Treaty of Guharr
In 189 BLC, King Bothandal the Crafter, the sage Pesidorius and the Wayan priestess Adanthi met with representatives from the humans to discuss logging and farming activities in and near the forest of Guharr. They negotiated a treaty that set conditions for human expansion, including open borders, religious enclaves for the elves and veto rights on any logging activity for The Watchers and the Laeryllian Crown. It also designated Silimanis as a territory that could freely be used by humans.
Purpose
As human farming and logging activities in Silimanis expanded in the second century BLC, tensions between elves from the Kingdom of Laeryll and the humans increased. After a series of unfortunate violent clashes, King Bothandal the Crafter decided to reach an agreement that would codify the rights of elves and humans and prevent future bloodshedding.
Document Structure
Clauses
The Treaty of Guharr deals with four aspects of the political relations between humans and elves, namely territories, movement, farming and logging, and religion.
Territories
Humans are granted the claim to arable lands in Silimanis, but the forested regions are designated as Northern Silimanis and remain fully in the hands of the Kingdom of Laeryll. Specific religious sites within Silimanis are exempted from the human claim. For example, the White Temple of Zodan in Aeclyra, including its traditional premises, are to be considered an elven enclave.Movement
Elves retain the right to move freely across Silimanis, regardless of arms or other materials they may carry with them. Their safety in human lands is guaranteed by local authorities.Farming, fishing and logging
Both humans and elves have the right to engage in farming, fishing and logging within Silimanis. Logging activities in the forest near to or inside of Northern Silimanis is only possible if explicit permission is granted by both the Kingdom of Laeryll and The Watchers. Elves farming within Silimanis require a property deed for the farmed land in accordance with human law.Religion
Silimanis has historical and religious significance to the elves. Religious communes remain enclaves of the Kingdom of Laeryll and no elf shall be hindered in the practice of religious rituals within the boundaries of Silimanis. Elven religious heritage, which includes but is not limited to temples, standing stones and solar altars, shall not be demolished or vandalized by humans, regardless of the state of the heritage.Caveats
Any violation of the treaty is subject to Laeryllian law. In case of a violation, the Kingdom of Laeryll may render the treaty null and void and reclaim Silimanis.
Publication Status
Legal status
The Kingdom of Laeryll considered the treaty to be legal and binding, as did the human signatories. The mandate of these human signatories, however, was much more limited than the Kingdom had assumed.
Historical Details
Public Reaction
The initial reaction to the treaty was positive. Its terms were clear and appeased all parties. Within human society, however, generations and institutions rose and fell at high speed from the perspective of the elves. Not even two centuries later, the veracity of the agreement had already become unclear to humans, who relied on oral tradition to teach each other about the contents of the treaty. Some elves could accept this fleeting memory and the occassional transgression it caused, but others grew weary of the humans and started considering the treaty a mistake.
Legacy
The Treaty of Guharr became foundational for Laeryllian policy with regards to Silimanis. After the War of the Sisters, Queen Galythiel sought to restore the old terms, with the amendment that Silimanis should be a protectorate of the Kingdom. This position allowed Silimanis to develop itself as a human land, which it remains to this day despite the Labarean occupation.
At the same time, the treaty also caused resentment. It was this resentment that spurred the War of the Sisters in the first place and caused deep divides within the Kingdom of Laeryll that are yet to be overcome, while humans are hardly aware of the document written almost a thousand years ago.
Term
Despite recurrent breaches of the treaty, it remained intact for nearly two centuries. Historians consider the treaty to have lasted until 8 LC, when the Toktar Massacre violently illustrated how tensions between humans and elves had remained. The massacre itself was prelude to the War of the Sisters, after which terms very comparable to the Treaty of Guharr were re-established not as a treaty, but as a policy decreed by Queen Galythiel.
Type
Treaty, Diplomatic
Medium
Vellum / Skin
Authoring Date
189 BLC
Ratification Date
189 BLC
Location
Signatories (Organizations)
Comments