The War of Sunder (210 - 225 AW)

Overview

The War of Sunder was the first major global conflict following the Age of Ruin, centered primarily on the Eastern Continent. Ignited by the discovery of concentrated Aether-crystals in the central regions, it pitted rogue magi known as the Arcane Ascendancy against the burgeoning city-states of the East, most notably Kigum.

Origins of the Conflict

In the decades leading up to 210 AW, independent covens of wizards and sorcerers realized that possessing Aether-crystals exponentially increased their power. Believing themselves to be the natural rulers of the new age, a faction calling itself the Arcane Ascendancy began a campaign of subjugation. They captured Aether nodes, subjugated minor settlements, and began an aggressive march toward Kigum, intent on seizing the Grand Arcane Node upon which the city was built.

The Crimson Company

Kigum's traditional defenses were woefully unprepared for an organized magical assault. The tide turned with the emergence of The Crimson Company, a mercenary band of adventurers who adopted unorthodox tactics. Led by Commander Vane, a brilliant tactician, the Company realized that matching magic with magic was a losing battle against the Ascendancy's superior numbers.

Tactics and Innovations

1. Early Gunpowder: The Crimson Company introduced the first rudimentary black powder weapons—flintlock pistols and crude cannons. While inaccurate, their concussive force and deafening noise disrupted spellcasters' concentration, causing catastrophic magical backfires.
2. Anti-Magic Field Tactics: Utilizing lead-lined armor and shields laced with null-magic ore mined from the Mana Wastes, the Company's vanguard units could withstand elemental barrages and close the distance with fragile mages.
3. Guerilla Warfare: Instead of fighting pitched battles, the Company targeted the Ascendancy's Aether-crystal supply lines, starving them of the fuel needed for their most devastating spells.

Major Battles

• The Siege of Phord (212 AW): The first major engagement. The Ascendancy attempted to blockade the river port. The Crimson Company broke the siege using barges laden with explosives, destroying the Ascendancy's floating command citadel.
• The Battle of the Shattered Plains (218 AW): The turning point of the war. Commander Vane baited the Ascendancy's archmages into an open plain, only to trigger a massive, pre-planted black powder minefield. The resulting explosion shattered the Ascendancy's leadership.
• The Last Stand at the Crimson Pass (225 AW): The final remnants of the Ascendancy were cornered in a mountain pass. It was here that Commander Vane was struck by a powerful dying curse, granting him a dark, unaging immortality.

Aftermath

The War of Sunder ended in 225 AW with the complete eradication of the Arcane Ascendancy. In recognition of their vital role, The Crimson Company was granted immense wealth and land in Kigum.

They transitioned from a mercenary company to a formal institution, founding the Kigum Military Academy. Here, the tactics of anti-magic combat, combined arms, and arcane integration were formalized, laying the foundation for Kigum's modern military dominance and ensuring that rogue magic users would never again threaten the Eastern Continent.