The War between Ederaa and Cirabaen
Prelude - Kaern Valderin's Fall
Even though he is the eldest, Kaern Valderin feels way inferior to his younger brother Lucian Valderin. After his father King Berkan Valderin keeps showing signs of unrest of the increasing power and population of the elves and especially their magical talent, he decides to take his chance. To prove to him that he is worthy of becoming his successor, he wants to defeat the elves and claim their capital and magical knowledge and power for Ederaa. Under false pretenses he starts to build an army and marches towards Caladh (now known as Queen's Rise), highly underestimating the real strength and superiority of his enemy. After merely three hours after arriving at the city walls and two warnings of the king of the elves Talan Vriodas, he gets assassinated by an elven wizard while giving the order to charge into battle. The remains of the Ederaan army surrenders and is let go.A War of Vengeance
Angry and saddened by his son's actions and passing King Berkan Valderin starts recruiting a huge army and preparing his kingdom for the upcoming events. Out of vengeance he declares war on Cirabaen and marches through the Vale Of Eternal Strife, only to be met by a prepared Ciraen's army halfway through. They were warned a month prior by the right hand of decayed prince Kaern Valderin, who returned to Caladh in hopes of finding a safe place for himself and his family. On the same night, he was killed by the elven price cause "once a traitor always a traitor".Forging of Elf-Bane
Over the next years, the blood of nearly half of the elven population is spilled in the Vale of Eternal Strife, for every elf that falls at least 2-3 humans die. Facing the superiority of magic King Berkan orders his men to start collecting the bodies of the fallen elves, draining their blood and extracting its iron. With the help of a dwarven blacksmith, he wanted to craft a weapon able to defeat the wizard army, but the amount of iron they were able to extract from the nearly 10.000 bodies was nowhere close to enough, he was at least a third short. Berkan orders his men started to imprison wounded elves and bring them to Thornshire, hiding them from the public and keeping them alive with healing magic while draining their blood. A lot of elves die during the process, the others are killed. After gathering enough blood, equal to over 16.000 fallen elves, the ultimate weapon to end this battle - Elf Bane is forged, a highly magical longsword pulsating with raw arcane power, driving King Berkan into pure madness.The Mad Kings Death
Berkan later wounds the son of the elven king, Carwyn Vriodas with his blade, nearly taking his life but also getting gravely wounded himself. He manages to drag himself back behind the front line just to pass in the arms of his son Lucien Valderin. Lucien, as the new King of Ederaa, orders his men to fall back, bringing the battle to its first halt since it started. The elves, who suffered heavy losses, start to retreat too, both sides leaving outposts behind in case of an attack of the enemy.Peace for what Price?
A few days after the unofficial peace Carwyn, still treating his wounds, tries to convince his father Talan Vriodas that now would be the perfect time to strike and rid the world of the human pest it is. He offers to lead the war, thinking that he was cursed by the Elf-Bane sword and doomed to die if the sword was not destroyed. The old king kills his vengeful son to prevent the war from picking up again. Believing his bloodline is unworthy to lead, he hands the control of Cirabaen to his most respected adviser and sorceress Reinys Aldanae, whose bloodline becomes the new ruling family. Declaring his time is come, he leaves his city and heads towards the Garden of Bones. Sensing a chance for peace, now officially crowned King Lucien Valderin of Ederaa extends an olive branch to the new elven leadership. Formal peace is established. Elf-Bane was kept behind a glass cage in Castle Fairview as a reminder of the war.The Conflict
Outcome
Heavy losses on both sides. The dwarves build Valrheim to bury the bodies left behind as neutral site.
Aftermath
Peace is established, but tension remains between the races.
Historical Significance
Legacy
The remaining elves in Thornshire are used for experiments lead by the Queen Deanna Valderin (Lucian Valderin mother). The Sanguine Order is later formed to bring magically gifted children into Ederaa.
One year after Reinys Aldanae was crowned the new Queen of Cirabaen, she establishes a Magocracy named the Lodge of the Seven to be the voice of the elven race.
Belligerents
Strength
Military tactics and experience, great force
Magic
Casualties
~ 37.000 humans, including king Berkan Valderin and his eldest son Kaern Valderin
~ 12.000 elves, including prince Carwyn Vriodas
Objectives
Defending their honor / vengeance
Defending their kingdom
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