War of the Silver Marches

The War of the Silver Marches was a conflict between the orcs of Many-Arrows that took place in the Silver Marches over 1484 DR to 1485 DR.
==History==
In order to prepare for the war, the drow wizard Tsabrak Xorlarrin channeled the Darkening upon the Silver Marches under the orders of Lolth.
Soon, in the fall of , the drow minions of Quenthel Baenre incited the frost giants of the Shining White and two white dragons, Arauthator and Aurbangras, to ally with the orcs of the Kingdom of Many-Arrows, where the warmonger Hartusk gained the power. Thus, a large army of orcs and drow, supported by frost giants and white dragons, assaulted the Silver Marches in the War of the Silver Marches.
Nesmé was destroyed by an orc horde led by Tiago Baenre riding the white dragon Arauthator and Sundabar was conquered by an orc army commanded by the warlord Hartusk and renamed Hartusk Keep. All dwarfholds in the area—Citadel Adbar, Citadel Felbarr, and Mithril Hall—and later also Silverymoon were besieged.
During the Battle of the Cold Vale, Bromm, one of the twin kings of Citadel Adbar, was tricked by the half-drow Doum'wielle Armgo and beheaded by Hartusk.
At last, in the spring of the , Bruenor managed to unite all the dwarven forces to retake the River Surbrin bridge from the forces of Many-Arrows. In the sky above the battle, Drizzt Do'Urden and Afafrenfere on the copper dragons Ilnezhara and Tazmikella confronted Tiago Baenre and Tos'un Armgo on the white dragons Arauthator and Aurbangras, leaving Tos'un and Aurbangras dead and Arauthator in retreat.
In the summer of that year, Bruenor used the dwarven Ritual of the March and on Flamerule 1 managed to conquer Dark Arrow Keep, restoring it to Lorgru, its proper ruler, and defeating Hartusk's remaining armies. Meanwhile, with the backing of Jarlaxle, using Drizzt as a conduit, the turncoat drow archmage Gromph Baenre dispelled the Darkening, disguising the act as the power of Mielikki. The surviving orcs were forced into retreat, and the war was considered over.
Despite this, resurgent orcs returned to threaten the Silver Marches once more, with the orcs' fortunes only waning early in the , and their strength broken and armies scattered by year's end.Although Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf finishes on Flamerule 1, 1485 DR, and Storm King's Thunder p. 68 states it ends in 1485 DR, the earlier Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide p. 17 has the conflict continue into 1486 DR. It is not necessarily a contradiction, as the epilogue of Vengeance warns of a possible orc return under a lesser leader, hence the conflict continuing in SCAG. This is presumed in this article. Alternatively, SKT was published a year later and may simply supersede SCAG's version of events.
==Appendix==
===Notes===
===Appearances===
===References===
Category:Wars
Category:Events on Toril
Category:Events in Faerûn
Category:Events in North Faerûn