Chapter III · The Direlands
The AB Wars
A frontier town, a lifestone raided every twenty minutes, and the season that made Darktide’s name.
- Where
- Ayan Baqur, the Direlands
- When
- Summer 2000 – January 2001
- Who
- Blood, the antis, GEN
Ayan Baqur was founded in the spring of 2000. By autumn it was the most contested ground on Darktide.
A town on the frontier
Original-era evidenceOfficial lore placed it in the Direlands beside the Festival Stone of Darktide. Its dens levelled you fast, and on Darktide that was worth a war.
Sources · Official, Black Rose-sideHeroes’ Respite: Solclaim, PY 11 (May 2000)Darktide’s Past
Every twenty minutes
Original-era evidenceIn August 2000 a Darktide player told the developers AB’s lifestone was raided about every twenty minutes, and arrivals were camped.
Sources · OfficialDeveloper Chat, 16 August 2000
The September onslaught
Original-era evidenceBlood, Red Devil and the Patryns fought three weeks at AB: the greatest fights Darktide saw, says the Blood side. Blood also took Kara, and claims it grew from 1,200 to 1,700.
Sources · Blood-sideHistory
Aerlinthe
Original-era evidenceThat autumn the island peace broke. Blood declared a war zone and kept mules tied to its portals.
Sources · Blood-side, OutsiderHistoryCommunity Driven “laws”
GEN and the split
Original-era evidenceIn December GEN formed at AB. The Feared joined it, the antis split, and Blood took AB.
Accounts differ. A 2015 retrospective says GEN started the war; the partisans say it came late.
Sources · Blood-side, Black Rose-side, OutsiderHistoryDarktide’s PastAsheron’s Call: PVP SRS BSNS – Part 1
War goals met
Original-era evidenceIn January 2001 Blood declared victory. Many of its members quit. A winner, and fewer people left to fight.
Sources · Blood-sideHistory