwise stronger with magic were marked with a closed eye. Warriors were marked with a dead tree, indicating both their wish to die in battle and to take their enemies to the grave with them. Healers wore a green tree, indicating that their task to was to keep warriors alive.
Azunai's shield was forged with all four symbols, indicating that he supported all four groups and that they supported him. During the war, the symbols stopped being synonymous with just the military and became part of the Azunite society as a whole.
== Conflict ==
The Azunite army met with The Empire of Stars upon the Plain of Tears. Both armies charged towards each other and began engaging in battle. Zaramoth brought The Sword of Zaramoth with him and immediately sought out Azunai so as to kill him and make an example. Azunai challenged Zaramoth to a duel upon a lone rock above the battle. Their conflict was brief. As Zaramoth brought down his sword upon Azunai's shield, the shield shattered and the magic within both the sword and the shield was released, causing the souls of every soldier on the battlefield to be pulled from their body and rush into the River of Souls.
The River of Souls, having been capped by Zaramoth years prior, was already on the verge of breaking and the sudden rush of the souls of both armies caused it to burst, forming cracks throughout the inside of the planet and creating new leylines and changing the course of magic to everyone.
Both armies were completely shattered by this and it is believed that both Azunai and Zaramoth themselves also perished on the battlefield.
The resultant magical explosion caused The First Great Cataclysm and the Second Age began.
== Influence of the Agallan Giants ==
The Agallan Giants, led by Elandir, were initially wary of taking part in the conflict. They had already agreed to stay out of the conflicts of Aranna after Zaramoth had conquered their homelands and destroyed the floating city of Agalla. Elandir, however, eventually was convinced that no matter how hard they tried to stay out of everything, a side would eventually be chosen for them whether they liked it or not. Elandir then forged The Shield of Azunai, which was the culmination of all the Agallan achievements to date.
If Elandir had chosen to not get involved, it is undisputed that Zaramoth would have won the battle and sealed his place as leader of Aranna for generations to come. The 10th Legion in Ehb would not have been able to remain as isolated as they wanted, with their only conflict at the time being the Seck army that Zaramoth had sent to battle them. Zaramoth would have destroyed the Azunites and eventually moved onto reclaiming Ehb.
== Trivia ==
* Only Zaramoth was confirmed to have died at the battle, as his soul is eventually bound to The Overmage in . Azunai's survival is never truly confirmed but there are references to a character like him appearing a few times shortly after the war. The followers of the Azunite faith believe that he instead rose to Godhood for his work, though this is also never properly confirmed.
* Despite generally working directly alongside Zaramoth, the Dark Wizards appear to have survived the battle unscathed. They may have actually not participated in the battle.