Dark Forest Wars

The Dark Forest Wars were approximately two centuries of conflict between cursed Aelven forces and the Drywid societies of the Dark Forest. The wars began when elven pursuit followed refugees into the forest and became the principal reason the early eastern human settlements received time to consolidate.

Opening

Drywid sanctuaries initially treated the northern refugees as a humanitarian crisis rather than the beginning of a continental war. Communities that remained after the caravans moved south found themselves on the front within days or weeks.

Character of the war

Drywid resistance relied on living terrain, marshes, sanctuaries, dispersed settlements and magical communication with plants, fungi and animals. Aelven armies brought the fixed purpose of the curse and could sustain losses that would politically destroy human governments.

The exact campaigns, leaders and sanctuaries remain underdeveloped.

Defeat and enslavement

By around 200 AFK, much of the forest was conquered. Surviving Drywid were killed, hidden, transformed into guardians or enslaved to produce food, timber, metals and living infrastructure for the Aelven war society.

Strategic consequences

The end of major resistance released experienced Aelven forces toward the Throat of Men. The following assault overwhelmed complacent defenders and produced an occupation of the lands later called Larolar, contradicting the official Allied-Crowns claim that the pass never fell.