Olliveria–Shandan War

The Conflict

Prelude

As the Olliverian mines approached exhaustion, attention shifted to untapped seams beneath the forested foothills long claimed by Shandan. For the dwarves, expanding into these areas was a matter of survival, necessitating the construction of new shafts, roads, and forges. However, Shandan perceived these developments as a permanent encroachment on their land and an act of ecological theft. 

The elders of Shandan regarded the forest as a living commons, making deliberate efforts to preserve wild corridors and maintain ecological balance. In contrast, Olliverian engineers saw rock and timber as valuable capital to be utilised. Dwarven infrastructure, such as retaining walls and charcoal pits, was interpreted by the elves as desecration of the natural landscape. 

Shandan’s policy of maintaining wild corridors led to a resurgence in predator populations. These animals began to attack Olliverian caravans and outposts, prompting the dwarves to set traps and carry out culls. The elves viewed these actions as wanton slaughter, further straining relations between the two groups. 

Conflicts over tolls, caravan routes, and the competition for timber and water resulted in frequent trade crises. The proliferation of smuggling and the influx of migrant labour exacerbated local tensions and contributed to instability in the region. 

Incidents such as moved boundary cairns, disputed oath-stones, interrupted rites, and public humiliations of envoys fostered a political climate in which compromise became increasingly costly and difficult to achieve. 

The arrival of miners and labourers in the border valleys displaced local workers and placed additional pressure on communal resources. This led to the spread of xenophobic rumours and outbreaks of local violence, further deepening divisions between the communities