The War Against Hatred is the name of the most recent war between Atla and the two major islands of the Archipelago, Peretos and Mogadash. While war was officially declared 10 years ago in 238EM, the conflict between all three nations has gone on for much longer.
For centuries, the two largest islands on Velwythe have been at war with each other. Religious troubles have been a part of the islands’ history for as long as history has been recorded. Today, two religious factions continue the tradition of holy wars. The Pariahs of Peretos and Norash of Mogadash are the two religious extremist groups responsible for the war. Their dangerous and radical beliefs have recently led them both to see Atla as a sinning, corrupt threat to the very foundation of Velwythe. However, the War Against Hatred is not the first time Atla has been involved in the turmoil of the Archipelago.
During the past 500 years has Atla been involved in a number of small skirmishes with religious zealots of Peretos and Mogadash. Before the Magi Revolution, when Atla was a mix of independent countries, radicals from both islands launched assaults on a number of Atlan cities. While reasons varied, the primary aim of both factions was the Desert of Kahn. Religious relics and ancient artifacts are buried throughout the shifting sands of the desert. Both the factions believed (and still do) that the artifacts rightfully belonged to them. Both sides claim their ancestors traveled from the Archipelago to the Desert of Kahn and built the ancient cities. Many further believe that ancient Atlans destroyed the cities of Kahn over 10,000 years ago. Using the ancient usurpation as justification, the two factions independently assaulted the lower half of Atla in an attempt to reach the desert. Luckily, neither faction landed on Atla’s shore with more than a few thousand poorly trained troops.
It was not until the signing of Atla’s constitution that the attacks on the mainland turned serious. Within the past 250 years war the death toll and property damage increased from marginal to alarming. In addition, within the past 50 years the two factions have been responsible for more property damage and loss of life than they have in the previous 450. Further, within the past 15 years the damage and death total has eclipsed the previous 35 years. As Atla grows and evolves it seems the two factions are finding more and more to hate, and more justification for bloodshed.
The current Grand Provincial Councilor declared war on both islands at the end of 238EM. The GPC spent ten years prior to the declaration of war attempting to assuage the anger of both island nations. His attempts were met with absolute failure. Both the Pariahs and Norash made it clear that Atla will always be an enemy to their God and must be destroyed. Their hatred for Atla is what prompted the GPC to name the war the War Against Hatred.
Currently there are no plans for an outright ‘victory’ in the War Against Hatred. The GPC and most Atlans understand that both extremist factions want nothing less than Atla’s total annihilation. However, the vague and indeterminate nature of the war has created a growing number of anti-war protests and rallies. Most activists feel that Atla should take a more defensive role in the War and merely protect its ports and ships. Feeling that attacking the Pariahs or Norash on their homeland will only reinforce their hatred, anti-war movements claim we will not find peace, but we can at least avoid death. The GPC disagrees strongly with the idea of playing defense. Sitting around and allowing his country to be assaulted and attacked would be as evil and heartless as the attacks themselves. While he does not know what exactly will bring about the end of the War, he knows sitting by and watching Atlans die is not the way it will happen.
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