I have promissed a few months ago I would work on future events and in
the war for Alfheim. I have had some new ideas, so here they are.

First, let me address the problem of an elven-ylari alliance.

Ilsundal is willing to make many sacrifices to save his beloved Trees
of Life. Someone has pointed out it is said somewhere that the reason
he took the Path to Immortality was to prtotect his creation. He feels
like a father, and he won't stop at nothing to save them. He might
even associate with the entropics, believing he is just using them to
save his children and that he will be strong enough to deal with
Entropy and not be affected by it. He views Rafiel and his Shadow
Elves as demons who want to destroy the nature, after what they have
done to Alfheim forest. Al-Kalim is not evil, and the ylari will not
want the Shadow Elves as neighbors, so he is a natural ally, from his
point of view.

It is true that ylari distrust magic-users and, consequently elves,
since they are mages (all of them or most of them, depending on which
rules you are using). However, ylari do use magic, one of their
military orders being The Order of the Spell (mounted skirmishing
magic users, page 17 in Gaz 2). So they shouldn't hate mages, just
because they are mages. They do believe glantrians are "evil
incarnate. Their antipathy toward all clerics and religions
disqualifies them as intelligent beings." (Important foreign policies,
p. 25) and relations with Alfheim are "reserved and xenophobic". Elven
manners are considered rude and offensive and they are thought to
pratice black magic. This does make an alliance a difficult and
delicate task, but not impossible.

Ylari society is composed of two factions, the Preceptors and the
Kin. While the Kin treat foreigners, specially non-believers,
with hostility, the Preceptors have a more modern point of view and
would not hate elves just because they are elves. 

So, if the Preceptors are in power, such an alliance might happen. Of
course, the Kin would oppose it and might start a civil war if there
is no strong reason for them to be quiet, making the alliance almost
impossible. However, in 1014, a group of Ylari adventurers (pcs?),
returning from a pilgrimage where they have recreated part of
Al-Kalim's pilgrimage to the Old Man in the Sea, bring a scroll with
Al-Kalim's seal. A day before, one of the senior priests in the
Eternal University dreamed of Al-Kalim writing a letter to the desert
tribes that would guide them in future events. The scroll is unsealed
in a special ceremony and it contains a description of an event of the
prophet's life unheard of. According to it, Al-Kalim's quest in the
Plane of Water was helped by a group of Alfheim elves specialized in
water magic. These elves tell him the elves from Alfheim know how to
control the rain over their country and Al-Kalim tells them about the
Dream of the Desert Garden.

Every attempt made by the Kin to prove the falsehood of the scroll
fail, even comuning with Al-Kalim. The scroll might be fake, but
Al-Kalim, after his alliance with Ilsundal, is willing to make ylari
view elves in a better light. Ilsundal has promissed him his elves
will come to the Eternal University and teach how they control the
rain over Alfheim, when their country is free from the "evil" Shadow
Elves.

A few days later, a caravan arrives from Darokin, carrying one elf
they claim have saved them by conjuring water when their own was lost
during an unexpected sand storm. In a few months, elven ambassadors
from the old Alfheim clans start arriving in Ylaruam.

Unknown to the local populace, Barimor, the alphatian wizard questing
for imortality who lives in subterranean caves in Ylaruam, start using
his agents in the government to make such an alliance easier. Shadow
elves have discovered passages to his tunnels. His personal power and
magical items, as well as his minions, have allowed him to kill or
capture those explorers. He has destroyed the tunnels they have used
in a way he can easily reopen them if necessary. The Shadow Elves,
however, would have a lot of work to find his realm again but he feels
that, given time, they will finally do it. He is not prepared to face
them yet, but he knows he must stop them before too late. He might
even use one or two of the nithian artifacts he has collected in these
centuries to get those pesky elves out of his tunnels, with
unpredictable consequences.

This way, by the end of 1015, the Alfheim refugees have an ally in the
desert. 

Does this seem acceptable? Can anyone see where are the flaws in it (I
am sure there must be some, even if minor ones)?

Darokin

The next key point for the start of the war is Hel's agents in the DDC
(Darokin Diplomatic Corps). Hel has long recognized DDC as a potential
problem for any plans of war she might have in the region and has
devised a plan to neutralize it and even use it to her
advantage. About 50 years ago, in 959, she created her first phony
religion. There were no sign of it at the time, since she created only
one and one that promoted diplomacy and peace. She knew she needed
time to get a strong hold in the DDC, so the head of this church, a
mortal manifestation of herself, has lead the church wisely and has
setled many difficult conflicts peacefully.

The church worships Sasheme Vickers, the first "Great Diplomat", from
the Umbarth trading house, the man who has stopped Glantri and the
Atruaghin Clans from going to war. Many tales of his life and
incredible feats, none of which involved violence, but negotiation and
cunning are told in Darokin and these stories have grown both in
number and in details since the founding of the Church of Saint
Vickers.

This religion was originated in Akesoli, home of the Umbarth house and
has built a large school for diplomats there. Some of the finest
diplomats in Darokin are trained in the old tradition of the first
"Great Diplomat" and many people in the DDC consider it the finest
school in Darokin.

Hel's plan was to use this diplomats to make alliances opposing any
side that was winning the war during the WotI events. However,
Alphatia was unexpectedly destroyed. She has some control over one
fifth of the most important diplomats in the DDC and she is willing to
use her position to further her plans for a war. At the moment, all
her agents are doing is providing data that will make the ylari and
the dwarves hate the Shadow Elves. At the same time, Atzanteotl's
followers among the Shadow Elves are attacking caravans heading to
Parsa and Rockhome, making sure some survivors flee. He has told the
elves that if the neighboring nations fear the elves, they will let
them live their own lifes.

Thyatis

Thyatian agents are being very helpful in this whole affair. Thyatis
is weakened at the moment and it will only gain from a war it is not
involved. Emissaries from Emperor Eusebius have promissed to help
Rockhome against this terrible invasion from bellow and a small group
of flying beasts from the Retebius Air Fleet was sent to Dengar to
serve the dwarven king. Everast has politely refused their services
for now, but hw will change his mind when the war starts. 

Rockhome

By the end of 1015, a small group of six dwarves, including Dormir,
king's Everast XVI niece, arrive at Rockhome. They have been in
Oenkhmar, before the Shadow Elves took the city. Their tale makes
Rockhome outraged and peace is no longer possible. They tell how their
group have surrendered to the vastly superior forces of the
elves. They asked to live in peace, so that they could go back home,
but the Shadow Elves have tortured and killed most of them, before
they managed to escape. They were fifteen initially, but several were
killed by the Shadow Elves'attacks, as well as encounters with a few
underground monsters. Finally, they came to the surface in Canolbarth
twisted forest, a place of evil trees, the product of a corrupt
people. They wouldn't have survived in that place if they haven't been
found by a group of Alfheim elves, known as Alfheim Avengers. Some of
them have come with them to Rockhome to talk with king Everast XVI
about the Shadow Elves. It has been a long time since elves have come
to Rockhome peacefully, but the dwarves respect their action and an
audience with the king is granted.

What really happened was that the dwarves were caught by Atzanteotl's
minions while in Oenkhmar and were kept in a long sleep since
then. They were provided with false memories and since they have no
other ones, there is no reason for them to think anything happened in
a different way. They were released later in Aengmor, in a place where
a group of Avengers could find them and safely take them out of
there. Atzanteotl had appeared to them the night before as an old oak
and told them that if they could help the dwarves, an alliance to kill
the shadow elves would be possible.

These group was the same that has shot one of the Treekeepers during
the peace meetings in Rafieltown, last year (sorry, I forgot who made
that timeline). They are trying hard to start this war, even against
the orders of the elder elves who are working in another
solution. They are able to negotiate a treaty with Rockhome. Elves and
dwarves will not fight in the same army, but they will coordinate
their efforts.

Meanwhile, Ilsundal convinces many nature-loving immortals something
must be done to stop this craziness. Djaea, Ordana and others start
instructing their followers to prepare for war. An army of centaurs,
treants, acteons and what is left of the fairy kingdom is assembled
near Reedle, in Darokin. The positon is choosed because it is near
Ylaruam, Rockhome and Karameikos borders, so that will make it easier
for the armies to work together. Many elves arrive from Karameikos
using the Duke's Road. Many druids, halflings, foresters (as well as
rangers in AD&D games) join the main invasion force.

Karameikos

The efforts to convince King Karameikos to join the alliance are not
as successfull. The King is starting to realize the problems he has at
home and his advisors tell him Karameikos might be on the verge of a
civil war, thyatians against traladarans, so this would be a terrible
time to send troops to another country. However, he knows that he
won't be able to stop the elves from going to war. So he decides
against forbiding them of leaving the country.

Glantri

Glantri and the Shadow Elves are now allies. An embassy was
estabilished soon after the elves of Alfheim left their country and
the mages are willing to help the elves if they would teach them the
details of the great spell they used against Canolbarth Forest,
specially how the Shadow Elves were able to affect the Trees of Lifes,
living artifacts of the Immortals. However, they will not be able to
help their friends right now, because the Khan's horde, in a surprise
attack take all Principality of Bramyra. In one week, the Principality
is destroyed and the horse men are seen heading to Boldavia.

This was a desperate move of the Khan, who knows he can't keep his
people united any longer if they don't start dominating the world
soon. The treaty with the Heldannic Kinghts lead him to attack
Glantri, preaching it is time to teach those devilish wizards to show
the proper respect to the gods.

As a matter of fact, he was advised by a Dolores' pawn. She and von
Drachenfels were behind this invasion. It was Synn's idea that the
only way Glantri's Parliament would agree to invade the Khanates would
be if they would start a war. The fact that Bramyra would be a natural
target was a bonus to Jaggar plans. Incidentally, this also explains
how Synn was able to "charm" him. Who would think about casting
detection spells on a beautiful woman that is making one old dream
coming true? The end of hostilities between the heldanners and the
ethengarians were part of this plan. Jaggar has personally visited
Freiburg during the war with Alphatia several times and he had several
friends there. He convinced them that ifthe ethengar was to attack
Glantri, he could get his country to retaliate. The heldanners could
break the peace then and attack the Khanates from north, getting the
khan's army in a pincer movement.

Jaggar knows the truth about Synn in 1015, but he can no longer stop
the khan armies. He will have to worry about his personal revenge
later. If any civil war was about to happen in Glantri, the invasion
reunite the country. In less than one year, the glatrian troops, aided
by the heldanners, should be able to destroy most of the khan's army.

Back in Darokin, many strange monster are leaving Canolbarth Forest,
causing havoc and destruction in many villages. The Shadow Elves are
unable to convince darokinians they are not the responsibles for these
attacks and the local populace start claiming for revenge after many
settlements burned and many lives lost.

The pivotal event to the war is the death of one of the Trees of
Life. As it dies, many elves in the Known World are made aware of it
by visions. The fairy kingdom has no reason to celebrate in this day
and many enraged elves all around the Canolbarth forest decide it is
time to join the army. Those danmed Shadow Elves will have to pay for
this sacrilege.

Desperate, the shadow elves start preparing their defenses. They
didn't want this war, but they weren't able to stop it. They know they
can't fight back without glantrian support, specially, when Darokin
doens't move against the presence of alien armies within its borders.

The Master sends orders for his armies in Sind to attack and take
Akesoli. They must secure their position before crossing Lake
Amsorak. However, he holds the attack untill one month after the
begining of the war, to catch everybody unprepared.

These are my ideas. I would like very much to hear what you all think
about them. Also, if someone could colaborate with the many other
facts I haven't addressed, it would be great. For instance, I have
seen a post about giants in Mystara. Can someone make sugestions about
how they would react to this events, as well as the other races.

And what do you think Glantri will do? I know there will be lots of
internal problems, but I am not able to see who would side with whom
this time, except for the most obvious answers (Jaggar and Malachie,
maybe Etienne against Dolores, as several people has already
discussed). Could you help us, Mr. Bruce Heard? Please.


Andre Martins