Bellum Aeternum

## Combatents

* The Heavenly Hosts

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* The Fae Courts

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* The Dominion of Shadow and Thorn

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* The Divine Kingdom of Runumia

* The Legions of Infernus

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* The Hordes of the Abyss

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* Diocese of Vilia

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* Court of Flame

## Commanders and Leaders

* Lord Brighteye the Silveraxe
* The Knight Commander
* Almaril
* Ashe
* Auralian
* Styxian
* Myrell
* Orlinus
* Cutter
* Coldsands
* The Masked Man
* Kindred Flesh
* Kindred Seed
* Vhaktis
* Becker
* Court of Crows

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* Queen of Summer
* King of Spring
* Queen of Autumn
* King of Winter

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* The Underlord
* The Son of Eternity

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* Vorpal
* The Royal family of Runumia
* Lord Commanders of the Gate

* Asomodai

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* Baphomet

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* Helldeacons of Vilia

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* Ember-prince

Before there was time or mortal life or even the confines of measured magic, there were the Greater Planes. At the time, in this ancient age they were simply the Planes, Celestia, Abyss and Infernus. Each being of the Planes was an immortal being, unable to be truly destroyed unless killed twice within their home realm within their home Plane twice within a year. They dwelt in their vast, near endless dimensions, celestials, demons and devils, each enjoying near total power under the whims of the Seven Divines.

In another time, or place perhaps these three eternal realms could have coexisted in harmony, but it was never meant to be. The birth of each eternal creature from the raw matter of their home Plane drained some of its essence, only the smallest of fractions but it was a system that was forever draining away. Even if this slow death of their homes was not enough, conflict was inevitable, such distantly different ideologies so short a distance away from each other, with grudges that could last well beyond anything a mortal could experience meant grievance piled upon grievance until enough was enough.

None know who struck the first blow, or what ultimately was the cause, grudge or the fear of desperation, but once the blow landed there was no stopping what was to come. Bellum Aeternum, the War Eternal. A conflict on a scale that no simple mind could possibly hope to truly grasp the immensity of. Powers wielded that even by the explanation of magic seemed nonsensical, armies on such a vast scale they could blot out the sky from horizon to horizon and still spend a full day to clear the air. Travesties and horrors were unleashed by all three sides and conflict raged in the hearts of each realm.

There is not and likely never will be a singular word that could fully encompass the mixture of terrors, awe inspiring might, devious plans and underhand plots, valiant last stands. It was a war that should shatter worlds, obliterated entire civilizations and tore apart the very understanding of the nature of the conflict if one were to stand in the center and attempt to observe the entire thing.

Ultimately, at the core, whilst most were fighting for their own selfishness, to redeem slights or increase their own power, outmaneuver their rivals or simply work to sow as much destruction as they could, it was a war for survival. The Divines knew full well and whilst most would likely deny it, many Demon Lords and Princes of Infernus knew too, that sooner or later there would be one of three outcomes. The war would continue on until one side or another faltered and the remaining two would fight over the scraps until they were too weak to fend off the survivor. Or else, they would all wear each other thin and slowly burn away, eventually too weakened to even so much as keep the gateways between Planes open, forced to watch as their realms faded away into nothingness. Or, a backup source of power would be needed.

Many beings take credit for creating the idea of a brand new Plane from which to draw their strength. The Demon Lord Baphomet, the defacto leader of the Abyssal Hordes, claimed he had proposed it as an arena they could fight on away from their respective homes. Asomodai, Archfiend of Infernus claims he whispered it into the ears of lesser immortals so it would spread and seem like everyones idea at once. The Masked Man has claimed in the past that he approached Almaril with the idea, only to discover Almaril had already made a dozen on a dozen plans for just such an idea.

Whoever first thought up the original idea matters little compared to the scope of it and how eagerly the Divines leapt into it. They all but abandoned the war and their thrones for a time, leaving both in the stewardship of their trusted scions and set about working on the nascent Planes. It was quickly agreed by all sides that the war would not spread freely into the newly formed Lesser Planes, a ban which is heavily enforced by the Ungod Vorpal. The only true loopholes to this equation were if any immortal being were called through to the material plane or granted leave to do so by Vorpal or any of the Divines. For whilst they sought to completely protect this newly formed creation, they did not seek to control its every moments, and there are always times where a brushfire must be started deliberately.

To truly ensure that the cataclysmic damage of the Bellum Aeternum would not spill into the newly formed trio of sister planes the Divines uttered a pair of decrees. First would be the decree of measured magic, no more would being be able to wield near limitless strength constantly, instead there would be ceiling where their strength would level out and a limiter on how much could be used at a time. The second would be the Divine Gate, which served as a conduit but also a barrier between the Planes, ensuring the precious energy that was now flowing out of the Spirit Realm and back into the Greater Planes would flow as equally as that essence dictated. It also served the purpose of preventing and major conflicts as part of the Bellum Aeternum from spilling across planes by mistake.

Though they indeed set the two decrees, the Divines were not beholden to them and only would follow them out of respect and agreement of the peace, however, there was always times that each of them deemed it necessary to breach one or the other of the bans. For whilst they had created a source of energy that would help supplement and extend the lifespans of the Greater Planes, they did not truly control it and in their own ways each cared for it and its people. They set themselves as the guards and guardians against horrors of the Greater Planes and allies against terrors of the Lower Planes.