The resulting rebellion, the Turning War, was a grinding five year conflict in which the Dragon Masters won many minor battles but few significant victories. Realizing they were slowly losing the war, they decided to attack the mastermind of the Dragon Kings, the Purple Dragon. Yalak was to lead a diversionary assault while Nathan challenged Purple directly. Yalak, backed by Tyr, led a force to the Brown Dragon's kingdom, where they cast a horrific spell that turned the region into the Barren Lands.