Editing Landsoftheblacksea:Main Page/realms/uthal'ion (section)

= History/Timeline =
The Snow Elves settled in the high peaks of the Grey Mountains and the Forest of Thornwood so long ago that few remember the exact time of their arrival.  Much of what humans know about them starts with the arrival of the dragon, Vermithraax the Black.  

In the years of men, it was AY676 when the dragon first made its appearance in the Grey Mountains in the north-west corner of Athervon and began preying on the lands surrounding its lair – including those of the Snow Elves.  

The Athernian King, Gaétan, who until then had enjoyed many years of relative peace, sent heroes and even an army to deal with the creature; but none returned.  The predations increased, the dragon ranging further afield and even encroaching on the lands of the Dwarves of Fhÿldrmüdhrm in the Iron Mountains to the south.  

Gaétan approached Mirhm, King of the Dwarves, and Uthal, High Lord of the Snow Elves, entreating them to join him and destroy the dragon once and for all.  An alliance was formed, and the three Kings marched upon the lair of the dragon – a series of half-flooded caves located at the bottom of a chasm in the mountains, an evil place even before the creature’s arrival known as the Well of the Damned.

the armies climbed the rugged, steep hills, he rose and attacked them, where their siege equipment was of no use, and where they could not mass archers against him; flying between the crags and peaks, the spellcasters amongst the three armies made little effect.  

After laying waste to the best of the force, Vermithraax’s minions entered the fray, the tribes of orcs and humans attacking from above and below and trapping the allies.  
While they were distracted with this new assault, Vermithrax plummeted from the sky and snatched King Gaétan in his claws; he took the man high into the skies, letting him see the destruction of his plans from above; then he crushed the king, mortally wounding him, and then dropped him onto his own army.   Gaetan fell to his death, crushed on the rocks among his own men.  

The terrible manner of their King’s death brought despair upon his men, and they began to rout.  It was only by the powerful magic of the Snow-Elf King, Uthal, and the strength and bravery of of the Dwarves led by King Mihrm that any of the alliance were able to survive.  They fought a retreat out of the mountains, during which King Mihrm fell to the dragon’s onslaught, and King Uthal was severely wounded before they escaped.  

The alliance shattered that day in a way that would have repercussions for centuries.  The Elves and the Dwarves blamed the humans for the loss; the humans, particularly the sons of Gaétan, blamed the Dwarves and Elves for the death of their father.  

The Dwarves, bearing the body of Mihrm before them, retreated to Fhÿldrmüdhrm.  The Great Gate of the city was closed behind them, and they stayed closed for nearly 150 years, only recently being re-opened.  

Lord Uthal, wounded but alive, led his remaining Elven warriors east, retreating to the City of One-Thousand Stairs hidden within the peaks north of Thornwood.  The Snow-elves drew a line in the Thornwood beyond which neither the sons of men nor dwarves were not tolerated, and since that time there has been little interaction between the peoples.

Over time, knowledge of the Elves has faded; now, they are quasi-supernatural beings to most of the folks of Athervon - in the east, generating stories of hauntings, changlings, and fey magics; in the west, trials of devil worship, witchcraft, and armed skirmishes in some places.