The Elven Conquest
It is not clear exactly when the first elves set foot on Tarren … only that they
came from the north. The records of the Elgronna tribe of Dwarves suggest that initial
contact with the elves came in the form of friendly trade. Small bands of Elven
merchants travelling among the Northern kingdoms is mentioned in several texts.
Ruins of the earliest Elven settlements appear on the shores of modern-day Adenna
and Saxony, suggesting these were the first trade settlements established on Tarren.
It is unclear how long Elves conducted this relatively peaceful trade with the Northern
Kingdoms. However, somewhere between ten and twelve thousand years ago, the first
Elven army landed on Tarren. The elves arrived on the northern shores and brought
with them change. Their armies were clad in steel, rode horses and other fierce
monsters previously unknown in Tarren and their wizards had a seemingly absolute
mastery of magic. The first armies brought fire and death to the peoples of the
north.
All of the surviving records and oral histories describe the first Elven armies
defeating every force they met on the open field. Even the records of the proud
and warlike Ethgarah Dwarves of the modern day Iron-spear mountain range describe
nothing but bitter defeat at the hands of the Elves. Bronze weapons did little to
the steel plate covering most Elven warriors. The warriors of Tarren had never faced
the pounding hooves of armoured cavalry, the razor sharp talons of manticores, or
the scorching heat of dragon fire. As larger and larger armies arrived on the shores
of Tarren, we find mention of the first Orc warriors being used. These slave warriors
soon became the spearhead of every Elven attack. Combining their formidable strength
with the weapons of the Elves, their devastating attacks left most opposing armies
in disarray. The Elves would typically have little trouble disposing of the survivors.
Surviving records of the Elves provide the most detailed information from this period
of war. The histories of the High Elf kingdom of Summerwind Isle in particular describe
the names of some of the earliest Elven warlords: Elthuin Three-Blade, Therryl of
the Burning Spear, Ithilthane the Steel Hand, Timrell the Fury, Ferlin Dragon-born,
Yesilthuen of the Winter Flame, and Erisharn the Orc-Lord are just a few of those
mentioned. The annals also describe the many native warlords and kings brought down
by these generals. Most other Elven cities have similar records though none quite
as detailed. As the Elves carved their way southward through the western continent
of Arcana, there are no records of their defeat in open battle. Some records tell
of successful ambushes and guerrilla campaigns fought by the native kingdoms of
Tarren, though none of this is mentioned in the Elven texts. However, these few
victories did little to slow the push of the Elven armies southwards.
Thought the details of the Elven invasion are unclear, the end results are self
evident. The dwarf kingdoms were driven from the forests and the plains. Most fled
into the mountains and formed new kingdoms in cold, inhospitable areas that were
of little interest to the new rulers of Tarren. The Halfling tribes retreated into
more isolated areas such as the deep primordial forests and the lands to the east.
Many human, Goblin and Centaur tribes were also pushed into similarly isolated or
inhospitable areas. The Trolls, Minotaurs, Kobolds and many other races were almost
exterminated. Though their populations have rebounded since those dark times, they
still have few permanent settlements and most have been reduced to little more than
roving war bands.
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