Demon War
The Demon War is an historical event which occurred in Western Oerik and lasted approximately 500 years.
History
The Demon War began about 1,500 years before 591 CY (or 1011 SE by reckoning of the Sundered Empire),[1] and ended approximately 1,000 years before 591 CY[2].
Though truly little is known about the Demon War, it was a pivotal junction for the development of nations afterward.
The architects of the war were Yeenoghu and Baphomet[3], who were cooperating at the time to invade the Prime Material Plane. They sponsored gnolls and minotaurs, bolstering them with demons from the Abyss. At the beginning of the war, Abyssal Gateways suddenly sprang open in the forested elven lands. Without warning, thousands of wood elves were slain instantly. As the incursion progressed, the elves reached the verge of annihilation. Fires raged across the forests and only a small part of the forest would survive.[2] Peramil, an elven hero, risked his life to fly on a giant eagle to the mountain cities of the grey elves to request aid. Immediately, grey elven wizards engaged in the war and were flying above the enemy's forces scouting them out. Special units began to harry the demonic forces to prevent them from further gaining ground in the war. In almost no time 100,000 elven troops were sent out to engage the minotaurs and gnolls on the ground.
Bahamut arrived at the height of the war, bringing the forces of the good, metallic dragons into the war[2]. This was the upper hand the elves needed against the Archfiends and the forces of evil, and this turned the tide of the war, saving the elves from annihilation.[2] With this divine help, the elves were able to push the demon army back; they were forced to flee back into their portals which were then sealed by the elves. Some remaining gnolls fled across the mountains and eventually became Naresh.[3]
Aftermath of the War
Once the portals were sealed, a divine mandate was given to the elves by Corellon Larethian - guarding the Abyssal Gateways to prevent any further incursions. The grey elves sealed up their mountain homes, carefully hiding and warding them with magic, and moved to build city-states with the gateways at their hearts. One incident did occur in 505 SE (85 CY) in Xanos in which a gateway was reopened.[2] Though the incident was quelled immediately, the violent engagement cost elven lives.
Bahamut strengthened this sacred duty by working with grey elven wizards to perform a ritual which created the felldrakes. Elven culture and society would change forever more, being linked with dragons and dragonkin. These city-states eventually became the Dragon Empire of Ravilla.
Other Effects of the War
Notably, the equicephs (one of the Old Races) were wiped out during the Demon War[4]. Some rare few were able to flee, and some descendants of the peaceful equicephs may now exist elsewhere on Oerik. The only equicephs usually seen in Western Oerik are the skeletal remains of equicephs which now are forced to fight in Ahmut's Legion.
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Pramas, Chris. "Ahmut's Legion." Dragon #286. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- -----. "The Children of Nassica." Dragon #295. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- -----. "The Empire of Ravilla." Dragon #285. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- -----. "Exiles from the Vault." Dragon #298. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
- -----. "The Gnolls of Naresh." Dragon #289. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
- -----. "Underground Scenarios." Dragon #294. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
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