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Second Great Elemenstation War

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Proceeded by the First Great Elemenstation War, in some realities it was also followed by the Third Great Elemenstation War, and in other realities it was interrupted by the Fifth Great Elemenstation War. Nobody is quite sure what happened to the Fourth Great Elemenstation War, but then again, nobody really cares. This War takes place between Book 3 and Book 4 and is detailed in the recent book Something Wicker This Way Comes.

The funny thing about the Great Elemenstation Wars is that they almost inevitably revolve around some sort of colossal misunderstanding. Someone responds to a problem, their response is perceived as a threat by some third party, the resulting skirmish attracts would-be doers of Epic deeds, the high concentration of abnormally violent and glory-seeking individuals erupts into an orgy of killing, eventually escalating into a conflagration of Elemenstation that typically levels entire cities before it abates.

Well, the Second Great Elemenstation War was no exception.

After his first big adventure, Gavment Rayling is looking to drink himself into a stupor. But the Wicked Wicker, the bizarre Furniliar that came to dominate its master, Radwrack the Black, has unleashed Panther and Beetal's Circus of Phantasms. The Circus attempts to nab Gavment and transform him into an Elemenstrosity, and in the process destroys all of his ale.

In retribution, Gavment goes out hunting Wicker Men, some of whom he noticed were traveling with the Circus. He soon encounters Lyta A'lon, who has been itching for a good fight, and (naturally) people start following them around, hoping for a little action themselves. Meanwhile, the Wicked Wicker misconstrues Gavment's petty vengeance; he has been hiding in plotting some major destruction from his hideaway at The Accursed Lake. Afraid that his plans will be ruined if he does not put them immediately into action, the Wicked Wicker unleashes the Cryptien, the Wicker Men, what remains of Panther and Beetal's Circus of Phantasms, and orders them to ravage Battal.

Realizing that they have stumbled into something big, Lyta takes charge and whips their rag-tag band into an itinerant army. The nations of Battal, shocked to find that two armies are on the move, mobilize their own forces. The sheer Epicness of it all sets off The Great Elemenstruation six months early, and a high percentage of soldiers find themselves abruptly super-powered.

Those who witnessed the resulting carnage and lived to tell about it later described the war as "a pitiless raping of the psyche."

When all was said and done, Gavment found a new tavern with plenty of ale and set to work forgetting the whole mess.