Charcoal Wars

The modern-day Palakar Forest, site of the beginning of the Charcoal Wars.

The Charcoal Wars were a conflict between dwarves of Tar Taargadth and fey of the Palakar Forest, in the lands now known as Druma, that spanned 17 years✝ of the Age of Darkness.

Background

Tar Taargadth incorporated the province of Druma in -4890 AR and used it an agricultural breadbasket. The region was inhabited by Kellids who lived as subjects of the dwarves, but had long inhabited the region and once followed the traditional religion of the Speakers of the Pale. Speakers of the Pale and the fey of Palakar Forest reached an agreement in -6082 AR, later known as the Peace of Palakar, that allowed humans to harvest natural resources in exchange for compensation and respect for the fey inhabitants.

Dwarves' increasingly common forays for lumber and forge-grade charcoal drew them into conflicts with the Palakar Forest's fey natives. Local satyrs demanded tolls for access to lumber, which the dwarves considered brigandry and balked at paying. Considering this a violation of the Peace of Palakar, the satyrs responded by kidnapping several dwarven trespassers. This escalation sparked 17 years✝ of armed conflict beginning in -4411 AR that destroyed a quarter of the forest and ultimately proved too costly for the dwarves to maintain.