The Great Revolution

The Conflict

Prelude

Around the year 5000, mankind had arrived in the Freelands from the east beyond the Pale. By this point, the Elvish Empire of Alfheim had ruled over the Freelands for thousands of years. They controlled the air, land, water, and mostly importantly had control over all magic. They had created the Beastfolk and Dweller races to serve them and their needs, and saw the Humans as new subjects to serve their Empire. For a time they were successful, for mankind did not have the gift of magic and had very little in the way of opposing such power. That was until a man who history refers to as "The First Highlander King", was blessed by the Deity known as Lady Bellona Albion with her Light. Her gift allowed him the ability to use magic, and to teach it to others. He swiftly gathered his forces, and gained the friendship of eight other warriors who were blessed with gifts from the other eight Deities. Together they began an uprising that lasted decades as they purged the Elves from the Freelands, and later founded the Kingdom of Man as the Empire of the Elves crumbled.

Deployment

The Great Revolution began in the Eastlands, namely in what is commonly referred to as The Exiled City. From there the Highlander King marched west through the Dragonscale Mountain Pass and conquered The Watcher City. The Highlander King knew he couldn't march further west unopposed by the bulk of the Elvish Empire's forces, so he left a percentage of his army in The Watcher City and had his men retreat back to the Eastlands. Notably, The Watcher City held the line and never fell Elvish hands again.
Post his retreat into the Eastlands, The Highlander King marched south to The Iron City and The Gate City. There he made allies with both the Dweller and Beastfolk forces there and bolster his army, and took to the sea with his new naval forces. From there he conquered The Rock, The Drowned City, and many of the coastal cities of the Reach and the Riverlands. After conquering the coast, he made his way northeast along the Ridgeback Mountains into Vale and conquered the Wind City. From there his forces reunited with those of The Watcher City, completely encircling the Reach.
The last remaining Elvish cities at this point were the Central City and the Imperial City, he laid siege to both simultaneously so that one could not save nor support the other. The Central City fell first, and the war ended with the fall of The Imperial City and the birth of the Kingdom of Man.

Battlefield

The battlefields of The Great Revolution spread throughout the Freelands; on both water and land, urban and rural. Countless nameless battles culminated into a war that lasted decades that was simply named by Scholars to be The Great Revolution.

Conditions

As the war lasted several decades, battles were fought in all seasons and weather conditions. Some storms and conditions were unnatural in nature; created by Elves seeking to use the very elements against the combined forces of Humans, Dwellers, and Beastfolk.

The Engagement

Most engagements were in the open field or in the cities themselves. The Elves had no true navy as they had no need of it, and their armies were made up of Battlemages. The seasoned Knights and Warriors of The Highlander King crushed them under their plated heels.

Outcome

The Kingdom of Man was born: with the Highlander King at its head, his Eight Companions becoming the Old Blood Houses, and the Old Blood Houses creating the Old Knightly Orders to help run and protect it all.

Aftermath

The Great Revolution laid the seeds and set a precedent for great changes, and was referenced often during the Great Rebellion that came later at the hands of the New Blood Houses and the Holy Order of the Light.

Historical Significance

The Great Revolution is one of the cornerstones of history taught and known throughout the Freelands, it is critical to understand the war and its implications regarding how the world was then when compared to the present.

Legacy

The Great Revolution is singlehandedly the most infuential piece of history in all the Freelands. Were it not for The Highlander King and his Eight Companions, the Elves and Alfheim would still be ruling the Freelands with all other races serving them as second class citizens or worse as slaves.

In Literature

Dozens of history books, poems, songs, legends, and myths tie into or are somehow related to the Great Revolution; in fact were it not for the Great Revolution the most famous pieces of religious literature may have never been written: The Codex Stella.

Technological Advancement

The development of siege weaponry and the invention of the crossbow were two of the greatest inventions born from the Great Revolution. However, the discovery and gift set the entire war and revolution into motion was that of magic itself.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

6000

Ending Date

6000

Conflict Result

The rise of the Kingdom of Man, and the exile of Elves to Avalon

Location

The Freelands

Belligerents

The Elvish Empire of Alfheim

The Highlander King and The Kingdom of Man

• The Old Blood Houses

Strength

For every Elf, there were a dozen Humans at least. But the Elves greatest edge was their magical prowess, which was quickly overwhelmed once mankind learned how to use it themselves.

For every Elf, there were a dozen Humans at least. But the Elves greatest edge was their magical prowess, which was quickly overwhelmed once mankind learned how to use it themselves.

Casualties

The Empire's casualties were in the thousands, and due the longevity and slow birthrate of Elves: the casualties were utterly destructive to the Empire. As such the war ended with them fleeing from the Freelands to the island of Avalon.

The Empire's casualties were in the thousands, and due the longevity and slow birthrate of Elves: the casualties were utterly destructive to the Empire. As such the war ended with them fleeing from the Freelands to the island of Avalon.

Objectives

The sole objective of the Elves was the utter subjugation of all mankind. They thought, like the Dwellers and Beastfolk before them, were to become a servant race that was meant to obey the Elves entirely. The Humans felt otherwise, and instead purged the Elves whilst liberating the Dwellers and Beastfolk.

The sole objective of the Elves was the utter subjugation of all mankind. They thought, like the Dwellers and Beastfolk before them, were to become a servant race that was meant to obey the Elves entirely. The Humans felt otherwise, and instead purged the Elves whilst liberating the Dwellers and Beastfolk.

Maps

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  The Freelands, World Map

  A general and fairly accurate World Map of the Freelands and major locations.