Back in the old days the world was wild and savage. Where there were resources, good farm land, rich iron mines, or abundant fishing, towns and cities grew. The cities became city states an they went to war with each other over each other’s resources. From this past came stories and songs about great heroes and epic battles.
Then one generation ago (well a human generation) King Eric emerged as a warrior king. He united all of the kingdoms and city states west of the Ilundar river, until he got to the borders of the Elven nation. King Eric sent 2/3 of his army to conquer all the lands in the west. Not one single soldier returned from that battle. The elves sent ambassadors of peace and created a treaty. The terms of which are, peace and trade along specific trade routs. And any non-elf found in Elven forest or any lands west of the forest without an elf guide, their fate is to be decided by Elven justice without interference from the humans.