The Conflict
Prelude
During this time tensions between the Elariean (wood elf) and Vestoni were nothing truly special save for the natural bleeding of fey energies into Vebastonne from the Great Dale Woods. However tensions began when a large wood cutting company pushed way too far into the Great Dale Woods, seemingly taking the Elarie off guard as few had entered their holy ground in such number. this company had heard rumors of trees in the Great Dale Woods that could grow gold. Despite a very stern warning from the Elarie, the Vestoni woodsman would proceed as planned until they were attacked by a horde of Elariean warriors. They butchered the mostly civilian group without remorse, but despite their best efforts a single man managed to escape and run back to Nanzon Village, telling his tale in the village. News of the slaughter would reach the king, at the time being one "Henryet de Courzieu", and he knew that to not act would be a sign of weakness and anger many of the citizenry who demanded revenge, not to mention some of his court members. Henryet would demand explanation and to seek some sort of compromise from the Wood Elves who would eventually relent and sent over a diplomat named Myrdin Reyxidor. However on his way to the capital of Courzieu, he was assassinated by Vestoni extremists that started to crop up. The Elarie people were enraged and would declare that "Every tree from the Viercon Forest to the very edge of the Great Dale Woods would swing the hung corpses of the Vestoni". War was declared.
A boon in disguise for the Vestoni, due to the fact that Elariean warriors were attacking the three dukedoms of Courzieu, Marroux, and l'Ortoise at once, it made the fact of rounding the levies and sending them off to war done much quicker then it normally would have. Soon the promise of glory drew many knights from all over the land to charge fourth, and the peasant levies were handed weapons and armor and sent off to war
Meanwhile on the Wood Elven side, the elves were much quicker in mobilizing, able to arm and send out tens of thousands with ease
Conditions varried from abttlefield to battlefield, however night time ambushes and attacks were common as the Elariean warriors would ambush Vestoni troops mid march or while they camped. These would wreck many casualties but the Elarie were slowed down by the mountains surrounding Vebastonne and the tall hills of the land.
Much fighting was done around the Sparkling River and eventually, the plains area that would become known as "The Plains of the Crowned Deer"
The Vestoni were able to fight off the Wood elves, but upon trying to push into the Great Dale Woods instantly bogged down. The Elves would rather die then let an invading army breach into their sacred land, and so seeing that to get bogged down and simply die via attrition to be unacceptable, King Henryet would call for the leader of the Forest Kingdoms, one named Neldor Lorakian, to enter talks. Soon after, a White Peace was signed, and aggressions halted
Due to the absolutely brutal nature of the wood elves, elven hatred saw a spike in popularity for a time, though eventually some 5 months later, King Henryet would decry those extremists that started this war, calling for the peasants to remember the nations connection to the fey energies of the land. This would mostly halt much of the elven discriminations, and to this day while some Vestoni will scoff at wood elves, many more look upon them with indifference.
For the Elarie, a great period of sorrow befell the peoples as many forest spirits and families were destroyed, but such is the way of the world and nature. Soon the period would end as the Elarie would make a vow to all nations of the world that to harm one of their own without any justification is to invite retribution. To this day they hold on to that ideal
Historical Significance
This war would be a defining moment for both kingdoms, as while they had been rather old kingdoms, they had been largely unproven and untested, with the only wars they had fought being minor border clashes or fights against orcs and goblins or vikingir raiders. This would shape the way both nations approached war and would establish each as true forces to be reckoned with. This has even developed into a sort of strained but mutual respect for one another, and in recent years has grown ever so slightly stronger as the Vestoni and Elarie agree that the elves of Iadith are warmongering tyrants.
The War of Wihn is a popular tale, where many fatality lines were proven in the crucible of war, though many family lines were also wiped out. One popular tale is the tale of Larrecin Regnault and Lubin Kleinfeld a Vestonian and Neunian knight who are said to have gone on a epic chase of a very elite Wood Elven general, leading the two to travel deep into the Great Dale Woods and eventfully return home in time to participate in the battle of the Crowned Deer
