War of the Silver Blossom

  The War of the Silver Blossom was a major war between humans and elves in Northern Pallas, occuring in 986. It was a pivitol and definitive event for the Eldar (First Elves) that saw a new and fierce mistrust develop between the two races. The conclusion of this short-but-bloody war saw the Eldar Realm of Inya collapse with the death of Lord Taeral of Inya, leading to the Eldar city of Aysindir becoming the sole, final centre of the original Eldar people and culture.   The war erupted from the kidnapping of Syllia, Daughter of the Vale by King Ludomir of Trelia. The kidnapping of the princess, who was known as 'The Silver Blossom of Inya' by her father's people, led to a conflict between human kingdoms, rebels, elves and dwarves, that eventually coalesced into a war between man and elf. Once the kingdoms of men resolved their own conflict, they allied against the Eldar. The climax of the war came when King Ludomir - surrounded by Eldar enemies - took both his and Syllia's lives. With his daughter dead, Lord Taeral mourned for three days before taking his own life, and ending the lineage of his house. Inya died with him, and with the instigator of the conflict dead, the war ended in tragedy.   The War of the Silver Blossom continues to fuel grudges amongst the Eldar; a great many elves that live in 1246 were alive at the time and remember the war well. The idea of an 'elven exile' has grown in popularity over many centuries, and the War caused the concept to become mainstream amongst the Eldar. The Maelstrom Event has only amplified the idea: that the Eldar should leave their native Karthica and seek out their original home - be it across the sea or in another world.  

History

  In Karthica's 10th century, Pallas was divided amongst a multitude of petty kingdoms. Yet from Aysindir, the Eldar Realm of Inya stood as the sole non-human kingdom in all of Pallas. The final remnant of a long declined empire from the Age of Wonder, over 10,000 years ago, Inya held an ancient legacy that the eldar upheld above anything. The sheer pride of the Inyan people is legendary, seeing themselves as the last true bastion of elfkind on Karthica.   But the pride of the Inyans came to meet that of the human kingdom of Trelia. From its capital Brembach (since renamed to Northstad), King Ludomir of Trelia sought after an alliance with the reclusive Inyans, who disinvolved themselves from the affairs of humankind after many millenia of tension and poor relations.   Ludomir was encouraged by his advisors to send ambassadors to Aysindir and propose a new alliance with Lord Taeral of the Realm of Inya to provide him with an advantage over his enemies, particually the Viscov lords to the north. Agreeing to the cunning maneuver, a summit was agreed, and Ludomir and his retinue traveled to the elven city, hidden away in the Skyward Mountains.   Lord Taeral was a suprisingly gracious host, and the two discussed the terms of an alliance on equal terms. It was during this time, however, that Ludomir first saw the Princess of Inya: Syllia, Daughter of the Vale, known as The Silver Blossom of Inya for her legendary beauty. As if he fell under some spell, he immediately fell for the girl's beauty as many had done before. King Ludomir increasingly pressed Lord Taeral regarding his daughter until he arrived at an offensive proposition: that he would take Syllia as his wife, uniting his and Lord Taeral's houses, and forming an alliance between the two.   Both King Ludomir and Syllia were, however, already married, and as such, Lord Taeral took offense. The talks ended in failure and the Trelians gathered together and began the journey home the next day.   But it became apparant after the humans departed that something was wrong.   Syllia could not be found.   Blue Ravens flew from both the Trelians fleeing the Skyward Mountains for home, and from Aysindir. No matter what, both urged those rulers who shared the other as a common enemy to muster and ride for the elven valleys in defense against an invading foe. Lord Taeral furiously rode from Aysindir with hundreds of warriors at his back. Additional elven warriors from Brynth rode south to join Lord Taeral's host.   A day into the chase led to a fateful meeting of human and elf as reinforcements from Trelia clashed with those of Inya at the Battle of the Red Ford. The Inyans were caught by surprise and hundreds were slain before they were able to rally. A desperate counter charge successfully routed the Trelians, but both sides suffered greatly.   The battle signaled the beginning of a war that would continue for over a year, yet see thousands dead before its end. King Ludomir immidiately encountered a rebellion amongst his bannermen upon returning to Brembach from those who saw him as a poor and dishonest ruler for his actions. The Kingdom of Breban called their banners to confront an elvish threat, but their king, Rudyard III, saw his opportunity to strike a decisive blow and topple his rival. Soon, the war was a complex series of opposing sides, and each time any of them met on the field, the bloodshed was high.   Warfare left much of Northern Pallas in ruins by 987. After learning of Syllia's location at a remote manor far to the north, the Inyans dispatched a group of adventurers among their own forces to rescue her, planning a safe route throughout the chaos of war that gripped the north. Unbeknownst to them, King Ludomir has stolen himself and his captured bride away to the manor they rode towards, abandoning his duty as king over his obsession of Syllia.   As the rescuers arrived and battled with Ludomir's guards, he made one, final, despicable choice. He took both Syllia's life, and his own. Perhaps he believed that if he could not be with her, then nobody could. The truth died with him, as did Syllia - the Silver Blossom who died alone in the hands of a human king.   The war her kidnapping had sparked, which had claimed over ten thousand lives and decimated Trelia, Breban and the Skyward Mountains, ended with tragedy. When news reached Lord Taeral, his spirit was broken. Within days, he too took his own life.   With the reason to keep fighting all but evaporated, the Trelian rebels and armies of Breban laid down their banners and ceased fighting, as did the Inyans. The war had ended with nothing gained, and too much lost.

Legacy

No legitimate heirs of Inya remained after its Lord's passing, and with no king to bind them, the realm of Inya collapsed as leaders in Brynth and Aysindir squabbled. But nothing would come of it, and one of the last great elven realms was gone. Only the Realm of the Feywood remains to this day hidden amongst the trees, though as the Lords of the Feywood elves rule seperately from one another, no true kingdom of elves remains.   The War of the Silver Blossom is a vivid and significant event for the Eldar. It signifies immense tragedy for elfkind: humiliation, degredation, loss of life, loss of identity and loss of a true elven state.   More importantly, for the Eldar, the war is not a historical event. It occured in living memory for their kind. A great majority of elves alive today witnessed the war firsthand. While man, with short lifespans and a forgiving memory, does not concern the war as a strong point of issue today, the Eldar still feel the despair caused by the war as if it occured little more than a year ago.   The war has created a strong air of xenophobia towards humans by the Eldar, especially in old Inya. It is a common trait among Wood Elves to distrust and dislike humans - much of this is due to the War of the Silver Blossom.   The loss elves have experienced from the war has led to a new crisis in the minds of many Wood Elves. As their numbers and role in the world dwindles, many argue that they should leave Karthica behind. Others believe that Wood Elves should reclaim the name of Eldar and strike out against the towns and cities of fallen Pallas, and forge a new elven realm.