The Shauzian Conflict

The Shauzian Conflict was a poorly defined war between Northern Korlan and the southern Shau empire that occurred over 300 years in the past.  The conflict revolved around the ruling of the border towns between the two countries south of the Shau City of Asatoro.  Due to the political nature of the conflict and control of the mineral rich mountains that span the two countries, allies were pulled into the conflict, specifically the Wresten government.  The Wresten government had a vested interest in having Shau keep control of the mineral rights and sent military forces to help back up the Shau government and to win the “hearts and minds' ' of the local people.

## Early History

Conflict between Korlan and Shau have been a constant and present development since the two countries have been established.  One of the main points of contention have been the western mountain range that spans the two countries and its rich minerals and religious significance.  The cities, forts, mines and other locations have changed political hands multiple times over the centuries with Shau holding the lion’s share.  This allowed Shau to become a rich and powerful nation due to the advantages the mountains hold over wealth and trade.  The Korlan populace care less for the wealth and desire the mountains to remain unspoiled because of their belief in the spiritual history of the mountains.  They believe that the dragons still sleep deep within the mountains and it is sacrilege to disturb their slumber.  This tension has led to many conflicts and disputes over the border just shy of war between the two nations.

### The First War

Not much is known of the earliest war between these two nations at the border, but what is known is tragic.  At the time of the war, most of the inhabitants of the mountainous area were mostly spiritual and tribal leaders, using the mountains as a focus to commune with their deities and lead their people.  The Shau empire discovered rich veins of adamantium and mithril within the Korlan controlled hills and decided to make a concerted effort to control these resources.  They started peacefully by forming a treaty with the nation of Korlan, stating they’d only mine the foothills and not disturb the mountains themselves.  But greed lead the Shau government to slowly remove the spiritual leaders through a combination of espionage, brainwashing, and assassinations.  After removing opposition they started to delve deeper into the mountains until they discovered an ancient and giant tomb.  The Korlans heard of this discovery and rose up to defend what they believed to be an ancient resting point of a powerful being.  This uprising led to a decade long war where the border was pushed back and forth many times until the Shau eventually secured the border through the use of an overwhelming military presence.  Due to the extended duration of the war the tomb, known as the Sleeper’s Den, was lost to history.

### The Second War

More is known about the second war due to one of the main figures involved.  Hailing from Korlan, The Jagged Queen rose to prominence in the nation of Korlan under the platform of retaking the mountains.  She was a fanatic priest and terrifying warrior-orc leader that made zealots of common folk and pulled them into a cause they all believed just and righteous.  She was silver tongued, both figuratively and literally, and was said to have pulled her guidance directly from a higher source as a prophet.  In combat she was a frenzy of blades wielding two cracked and broken greatswords single handedly named Drü and Rügga, translated as Dread and Valor in common.  She was able to lead an enormous force across the border and deep into show territory.  The Jagged Queen led her fanatical forces like a tidal wave crashing through the mountains and swept all Shau defenses before her to have them drown in the mass of blades and hammers.  The power and frenzy was so much that it drew The Jagged Queen past the mountains and into Shau proper where they met heavier resistance.  Eventually a plague started to sweep through the Korlan army, weakening them and forcing them to stop their push.  This plague was rumored to be caused by magic, but from which army is unknown.  This led to the loss of The Jagged Queen.  Their histories say that beseeched by the plague, The Jagged Queen demanded death by combat.  The decision was made to make a ziggurat of battle for The Jagged Queen to meet her final battle.  It is explained in the book A Tale of Frenzy, The Brutal Korlan Queen by the Korlan scholar Zig’sashel Drejicit:

> “The mighty queen and destroyer, brought down by a commoner’s ailment, made the pronouncement that if she were to die it would be by the sickle and blade.  She commanded her forces to construct a temple to battle and fill it with a force of warriors numbering 50 by 50 and seal it from the outside.  The Jagged Queen would then enter with her last lovers, Drü and Rügga, to engage in her final battle.  She would die in glorious combat inside the temple or rise out again like a phoenix due to the powers granted by her god.”
>
>

With the loss of their main figurehead, the Korlan forces slowly pulled back out of Shau, until they removed themselves nearly completely from the mountains that they originally fought for.

### The Third War

The Third War, also known as the Shauzian Conflict, was less of a war and more of an occupation and political blunder.  Heated tensions and greed lead to great amounts of bloodshed and loss.  The Shauzian Conflict was also the first time Wresten was involved in the battles between Shau and Korlan.  Years prior a trade agreement had been signed by the leaders of the nations of Wresten and Shau and this led to Wresten becoming involved with their military to protect their financial interests.  Overall, the involvement was a total failure, with the only thing coming out positive was the names that Death could add to his book of the dead.

## Rumors of the Conflict

A common rumor that continues to arise when this conflict is spoken of is the use of Necromantic magic.  It is spoken by all three sides that there were great armies of the undead employed by the other nations to horrific consequences.  Rumors say everything from great lichs leading hordes of skeletons to raze villages and towns to ancient mummies rising from buried tombs to punish the invaders were part of the conflict.  Not much evidence exists to substantiate these rumors, but older generations still remember the use of undead for multiple purposes.  There are three parties that exist in historical text that led to these rumors being at least partially true; The Rattlers out of Korlan, the Cold Meat Cadre from Wresten, and the Revivalists of the Wind from Shau.

#### The Rattlers

Ritualist magic users from the western coast of Korlan.  These were three centaurs of immense power when working in unison that were said to be able to heal any injury or stop death altogether.  Their names were Sho’adept, Sho’atkan, and Sho’hozon.

#### The Cold Meat Cadre

A seven person military unit based out of a Wresten University that was sent to the border to enforce garrisons on the Shau side of the border.  The seven members were Captain Cormell Highfield, Sergeant Dain Hammond, Grey Hammermill, Folyfn Fy’Folofn, Moritas Moritas, Gensis VonBriar, and Corryn Harveriex.

#### Revivalists of the Wind

The largest of the 3 groups, they number ranged between 50 to 100.  It may have also swelled to 200 if the largest numbers can be believed.  They were also educated casters that held much forbidden knowledge and were completely loyal to their archmagi, Xien Yuenzhen.

## The End of the Conflict

The Shauzian Conflict ended after the Shau occupied city of Rotsaubu turned on the Wresten army garrisoned there.  The local populace had had enough of the bloodshed and the rumors of necromancy led them to  be distrustful of all outside forces.  After the decimation of garrisoned force, the Wresten government pulled out all military forces and started a semi-cold war between Wresten and Shau.