The First Source War
An ancient war between gods that sealed the Source and shaped mortal destiny.
The First Source War represents the primordial conflict within the Divinity Original Sin universe that predates the current era of Rivellon and Cyseal. It was a cataclysmic struggle between the ancient Gods and emerging mortal powers over control of the Source, the fundamental energy fueling magic and life. This war established the boundaries of godhood and magic that define the world's history.
Quick Facts
- Primary combatants
- The Gods vs. Mortal Ascendants
- Outcome
- Sealing of the Source; Gods removed from direct rule
- Key location
- The Void; Ancient Realms
- Legacy
- Creation of Soul Eaters as watchers
Lore & Background
The war concluded not with victory, but with a desperate compromise. To prevent total annihilation, the Source was sealed away from direct access, stripping the Gods of their immediate influence and forcing them into the heavens or beyond. This act birthed the Soul Eaters, entities tasked with ensuring no mortal would ever again challenge the divine order by consuming souls to gain godlike power. The silence that followed defined the current age.
Reader's Guide
Understanding this ancient conflict is crucial to grasping the stakes in both Divinity Original Sin games. While players cannot directly participate in history, the First Source War sets the rules: mortals are forbidden from becoming Gods without consequence. The narrative flow shows that the Soul Eaters exist specifically because of this war's outcome. When characters seek to control the Source or ascend to godhood during gameplay, they risk awakening these ancient watchers. Choices made regarding the Source in DOS1 and DOS2 echo the decisions made millennia ago. Critical choices involve whether to repeat history by dominating the Source or break the cycle by sharing power. If you choose to become a God, you walk the path of the ancient combatants. If you destroy the Soul Eaters or seal the Source differently, you alter the legacy of this war. The consequences determine if mortals remain subservient or finally achieve true independence from divine oversight.
More in Story & Timeline
Elsewhere in Divinity Original Sin
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