Great Dissolution

The Great Dissolution, alternatively referred to as "The War of the Gods," marked a protracted conflict between the unwavering loyalists of King Morkados' kingdom and the resolute dissenters who stood in opposition. Spanning a staggering duration of 42 years, this formidable war claimed the distinction of being the lengthiest and most arduous confrontation ever witnessed in the annals of Ghaba's history. Its tumultuous theater of operations was predominantly concentrated in the environs surrounding Dorum, the capital city, as well as in strategic locations scattered throughout the formidable expanse of the Sun Mountains. Remarkably, the western reaches of the island remained virtually unscathed, their tranquil existence preserved amidst the raging tempest of this titanic struggle.

## History

### Background

The Great Dissolution refers to a pivotal period in the history of the Reborn Kingdom marked by political intrigue, tragic events, and the subsequent outbreak of war. It was ignited by the treacherous assassination of Tonwulf Greenfeldt, orchestrated by conspirators Björn Eisenseite and Orlando, and further compounded by the mysterious death of King Morkados' son, Morwulf.

Motivated by his deep concerns for the safety and prosperity of his realm, King Morkados recognized the ever-present threat posed by dissenters to his family and loyal companions. Engulfed in a protracted internal conflict, the king witnessed the emergence of capable successors who offered hope for the future. In a momentous decision, King Morkados made a selfless sacrifice by willingly relinquishing a significant portion of his infernal power. This sacrifice served to erect a formidable shield of protection around his loved ones and the entire island, but it came at the cost of his own disappearance, leaving the throne to his worthy heir, Morgelm.

During a brief period of co-rule, Morgelm and his siblings united their forces to confront the looming peril. However, shadows of uncertainty gradually descended upon the divine city as Morgelm's brothers and sisters, including Myrdos, Morlus, and Moria, began to withdraw from their positions of power. Fearful for their safety, Morgelm entrusted the guardianship of the kingdom to the steadfast Saloth and embarked on a clandestine journey alongside Moramine and Morrin, leaving the fate of their ancestral land in the hands of the appointed regent. Saloth would soon enough be deposed by Leonheardt Euclider, one of Morkados most trusted advisors.

The shifting tides of fate soon unleashed discord and turmoil. Simmering rivalries and smoldering resentments reached a boiling point, culminating in the cataclysmic eruption of conflict. Myrdos, driven by a thirst for power and vengeance, launched an assault on the capital, Dorum. This significant event, forever etched into history as the Battle of Dorum, heralded the beginning of a bitter and relentless war that plunged the realm into a tumultuous vortex of chaos and uncertainty. The Great Dissolution had begun, reshaping the future of Ghaba and its people.

### First Hostilities

Myrdos, driven by his thirst for power and vengeance, resolves to initiate the conflict by launching a relentless assault on the fortified city of Dorum. Leading his formidable army, the Raven Knights, Myrdos unleashes a devastating offensive against the coalition forces comprised of the Infernal Knights and Sheban warriors. Amidst this clash of factions, the Sepulcher Knights, renowned for their unwavering loyalty, find themselves torn by internal strife, unable to align themselves with a clear allegiance.

For a week, the battle rages on, with the fate of Dorum hanging precariously in the balance. The streets run crimson with the blood of soldiers, as the combatants wage a fierce struggle for dominance. However, despite Myrdos' initial onslaught and the tenacity of his forces, the capital manages to secure a pyrrhic victory, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy while sustaining significant casualties of its own. The city stands scarred and weary, victorious but at a tremendous cost. Myrdos, nursing his wounded pride, retreats to his stronghold, where he meticulously plots his next moves, honing his strategies to employ ambush tactics and unleash the dark arts of magic upon his adversaries.

In the southern reaches of the realm, Lord Sulyvahn, a cunning and ambitious noble, perceives the dire threat posed by the alchemists of the renowned Lux Valors guild, whose mastery over destructive forces is widely feared. Eager to consolidate his power and establish himself as the unchallenged ruler of the south, Sulyvahn orchestrates a swift and ruthless campaign. He dispatches a formidable shock force, comprising battle-hardened soldiers and ruthless mercenaries, to assault the heavily fortified fortress held by the Lux Valors guild. In a brutal display of dominance, the shock force decimates the defenders, leaving no survivors and reducing the once-proud stronghold to ruins.

As the conflict unfolds and the flames of war spread, two esteemed institutions, the New Moon Academy and the City of Stahlfuer, make a resolute decision to distance themselves from the brewing turmoil. Recognizing the destructive path the conflict is taking, both academies choose to indefinitely shutter their doors, rejecting any involvement in the escalating strife. These venerable seats of knowledge and enlightenment, deeply rooted in their principles of neutrality and preservation, withdraw from the unfolding chaos, preserving their integrity and shielding their students and faculty from the ravages of war.

### Expansionism and Alliances

In his relentless pursuit of allies, Myrdos stumbles upon the formidable stronghold of Saloth, a bastion of power in the region. A fierce and decisive battle ensues, with Myrdos emerging victorious and compelling Saloth to pledge unwavering loyalty to him, thus eliminating the threat of opposition. Bolstered by the resources and knights of Saloth, Myrdos seizes the opportunity to showcase his augmented might to Lord Sulyvahn, compelling the two leaders to forge a pact of non-aggression, their common interest in stability and dominance overriding their mutual suspicions.

Meanwhile, Lord Eridius Sanguis, the ruler of New Dithia, boldly denounces his allegiance to Dorum, sparking apprehension among the leaders of the capital. Acknowledged as a formidable combatant, Eridius becomes a paramount concern for Dorum's survival. Responding with swift action, Leonhardt commands the fearsome dragon Rhagor to eradicate Eridius' army, believing it to be the key to victory. However, Eridius, anticipating such an assault, unleashes a catastrophic spell of immense destructiveness, directing a targeted explosion of death towards Rhagor. Tragically, the spell goes awry, causing the death magic to spiral out of control. The once-prosperous city of New Dithia is obliterated, and the unleashed cataclysm transforms half of the island into a desolate wasteland. Rhagor miraculously survives the onslaught but is reduced to a lifeless husk, consumed by the chaotic forces he once commanded. In the aftermath, Eridius, bereft of an army and a city, vanishes from the conflict, his ambitions shattered by the unintended consequences of his own power.

Acknowledging the tremendous toll exacted by their victories, Leonhardt and Kotol Kutli contemplate the grim reality of their triumphs. Determined to exploit their newfound advantage, they equip their knights with potent and destructive enchantments, unleashing them upon unsuspecting villages and fortresses, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. One such assault targets Vereor Nox, the fabled underground city ruled by King Morlus. While Morlus valiantly repels the attack, his forces suffer heavy losses, and in a calculated decision influenced by the actions of Forthan and Drostolgur, he elects to seal the city's gates, effectively cutting off passage between the eastern and western realms, solidifying the division caused by the escalating conflict.

Undeterred by the setbacks, Leonhardt proposes a daring plan: unleashing the dragon Morghul to enact a devastating assault akin to that of Rhagor. However, Morghul, who had remained loyal to the capital until this pivotal moment, is struck by a profound realization—the once-noble values of the king have become twisted and corrupted. Disillusioned, Morghul forsakes his allegiance to the capital, choosing to distance himself from the malevolent influence that has tainted their cause, leaving Leonhardt and his cohorts to face the consequences of their tarnished legacy.

### The Lion's Return

Following a period of brief exile, Morgelm, the rightful heir and god of war, resolves to embrace his destiny. Departing from the city of Kirdege, he sets his sights on the Lightninghold, a formidable stronghold. There, he seeks to rally the Golden Guard, an esteemed order of knights renowned for their prowess in battle. The news of their arrival spreads like wildfire, and the civilians greet them as champions and saviors.

While Morgelm's initial intention is to peacefully reclaim Dorum, he remains prepared for a potential conflict at the city gates. However, his plans are swiftly hindered when he discovers that the mountain pass leading to Dorum has been sealed off, cutting off the direct route. Undeterred, Morgelm and his loyal forces venture onto the perilous path of Tepewazi, a treacherous trail fraught with unseen dangers.

As they navigate the hazardous terrain, Morgelm's company falls victim to a cunning ambush orchestrated by none other than Myrdos himself, his own brother turned traitor. This fateful encounter sets the stage for one of the most monumental clashes of the war, forever etched in history as the Battle of the Brothers. Myrdos unleashes his full arsenal, dealing a fatal blow to Erdrin, the valiant captain of Morgelm's guard.

Enveloped by the chaos of the battlefield, Morgelm and Myrdos engage in a duel of epic proportions, their clash resonating amidst the fallen knights and the sorrowful cries of the battlefield. At first, Morgelm gains the upper hand, skillfully wielding his formidable powers. However, Myrdos, fueled by dark forces, counters with a ruthless onslaught. With a cruel twist of fate, Myrdos thrusts four wicked rapiers into Morgelm's chest, imbuing him with a sinister curse rooted in death itself.

Despite the grievous wound inflicted upon him, Morgelm summons the last remnants of his strength to escape the battlefield. Soon after, he is discovered by his faithful friend and ally, Morghul, a majestic dragon who had steadfastly remained by his side throughout their shared journey. Understanding the urgency of Morgelm's plight, Morghul takes flight, cradling his wounded comrade upon his mighty back, determined to bring him to Dorum where healing may be found.

Yet, as fate would have it, their path to salvation is obstructed by the forces aligned against them. Leonhardt, driven by his insidious ambitions, commands a relentless onslaught of ballista fire upon the soaring dragon. Amidst the barrage, a deadly projectile finds its mark, piercing Morghul's chest, causing the majestic creature to falter and descend rapidly into the Forgotten Lands below.

With Morghul's descent, Morgelm's fate becomes entwined with the enigmatic and shrouded realms beyond. The once-mighty warrior and his loyal dragon companion vanish from the theater of war, their presence no longer a factor in the tumultuous conflict that grips the land. Their ultimate destiny remains a mystery, their tale forever woven into the tapestry of legends and lore.

### The Last Battle

Filled with a sense of invincibility following his victory over Morgelm, Myrdos becomes determined to confront his last formidable opponent, the towering colossus Abargaton. Abargaton, known as the King's Brother and the Guardian of the Flame of Destiny, possessed immense power that Myrdos coveted. Thus, Myrdos launches a grand offensive against his uncle, driven by his insatiable thirst for that ultimate power.

However, Abargaton, an ancient and formidable being, proves to be a daunting adversary. With his incredible strength and mystical abilities, he manages to repel Myrdos' assault, thwarting his attempts to seize the Flame of Destiny. Yet, Myrdos, cunning and relentless, curses a part of Abargaton's soul during the battle, leaving him in a state of profound slumber. Although Abargaton emerges victorious, the curse inflicted upon him by Myrdos takes its toll, imprisoning him in an eternal sleep.

While Myrdos fails to obtain the coveted power he sought, he succeeds in eliminating yet another rival standing in his path to the throne. With each victory, his confidence soars, but the challenges ahead loom large.

With the city of Dorum as the only obstacle remaining, Myrdos finds himself lacking the necessary strength to mount a direct assault. Haunted by the fate that befell Eridius, he treads cautiously, aware of the perils that await. Fearing a similar downfall, Myrdos cautiously seeks a truce with Dorum, a delicate agreement known as a white peace. This official cessation of hostilities marks the end of the war, albeit an uneasy peace, as both sides remain wary of each other's ambitions and the ever-present threat of conflict.

## Timeline of Events

 1196
 1197
 1198
 1200
* Saloth is left in charge of Dorum.
 1201
* The Battle of Dorum takes place.
 1203
 1206
 1212
* The Battle at the Golden Palace takes place.
 1213
 1215
* Leonhardt sends the five dragons to eliminate his enemies.
* New Dithia is destroyed when the dragon Rhagor collides with Eridius' spell.
* Rhagor is left as a cursed undead dragon.
 1216
 1218
 1225
* The Battle at Vereor Nox takes place and is won by Morlus.
 1226
 1229
 1230
* The Battle of the Brothers takes place.
* Erdrin is cursed by Myrdos.
* The Golden Guard is mostly destroyed.
* Morgelm is defeated and wounded, but manages to flee with Morghul's help.
 1237
* The Battle of the Fire Fates takes place.
 1246