The Elves; or "Silvar" as they are commonly called, are the oldest, most regal, and most mysterious race found on the World of Oris. The origin of the elves is shrouded in mystery, but most sages agree that they originated on the distant continent of Eryn Norvë.
The First Age
The recorded history of the elvish race began in the First Age, when the elves left Eryn Norvë in search of a new home and landed upon the western shores of Corwyn.
These ancient elvish pioneers were called the "Silvar-Elves" or "Elder-Elves," and soon expanded their civilization across the entire continent, eventually forming a nation called "Ectharë," which meant “paradise,” in the Silvanestri tongue. At this time, Elegheron Alessarë became the first Elven-King.
During their exploration of Corwyn, the elves encountered the race of dragons. Some of these powerful creatures were friendly, others were not; and by the end of the First Age, the race of elves found themselves at war. They forged an alliance with the races of Metallic Dragons and made war upon the evil Chromatic Dragons. This horrific conflict laid waste to much of Corwyn.
The Chromatic Dragons were led by a fearsome Red Dragon named Calegorax. The war finally ended in an elvish victory at the Battle of Merizath, in which Calegorax was slain. But as he lay dying, the Dragon-Lord uttered an infamous curse upon the Silvar-Elves, swearing they would never prosper on Corwyn.
The Second Age
Throughout the Second Age, the Elder-Elves continued to thrive; rebuilding and expanding Ectharë.
During this period, the elves built four massive cities: their capital of Elutheria in the west, Saravôsh in the east, Therakan in the north, and Astrakan in the south. The elves also built four smaller cities: Alarë, Selunë, Starfall, and Wyn Falas.
With the completion of these eight cities, Ectharë reached its zenith; a highly-advanced civilization, filled with wondrous art, sophisticated culture, and spiritual harmony.
Unfortunately, this time of peace and prosperity was not to last. For in the year, 572/2, a elven sorceress named Lorynäe Anarivon murdered King Starion Alessarë and attempt to steal the Eternal Throne. Lorynäe failed in her bid, but Starion's murder provoked a thousand-year civil war among the elves, which came to be known as the War of Wrath.
The rebellious elves that followed Lorynäe came to be called the Dark-Elves, or "Dro-vhar." The loyal elves were led by Starion’s son Ismelian, who swore to avenge his father’s murder and eradicate the Dark-Elves from Corwyn forever.
The War of Wrath was long and bitter; the elven capital of Elutheria was reduced to rubble in the fighting, and soon after, the great elvish city of Saravôsh was completely obliterated in a gigantic magical explosion set off by the Dark-Elves. This explosion destroyed the city, killed King Ismelian, as well as tens of thousands of elves on both sides. The explosion was so intense, it created a huge deep chasm hundreds of miles long called "Grôn."
As the war dragged on, the Dark-Elves needed legions of slave-soldiers to fight in their war against the Silvar. So, they used their magical powers to spawn the "Gauth;" a race of cruel hybrid elves, as well as monstrous humanoids called "Tarks."
In desperation, the Silvar-Elves were forced to call upon the humans and dwarves to aid them in their fight against the Dark-Elves. The race of men answered the call; but the dwarves, angry over an earlier slight from the elves, refused to take part in this war. This refusal resulted in a enmity between the elves and dwarves which has lasted to this very day.
Led by Ismelian’s son, King Talarion, the Silvar-Elves eventually gained the upper hand. Talarion; known to friends and foes alike as “Brightstar,” was a fantastic warrior, winning countless battles against the Dark-Elves and their servants. Ultimately, the Dark Elves were defeated at the epic battle of Grôn, and the survivors were driven underground through the very chasm they had created earlier. Their Gauth servants were either killed or banished into the eastern wastelands. Sadly, Talarion himself was slain during this final battle.
The War of Wrath had many dark legacies. Foremost was the permanent devastation of Eastern Corwyn. The East was affected by magical fallout called "Ashfall;" which caused a 100-year period of complete darkness that poisoned every living plant and creature in the region. Ashfall also caused the "Taint;" a sickness that changed the skin-color of the afflicted elves to either black or very dark gray, and bleached their hair a sickly white
Second, the Gauth race was not destroyed, but only banished. They would eventually return, led by a powerful sorcerer named Alokkair; who would continue to wreak havoc on Corwyn for many centuries to come.
The third effect of the War of Wrath was the Sundering of the elven race, which is described below.
The Sundering
According to Elven lore, when the nation of Ectharë collapsed at the end of the Second Age, it broke into three smaller and distinct Elf-realms. The Silvar-Elves divided themselves into three groups which have essentially evolved into the three different elven sub-races which exist today: the Grey-Elves, the High-Elves, and the Wood-Elves. This event is called "the Sundering."
After Talarion's death, the elves divided into three distinct groups, each led by a powerful Elven ruler:
- Ariel Alessarë; Talarion's daughter, who founded the western Elvish realm of Wyntharë, which became the home of the Grey-Elves or "Grafyr."
- Ectharion Liëflynne; who founded the northern Elvish realm of Thekarë, which became the home of the Wood-Elves or "Ta'lari."
- Meleraf Elyrion; who founded the southern Elvish of Melinarë, which became the home of the High-Elves or "Malindi."