Pax Sacrificialis and the Great War

Few eras in Pellician history have as much importance as what has become known as the Pax Sacrificialis. Locked in conflict for many cycles, herbivores and carnivores had little chance for progress outside of preparing for combat. When herbivorous leaders decided that fitting punishment for serious transgressions would be exile to carnivorous lands, the result was a steady stream of food source for carnivores. The ease of the kill, since those exiles were often left unprotected, made hunting a secondary necessity for carnivores. Furthermore, it eliminated the need to mount dangerous offensives on herbivorous outposts in an effort to get food.

This caused a narrowing in the front lines of conflict such that safe zones became unofficially created. The carnivores could get their food source from a certain area, and stayed away from herbivores who could mount a common defense. Additionally, the self-imposed population control measure made life better for herbivores still living in their societies. Behind the borders of either outpost, it looked like the appearance of peace...though it was very tenuous.

The fatal design flaw rested on the herbivorous side. The practice might have ended immediately had clever leaders not executed a carefully designed campaign to build honor into the practice. Being sent off to face 'the endless hordes of predators' became the death of heroes, and the beginning of many legends. However, history has a way of revising itself. It took many cycles before herbivores started painting a different view of the ritual - one that portrayed their mothers, fathers, and siblings as trudging off to inevitable capture and lengthy torture by predators. Within time, the leaders caved to demands to stop the practice and the flow of food to the predators ceased.

Lulled by the peace of the times, the herbivores were not prepared for the violent onslaught of carnivores as they swept into their outposts and compounds to steal away the food they needed to survive. Thus began what would be known to Pellician historians as 'The Great War'.

This war saw many differences in combat due to advances over the many cycles of tenuous peace. It was more deadly than any to that date, complexed with new technologies that wrecked both sides. From the fray emerged a new way of thinking, one that was so controversial and hot that it was banned from both sides. Cyclism - the concept that dietary preference was not inherently the root of evil, slowly began to take hold in the minds of battle weary fursons.

But this was neither a popular view, nor one that could be expressed outside of closed quarters. Many lives were lost or destroyed as lawmakers on both sides passed strict regulations outlawing any action that demonstrated what was perceived as sympathy for species of opposite dietary preference. Death was often a short answer to the issue, but more often, the painful process of exile was the fate reserved for those who'd dare challenge the status quo.

Historical fact does not do justice to the horror of the experience--