The Underdark Campaign

The Underdark Campaign, also called the Dauntless Crusade, was the invasion of the underdark led by Emperor Conrad II in 151 AVD in answer to the raids of the drow.¹

The drow raids

Throughout history, drow marauders had come up from tunnels running deep underground, striking at the most unexpected times and at the most vulnerable positions. In the year before the campaign the raids multiplied: more military targets were attacked, and people were carried off along with the plundered wealth. Their unpredictability made defence almost impossible. Though few, the drow raiders were far more skilled and coordinated than ordinary human warriors, and could ambush larger groups using darkness, experience and expertise.¹

Into the underdark

In 151 AVD Conrad II, who would later earn the title "Conqueror", resolved to lead his legions into the underdark through known tunnels wide enough to take them. With him went Archon wizards skilled in illumination spells, experienced longbeard dwarf miners, adventurers used to spending time underground, and witch hunters summoned from the Inquisition to challenge the drow sorcerers. The Emperor drew heavily on the experience and strength of the dwarves in this endeavour.¹

The imperial forces struck swiftly at the drow cities closest to the surface. The noble houses responsible for the growing raids, House De’nafrin among them, were eradicated. Three drow cities were utterly destroyed, and every prisoner of war was brought to the surface.¹

The Empire meant to keep control underground by setting permanent outposts on the tunnels and roads leading to the ruined cities. The outposts were built at easily defended choke points, and supply lines were established.¹

Aftermath

After the Dauntless Crusade the prisoners of war brought to the surface were sold as slaves. Imperial law prohibited slavery, but only for imperial citizens, a privilege that only a small part of those living under the imperial banner enjoyed. By unwritten rule, selling humans was unheard of; the same could not be said of other races. As the allied races had some diplomatic protection, slavery was most common among the drow, and a drow without a document proving their freedom became a target for bounty hunters.¹³

The great successes underground were followed by a period of peace and tranquillity in the realm.¹ Since the Dauntless Crusade, a drow wine called Last Kiss can be found in the Empire: a pale gold wine tasting of sunlight and dew, which legend says was made by elves who long ago betrayed the dawn for eternal night.⁴