War of the Races
The ancient bloodbath that forced sixteen races to trade swords for strategy and violence for games.
The War of the Races stands as the defining cataclysm in the history of Disboard, a conflict that reshaped the planet's very fabric and established the current era of peace through absolute rules. It was not merely a battle between nations but a desperate struggle for survival among the sixteen distinct races, each possessing unique abilities and cultures, fighting to dominate or be extinguished by the others. This ancient war ended only when the Tetra-Kings imposed the Absolute Rule: that all disputes must be settled through games rather than violence. The conflict serves as the foundational mythos of the series, explaining why the world is now a vibrant, chaotic playground where strategy and wit are valued above physical strength, and why the human race was once nearly wiped out from existence.
- Participants
- All sixteen races of Disboard
- Outcome
- Establishment of the Absolute Rule
- Arbiter
- The Tetra-Kings (Elendia, etc.)
- Primary Consequence
- Prohibition of physical warfare
- Human Status
- Nearly extinct prior to the war's conclusion
- Current Era
- Age of Games
Lore & Background
Before the current age, Disboard was a chaotic hellscape where the sixteen races engaged in relentless, total warfare. Each race, from the technologically advanced Elves to the monstrous Beastmen and the cunning Dragons, utilized their unique physiological advantages to conquer territory and subjugate others. The conflict escalated beyond conventional battles into existential threats, with entire civilizations on the brink of annihilation as they sought to impose their will upon the planet through sheer force. The war reached a breaking point when the Tetra-Kings, powerful entities who had long watched over the world, intervened to prevent total destruction. They descended upon Disboard and imposed the Absolute Rule, declaring that all future conflicts must be resolved exclusively through games of chance and skill. This decree instantly halted the bloodshed, transforming the planet from a war zone into a structured society where the ability to win a game determines political power, territorial rights, and social standing.
In Their Own Story
The sky above the ruins of the Old Capital burned with the colors of a dying sun, reflecting the chaos below. A Dragon's roar shook the ground as it clashed with a Titan's hammer, while in the shadows, Elf archers and Dwarf engineers traded fire for steel. It was a symphony of destruction that had played out for centuries until the air itself seemed to freeze. Then, the silence fell. The sky tore open not with lightning, but with an iridescent light as four figures descended. They did not bring weapons, only cards and dice. With a single voice that echoed in every mind, they declared the end of bloodshed. The swords dropped from trembling hands, replaced by the shuffling of decks. The War of the Races was over; the Age of Games had begun.
Reader's Guide
The War of the Races is not just backstory; it is the engine driving every plot point in the current timeline. Because physical violence is strictly forbidden, characters like Sora and Shiro must rely on their intellect to navigate a world where political maneuvering happens through poker, chess, and complex strategy games. This history explains why humans are marginalized. Having been driven to near extinction during the war's final days, they were left with no territory or influence until the protagonists arrived. The lingering trauma of the war also fuels the prejudices between races, such as the Elf-Kingdoms' disdain for humans or the Beastmen's fear of Dragons. Ultimately, understanding this conflict reveals why the Tetra-Kings are so revered and why breaking the Absolute Rule is considered the ultimate taboo. Every alliance formed and every betrayal committed in the story is a ripple effect from that ancient decision to replace war with games.
Did You Know?
- The War of the Races was so destructive that it nearly wiped out the human race entirely before the Tetra-Kings intervened.
- The Absolute Rule, which ended the war, forbids all forms of physical violence for resolving disputes between races.
- Sixteen distinct races participated in the conflict, each possessing unique abilities and cultural strengths.
- The current political map of Disboard is a direct result of game outcomes that replaced military conquests after the war.