Since the conception of the Worldstree, the Natural Laws of Myth have driven a conflict betweens the Races. There are three Alliances in the War, and they correspond to the High Metals. These associations are Innate and driven by the very psuedoBiology of the Races of Worldstree. For the Races of Gold and Iron, each is empowered by one of the Metals and vulnerable to its opposite. The Silver Races draw much less power from their Metal, but are not vulnerable to the other two. Celenes are a special case.

The War is further written into the Structure of morality and biology. As every Animal (except certain fishes) is Sentient, Carnivores are inherently cannibals and are thus considered Evil. Blood itself contains Iron (though Gold Faerie blood is pink rather than red) and blooddrinking is also associated with the Iron Alliance.

For some Races, the War is a matter of Great Battles and Heroes, namely the Elves and Centaurs. For others, such as most of the Little People, it is simply a matter of Eat or Be Eaten, and is not a matter subject to many Heroics.

The largest conflaguration in recent history was the Sundering, in which the Damethear were driven from the surface, excepting a single hidden city.