======The Silv Wars:====== 

While the first true conflict of the Silv Wars was in 1535, the root of the wars goes back much earlier, to the settlement of [[Aradhai]], and the opening of trade between Iskitaan and the [[Cersilv]]. Traditionally, the [[Ricsilv]] acted as both guardians of the [[Cersilv]]an realms and as a relief valve for those individuals unable to cope with the rigid traditionalism of [[Cersilv]] culture. Rarely did individuals reject both, heading for the lowlands, and becoming [[Larsilv]]. With the opening of trade, and the increasing interaction between Silv and humans, the [[Cersilv]] began to notice a disturbing trend of rising numbers of younger elves "defecting" to human lands. Further concerns arose when the [[Cersilv]] realized that the [[Larsilv]] population in Iskitaan was far larger than they ever imagined. Of course, wherever there are large populations of Silv, there is the potential for large populations of [[Darsilv]]. And that concern led to the beginning of the conflict. 

Having been led for centuries by a relatively liberal (by elven standards)Hign Triad, the balance began to change in 1479 when [[KorenHightower|Koren Hightower]] was named successor to Nestilan Liaval, and became Third of the High Triad. [[KorenHightower|Koren]] began a campaign aimed at educating the [[Larsilv]] of the dangers of the [[Nages]], and instituting the ritual of [[Talstayvoweiar]] among them. [[Talstayvoweiar]], the ritual used by the [[Cersilv]] to purge the [[Nages]], was not well received among the [[Larsilv]], but [[KorenHightower|Koren]]’s efforts continued. In 1503, [[KorenHightower|Koren]] became the Second of the High Triad. and his compatriot Dagres Saturo became the Third of the High Triad. With a like minded ally on the Triad, [[KorenHightower|Koren]]’s efforts to impose [[Talstayvoweiar]] on the [[Larsilv]] were stepped up. 

Envoys of priests were sent into Iskitaan to contact every [[Larsilv]] community and perform the rites of [[Talstayvoweiar]]. The priests were relentless, repeatedly visiting communities that didn't acquiesce to the rites. While many [[Larsilv]] and their communities did agree - albeit many reluctantly - to have the rites performed, many more did not. Those who resisted were threatened, and eventually armed patrols began accompanying the priests to protect them, but violence between the two groups remained small and isolated. 

This was mostly due to the First of the High Triad, the elderly and wise [[NarineCeleblar|Narine Celeblar]], who had long been a friend to the High Kings of Iskitaan. High Kings [[HighKingJordanJosamson|Jordan]], [[HighKingNoragJordanson|Norag]] and [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]] wrote many letters and used their diplomatic ties to Narine to minimize the violence. Narine was able to use her own influence and position as a moderating factor. All that changed when Narine died in 1535. 

Even before he was officially made First of the High Triad, before candidates were even considered to become the new Third, [[KorenHightower|Koren]] struck at the [[Larsilv]] who defied him. On Septem 19, 1535, a force of [[Cersilv]] infantry ambushed the northwestern [[Gatelands]] [[Larsilv]] village of [[Fallhallow]], killing every man, woman and child there. The Silv Wars had begun. Even before word of the atrocity had reached High King [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]], more [[Cersilv]] forces repeated the act at [[Larsilv]] villages up the western coast from [[Greythern]] to Bergen and even as far east as [[Dalend]] and [[Cagan]]. 

[[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]] demanded an explanation from the [[Cersilv]] ambassador, who was at a loss to answer. And when an answer did arrive from the High Triad, it was merely a summons recalling the ambassador, and warning [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]] not to interfere in the affairs of the Silv. [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]] mobilized his Guard, placing them along the border, attempting to stop [[Cersilv]] patrols entering Iskitaan. Yet that didn’t stop [[KorenHightower|Koren]]’s raids. More villages were attacked, more [[Larsilv]] slaughtered. 

Iskitaan and the [[Cersilv]] would have been at war, had [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]]’s human troops been able to breath at the altitudes of the [[Cersilv]] realm. Realizing the futility of trying to stop [[KorenHightower|Koren]]’s raiders, [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]] shifted strategy by 1537, repositioning his troops to defend [[Larsilv]] villages. This slowed [[KorenHightower|Koren]] down, and the long process of selecting a new Third coming to a head finally stopped him, at least temporarily. 

By 1539, [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]] believed the war was over, and withdrew his troops with the blessing of most of the [[Larsilv]]. In 1541, [[KorenHightower|Koren]]’s troops struck again, this time decimating the [[Larsilv]] village of [[Shaadlar|Sha’adlar]] in [[Quanria]]. This time, [[Larsilv]] emissaries told [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]] to stay his hands, and let the Silv handle this themselves. [[Larsilv]]an warriors embarked upon a raiding mission into the [[Cersilv]] realms. Most of the [[Ricsilv]], though sworn to defend [[Cersilv]] lands, did not agree with [[KorenHightower|Koren]]’s policies, and since they were not sworn to follow [[KorenHightower|Koren]]’s High Triad, did very little to interfere with the [[Larsilv]]an raids. 

This tit for tat lasted for decades, with each side launching 5-6 raids a year. Things continued this way, and by [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]]’s death in 1553, had become so accepted that [[HighKingGerardNoragson|Gerard]]’s son, Rapheal, completely ignored the situation. [[KorenHightower|Koren]], satisfied with the slow, but acceptable progress of his plan did nothing more to aggravate the young High King. Things changed again in 1567 when the Isle of the Winds was destroyed in some form of magical catastrophe. 

[[KorenHightower|Koren]], alarmed at the information initially brought to him by [[Cersilv]] high mages, launched several bold raids into Iskitaan, assuming that [[Darsilv]] were behind this. By 1569, despite it being clear that the catastrophic destruction of the Isle of the Winds, Nueshalla and High King Rapheal had little to do with [[Darsilv]], [[KorenHightower|Koren]] used the confusion around the succession of Rapheal’s son Wolf to launch all out attacks. What began as a series of attacks to coerce the [[Larsilv]] to embrace the ritual of [[Talstayvoweiar]] became an all out war of genocide. [[KorenHightower|Koren]] was intent on wiping the [[Larsilv]] from existence while he had the chance. 

This did not sit well with many of the [[Ricsilv]], who abandoned their neutral stance, and began actively opposing [[KorenHightower|Koren]]’s troops. For the next ten years the [[Larsilv]] and their newfound [[Ricsilv]] allies fought a losing battle against the [[Cersilv]]. Young High King Wolf struggled to do something to stop the slaughter of his sylvan citizens, yet what little he could coerce from his own kings and lords was insufficient. Though winning his battles to eliminate the [[Larsilv]], [[KorenHightower|Koren]] was losing the war at home. More and more of the [[Cersilv]] began to see that they were becoming the very thing they sought to eliminate among the [[Larsilv]]. Many of their number had succumbed to the [[Nages]], and were becoming [[Darsilv]]. In 1579, the ritual of [[Talstayvoweiar]] was used to remove [[KorenHightower|Koren]] and Dagres from power on the High Triad. As suddenly as the conflicts had begun, they were over.