Conquest of Krosslan

The Conquest of Krosslan is the general term for the period of settlement of the eastern coast of Krosslan by humans and elves. This sudden influx of foreigners along with all the clearing of lands led to a long-term conflict with the Orcs and goblin-kind. This conflict was long and deadly, consuming large amounts of resources imported from around the world. It finally concluded with the Council of Nethia where many standards were set for the world including a common time and the use of human common language.

History
In the expansion through the Links, many venturing ships–some representing the Great Kingdoms of Man, others enterprising private captians–charted out and quickly laid claims to all the islands found there. Moving westward, this wave of settlers and explorers eventually reached the end of the Links and discovered the coast of Krosslan. After some sailed the length of the coast and discovered that this was a continent, a new wave of effort to settle the foreign land was made by all of the Great Kingdoms of Man and by the Empire of the Sun. Each realm laid claim to a section of land around the Sea of Krosslan and settled new cities.

These lands were hunting grounds for the nomadic Orc tribes who lived along the coastal lands on the eastern half of Krosslan and these tribes quickly came into conflict with the new settlements. The orcs understood the humans to be outsiders and a threat, but after learning of the settlements of elves to the north of the Sea of Krosslan, all the orc tribes began to band together against whom their histories told them were their fated rivals and their allies. As resistance mounted from the Orc tribes and the aid of goblin-kind was enlisted, the kingdoms supplying the settlements took action, sending in reinforcements and more supplies. Mounting tension eventually broke into direct conflict and large armies met in countless battles and scrimmages. The humans stayed largely defensive and never made excursions outside of their claimed land, a safe decision that is still questioned by some who know the history of the conflict.

Through the course of the conflict, the human colonies learned the tactics of the Orc tribes and adapted their own becoming much more effective against the comparatively uncoordinated horde. In the next years, the conflict turned against the orcs as they took proportionally more casualties. Looking to secure their land, the humans and elves came forward diplomatically to the tribe leaders, offering a peace agreement. The leaders of each party met in what became known as the Council of Nethia and an armistice was agreed upon. The horde was now broken and the remaining orcs of the area retreated to Fodlehem or died in conflict, unwilling to yield the land. The goblins retreated back to the Hordelands, though peace for their part was fleeting as the First Great Horde War began 76 years later.