Gaelrath Eswathon

Gaelrath, as he appeared during the Insurrection

Gaelrath was a Dark Elven Warrior who lead his people in a rebellion against the Sun and Snow Elves, with his goal being equality. The legacy of Gaelrath is a divisive one. Dark Elves, and some reformist minded Sun and Snow Elves, believe that Gaelrath was a well intentioned figure who was forced to use violence. Others believe that Gaelrath was merely another in a long line of lying, violent Dark Elf savages who wished to establish Dark Elf dominance over Karalas. These traditionalists point to Gaelrath calling himself Emperor as an example of this.

## The Gaelrath Insurrection

Gaelrath
was a charismatic Dark Elf who believed that his kind had been mistreated by
their Sun and Snow cousins for the crimes of their ancestors. He, and many
others, had no connection to their ancestors and the great majority of the Dark
Elves had fallen free of demonic corruption. Using his wits and his natural
ability of stealth, Gaelrath got word to the Emperor, stating that the Dark
Elves would be ready to return to their previous position as part of Karalas.
Gaelrath wished for his people to have equality and the opportunity of
redemption.

Emperor Salgonil's court
was divided on how to respond. The reformists, led by Justicar Ardwen, believed
that Gaelrath was right. They believed that the Dark Elves could redeem
themselves by helping rid Karalas of the last vestiges of demonic corruption.
The traditionalists, led by Lord Marshal Hakkhan, insisted otherwise. They
stated that the Dark Elves were evil by their very nature; the demonic pact had
damned their kind eternally and that any trust in them would be misplaced.

Eventually, Emperor
Salgonil refused Gaelrath's request, instead trying to have him arrested for
stepping past the wall. Gaelrath fled from his would be captors and, with a few
followers, began raiding settlements near the wall. Gaelrath stated that he
would lay down his arms only when his people were treated as equals. Aemeron Silverlight, a commander of the Karalas army, was sent by Lord Marshal Hakkhan to crush what
was now being called the Gaelrath Insurrection. Gaelrath was defeated in battle,
but fled back past the wall to southern Karalas.

Salgonil and his court
considered the matter dealt with, but Gaelrath still lived. Gaelrath crowned
himself Emperor of the Dark Elves and spent half a year rallying his people to
his side. Gaelrath then led his army against the barrier. Commander Aemeron had been left in charge of the barrier, but was overwhelmed by Gaelrath's army.
Gaelrath, who had captured Silverlight at the battle, decided to release him. Aemeron was sent to Emperor Salgonil with Gaelrath's peace terms; accept the
Dark Elves as political equals and Gaelrath and his people would submit to his
authority.

Justicar Ardwen once more
pleaded for Emperor Salgonil to end the cycle of violence by accepting the
peace terms, but Salgonil refused. Salgonil, fueled by a refusal to look weak
by surrendering, sent Lord Marshal Hakkhan out with the full might of the
Karalas army to defeat Gaelrath. When Gaelrath's scouts reported this oncoming
force, Gaelrath rushed to meet it. In the ensuing battle, Gaelrath was killed
and his army routed. Once Gaelrath had been
killed, what was left of his army split up. The majority returned back to their
lives prior to the Gaelrath Insurrection. Some, however, established small
enclaves throughout Karalas. These enclaves were almost exclusively
demon-worshipping sects.

Following the Gaelrath Insurrection, Emperor Salgonil rebuilt the Barrier,infusing it with magical energy to ensure the Dark Elves couldn't threaten
Karalas so easily. Eventually, Salgonil died and was followed by Ardwen, his
justicar. As Emperor, Ardwen established an Advisory Triarch, made up of a
representative of one of each type of Elf, including the Dark Elves. Ardwen,
however, is no fool. He appointed Hakkhan as his Justicar and Aemeron as his
Lord Marshal, to ensure that the traditionalists would have the power to keep
Karalas afloat if his experiment went wrong. Emperor Ardwen has maintained a
firm military presence at the Barrier, with a rigorous policy of checking all
Dark Elves that are allowed through it, and maintaining a limit on how many
Dark Elves are allowed into Karalas at any one time. Still, Ardwen's actions
are incredibly liberal in comparison to his predecessors.