Generation War

The Generation War began in the year 589 AH, the culmination of almost a century of conflict between the cities of Caanae and Stavenn. The tribes of Stavenn were envious of the prosperity of Caanae and hated them for their content and peaceful ways. The War was precipitated by the rise of a young and charismatic leader named Czevak, who stoked the Stavennites' hatred of Caanae and created a desire to dominate the lands of Aetherius. The War became known as the Generation War because an entire generation of people grew up never knowing peace in their land.

The First Bloodshed - 589 AH

The General of Stavenn, Czevak, planned a series of attacks on Caanae in an attempt to overwhelm them and quickly conquer the city. Nearby farmlands and fortifications were captured, the Great River was poisoned, and trade routes were cut off and blockaded. Thousands of Stavenn soldiers were killed by defenders of Caanae and Czevak's commanding general was executed as an example of the weakness that he blamed the defeat on. 25 years of battle raged on, and Czevak became more dangerous and unhinged. With each defeat, he punished his own military by executing hundreds of soldiers; at one point in the War, the number of soldiers executed rivaled the number of soldiers actually lost in battle.

The Red Siege - 614 AH

The War came to an end sometime near the year 614 AH, when Czevak turned 50. He believed only an attack led by himself would succeed in devastating Caanae, so he led his forces to the Mertashi Plains on the outskirts of Caanae. Stavenn's archers fired arrows upon the city for two entire days before Caanae's soldiers responded. On the third day, Elder Nathariel led his troops out of the city to meet the forces of General Czevak, and one of the bloodiest battles of the entire war ensued.

Amidst the carnage, Nathariel and Czevak met each other and began to duel. Czevak was killed, which broke the spirits of the Stavenn army, who had grown to believe that Czevak was more like a God than a mere mortal. Caanae was victorious in this battle, which historians would call the Red Siege, as the soil of the plains, soaked in blood, never quite lost its scarlet tinge. Despite the costs of the battle, the Generation War was over.