The Dire Wars

Also known as The War of Eternal Heros after the number of heroic actions that composed most of the major events, The Dire Wars were a series of minor conflicts in Narlwage and The Petty Kingdoms caused by a number of failed harvests that put up the price of bread causing people to seize their neighbors food and land.

First winter
The Dire Wars started in Narlwage when, as a result of the spell of Taranath, a number of harvests failed forcing tribes to seek food from their neighbors. The price of food rose considerably and fights broke out about it.

The wars around Les'Niecor
If you had guessed a country that would have collapsed first, it would not have been Les'Niecor. Les'Niecor was the most powerful nation in western Narlwage, and had a surplus of food. However it was precisely because of that surplus that it collapsed. It was composed of a number of nations, two of which (The Estate of Les'Niecor, an area controlled directly by its King, and Cold Shore) provided most of the food surplus. The others were just above board or, in the case of Mountain Chill, having to purchase food. Mountain Chill was a small nation under the shadow the Barringrane Pinnacle with few people and little power. What it did however have was Syndir. Syndir was a famed warrior and one of the heroes we'll be hearing about later but right now he is merely going shopping.

But it's not just any shopping trip. He is looking to buy enough grain to last until the end of the winter. The merchants however increase the price to many times what it would normally be and Syndir refuses the price.