War of the Worm

The War of the Worm was a third era conflict between the Cyrodiilic Mages Guild and the Order of the Black Worm. In 3E 433, the infamous necromancer lord and lich Mannimarco returned to Tamriel in physical form and began preparing for the downfall of the Guild after its controversial decision to ban the practice of Necromancy. Mannimarco sent his most trusted lieutenant, a Breton Worm Anchorite named Lucan, to Cyrodiil in order to infiltrate the Guild and learn their secrets. Lucan, with plans of his own, convinced the Worm King that the Guild had its own plots and planned to annihilate Mannimarco and his cult. The lich took no chances and preemptively struck the Guild by destroying its hall in Bruma, officially launching the war. From there, Lucan became more trusted within the Guild and earned more power as a member until he was chosen by Hannibal Traven himself to become the new archmage. Lucan then successfully tracked down Mannimarco and killed him, assuming the title of Worm King for himself in secret while being known as the guild's Archmage publicly.