The Twelve Backstory

The practices and micro-communities of magic wielding become increasingly fragmented. Value systems among those communities evolve in conflicting directions. Innovation, magical and otherwise, decreases the mortality rate in many communities, but crucially fails to produce proportionate advances in the availability and efficiency of resources (mainly food & fuel).

"Nonproductive magic is immoral!" "Industrialized magic threatens our children's future!"

"I'm hungry!" "I'm cold!" "I'm angry!"

"You're evil!"

Accepting that the profitability of the war effort is in irreversible decline, the deciders stage a face-saving final battle outside of Philadelphia. Because, why not Philadelphia?

The battle, though not by any means the costliest in terms of lives, is nonetheless played off as the microcosm of the entire conflict. I ought to figure the conflict out at some point, eh?

Weirds aren't people, so says the court. And let the mayhem begin.

(Need a name for this, don't I?)