CROWN WARS

Elven Conflict

Forgotten Realms

The Crown Wars were a series of elven wars fought early in the history of the world. Over a period of 3,000 years, the great elven kingdoms participated in five primary conflicts, leading to the near destruction of the elven race.
First Crown War When, the Vyshaan, ruling clan of the SUN ELVES kingdom of Aryvandaar, discovered an alleged link between their family and the Olrythii, ruling family of DROW and WOOD ELVES of Miyeritar (an ancient Elven empire), Coronal Ivósaar Vyshaan (Head of house Vyshaan) chose to make a claim toward the rulership of the latter kingdom. When peaceful overtures were rebuffed, the Aryvandaarans began raiding the borders of Miyeritar until war broke out in earnest. Aryvandaar fully occupied Miyeritar, but the country did not come fully under Aryvandaaran control for another 500 years. The remaining elven kingdoms were both shocked and spurred by the aggressive war, and the Second Crown War broke out while the first was still being waged.
Second Crown War Ostensibly in support of their Miyeritar allies, the DROW country of Ilythiir attacked the MOON ELVES kingdom of Orishaar (Ancient kingdom of MOON ELVES), then escalated the conflict to encompass Thearnytaar (Ancient kingdom of WILD ELVES, Eiellûr (Ancient kingdom of WILD ELVES), and Syòrpiir (Ancient kingdom of MOON ELVES), utterly destroying them. The brutality of these attacks led to the creation of the epithet dhaerow, meaning "traitor," to describe the DROW of Ilythiir. The Ilythiiri conflicts, spanned over 1,200 years, and during the course of the savage war, the demon goddess LOLTH took the opportunity to seduce the ruling families and powers in the kingdom further towards evil, assisted by a fiendish balor named Wendonai (Balor Lord).
Third Crown War Aryvandaar (now known as the Vyshaantar Empire) was aided by a fallen solar named MALKIZID in invading the SUN ELVES and MOON ELVES kingdom of Shantel Othreier . The war waged for nearly 300 years until Shantel Othreier surrendered after the death of their coronal.
Fourth Crown War Owing to destructive magics of Vyshaantar, the Dark Disaster occurred, and a magical storm turned Miyeritar into the wasteland now known as the High Moor. Enraged at the destruction of their DROW brothers' land, Ilythiiri savagely attacked the Vyshaantar Empire. The Ilythiiri began to openly worship evil gods and commit such acts of atrocities that all the remaining elven kingdoms decided to expel the Ilythiiri DROW from CORELLON's grace. The most powerful mages and clerics succeeded in completing the ritual, though it had the adverse effect of corrupting all DROW, not just the intended Ilythiirians. The DROW were driven underground, and the epithet dhaerow would eventually change into DROW.
Fifth Crown War The fragile peace was shattered when the CORELLON-mandated Elven Court decreed that the SUN ELVES clan of Vyshaan was responsible for the thousands of years of war. The Vyshaantar Empire disputed the charges and madly declared war on everyone. Within 200 years, the ancient kingdom of Aryvandaar was no more.