The War of the Broken Spear was a pivotal conflict that shaped the early history of Bontrant. It began as a bitter rivalry between the city-states of Intellectia and Discernia, two powerful and culturally distinct regions separated by the dense Eryndral Forest. The war earned its name from the symbolic shattering of the Spear of Unity, a relic that had once represented peace between the two cities, during a failed negotiation at the war’s outset.
The Rivalry Between Intellectia and Discernia
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Intellectia: A city-state known for its scholars, philosophers, and arcane researchers. It was a hub of magical innovation and intellectual pursuit, with towering libraries and academies that attracted the brightest minds of the region. Intellectia prided itself on its rationality and viewed Discernia as backward and superstitious.
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Discernia: A coastal city-state renowned for its seafaring prowess, trade networks, and spiritual traditions. The people of Discernia were deeply connected to nature and the sea, relying on intuition and ancestral wisdom to guide their decisions. They saw Intellectia as arrogant and detached from the natural world.
The two cities had coexisted uneasily for centuries, but tensions escalated when a dispute over the Eryndral Forest erupted. The forest was rich in magical resources, including rare herbs, enchanted timber, and leyline convergence points. Both cities claimed ownership, and neither was willing to compromise.
The Spark of War
The conflict began when a group of Intellectian scholars entered the forest to establish a research outpost, ignoring Discernia’s warnings that the forest was sacred ground. In retaliation, Discernian warriors destroyed the outpost and took several scholars captive. Intellectia responded by blockading Discernia’s ports, crippling its trade.
Attempts at negotiation failed when the Spear of Unity, a ceremonial artifact gifted by Discernia to symbolize peace, was broken during a heated argument between the two city-state leaders on Moondream 13th 115 B.V. This act was seen as an omen of war, and both sides began mobilizing their forces.
The War
The war was characterized by its asymmetry:
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Intellectia relied on its magical superiority, fielding battlemages, enchanted constructs, and strategic brilliance. However, their forces were smaller and less experienced in open combat.
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Discernia leveraged its naval strength and guerrilla tactics, using the dense Eryndral Forest to ambush Intellectian forces. They also called upon druids and rangers to manipulate the forest itself, turning it into a weapon.
The thick Eryndral Forest became a battleground, with both sides struggling to gain the upper hand. Intellectia attempted to build a road through the forest to speed up troop movements, but Discernian sabotage and the forest’s natural hazards made progress slow and costly. Meanwhile, Discernia’s attempts to flank Intellectia by sea were thwarted by the city’s magical defenses.
Aldemar’s Intervention
Aldemar, then a rising leader from the nearby city of Thoughtford, saw the war as a threat to the entire region. He proposed a coalition of neutral city-states to mediate the conflict, but his initial efforts were rebuffed. Undeterred, Aldemar gathered a small force of loyal followers and entered the Eryndral Forest, where he brokered a temporary truce between the two sides.
Using his diplomatic skill and mastery of magic, Aldemar convinced Intellectia and Discernia to join forces against a common enemy: the war focused city-state known as Sagehaven who had begun raiding the region during the war. This united front marked the turning point of the conflict and laid the groundwork for the future nation of Bontrant.
Aftermath
The War of the Broken Spear ended in 113 BV with the signing of The Pact of Eryndral, which established the forest as neutral territory and created a shared resource agreement between Intellectia and Discernia. Shortly after, in 101 BV, Sagehaven came into alliance with Intellectia and Discernia joining into the newly formed Bontrant nation.