War of the Scaleborn

The War of the Scaleborn was a major war between the dragons of the dragonflights and the Primalist proto-dragons, fought in around 20,000 BDP.

After five powerful and intelligent proto-dragons that held some dominion over their brethren helped Keeper Tyr, the greatest titan-forged warrior, defeat the massive proto-dragon known as Galakrond, he suggested to the other Keepers to empower them as defenders of Azeroth for their courage, having proven that they were able to stand for the planet. The Keepers reached out to the Pantheon and each of the titans blessed the proto-dragons with a portion of their vast power, channeled through the Keepers. Elevated into powerful, majestic beings known as dragons alongside many followers and multiple clutches of eggs, Alexstrasza, Ysera, Neltharion, Malygos and Nozdormu became known as the five Dragon Aspects. Alexstrasza became Queen of the Dragons and each Aspect was charged with a different task, and the protection of Azeroth.

Though many proto-dragons chose to become infused with Order magic, there were some among their oldest kin that argued they should remain unchanged, and believed they should embrace their inherent elemental energies instead. These Primalist proto-dragons joined together to resist the influx of titanic influence and demanded that Keeper Tyr be exiled from the dragons' new home. When the Aspects refused, it sowed the seeds of rebellion for the Primalists. Their four leaders, Raszageth, Iridikron, Vyranoth, and Fyrakk were known as the Primal Incarnates, giant proto-dragons infused with the power of the elements.

Over the years, what began as a difference of opinion gradually grew into hard feelings, hard feelings grew into dissent, and dissent would one day divide dragonkind and ultimately lead to conflict. Despite all the work that the Aspects and their dragonflights had accomplished since their creation, the Incarnates still stood in opposition to the Aspects. Neltharion was concerned about this festering schism between Primalists and dragons, but the other Aspects dismissed his concerns, with Alexstrasza hoping to resolve the tensions through communication. Fearing conflict was coming, Neltharion experimented in Aberrus to create the dracthyr, an army of perfect soldiers, and prepared for war.

Despite the years spent experimenting, Neltharion never had enough time to perfect his creation. About 20,000 years ago, Raszageth, the Storm-Eater, struck first at dragonkind.

Alestrasza had failed to restore peace between the two groups. Leading the Primalists on a sneak attack on the Forbidden Reach, Raszageth clashed against Neltharion and his dracthyr army. Striking without warning, many dracthyr died that day. During the battle, the Oathbinder was broken, causing Neltharion to lose control of the dracthyr. In his desperation, he finally submitted for the first time to the whispers he had been hearing from the Old Gods, and used their power to banish Raszageth to the Froststone Vault. Though he had won the battle, this event marked the start of Neltharion's gradual descent into Deathwing. He never told the other Aspects about the exact details of the event, and also kept the dracthyr a secret from everyone except for Malygos who helped him stash them away in their creches where they were put into stasis indefinitely.

This event was the first in a cataclysmic conflict between the Primalists and the dragonflights known as the War of the Scaleborn. Vyranoth and Fyrakk were ever loyal to the Incarnates' ideals, but Iridikron truly embraced the war. At the end, he struck terrible bargains to keep their cause alive. Alexstrasza believes the other incarnates never knew the true depths of his depravity. Despite the Primalists' alliance with the djaradin to end the dragons' reign, the remaining Primal Incarnates were ultimately defeated, but Alexstrasza still couldn't bear to kill them given they had once been as close as clutch-mates, and decided to imprison them instead, within the titanic Vault of the Incarnates.