Great War

The **Great War** is a global conflict on Euclid which has lasted over three hundred years. It is a major event in *The Demon's Light*.

## Events

### Background

The deity Xeren was executed by the Powers for his killing of another one of their members, Vritra. His soul was divided between two halves: once which would reincarnate in human form and another which would circle his planet, Euclid. The division between the two kept Xeren's reincarnations from making full use of their godly abilities.

Cicero sought to restore his father's soul, which required him to open a portal to Euclid from Eden by thaumaturgical means. The demon army accompanied him. Some human leaders were eager to make peace with Cicero and his army, including the Nuyovian countries of Peninsulinde and Mesto. They formed the Nuyo-Dyavol Coalition with the demon army.

Many humans were still skeptical of Cicero's claims and some demons refused to accept humans as equals due to their reliance on technology. The Coalition refused to help those targeted by Free Demons unless they pledged their loyalty to the alliance, which also required accepting Cicero as the autocratic ruler of humanity. The Aiolan country of Ilion was split between those who were willing to join the Coalition and those who believed they were capable of self-defense, centered around Fort Sampi. The rebellious forces used atomics against an attempted demon invasion. They were allowed to form a nation, Sampi.

In Thales, a team of Alchemilia Corporation researchers led by Luther, Gabriel I and Bea Arsene was planning to use a wormhole to bring the Sabaoth to Euclid, who would rid the planet of demonic influence. While the wormhole was successfully constructed, the angels had little interest in allying with any human government. They took over the Alchemilia facility and incorporated it into their headquarters of Empyrean. The war in Eden was brought to Euclid with humanity able to do seemingly little. Alchemilia Corporation remained a powerful force through their advanced weaponry and the resumption of android production at Remnant Rock, although their influence was mostly limited to Silivia, Port City and Gladea. The human population rapidly dwindled from 8.7 billion to below 500 million.

This began to change in 78 TP when Mirek Koval founded the Global Union. The remaining human governments were able to ally outside the control of the Coalition. The new organization was able to arrange an alliance with Alchemilia and the Sabaoth, however, the angel army was still lax with avoiding human casualties. The Global Union grew in power in the early 100s. Ilion was liberated from the Coalition and merged into Sampi. However, Hala left the GU in 170 to join the Coalition.

In 170 TP, Tiberius Ackerman founded the Xerthic Militia due to what he saw as failures of the GU. His group intended to protect Silivia and neighboring cities from demon and angel attacks. The island for which the Militia was named was destroyed in a week-long battle where Ackerman himself was killed. The group was reformed a century later by Anax Curtius. The renamed Ackerman Militia was initially based in Gladea, moving to Skipton after the city was devastated by a battle between angels and demons.

The Svatovid was formed as an alliance by many large Mestonian gangs in 263 TP, who sought to use their limited political influence for mutual protection. Coalition authorities suggested they disrupt the functioning of GU territories. The group experienced its greatest success under the leadership of Klaus Lempo, who started in Aiola and moved to Silivia. He returned to his hometown of Crehambraugh in Sampi, being elected mayor and bringing the town under effective Coalition control. Five years later, the nearby Awgalahaga was also brought under Coalition control.

### Season One

Gabriel Arsene II, the current CEO of Alchemilia Corporation, was planning to supply the Sabaoth with atomics. The angel army would use these weapons of mass destruction against the Coalition, hopefully bringing a swift end to the war. Only a select few were made aware of this agreement.

Silivia was attacked by the Sabaoth on Nialus 29th, 319 TP. The attack was intended as a show of force, as Silivia's government had not done enough to remove the Svatovid from the city. Governor Rosington and Chief Salinger were already working against the Svatovid, following the discovery that the previous police chief had been taking bribes. The attack was not just to make sure their efforts were redoubled, but to allow the trade of technology between Alchemilia Corporation and the Sabaoth to continue unbeknownst to the GU.

Following his apparent resurrection, John Fontaine (under the influence of the Dream Eaters leader Xanvi) began to believe he was returned to life to stop Arsene's plan. Knowing he would need similarly-motivated individuals, he sought out Marshall Rooke and his associates. The group uneasily agreed to help Fontaine take down Alchemilia Corporation.

While the initial group would gain more members, Fontaine also sought out the assistance of dissident Alchemilia staff who could assist his team from the inside. The two factions were able to work together on the assault on Remnant Rock. Alchemilia was left without a leader and a headquarters. The Sabaoth was left with no means of acquiring atomics.

Savannah Whitesmith, who had been murdered by Fontaine while he was still loyal to Alchemilia, was resurrected by Tuisco. She was the latest Aditya, a reincarnation of Xeren.

### Season Two

Savannah and the Search Party came into conflict with Lempo during their time in Crehambraugh. After a short skirmish, she killed Lempo using a sword that had mysteriously manifested in her hand. This sword, Ahriman, was created by Xeren, and her use of the sword allowed Cicero to identify her as the Aditya. Once she was brought aboard the demigod's airship, he began taking steps toward his long-desired invasion of Empyrean. The plan involved breaking into the Vayu and killing Ezekiel. Accessing the castle without Vritra's approval was only theoretically possible by another deity, requiring Savannah's assistance.

Dasim had finally reached his breaking point. Skeptical of Savannah and especially of the planned invasion, he began to conspire with the other members of the State Council. They agreed that Cicero was incompetent and had to be forced to relinquish his role and veto power over the Council. He was still popular with the people of the Coalition and Dasim did not want to kill the demigod, so the demon commander held out some small hope Cicero could see reason.

Cicero refused to agree to Dasim's terms and a fight immediately broke out. The battle ended with the rebelling forces working with Dasim and the State Council killed. Volkov, Cicero's personal bodyguard and participant in the fight, became the new supreme commander of the demon army. Hala left the Coalition, while the Nuyovian Councilors were executed for treason.

The pardoning of the Port City Eight, the instigators of the Remnant Rock assault, caused the Sabaoth to launch a second attack on Silivia.

## Battles

Various battles occurred during the course of the war, a notable one being The Battle of Crehambraugh, during which the humans successfully gained control of the city from the demons.