The Divine Wars

The Divine Wars came about from the end of the Divine Age. It saw the formation of the Sect of Power, followers of Darchus and the cataclysmic events caused by their attempt to temper, dominate and control the chaotic forces. It is a time where considerable death and destruction plagued the Horseman Isles and the rise and fall of people, orders and gods.

## The First Bloodtide

The beginning of the Divine Wars is marked by the death of Ruvarious Rotnar, (1412 DW), at the hands of the First Bloodtide, a wave of monsters, demons and Vallin that emerged from the Sect of Power's failed attempt to prevent a great calamity created by the Coalition. Worried about the threat of the Bloodtide, Rotnar led his armies to Tyragel, unfortunately he severely underestimated the size and strength of the monsters he was facing. This series of events sent shockwaves throughout the land, including the disappearance of the Wish Serpent, (1413 DW).

It was around this time that the members of the Coalition, the Layu-nó and Dowri researchers, began to undergo transformations, both physical and mental. The Layu-nó gained unnatural speed and strength, but at the cost of a great thrist and a particular aversion to sunlight. The Dowri seemingly gained less from these transformations but their hunger was insatiable, wanting for flesh, bones and even dreams.

Two years later, the First Bloodtide began its invasion, its main force heading north towards Rotnar. At the time, it was believed that the bloodtide was unable to cross the ocean, and therefore led its first attack on Drengstead to the complete surprise of it's inhabitants. Fortunately, word had spread and Stenford was mostly evacuated by the time the bloodtide arrived, however the city was left in ruins. Having lost their main forces from Rotnar's defeat, The Hold of Rotnar didn't last long before it fell. The surviving Rotnarians fled east towards Sturmfjall seeking refuge.

Smaller, but still devastating, groups of the bloodtide left Tyragel to attack Severost and Kilth. Severost, with their advancements in blackpowder weapons managed to repel the bloodtide. Kilth, having significantly less defensive forces chose to evacuate everyone they could to their undercities, barring the doors to the invaders, and anyone unlucky enough to remain outside. Those remaining on the surface tell tales of a Heroic Dragon by the name of Styrrid which aided in their survival. After the fall of Ironholt, the bloodtide forces split, sending many into Faulkmenrir, who suffered catastrophic defeat, the last stronghold of Tetherholme builds surrounding walls without gates, separating themselves from the rest of the world and Tethe barely manages to hold the bloodtide back. Worried they were next, the Valkyries of Helmfrost swore their fealty to Ysareal and the Rime Wyrms are summoned.

## The Order Of The Drake

Along with the Sect of Rime the Layu-nó defeat the leading group of the bloodtide, giving room for the surviving armies of the Horseman Isles to rally behind Ismar Laythu, a Dizmar elf. Thus the Order of the Drake is formed. Ismar lead a counter-attack on the remaining forces of the bloodtime, and forcing them back to Tyragel. Ismar then used his new control over the isles to exile the Layu-nó for the role they played in all this. He attemted to do the same with the Dowri, however there home was destroyed and they are considered to be lost.

Two years later, the threat of a bloodtide lowers enough for the Order of the Drake to step back, Rotnar finds new leadership under Lord Gideon Helix and orders for the construction of major fortifications around the city of Sturmfjall, giving it the new name Sturmholt, and for an elite unit of Sturmknights to be formed. Helix uses these new forces to retake and resettle the Hold of Rotnar, renaming it Ironholt.

Nylbanthryn the Golden returns to the Isles along with the Sect of Gold and a new age of peace is thought to have begun. But the peace is short lived, as the vallin gods Val'Darchus and Val'Tricheas rise, each bringing with them new bloodtides, larger then the first. The world once again enters a great war.

Fighting a losing battle, the people of the isles look to the dragons that lay dormant, yet they remained silent still. Without much other choice, the Sect of Gold and Sect of Rime gather their remaining forces and lead them for one last fight in an attempt to destroy Val'Darchus. However, their forces were not enough to counter the main armies of second bloodtide. As all hope is lost dragons descended onto the battlefield rallying the forces of men and leading them to victory. Val'Darchus is destroyed.

Another two years pass before Val'Tricheas attacks Rotnar, turning the eastern side of the island into a wasteland. The Sturmholt, with their new strength, manage to defeat the third bloodtide alone, but Val'Triceas escapes to Faulkmenrir.

## War in Faulkmenrir

Having only played a minor role in the second and third bloodtides, Ismar leads the Order of the Drake into Faulkmenrir to claim the fame attached to killing Val'Tricheas, (1437 DW). Although they weren't prepared for just how harsh the swamplands would be. Three weeks into the expedition Ismar's body is found dead without a bone in his body. And a couple of months after, the Order of the Drake is lost to the Brughesh Bog, only a fraction of their corpses were ever found.

Years pass and there is no news from Faulkmenrir, Lord Helix forms the Order of the Storm and an alliance is made with the Sect of Rime and the Sect of Gold, agreeing to come to the aid of one another should another threat appear. Tyragel is sanctified by the Grovetenders of Turven and the blootide finally ends.

The Order of the Storm and its allies embark for Faulkmenrir and on arrival, the city of Tethe (thought to be the last surviving city on Faulkmenrir) is found in ruins. The winds of Ysarael fall upon the island and Val'Tricheas is revealed once again. A colossal fight takes place between Val'Tricheas and Ysarael, the likes of which has never been seen and felt even from Kilth. Unfortunatley, the aftermath left Ysarael and most of her Rime Wyrms dead, however Val'Tricheas was severely wounded. Blessed by Omaela and from the sacrifice of Ysarael, Lord Helix defeats and destroys Val'Tricheas.

A year passes and the warriors who challenged Val'Tricheas fall ill to an unkown disease, rapidly deteriorating their health. Lord Helix's fall to illness made way for his son Percivus to take his place within both the Ironholt and Sturmholt . Shortly following, Gideon Helix is no more, bringing about the formation of the Omaela Falls, flooding the lands where the bloodtides first formed, becoming Fate's End. 1461 DW, as a decade passes, the remnants of the Divine Wars are completely destroyed, and the realm returns to peace.