The Great Elven War began in 108 AC, following the first recorded hostile contact between the expanding Human / Dwarven Alliance and the Elven Empire.
During early exploration of newly opened starways, a joint human and dwarven expedition encountered a fleet of unidentified vessels operating beyond known space. Initial attempts at communication were made, but before any formal contact could be established, the unknown fleet opened fire without warning. Several alliance vessels were destroyed, and only a small number managed to escape and return with reports of the encounter.
Unknown to the explorers, the vessels belonged to the Great Elven Empire, an ancient and expansionist civilization that viewed itself as the rightful steward of the cosmos. Viewing the rapid expansion of humanity and its allied species as an existential threat, the Elven Empire declared immediate military action.
Within months, a massive Elven Empire armada followed the fleeing ships back through the starways, launching a full-scale invasion of the frontier world Buldher. Believing it to be the origin point of the new species, the Elves sought to annihilate the emerging powers before they could spread further. What followed was a prolonged and brutal conflict, as Buldher was transformed into a war-torn stronghold. Despite overwhelming odds, human and dwarven forces fortified the planet and resisted wave after wave of invasion.
The conflict stretched on for years. Though technologically and magically superior, the Elven forces suffered catastrophic losses as the defenders adapted, fortified, and countered their advances. The relentless defense of Buldher became a symbol of unity and resistance, marking the first true stand of the young alliance.
Eventually, the tide of war turned. The combined Human / Dwarven fleets launched a retaliatory campaign, pursuing the retreating Elven Empire’s forces back to their homeworld of Etheos. In a decisive and brutal campaign, the alliance breached the heart of the Elven Empire. The fall of Etheos and the death of the Eldqueen marked the collapse of centralized Elven Empire authority.
With their empire shattered and their forces exhausted, the surviving Elven factions were forced to surrender. The war concluded with the dissolution of the Great Elven Empire and the formal integration of its remaining peoples into a new interstellar order.
In the aftermath of the conflict, representatives of humanity, the dwarves, and the surviving Elven leadership convened to prevent such devastation from ever occurring again. From these talks emerged the Pax Imperium, a unified political framework intended to regulate interstellar relations, prevent unilateral expansion, and preserve stability.
The Great Elven Wars reshaped the balance of power across the stars. Entire worlds were scarred, civilizations were humbled, and the foundations of the modern galactic order were laid in blood and fire. Even centuries later, their echoes continue to shape diplomacy, warfare, and the uneasy peace that followed.