The Elven Wars
Following behind the vast armies of the Elves came sizable civilian populations.
These settlers founded hundreds of permanent, fortified settlements across Tarren.
The Elves used the conquered native people as slave labour to fuel these construction
efforts. Humans, Orcs, Dwarves, Halflings, Giants and many other races were also
forced into slavery. Over time many of the fortified settlements grew into powerful
cities, some ruled by fierce warlords while other ruled by civilian leaders. At
no time was there an overall ruler of the Elven nation. Instead, each Elven warlord
acted independently of any other.
For roughly one thousand years, the Elven kingdoms and city states strengthened
their hold on Tarren. As resistance from the native populations dwindled, the Elves
began to fight wars against one another. Initially, these conflicts were limited
to small skirmishers as various city states fought to increase their influence and
control. Over time, these clashes grew into larger and larger conflicts. Most of
these early wars were fuelled primarily by greed for greater resources, slaves and
influence.
As the many Elven city-states grew in size, their people developed unique cultures
and religions, often greatly opposed to that of other more distant cities. The governor
of the powerful city state of Eberel’wheir (known today as Ebon-watch) was a forward
thinking ruler named Mirran Med-uine (later known as Mirran the Chain Breaker).
He began to enact laws that gave some basic rights to the slave populations of his
city. Several neighbouring city states adopted similar policies, all influenced
by the same growing ideology of universal freedom started by the philosopher Thothier
of the Third Eye. These new ideologies spread through the city states of Tarren,
gaining gradual support in some areas while being fiercely opposed in others.
Inevitably, open war between several city states erupted in an effort to decide
the matter. Elves met in large numbers on the field of battle for the first time
in recorded history. Tens of thousands of Elves and possibly hundreds of thousands
of warrior slaves died in the opening conflicts. The conflicts grew each year as
age-old alliances dragged new city states into the war. However, few of the battles
proved decisive. Instead they acted only to drag more and more Elven cities into
the conflict. Within fifty years, almost every Elven city state in Tarren was engaged
in the war. It is around this time that Elven records mention the two great coalitions
of warring states, the Tothrein were those Elves that followed the teachings of
Tothier the Third Eye and wanted their people to abandon the policies of slavery.
The human kingdoms would eventually call them the High Elves. The Eldraani were
the more traditional elves that opposed the new ideals of freedom. The term ‘Eldraani’
is an ancient Elven word for the whole Elven race, used long before the onset of
the great war. These elves would eventually be called Dark Elves by most races of
Arcana.
As some of the city states were consumed in the war, their surviving populations
had little choice but to abandon their slaves and possessions and retreat into the
deep forests of Tarren. From here, some groups organized themselves into guerrillas
and still participated in the war. Others, utterly sickened by the conflict, retreated
into the woods and carved out new kingdoms for themselves. Over time, these Elves
developed distinct ideologies and religions that focussed on nature. Little of their
records are left and few are willing to share their oral histories today. The Sylvan
elves are a mystery to most races of Tarren, though some factions have friendly
contact with other nations.
The war continued to escalate in intensity for a further seven years. Some Elven
records talk of Elves that withdrew from the conflict during this period. The Shae-rin,
or what we today refer to as the mysterious shadow elves, went into hiding in the
subterranean depths under the Anghol mountains. The Finrar, or Sea Elves, supposedly
retreated to the Ocean.
As the city states in the mainland fell, human kind, Halflings, Ogres and other
races reclaimed the lands previously controlled by the Elves. Even the dwarves ventured
down from their mountain strongholds to seize control of some lowland areas. Picking
through the ruins of the Elven cities, these peoples gradually uncovered the secrets
of forging steel weapons, taming monsters and even learning the basic tenants of
magic. Their warrior chiefs grew strong as the Elves bled themselves white.
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Abominations of War
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