First King's War

"My Clanfather, what if we were to reject both of these trade agreements, generous though they be? Instead, what if we were to pit the two kingdoms against each other? Demand a trial-by-conquest. One will consume the other and be stronger for it. Plus, they'll require the craftsmanship of the dwarves for their warmongering, meaning we'll profit from both sides before we even begin exporting the precious gems. Moreso, it will give us a chance to scout the military prowess of both kingdoms should we ever need such intel ourselves."

"Hmm. Trial-by-Conquest. I rather like the sound. This is wise council, my old friend. I have always liked the way you think."

The Conflict

Prelude

Following the Clan Warbrand's discovery of prismatic gems beneath the Eledest Mountains, both the southeastern Kingdom of Vauraus and northwestern Kingdom of Saari simultaneously began expanding their economic activity and territory acquisition so as to win the favor and trade relations of Clan Warbrand.
True to their name, the dwarves of the Eledest Mountain declined the offers made by both kingdoms, declaring they would only align themselves with the Kingdom of superior military might who possessed a "proper fervor for the striking of sword and shield." Within days, the kingdom's forces met on the open fields of eastern Aerona.

Outcome

The Kingdom of Vauraus eventually whittled the enemies forces through a war of attrition, using their unparalleled bounty of food stuffs and larger population to outlast the Kingdom of Saari. Thus, much of the northern kingdom folded into possession of the Vauraus' domain save for a few rebellious holdouts where the Saari's most dedicated citizens hid from the now expansive single kingdom.

Aftermath

Clan Warbrand held true to their word and negotiated a fair and long-enduring trade agreement with the Kingdom of Vauraus which saw both parties prosper greatly for many years. The trade agreement indirectly led to the Vauraus Kingdom's in-depth studies of the prismatic gems, which led to Merkare's breakthrough research as to the magical properties of the gems, which led to Revne's unprecedented prominence across Faerun.
Within the region, the result of the war led to the Vauraus Kingdom's uninhibited expansion north and east, ultimately deteriorating the relative strength and positioning of the dwarven clans. Scholars view the First King's War as a crucial part of the liminal period during which Revne transitioned from the Age of Clans to the Age of Kings.

Historical Significance

Legacy

Remembered as a brutal, bloody, and disruptive war, the three years of constant fighting and two lingering years of ongoing sieges led to a loss of life by both sword and starvation not previously experienced on Revne's shores.

In Literature

Several historians have covered the events and results of the First King's War from a variety of perspectives, though the two most prominent tomes are Swords & Stones: An Economic Examination and The King's Ploy are the two most popular. The first is a dry and dense study of how the economies of both kingdoms shifted in subtle ways throughout the three years of war. In contrast, the later work is a familiar dramatization of the final siege which ultimately led to the Saari Kingdom's collapse.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

-2987 DR

Ending Date

-2982 DR