The Most Devastating Battles in Empyrean’s History
The Empyrean universe has been shaped by war, conflict, and battles of unimaginable scale. From divine wars between gods and abyssal lords to mortal struggles that reshaped entire civilizations, these battles have left an enduring mark on history. The scars of these conflicts can be found in ruined cities, shattered landscapes, and in the very fabric of reality itself. This guide explores the most devastating battles in Empyrean’s history, detailing their causes, major events, and long-lasting consequences.
1. The Sundering of the Spheres (The First Divine War)
Combatants: The Celestials vs. The Abyssal Lords
Casualties: Immeasurable, entire realms obliterated
Outcome: The banishment of the Abyssal Lords, the fragmentation of the Empyrean Realms
Overview:
The first and most cataclysmic battle in Empyrean’s history, the Sundering of the Spheres was a cosmic war between the Celestials, led by Astraeus, and the Abyssal Lords, commanded by Malakar, the Lord of Ruin. This war determined the fundamental structure of the universe and nearly tore reality apart.
Major Events:
The Celestial Convergence – The creation of the Empyrean Realms, bastions of divine order, to counteract the growing chaos.
The Abyssal Invasion – The Abyssal Lords unleashed horrors upon creation, corrupting entire celestial domains.
The Final Banishment – Astraeus wielded the Radiant Spear to cast Malakar and his forces into the Shadow Abyss, sealing them away for millennia.
Consequences:
The fabric of reality weakened, allowing the existence of dimensional rifts.
The Abyssal Lords, though defeated, continued to influence mortals through dark whispers and cults.
The Celestials, weakened by the war, could no longer intervene directly in mortal affairs.
2. The Twilight Wars
Combatants: The Dominion of Erythos vs. The Abyssal Cults
Casualties: 85% of Erythos' population, entire bloodlines erased
Outcome: The destruction of Erythos, rise of independent mortal kingdoms
Overview:
The once-glorious empire of Erythos, favored by the gods, stood as a beacon of civilization until it fell under the corruption of Abyssal Cults. When the emperor himself succumbed to their influence, the entire empire was plunged into war.
Major Events:
The Night of the Crimson Eclipse – The emperor of Erythos declared allegiance to the Abyss, unleashing shadow-beasts upon his own people.
The Siege of the Golden Spires – The last stronghold of divine loyalists held out against abyssal forces but eventually crumbled.
The Purge of the Faithful – Celestial priests and scholars were hunted down, their sacred knowledge lost forever.
Consequences:
The fall of Erythos led to a period of darkness where knowledge of magic and divine power was nearly lost.
Survivors of Erythos scattered, forming the Free Kingdoms, which would later define the modern mortal world.
The Abyssal Cults, though victorious, fragmented and turned against each other, weakening their influence over time.
3. The War of the Sorcerers
Combatants: Arcane Factions vs. The Order of Kael’Vorr
Casualties: Entire cities erased from history
Outcome: The restructuring of magical laws and the rise of the Arcane Guilds
Overview:
The War of the Sorcerers was the deadliest conflict between magic users in Empyrean’s history. As mortals learned to wield the power of Arcane Constructs, they grew arrogant, attempting to surpass even the gods in magical mastery. This reckless pursuit led to a catastrophic war that reshaped the world.
Major Events:
The Sundering of the Etherium – A magical explosion caused by unstable arcane energy destroyed the floating city of Etherium, killing thousands.
The Curse of the Forgotten Lands – A spell meant to grant immortality backfired, creating a wasteland where time itself is fractured.
The Last Conclave – The remaining archmages agreed upon new magical laws, forming the Arcane Guilds to prevent further misuse of magic.
Consequences:
Magic became heavily regulated, with strict laws preventing unrestricted experimentation.
Several ancient spells were permanently sealed away, feared to be too dangerous for use.
The destruction of Etherium remains a haunting reminder of the dangers of unchecked magic.
4. The Siege of the Shadowborn Citadel
Combatants: The Free Kingdoms vs. The Shadowborn Legions
Casualties: Tens of thousands of soldiers, multiple noble houses destroyed
Outcome: The fall of the Shadowborn and the end of their dominion
Overview:
The Shadowborn Citadel was a fortress built by the remnants of Abyssal Cultists and sorcerers who had fled the War of the Sorcerers. For centuries, it was a dark power lurking on the fringes of the world. The Free Kingdoms, recognizing the growing threat, united to bring about its downfall.
Major Events:
The Battle of the Black Gate – The first attempt to storm the citadel ended in disaster as shadow magic overwhelmed the attackers.
The Betrayal of House Valkaris – A noble family, thought to be loyal to the Free Kingdoms, turned against their allies, allowing the Shadowborn to mount a deadly counteroffensive.
The Burning of the Dark Archives – To ensure the forbidden knowledge within the citadel was never used again, the victors set fire to the vast libraries of shadow magic.
Consequences:
The fall of the Shadowborn ensured that no unified Abyssal power could rise again.
Many noble houses were left weakened or extinct, leading to shifts in political power.
Remnants of the Shadowborn’s magic still linger, drawing in those foolish enough to seek it.
5. The Reckoning of the Phoenix
Combatants: The Phoenix Reborn vs. The Sealed One’s Cultists
Casualties: Reality itself was damaged, celestial rifts appeared across the world
Outcome: The Phoenix Prophecy was fulfilled, the Sealed One’s prison remained intact
Overview:
The Reckoning of the Phoenix was not just a battle—it was an event of cosmic significance. The Phoenix Reborn, a prophesied warrior destined to reshape the world, fought against cultists who sought to release the most dangerous entity in Empyrean’s history—the Sealed One.
Major Events:
The Breaking of the Seven Seals – The cultists managed to unseal fragments of the Sealed One’s power, warping reality around them.
The Phoenix Ascends – The Phoenix Reborn unleashed a surge of divine energy, preventing the final seal from breaking.
The Closing of the Rift – A catastrophic rift into the Shadow Abyss was sealed, preventing an invasion of eldritch horrors.
Consequences:
The Phoenix Reborn vanished after the battle, their fate unknown.
Fractures in reality still exist, leading to strange occurrences across Empyrean.
The Sealed One remains imprisoned, but many fear it is only a matter of time before another attempt is made.
The battles of Empyrean have shaped the course of history, leaving behind legends, ruins, and lingering shadows. Each conflict brought devastation but also forged new eras, proving that war, for all its destruction, is an inescapable force in the cycle of existence.
