War of the Five Storms

The War of the Five Storms was a succession crisis started in 2918 when Stormlord Rastin Iskarr of Varen died without having produced an heir. Initially, his Council announced that they would rule Varen themselves. Soon, however, countless individuals claimed relation to the late Stormlord, insisting they were the rightful heir. Though none of their claims could be proven, four such contenders wielded significant influence and were able to gather small armies to them to take the throne by force; the Council of Inethar meanwhile rallied Varen's armies to defend against what they declared to be traitors. For two years their forces clashed with each other across Varen; during the chaos, the Duchy of Nord announced it was seceding from Varen to become an independent nation, sparking the Nordin Rebellion.

The War of the Five Storms ended when Rastin's younger brother Lanak Iskarr, thought to have died at sea, turned up alive and took the throne. Lanak decreed that the four individuals who had sought the throne, as well as those who fought for them, must immediately and forever exile themselves from Varen on pain of death.