Aetherii Civil War
  1. Lore

Aetherii Civil War

Conflicts

The Aetherii Civil War, also known as: The War for the Slaves, The Human Insurrection, The Fools’ Revolt and The War of Elven Devastation, was a massive conflict that raged throughout ancient Aevira for twenty-five years.


Origins of the Conflict

  • Centuries ago, thousands of humans emerged from the Mist.
  • The Aetherii Empire, caught off guard by this new species, chose enslavement over integration to maintain control.
  • Some Aetherii provinces disagreed and welcomed humans, leading to:
    • The first Half-Elves.
    • Fierce backlash from many high-elves, who viewed these unions as abominations.
  • The Empire responded by invading these “disobedient” provinces to exterminate all humans.
  • These targeted provinces—home to elves, dwarves, and humans—rose in rebellion.
  • Thus began a massive civil war within the Aetherii Empire.

The War Itself

  • Duration: 25 years of brutal civil war.
  • Characterized by:
    • Shifting alliances and betrayals among elven provinces.
    • Internal collapse of elven unity and authority.
  • Climactic Event:
    • The Desolate Cascade — a cataclysmic event that ended the war, devastated the land, and nearly drove elves to extinction.
    • The war would have gone for longer if not for the Cascade, possibly for hundreds of years.
    • The humans the elves would have once fought with and for would have not been the same ones by the end of the war.
  • Aftermath:
    • The Aetherii Empire plunged further into chaos.
    • Human slaves seized the opportunity to escape and establish independent settlements.

Aftermath: Elven Fates Post-War

  • Refugees: Some elves withdrew to isolated enclaves, hoping to rebuild quietly.
  • Raiders: Others formed nomadic warbands, surviving through force and plunder.
  • Exiles: Many fled into the Frozen Wastes, adapting to the extreme environment.
  • Burrowers: A large number ventured into the Underdark, seeking refuge in the depths below.

Legacy of the Civil War

  • The Aetherii Empire is no more—its legacy shattered and scattered.
  • Elves are now a fragmented people, each group shaped by its survival path.
  • The war's memory lingers, a bitter reminder of a once-glorious but now broken civilization.