Forever War

The Forever War was the 622-year conflict that began when Gwildor's curse turned Aelven forces against their former allies during the Fall of the @[Five Kings](entry:a8fe47f7-9c25-5e54-bdf2-85c161931ac5). It displaced most surviving Mankin to the eastern continent, destroyed or isolated the other peoples and became the organising principle of modern Uclean states.

Early extermination and flight

The first decades were characterised by massacres, collapsing cities and the Great Exodus. Aelven forces pursued refugees across the northern and western continents. Dvergr sealed halls or withdrew underground; Drywid sanctuaries became battlefields; Dires dispersed into eastern and hidden communities.

Long fronts

The @[Dark Forest Wars](entry:68a90716-da1a-5368-a6a6-0d6306d2807e) occupied much of the first two centuries. After Drywid defeat, major Aelven formations broke through the Throat of Men and occupied lands later incorporated into Larolar. Human states eventually retook the pass and pushed the principal front into the southern continent.

Around 300 AFK, human forces returned to the northern continent, creating another front across its forests, plains and mountains.

Industrial war

The conflict outlived the cultures that began it. Magic and cosmology were forgotten while steam, railways, combustion engines, aviation and armoured vehicles developed around military need. The Allied Crowns became capable of survival but not decisive victory.

Delta victory

Delta Security introduced integrated logistics and mobile warfare. Operation Arquebus reclaimed Uarayania, Arrowhead the northern continent, Ballista established western bridgeheads and Artillery captured the last organised Aelven territory in 622 AFK.

Consequences

The war created institutions that could not imagine peace. Omega retained a worldwide military system after victory and found new internal enemies. The resulting repression, uprising and Three-Way War led to the Great Cataclysm only twelve years after the official victory.