The Dye Wars
Materia's First Interplanar War, usually called the Dye Wars in modern parlance, was a series of interplanar conflicts, both cold and hot, in a region of the Silurian Eighth, centred on Waking Materia. They're called such as they were mainly triggered over competition for materials to make dyes. As many players were humble trade guilds, minor pirate bands or simple frontier adventurers, conflicts did not often come to blows (though assassinations were common, to be sure). That said, over the decades of approximately 180-300 I.M. (2,690-2,570 P.D.), they were punctuated by sometimes substantial escalations in violence.
Lead-Up: The Kelpeaters
The plane of Waking Materia began its "First Age of Man" with the arrival of a warlike diaspora called the Kelpeater Dominion, leaving behind past mistakes in its home plane of Lorgain. The Dominion's new jewel, Alanthan'aravaut, would expand rapidly across the unsuspecting plane.
The displaying of certain colours was an important part of the Kelpeaters' caste system, and as such dyes were a significant part of their economy. While the materials to make dyes were common enough on Lorgain, there were scarce (or as yet undiscovered) on Waking Materia. The resulting dye prices would trigger a thriving interplanar market centred around the otherwise backwater plane, and with it large increases in piracy, and warfare between different trade guilds. Though such competition occurred before and after these dates, the period of 180-300 I.M. represents the height of the fighting.180 I.M. - Battle of the Blacksheep
Though some cold wars occur earlier, the True Dye Wars are generally regarded to begin with the Battle of the Blacksheep in 180 I.M.. The belligerents were the two veteranmost pirate bands in the planar region: the Sagasingers were worshippers of the Insurgent Demigod of Fire & Tactics, V'Shaat (founding members claim to have sailed with her prior to her Ascension), while the Deliverers were primarily dealers in Duskscape materials and other occult contraband, and said to be lead by a vampire named Hildegard van Elmdor. Though there were heavy casualties on both sides, the Sagasingers are widely considered to have routed their opponents despite inferior numbers.199 I.M. - The War of One Nine Nine
The War of One Nine Nine, so named due to its date at the end of the second century I.M., was a comparatively violent and long-lasting war between the Kelpeater Dominion itself and a major trade conglomerate from the nearby plane of Vangelis. Hostilities started when the Dominion accused the Vangelisians of whale poaching; a grave crime as all whales are property of God-Emperor Inum'indiron'aravaut himself. The Vangelisians denied the allegations and countered by demanding reparations for war crimes committed on Vangelis when the Kelpeater Diaspora traveled through the plane, centuries prior. This incensed the God-Emperor and war was declared. A surprising amount of Vangelisian wealth was committed to the war, however the Kelpeaters' naval might, combined with the home advantage, eventually routed the trade guilds, and a strict prohibition was declared on any further trade with any Vangelisian.247 I.M. - The Ochre War
Large deposits of vivid, iron-rich ochre were eventually discovered in a location likely corresponding to modern-day Emeralda in Khayyam, igniting a series of cold and hot wars over the territory by four main groups: the Yat-Kha (a pirate band), the Cappadocians (a trade guild from the plane of Glenumbra), the Syshys (a trade guild from the plane of Surya) and the afore-mentioned Deliverers. A local, on-plane source of materials for yellow & orange dyes would be tremendously lucrative so long as the Dominion didn't find out about the site and take it for themselves, resulting in an odd sort of war that didn't want to reveal itself. Assassination and arson rose dramatically.
The Dye Wars
Conflict Type
War
Period
Early First Age (180 - 300 I.M.)
Belligerents
The Kelpeater Empire
Various trade guilds, pirate bands and frontier entrepreneurs
Cause(s)
High demand for dyes and other materials important in Kelpeater fashion culture
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