War of Blades

The War of Blades was a conflict in the broadest sense. Towards the second half of the Shadow Era, more and more warriors - individuals with various physical and mental capabilities - move out into the world to prove their strength and worth. They duelled each other in most cases without endangering the general public, but often at the cost of their own life. This caused safety loopholes in some parts of Etheriel due to the increasing lack of capable warriors to protect the nation's inhabitants during the darker times of Etheriel.

The Conflict

Battlefield

Most of the duels took place in the Blade Valley - a valley, sheltered by mountains. The valley encompasses enough space to house an entire settlement.
Over time the warriors created a round dueling space with rustic fences consisting of wooden posts and thick rope, and compacted soil covered by fine sand. The duelling space acted as the base for the Unity Arena, which was built after the War of Blades was over.
As more and more duels had deadly outcomes, a cemetery was created under and around a large tree towards the side of the valley. It was a common custom to visit the graves to honor the decedents before starting a duel and to bury those who lost their lives during the battle with dignity and respect.

Outcome

The conflict was settled during a crisis meeting of the nations, during which the foundation of the neutral organization Ethertide Concordance was passed through the Ethertide Treaty. The Ethertide Treaty defines Ethertide Concordance as a neutral organization that operates on the neutral ground within the Blade Valley to provide a safe duelling space. The Concordance also has the responsibility to ensure safe and fair fights.
Since then, non-registered duels have been considered illegal in most nations, and the rate of known duel deaths has been decimated significantly.

Conflict Type

Duel

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

1790 SE

Ending Date

1945 SE

Conflict Result

Many warriors found their death, and the Unity Arena was established.