War Of the Waters

The War of the Waters was a war between the Guardians of the Great Drake and the Catrus Tribes over the sovereignty of the Birdriding Dwarf Tribes. It lasted from the year 199 - 202.

Leadup to conflict
The initial contact between the Catrus tribes and the Guardians was established in 170, when the Catrus first looked upon a Guardian fortress. Initial contact left a sour taste in both peoples' mouths. As such, they started to compete by colonizing areas left around the southern lands. The Birdriding Dwarves were an initial hotbed. As soon as the Guardians had signed a treaty of confederation with the southern tribes, there were reports of Catrus moving to annex the whole of the Dwarves' territory, and soon enough, a blockade appeared around the Guardian's islands.

First Year
Due to their superior ships and gunpowder, the initial stage of breaking the blockade was easy for the Guardian navy. A Guardian initial attack on mainland Carias was unsuccessful, the Carians attempted to reverse-engineer guns but their attempt failed, but an attack on the main islands by the Guardians was successful in taking the two smaller islands. The Catrus then invaded the mainland territories, taking the countryside but failing to break into any of the fortresses. A Guardian counterattack was successful.

Second Year
The second year would see the Guardians completely take over the island colonies of Nebus. A second Catrus attack into the mainland territory would not be pushed back, and the fortresses there would be besiged by the Catrus armies. The Catrus would attempt to contact the Anehe for help, but it being so soon after the First World War, the Anehe decided against joining the war. Leaving the Catrus on their own. At this time, the Guardians would launch thousands of fire-scarabs into the Catrus lands, torching crops villages across the Catrus nations.

Third Year
The third year would see a majority of the Drakes' mainland, with even a few fortresses falling to the Catrus armies. The Catrus would successfully reverse-engineer guns and use this to great effect, but they would fail at defending the Guardian's mainland. A second, much more successful fire-locust plague would devastate the armies of the Catrus again, but this would not stop a rebellion from breaking out on the occupied northern islands. This would be the most grievous year in terms of casualties.

Fourth Year
The fourth year would see the eruption of the Great Drake, as the Catrus closed in on Drakun itself. The volcano itself would break the ships coming to land, and it would spur the Guardians to launch another attack on the mainland. This one would be bold, in this attack, they took back their island colonies and most of the mainland, but the war was costing too much, so both sides agreed to a peace deal.

Treaty of the Shallows
The Treaty of the Shallows was signed at the northern edge of what was to become the newly annexed territory of the Guardians, and the southern territory of Nebus. it stipulated that the birdriding dwarf's territory was to be divided up into two areas, the north would be annexed by the Catrus, and the south annexed by the Guardians. It would also stipulate a non-agression pact between the two, which was signed later that day.

Aftermath
In the aftermath, the Dwarves would learn how to mine and enchant Orinalku metal and turn it into powerful weapons. The Catrus, on the other hand, would be approached by the Anehe diplomat Éve, with a retinue of 3,000 troops. The village would refuse to be annexed.