The Sundering War
During the reign of the High King Loitl disagreements between the king and the High House of Ilyria exploded into conflict and ultimately, the separation of the elven nation. Ilyria had long chafed at the crown's demand for tribute and ships to supply wars and colonization inland. Combined with numerous punitive slights at court and ostracization by the other High Houses, the pressure grew too great for the proud house of Ilyria to bear. Invoking their ancient status as an independent family in the Unity, the house of Ilyria renounced their ties to the High King and abandoned their seat on the Council.
Lord Erethen lead most of his family west, to the newly colonized lands on the Ilyri peninsula where they built several mighty ports to house the recalled fleets. For several years they built a new nation, sending ships to explore the world and profiting greatly from trade with the dwarves and distant lands. Great veins of silver and iron were found beneath the heather covered hills of new Ilyria and Erethen ruled his domain from a the silver throne in Merilthelon.
But High King Loitl was not content to watch the house of Ilyria prosper, nor could he let the slight to his authority go unpunished. At first, the shock of Ilyria's departure had left the Council in disarray, many were convinced it was a political stunt and that Erethen would return to his seat if given time. However as the years passed and word of Ilyria's success spread, deliberations began on the Council about how to shape their new relationship with the wayward House. Without Ilyria's fleet, new colonies in the east were nearly cut-off and valuable trade was greatly reduced. Defending the inland territories grew more expensive and many frontier garrisons had to be bolstered by other houses after Ilyria's warriors answered Erethen's call.
Loitl began pressuring leaders in the High Houses, blaming new hardships and setbacks on Ilyria's success. Soon each new rumor from the silver cities in the west was spoken as an affront to elvendom. When resentment for Erethen and his kin was high, Loitl convened the Council and lobbied to command House Ilyria to return to their seat on the council and resume their responsibilities to the Unity.
Erethen refused. Loitl claimed that House Ilyria was in rebellion and in defiance of the Council and led the houses of Avelon to war. For thirty years Elvendom was torn by civil war. Though Ilyria stood alone, Avelon's armies were spread thin defending the frontier against orc and human tribes. After many bloody battles and costly stalemates the Council called an end to the fighting. Loitl was enraged and arrested many leaders from the High Houses of Avelon, using his command of the armies to occupy cities of peace-seeking Houses. Faced with a greater civil war and the shattering of elvendom, key generals disobeyed orders and gathered the Council together. From these meetings emerged the first laws to restrict the power of the High Crown. The High King was deposed and replaced by his daughter Pelhanar who became known as the "Peace Maker" for her efforts to heal the rifts in the Houses of Avelon and build treaties with the new nation of Ilyria.
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