Figuring out the history of your fantasy world is probably one of the more important things you have to deal with in creating a world. I tend to try to stay away from it as much as possible because I generally suck at coming up with that sort of thing, but I'm sort of in need of it for the purposes of a story I'm working on.
In my story, there are at least two definite empires- the Empire of the Moon and the Empire of the Sky. And apparently (according to the plot bunnies that attacked me Tuesday night while trying to go to sleep), there have been three major wars in the history of both of these empires (three in total, at least as far as I know)...though what I don't know right now is whether they were against each other in them or if they were on the same side and fighting against someone else, or what.
So, here's my dilemma. I'm not quite sure what these wars were about at the moment. My guess is that the first could start out as something simple...like over marriage. But I think that by the third war, things would have to be built up to massive amounts. So what I'm wondering is if anyone can give me examples of possibilities for reasoning behind these wars, how long they lasted, who they were between, etc. I'd say at least one war could be between the Moon and Sky people, with them against each other, but the other two...I'm not so sure. There's the Moon and Sky people, but there's also whoever is ruling on earth as a possibility. I'm thinking that the third war is probably what ended up making the Moon people start to die out and bring them to the state they're in now...which is, I think, mostly chaos, and being ruled by whatever evil character I can come up with. o.O
So...yeah. Anyone have any ideas for examples as to what the wars could've been about?
Wars in your world(s)
9 posts in this topic.
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An interesting dilema, and one that I'm sure everyone comes up with. It can be so annoying! I don't know what your world is actually like, so these suggestions might not make any sense at all with your plot.
The marriage reason is universal, so if you want another universal reason, there's territory. All empires want to expand their area and therefore their wealth, it's happened in our own world plenty of times. The war for territory can eat away at the Moon people's wealth and weaken their recourses and people. This can be the second war so that when the third war comes around, they havn't fully recovered, and they don't have the strength to resist. If the first two wars don't affect the story as much as the third, then you want the third to be caused by something really interesting, something that is blown out of proportion by the way it is carried out. If there's magic in your world, then a magic spell or object that's turned bad/evil can be used, this happens in alot of stories so you'll have to think of a way that is original, but still sticks to this basic theme. If there isn't any magic, then a single person's action can cause it. A prisoner of the Sky empire that the Moon empire thinks should be let go. A person that has influenced the Sky empire to try and conquer the world, although that's a huge cliche. A rebellion inside the Moon empire against the monarchy that causes the Sky people to think that it can take advantage of the weakness.
There's plenty of reasons for wars, it's just trying to make them sound original or, at least, fitting for your world. In the third war, the moon people should be the underdog, and weaker than the sky people. Although, if you really want to be original, you can say that the Moon empire was stronger before the third war and the Sky people had some sort of secret (weapon or something). It's your choice, but make it interesting for the reader, otherwise it can sound like another cliche. -
If you are looking for a reason for a war or wars try reading history. A major cause of large wars are alliances. For instance, one nation picks a fight with another who then calls upon their ally/allies. Then the first nation calls on their allies. What you get then is a world war. A classic example of this WW I&II.
History is so chock full of wars and intrigues you should be able to find something to adapt to your story easily. -
As Tamora said, the majority of wars are fought over territory.
The most war prone territory would be an area of fertile land between the two empires which does not have a river or mountain range to easily determine where the border between the two realms are.
If there were three wars, the first could be fought over it, then the second could be fought for the defeated country to claim it back and then the third war could be a (un) successful attempt by the previous occupiers to gain it back.
Territory is the best way to prolong a conflict...just look at most of the worlds conflicts today and in the past. Wars can go on for MILLENIA if two different people feel entitled to the same piece of land. -
When i read what you posted one thing jumped into my head right away, hope it makes sense.
If it's possible, you could make an older empire, and this said empire could try to take over small parts of the sky empire or moon, and then the moon and sky empire could come together and squash it out; that could be war 1,
War two could be like the whole Berlin Wall thing we had after world war 2, both the moon and sky empire want most of the third empires land, thus creating a territory war, as suggested above.
then war three could be the marriage war. only one of the betrothed could get assassinated creating the third and final war bringing the downfall of your moon empire. maybe the moon empire had some kind of "Double Agent", high up in the chain of command , from the sky empire who helped bring them down.
I don't know if this'll help you any, but i hope so. from what you wrote it sounds like the beginning of a great story. -
There are also plenty of wars about a religion or belief that one group thinks is correct while the other disagrees.
Hope this helped a bit
Cait -
of course, some wars started by someone in the knigdom too. it was usually started by someone who wants to overthrow the current king.
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Well, the first reason and most basic reason is resources: we're running out of water, so we're going to desperately attempt to get it from your land, and if you won't give it to us for free and share, we're going to make you give it to us.
Just an idea. Land resources, especially water, or the presence of better hunting grounds, or the presence of native plants that are edible, for a group that is starving, is more than enough incentive to go and walk on someone else's turf. And when outsiders come in and start using your resources, you don't often take kindly. That's the way many native peoples' wars began.
In more advanced societies, cultural differences might be a pretense to attack. Take the crusades, for instance.
The best way to build realistic histories for a land is to look at real history.
Others might want revenge for a murder of a leader or to acheive closure to a standing fued (think Romeo and Juliette, only between empires)
Sometimes conflicts go on for so long, nobody can even remember what they started over.
Keep in mind, for people amidst a war, they may not care what started it. All that matters to them is their personal experience. If soldiers from that army ransacked their home for supplies, as far as they're concerned, they are the enemy.
Just some ideas.
Hope this helps! -
Here are all I can think of:
Territory.
Religion
One nation doing somthing the other perceives as "wrong"
Resources--pretty much anything valuable or necessary.
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