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When the titans of Terra Dyne divided the spheres
of control, eight went on to become the gods of the elves. First was the creator, Cot, whom they came to call Corellon
Larethian. Having at war with the god of the orcs, Gruumsh, Corellon and the elven pantheon secluded themselves
as best they could from the world of mankind. Convinced that the long-lived race was superior, the elves lived
in small tribes upon both contenents, preferring the forests and grasslands. They consorted with the faerie races
and shunned all others, especially their dwarven cousins, whom the saw as dirty and without culture.
Most elves were of a breed called Ritellan, or "High
Elf" in human common. They spread into nearly every forest and grassland area of Attricia and Tarantia. They
were sometimes called the "common elves". One group of exceptionally intelligent elves were the Krinallan
elves, "Grey Elves" to the humans. These highly intelligent brothers of the Ritellan were more studied,
but not as worldly. They excelled more in the study of magic, and found ways to extend their lifetimes. They were
even more elite than their cousins and felt themselves to be the creme of the elven race.
Around 3100 g.d., the elves of Attricia, led by
the legendary Ritellan elf Tristan Starbright, banded together into an elven nation called Kalbese. The seperate
tribes became on whole, Ritellan and Krinallan, and staked their claim in the Metcup Forest, founding the city
of Staralt. Protected on one side by the Inner Sea and the other by the Hills of Steam, the elves fortified themsleves
into tree villages against outside attackers. Starbright proclaimed only elves and those of the faerie kingdom
may enter Kalbese lest they be punished by death. The order stands to present day, though the present Queen, Lorande
Silverrazor, annualy honors special non-elven guests to attend festivals, in the name of diplomacy.
The state of the elves of Tanatia, however, was
not as well ending. The elves of the eastern continent decided not to band together, and were forced to succumb
to constant attacks by the goblinoid tribes. Gruumsch's armies had a much better foothold in the east, and the
elves were forced to become nomads. The state of these elves over several millenia, forced them to become stronger
than their western brothers. They became known as Sivettan elves, or "wild elves" to humans. They were
stronger than the Ritellans, but not as intelligent as the Krinallans. They survived through the grace of their
gods and their bows.
In 6160, the wild elven tribes fell victim to barbarian
hordes attacking form the far east. Finally seeing the need to unite, and led by two charismatic heroes, Delian
Quickblade and Vin Songgiver, the tribes attemted to do what the elves of Attrica had done so successfully over
3000 years previous. Thier success song was not to be sung, however, for Quickblade and Songgiver failed to agree
on anything set before them and the elves were overrun by the hordes.
Quickblade led his elves into the Snake Forest and
hid for two years. When they emerged, the horde was gone, off to find new horizons to pilage. The elves made their
permenant home in that forest, fortifying a city against future attacks. They were known from then on as Pikastaan
elves, "Wood Elves".
Songgiver led his group south, over the mountain
range and into the arid grasslands. The elves made peace with the Lamias who lived in the Red Desert, called such
for its red clay earth and arid temperatures. This new breed of elf, calling themselves Prinellian, or "Red
Elves", sustained a much greater constitution from living in an arid wasteland. They retained the strength
they gained from their ancenstors, but excelled more at survival than magic.
The fate of Kalbese wasn't all good, either. During
the Second Middle Age, several houses of decidedly horrid elves broke away from the group to worship a demon goddess.
They moved away from nature and lived in the caverns underground, becoming more evil and vile. The name Drow, or
"Dark Elf", became a curse in mainsteam elven culture.
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