The Elven Story of the Realms
Notes on Elven Historical Thinking and Records:
There are living elves in the Ladysforest who witnessed events for the last several thousand years. Yet this is a historian's curse rather than boon. Elves view the past totally differently than the other peoples due to their unlimited lifespan. Written records are not needed with living eyewitnesses. But, memories shift over time and it is very difficult to give an unbiased account of the past when participants to those events are sitting across from you. Also, the sheer scale of the elven time frame means only events with lasting impact or of especial significance to elves get noticed (thus the seeming reluctance of elves to act as they know time will resolve most problems). Finally, since past events are 'known', the 'lessons learned' dictate the history rather than the other way around. Thus, the elven version of history is made up of the songs, stories, and parables for teaching both elves and non-elves about the wisdom of the elven way. Note: An observation I wish omitted from the public copy of this work: Elvish works tend to minimize or avoid any 'unpleasantness' associated with elves (see the Iynisin below). Examples to illustrate certain follies are usually drawn from the actions of the 'younger races'.
The History of the World and Prealith Through Elven Eyes
Note: This account is compiled from Ladysforest sources. I have included additional notes at the end from 'Wild Elves' sources and my own musings. Also, due to the nature of elves, the legendary and historical past are merged.
The world was created by the One Singer. The One Singer sang into existence the lesser singers - including Dragon (who sang other dragons into existence), the Mother of the Unicorns, and the Sinyi (lesser singers -elves). Another aspect of the One Singer is Adyan the Namer who created by naming things. Humans often mistake this lesser aspect of the Singer as the Singer (calling the One Singer - Adyan). These aspects of the Singer are opposed by A-iynisi (the Un-singer) and Nayda - the Un-namer (note they are the backwards spelling of their opposite number). Later, the other races were sang into existence with humans being the last addition.
One of the Singer's most marvelous creations was the First Tree. The elves sang to this Tree which responded by creating all the other trees and the taig (web of life of the forest that elves can sense and somewhat control). However, a human found the First Tree and sang so beautifully to it that it responded to the human and shared the secret of the taig with him. That human became the first Kuakgan, the Shepherd of the Trees. This act enraged many elves who turned their back on the taig and turned to A-iynisi (the Un-singer) and became the iynisin (Dark Cousins, kuaknom or tree haters). Almost all elves prefer to act as if the iynisin don't exist. Thus, it is difficult to place this event in sequence with other events. For the above events, elves insist they were experienced by their immediate ancestors. For the following events, they were witnessed by living elves.
The oldest elves sing of a War against the Ice. The "Ice" was both a manifestation of the Unsinger and a vast expanse of ice that covered all the lands north of the Dwarfmounts. All life in the area was extinguished and even mountains were crushed. The elves fled to the South until the Ice was defeated, letting the forests and other life reclaim the land. Note: I did converse with an elf who insisted this implausible story was true and he witnessed not only the Ice but also a range of highly unlikely creatures that have since vanished from the world...
No matter the reason, the vast majority of elves were living in Aare before humans appeared. When the Gods granted magic to humans it was the elves who trained them and fostered the growth of the civilization of Aare - centered around the City of the Three White Towers. Likewise, the first human travelers from across the Eastern Ocean, known as the Dawntreaders, were also taught magic by elves. Aare prospered until its rulers and nobility (who were becoming the Magelords) turned their back on elven teaching in search of more power, riches, and dangerous magics - these came at the expense of both the harmony and the taig of the lands and people of Aare. Failing to turn humanity from this destructive course, elves left in increasing numbers for the lands of Aarenis. The last elves left Aare as the Magelords turned to dark gods and demons - which eventually destroyed them and Aare itself.
As elves settled in Aarenis, they were joined by humans from Aare who opposed developments in old Aare. At first, with elven assistance, their civilization was much better than Aare. However, as subsequent emigrants from Aare brought increasing disharmony and conflict with them to Aarenis, the elves chose to cross the Dwarfmounts and settle in the North. By the time Aare fell and the last magelords and their followers came to Aarenis, the elves had all left.
Having been forced to leave two different lands to avoid the conflict and disharmony of human interlopers, the elves resolved to take sensible precautions. First, they created one of the greatest feats of elven magic - the elvenhome. An elvenhome is centered around one individual - an exceptionally powerful and gifted elf- who projects the boundaries of the elven territory and shifts them at her whim. Inside those boundaries conditions are more.... elven.... Rare visitors report a sense of great harmony, magic and enchantment. Those also report that non-elves enter or wander an elvenhome at extreme peril. Note: elves are extremely vague and evasive about the nature of elvenhomes - how they were created and how they function. Other 'taboo' subjects are the number of elvenhomes and the term 'banast'. All humans know of the Ladysforest elvenhome; but travelers also report a Kingsforest elvenhome far to the west. In addition, a few records hint there used to be many more elvenhomes in the past (the word used is "Limb" - "Many" rather than "Tad" - "Two"). "Banast" means "wounded" or "marred". I found one reference to "banast elvenhome"; but no elf was willing to talk of it and the reference has since vanished. I regret this is all the information I can find on the nature and history of elvenhomes; with the Ladysforest on Prealith's western border I know it was an important topic...
Elves realized they had to do more than just withdraw into the Ladysforest. Soon after the Ladysforest was established, "The Sea Wolves" crossed the Eastern Ocean in search of loot and conquest. This group became an abject lesson in elvish accounts on why humans are a dangerous and less civilized species. Sea Wolves almost always used violence to get what they wanted, they had a superstitious fear of magic, and a hostile attitude towards elves - seemingly even before they landed in the West. While the magical nature of the Ladysforest and the skill of elven rangers meant the Sea Wolves were largely confined to the north of the Honnorgat River; it was obvious this stalemate would not last forever. Fortunately, a wounded elf beset by hungry wolves was rescued by a group of Sea Wolves. This group and their kindred established peaceful relations with the elves. Seeing an opportunity, the Lady and her advisers allowed these and other select humans to settle into Lyonya under a strict agreement. Over hundreds of years, quickly by elven standards, this arrangement evolved into the kingdom of Lyonya, the co-rulership of those lands between the Lady and the King/Queen of Lyonya, and the intermarriage of elves and humans in the royal family of Lyonya. Lyonya remains a bridge between elf and human to this day. Lyonya provides the elves with both a window and a door to the outside world (with its humans and half-elves as additional 'door-keepers').
Presently, this relationship is important enough that a daughter of the Lady has married the 'almost completely human' king of Lyonya (the elven blood in Lyonya's royal line had diluted to the point where the present king has virtually no taig-sense whatsoever). The royal couple have been blessed with two children - a boy and a newly born girl. Unsurprisingly, the birth of the royal children has improved relations between human and elf in Lyonya.
This improvement extends in a lesser degree to relations with Tsaia, Fintha, and, to a small extent, Prealith. Pargun and Kostandan are understandably less enthused as closer ties south of the Honnorgat mean a firmer alliance against their interests. Dzordanya remains an unknown quality in the overall pattern. On one hand, the increasing ties and support between Prealith and Dzordanya should improve matters with the elves; but elves have never forgotten that the Dzordanyans are firmly Kuakgan in their beliefs and, according to a few reluctant hints from the elves, the Kuakgan religion started in what is now Dzordanya (Note: Given how long ago the first Kuakgan sang to the First Tree and how recently the present Dzordanyans conquered that land - it seems rather strange the elves hold the present population to blame .... This factor may also explain why Prealith, Dzordanya's friend, is not regarded warmly by the Ladysforest ).
Presently, elves are found mostly in the Ladyforest or Lyonya. Elves do wander the other lands and in far greater numbers than non-elves perceive or elves admit. Traveling elves are extremely difficult to spot if they don't wish to be seen.
Addendum One: "Wild Elves": These are elves who live outside of the elvenhomes and owe no allegiance to them. "Wild" is the closest translation, but "Unbound" might be more accurate. They simply call themselves "Elves" or "Singers". Supposedly there are scattered settlements of them - including a rumoured one in western Prealith (based on travelers' tales which I gleaned for the notes for Addendum Two).
Addendum Two: Interesting bits and pieces from the 'Wild Elves'. First, there were far more elvenhomes but they 'failed'/'fell'. (Note: This claim inspired me to check the Ladysforest sources carefully enough to find references there). How they failed is unclear though the curious wording is the elvenhomes were both protective (clear wording) and confining (unclear wording). The elven reticence over discussing the creation of elvenhomes is different with Wild Elves - it is a taboo subject for the protection of humans so they are not involved/endangered AGAIN. Likewise, it is a concern for human safety that lead to Wild Elf information about the Iynisin. Otherwise, the Wild Elves' accounts through travelers conform to the usual pattern of their Ladysforest cousins.
Addendum Three: The Iynisin/Dark Cousins/Dark Elves. Elves usually deny the existence or pretend the Iynisin don't exist. Some will reluctantly admit their existence if forced to... Wild Elves are a little more informative.... The Iynisin are elves who turned their back on the First Tree and all life when the First Kuakgan sang to the First Tree and it responded. At first it seemed a difference of opinion or attitude; but, over considerable time, the Iynisin not only became more hostile to life - especially humans and above all Kuakgan- but they also turned to the worship of dark gods - the Unsinger, the Unnamer, Liart, and the Webmistress. Not only were their souls twisted but, without strong magic, the cruel and evil nature of these beings was obvious to even non-elves. These creatures were imprisoned with mighty magics, but were able to corrupt the surrounding world indirectly - creating fell creatures that can be found in the hinterlands. Roughly five centuries ago they were able to escape from their prisons due to human blundering. The Wild Elves warn against delving too deeply into the topic of the Iynisin with the elves of the elvenhomes and wandering elves - though they refused to explain why....
Addendum Four: The reader has probably noted the lack of any detail about Prealith. I can write a book about any of the other Realms but details about Prealith are virtually non-existent in elvish accounts. The accepted theory is the elves never settled in Prealith (no presence, no interest, no records). However, and again I ask your discretion on this thought, I suspect a bit of deliberation on this absence for two reasons. First, Wild Elves have and do live in western Prealith and I have hints this presence predates the split between Wild and Ladysforest elves. Thus, presence. Second, there is an almost perceptible pattern to elvish discussion of the area - it leads the listener away from Prealith without making the listener aware he or she is being deflected. It is so subtle that it is just a suspicion or fancy of mine. But, I advise caution - elves and Prealith are a touchy subject!
There are living elves in the Ladysforest who witnessed events for the last several thousand years. Yet this is a historian's curse rather than boon. Elves view the past totally differently than the other peoples due to their unlimited lifespan. Written records are not needed with living eyewitnesses. But, memories shift over time and it is very difficult to give an unbiased account of the past when participants to those events are sitting across from you. Also, the sheer scale of the elven time frame means only events with lasting impact or of especial significance to elves get noticed (thus the seeming reluctance of elves to act as they know time will resolve most problems). Finally, since past events are 'known', the 'lessons learned' dictate the history rather than the other way around. Thus, the elven version of history is made up of the songs, stories, and parables for teaching both elves and non-elves about the wisdom of the elven way. Note: An observation I wish omitted from the public copy of this work: Elvish works tend to minimize or avoid any 'unpleasantness' associated with elves (see the Iynisin below). Examples to illustrate certain follies are usually drawn from the actions of the 'younger races'.
The History of the World and Prealith Through Elven Eyes
Note: This account is compiled from Ladysforest sources. I have included additional notes at the end from 'Wild Elves' sources and my own musings. Also, due to the nature of elves, the legendary and historical past are merged.
The world was created by the One Singer. The One Singer sang into existence the lesser singers - including Dragon (who sang other dragons into existence), the Mother of the Unicorns, and the Sinyi (lesser singers -elves). Another aspect of the One Singer is Adyan the Namer who created by naming things. Humans often mistake this lesser aspect of the Singer as the Singer (calling the One Singer - Adyan). These aspects of the Singer are opposed by A-iynisi (the Un-singer) and Nayda - the Un-namer (note they are the backwards spelling of their opposite number). Later, the other races were sang into existence with humans being the last addition.
One of the Singer's most marvelous creations was the First Tree. The elves sang to this Tree which responded by creating all the other trees and the taig (web of life of the forest that elves can sense and somewhat control). However, a human found the First Tree and sang so beautifully to it that it responded to the human and shared the secret of the taig with him. That human became the first Kuakgan, the Shepherd of the Trees. This act enraged many elves who turned their back on the taig and turned to A-iynisi (the Un-singer) and became the iynisin (Dark Cousins, kuaknom or tree haters). Almost all elves prefer to act as if the iynisin don't exist. Thus, it is difficult to place this event in sequence with other events. For the above events, elves insist they were experienced by their immediate ancestors. For the following events, they were witnessed by living elves.
The oldest elves sing of a War against the Ice. The "Ice" was both a manifestation of the Unsinger and a vast expanse of ice that covered all the lands north of the Dwarfmounts. All life in the area was extinguished and even mountains were crushed. The elves fled to the South until the Ice was defeated, letting the forests and other life reclaim the land. Note: I did converse with an elf who insisted this implausible story was true and he witnessed not only the Ice but also a range of highly unlikely creatures that have since vanished from the world...
No matter the reason, the vast majority of elves were living in Aare before humans appeared. When the Gods granted magic to humans it was the elves who trained them and fostered the growth of the civilization of Aare - centered around the City of the Three White Towers. Likewise, the first human travelers from across the Eastern Ocean, known as the Dawntreaders, were also taught magic by elves. Aare prospered until its rulers and nobility (who were becoming the Magelords) turned their back on elven teaching in search of more power, riches, and dangerous magics - these came at the expense of both the harmony and the taig of the lands and people of Aare. Failing to turn humanity from this destructive course, elves left in increasing numbers for the lands of Aarenis. The last elves left Aare as the Magelords turned to dark gods and demons - which eventually destroyed them and Aare itself.
As elves settled in Aarenis, they were joined by humans from Aare who opposed developments in old Aare. At first, with elven assistance, their civilization was much better than Aare. However, as subsequent emigrants from Aare brought increasing disharmony and conflict with them to Aarenis, the elves chose to cross the Dwarfmounts and settle in the North. By the time Aare fell and the last magelords and their followers came to Aarenis, the elves had all left.
Having been forced to leave two different lands to avoid the conflict and disharmony of human interlopers, the elves resolved to take sensible precautions. First, they created one of the greatest feats of elven magic - the elvenhome. An elvenhome is centered around one individual - an exceptionally powerful and gifted elf- who projects the boundaries of the elven territory and shifts them at her whim. Inside those boundaries conditions are more.... elven.... Rare visitors report a sense of great harmony, magic and enchantment. Those also report that non-elves enter or wander an elvenhome at extreme peril. Note: elves are extremely vague and evasive about the nature of elvenhomes - how they were created and how they function. Other 'taboo' subjects are the number of elvenhomes and the term 'banast'. All humans know of the Ladysforest elvenhome; but travelers also report a Kingsforest elvenhome far to the west. In addition, a few records hint there used to be many more elvenhomes in the past (the word used is "Limb" - "Many" rather than "Tad" - "Two"). "Banast" means "wounded" or "marred". I found one reference to "banast elvenhome"; but no elf was willing to talk of it and the reference has since vanished. I regret this is all the information I can find on the nature and history of elvenhomes; with the Ladysforest on Prealith's western border I know it was an important topic...
Elves realized they had to do more than just withdraw into the Ladysforest. Soon after the Ladysforest was established, "The Sea Wolves" crossed the Eastern Ocean in search of loot and conquest. This group became an abject lesson in elvish accounts on why humans are a dangerous and less civilized species. Sea Wolves almost always used violence to get what they wanted, they had a superstitious fear of magic, and a hostile attitude towards elves - seemingly even before they landed in the West. While the magical nature of the Ladysforest and the skill of elven rangers meant the Sea Wolves were largely confined to the north of the Honnorgat River; it was obvious this stalemate would not last forever. Fortunately, a wounded elf beset by hungry wolves was rescued by a group of Sea Wolves. This group and their kindred established peaceful relations with the elves. Seeing an opportunity, the Lady and her advisers allowed these and other select humans to settle into Lyonya under a strict agreement. Over hundreds of years, quickly by elven standards, this arrangement evolved into the kingdom of Lyonya, the co-rulership of those lands between the Lady and the King/Queen of Lyonya, and the intermarriage of elves and humans in the royal family of Lyonya. Lyonya remains a bridge between elf and human to this day. Lyonya provides the elves with both a window and a door to the outside world (with its humans and half-elves as additional 'door-keepers').
Presently, this relationship is important enough that a daughter of the Lady has married the 'almost completely human' king of Lyonya (the elven blood in Lyonya's royal line had diluted to the point where the present king has virtually no taig-sense whatsoever). The royal couple have been blessed with two children - a boy and a newly born girl. Unsurprisingly, the birth of the royal children has improved relations between human and elf in Lyonya.
This improvement extends in a lesser degree to relations with Tsaia, Fintha, and, to a small extent, Prealith. Pargun and Kostandan are understandably less enthused as closer ties south of the Honnorgat mean a firmer alliance against their interests. Dzordanya remains an unknown quality in the overall pattern. On one hand, the increasing ties and support between Prealith and Dzordanya should improve matters with the elves; but elves have never forgotten that the Dzordanyans are firmly Kuakgan in their beliefs and, according to a few reluctant hints from the elves, the Kuakgan religion started in what is now Dzordanya (Note: Given how long ago the first Kuakgan sang to the First Tree and how recently the present Dzordanyans conquered that land - it seems rather strange the elves hold the present population to blame .... This factor may also explain why Prealith, Dzordanya's friend, is not regarded warmly by the Ladysforest ).
Presently, elves are found mostly in the Ladyforest or Lyonya. Elves do wander the other lands and in far greater numbers than non-elves perceive or elves admit. Traveling elves are extremely difficult to spot if they don't wish to be seen.
Addendum One: "Wild Elves": These are elves who live outside of the elvenhomes and owe no allegiance to them. "Wild" is the closest translation, but "Unbound" might be more accurate. They simply call themselves "Elves" or "Singers". Supposedly there are scattered settlements of them - including a rumoured one in western Prealith (based on travelers' tales which I gleaned for the notes for Addendum Two).
Addendum Two: Interesting bits and pieces from the 'Wild Elves'. First, there were far more elvenhomes but they 'failed'/'fell'. (Note: This claim inspired me to check the Ladysforest sources carefully enough to find references there). How they failed is unclear though the curious wording is the elvenhomes were both protective (clear wording) and confining (unclear wording). The elven reticence over discussing the creation of elvenhomes is different with Wild Elves - it is a taboo subject for the protection of humans so they are not involved/endangered AGAIN. Likewise, it is a concern for human safety that lead to Wild Elf information about the Iynisin. Otherwise, the Wild Elves' accounts through travelers conform to the usual pattern of their Ladysforest cousins.
Addendum Three: The Iynisin/Dark Cousins/Dark Elves. Elves usually deny the existence or pretend the Iynisin don't exist. Some will reluctantly admit their existence if forced to... Wild Elves are a little more informative.... The Iynisin are elves who turned their back on the First Tree and all life when the First Kuakgan sang to the First Tree and it responded. At first it seemed a difference of opinion or attitude; but, over considerable time, the Iynisin not only became more hostile to life - especially humans and above all Kuakgan- but they also turned to the worship of dark gods - the Unsinger, the Unnamer, Liart, and the Webmistress. Not only were their souls twisted but, without strong magic, the cruel and evil nature of these beings was obvious to even non-elves. These creatures were imprisoned with mighty magics, but were able to corrupt the surrounding world indirectly - creating fell creatures that can be found in the hinterlands. Roughly five centuries ago they were able to escape from their prisons due to human blundering. The Wild Elves warn against delving too deeply into the topic of the Iynisin with the elves of the elvenhomes and wandering elves - though they refused to explain why....
Addendum Four: The reader has probably noted the lack of any detail about Prealith. I can write a book about any of the other Realms but details about Prealith are virtually non-existent in elvish accounts. The accepted theory is the elves never settled in Prealith (no presence, no interest, no records). However, and again I ask your discretion on this thought, I suspect a bit of deliberation on this absence for two reasons. First, Wild Elves have and do live in western Prealith and I have hints this presence predates the split between Wild and Ladysforest elves. Thus, presence. Second, there is an almost perceptible pattern to elvish discussion of the area - it leads the listener away from Prealith without making the listener aware he or she is being deflected. It is so subtle that it is just a suspicion or fancy of mine. But, I advise caution - elves and Prealith are a touchy subject!