Elves

See also: Dark Elves, Elven Council, Elven Politics - Wilston, Elven Politics - A simple scout's view, Elven View of Timeline 
For Elven characters, see People#Elves. See also: Francis' Questions
Things were not always as they are now. Once there spread across the land, like a single song, the power of the Elves, and their story echoed in the mountains and the woods where they built their cities of arcane splendour. The glory of the Elves seeped into the very land of Hahsandra itself, and the seas that bounded them.
Then came the Age of Chaos. And the Elves, to the last one, fled South, putting between the North Island and themselves a barrier of not only the oceans but also the great Spell of Voids, a spell of forgetting, a deliberate purging of the past, an expunging of all memory and recollection of the North Island.Background
==Questers==
From Zoom 2020-06-03 21:00:
Kilan is a ‘Quester’. Each non-aligned city has three or four Questers in it, at least one of whom will be a priest. (They get ‘cycled’ through cities posing as traders.) They have been looking for the brooch for ages. The Questers would know when the Manifest Avatar woke up – but Sereph knew even before then because “she had some vision of a tree shouting at her”. (ie the Oak – which Kilan is a bit ‘pissed-off’ about.) The Questers had been keeping a close eye on the area since hearing about “some old guy’s” death (presumably Onwen). It took them 8 minutes to get to the Diamond Fort.
==Elves as mana 'consumers'Council Record Fragment 4==
I am convinced that the humans if they are allowed to grow will provide more than enough mana to ensure the survival of our way of life, seeking to harness the Dragons is possible of course but much more perilous. Of all the races that walk this realm, we alone are blessed with enhanced abilities to shape and employ mana, the lesser races can all be used to ensure that the supply of our power remains reliable we do not need to resort to pursuing the wild creatures that regard Soratan as Lord. I know that Eliezure has talked about careful harnessing of death magic but thankfully Sorlor and the council have banned him from experimenting further, from what we have seen so far the undead drain mana from the world and must be eradicated.
== Elven View of Timeline ==
THE ELVEN TIMELINE (From an Elfs perspective)
The Elves arrived on North Island and rapidly established an Empire, bringing order to the chaos that until then dominated. Controlling the sea and the skies, the Empire established strongholds across the continent and where necessary, subjugated the native races.
An evil demigod, Soratan, united many of the indigenous races along with the Intelligent and semi intelligent monsters and led a rebellion against the Elven Empire.
Humans arrive at Far Haven, initially small in numbers but they prove malleable and side with the Empire. Around this time, the more civilised of the indigenous races also begin to break away from Soratan – despairing of his vicous savagery. This gives the Empire the room to manoeuvre that it needs and it begins to prevail over the rebellion.
Circa -350 years: Unable to defeat the Elves, Soratan leads the remains of his rebellious horde through the veil, the victorious Elves noted the departure and started researching.
Those few “monsters” left behind hide out and formed the precursors to what are now known as the Centaur, Giant, Ariel, Lizardman and Troll races – intelligence to survive became a pre-requisite.
Circa- 300 years: The Empire researches a way to piece the veil, and believing it is their responsibility to deal with Soratan – leave the island en masse. In great sacrifice, they use the power of the Cloud Castles to fuel the spell of departure, leaving 1 catastrophically destroyed (Cracks of Doom), 3 Grounded (StarPort, StarStorm, DarkStar) and the only survivor (The Sky Fleet) travels through the veil with the Elves.
Sadly the Elven destination was a different plane to the one travelled to by Soratan, and so the Elves have been searching for a way to return and protect the North Island ever since. Thankfully a group of indigenous researchers who had been investigating the history of the island and realised the benefits of alliance with the Elves. With their assistance, the Elves have managed to reopen some gateways to return and are looking to return order to the Island. Unfortunately, in their clumsiness the researchers also appear to have provided a way for Soratan and his hordes to return.
==Arrival to North Island chronology==
According to Q’RanDay 49-57 – Centaurs: The Elves were the first new arrival subsequent to the Elder Races, then Orcs and then the Humans
From The Confusing Origins Of People: The Elves original invasion was primarily coastal settlement, their attempts to bring the North Island fully under their dominion led in turn to the wars with the Wild and the schism in the primitive naturist religion predominant on the North Island at the time. They then left but have now returned.
==Key Research Info==
This section only covers 'facts' that we have discovered, rather than legends, stories or poems etc. 
===Research (Week 2)===
At some point the Elves were in danger of losing [to the Legendary Creatures]. There is talk of a radical shift in policy in order to meet the threat
DEG Note: "[to the Legendary Creatures]" was my editorial comment. This was not stated in the original research notes Research (Week 2). I am now questioning whether this was an incorrect assumption on my part!
===Research (Week 3)===
We appear to have come across a list of treaties arranged between the Elves the 'lesser races' in A Strange List. The Goblins were the only race listed to have refused.
The annotation in the story of The Unlikely Dragon Hunters could show the realisation by Elves that the 'lesser races' could assist in their battle - and suggests that Oranzer is actually advocating this - maybe even leading to the treaties noted above. 
===Council Record Fragment===
(A torn page found bundled in with a rather boring musical composition)
…..that our successes have had other consequences. As it stands, we are able to act upon our recently unearthed knowledge, but this may not be possible within a few years. We should prepare for departure and …..
….am strongly opposed to the risks associated with Elsiurs’ report and proposed course of action. We can take samples with us to validate or disprove his hypothesis once we have secured safety for the Empire and Empress. Renzel is reasonably certain that…..
(Scribbled note on side of parchment in a different hand)
“May Ilrianas wisdom be praised, this amendment will guarantee our safety.”
===Council Record Fragment 2===
(Found in a damaged scroll case, obviously part of a long report)
…their departure, although I have instructed First Mage Renzel to lead a research effort into the ritual that they followed. What is certain is that their presence is no longer to be found on the Island and we must make plans to restore our sovereignty over those groups that until now we have allowed to exist purely in their role as buffers. Of particular concern to myself is the degenerate sect being known as ‘Wyldwood’, I am hearing rumours of elements within our citizenry following this belief to the detriment of the glory of Hashandara. Whilst our victory is now total, for the moment at least we cannot…..
==Abilities==
Elven military tactics: Spear Phalanx, Archers, Light CavalryEmail2020-07-22 18:14
Also: Flying cities (maybe called 'stars') and a 'Sky Fleet' of 'flying lizards'Stormhaven
They appear to be prodigious magic users: 
*They created the Spell of Voids, but are unable to break it themselves without 'help'.
*Thay cast the Great Spell of Chains during the invasion.
*They obfuscated the invasion fleet's advance with swirling black fogs. (Didn't hide it from a Sea Serpent though!)
*A normal Elf patrol was able to keep the PathFinders under magical surveillance - much to their chagrin!
== Encounters with Elves ==
The party had a 'useful' encounter with Elven Patrols on their way up to Northlake under the current truce - see Days 11 - 13.
Firstly, the Elves had help in breaking the veil and returning to the North Island – though no indications as to what; Secondly, there is an implication that something/someone else is also behind the veil, possibly the beasts like those Kobolds; Thirdly, the Elves referred to the wild wood and fairy stories, is this a place, being or what but is obviously a factor in why they have entered into negociations with the King. I also picked up some phrase about the Empress and her five stars but the Dwarf missed this so we are unsure what that refers to.”
==Relationship to other 'legendary' creatures==
The Elves do not appear to be in charge of these other creatures - so although there is a correlation, we do not know why.
"Cagrun: Most importantly, all of them appear to be hostile to the civilised people on the island, even the Elves."Day 7: Return to Braerk
== Religion ==
The main deity of the Elves appears to be Hahsandra
The Wyldwood doctrine refers to some Elves turning away from the Gods of Saratan. It also says 'with even a few Elves and Dark Elves coming around to the Druids' balanced approach to life.'
Their first Empress Ilrania was suposedly originaly a 'minor deity', and there is a reference in the legend to the 'Mother'.
== Leader ==
Reference has been made to the 'Empress'
There is the legend of Empress Ilrania: First Empress of the Elves.
Local leaders in North Island include Oranzer, Sorlor and Magelord Renzel
== Some General Musing From Sparrowsight ==
Sparrowsight: “I could lecture you for years upon the history and culture of the Elves and still you would not understand them. The contradiction in their love of nature and wilderness versus their need to dominate, cultivate and control everything. Their reverence for life in all of its forms compared to their casual extermination of anything that they believe opposes them.”
Sparrowsight: “They claim to worship but one diety, Hahsandra. Yet in all of their writings you come across any number of different spellings of her name, even an occasional gender shift to male. There was a theory being explored that each of these variations was not a mistake but instead some form of polytheistic manifestation within a monotheistic religion. Unfortunately Sineas who was leading this line of research got recalled to Starport to assist with the studies taking place there.”
Sparrowsight: “Their fundamental theories of magic is that there are five elements: Fire, Earth, Water, Air and Mana, although Mana is also termed spirit or mind. Mana or spirit is the dominant element that can control and manipulate the others. Needless to say, Elves and to a lesser extent Dark Elves are primarily manifested as Mana whilst all other races are blended from all of the elements. From this, the number 5 has a special place in most Elven beliefs and culture. All of their plays have 5 acts, poems have five verses etc.”
Sparrowsight: “The biggest problem we face is that although we can translate their writing, we cannot necessarily make sense of it, for instance the Song of the Spheres – features a number of times in important documents – although we have never been able to sensibly translate the last two verses. It is obviously important – but why?” (Sparrowsight rummages on her desk and then reads out from a Scroll – see “Song of the Spheres”)
Sparrowsight: “Why did their leave in the first place, only to want to come back? Again, something we have not been able to get any sense of. We do know that a generation or so before their departure they had been in conflict with another power on the Island – and had prevailed. One of my most promising students unearthed that about a year or so back.”
Sparrowsight: “The Elves have a matriarchal society, being ruled by an Empress and their church headed by High Priestesses, yet where is the Empress – why hasn’t she been heard of? Why are all of the senior Elven figures we hear of, apart from Sorlor in Riverside – male?”
==Elven Legends and Tracts==
===The Legend of Sorleaf===
===The Song of the Spheres===
===The First Rune===
===Ilrania the First===
==Treatment of prisoners==
The Elves are said to enslave captured humans and kill all non human prisoners. [Citation needed - can't find the reference!]
Enslaving whole populations they unleashed the Great Spell of Chains, which drained the souls of all slaves, binding them to their service.
Passing by on the outskirts you see Human labourers working in the fields preparing for the Spring planting, they are being supervised by Dark Elven overseers who are very obviously very happy to use the whip to ensure obedience.Days 11 - 13
==Names==
'Sor' is a fairly common Elven name prefix (you will probably come across others), but unclear as to what it represents.Email2020-10-16 15:05
==Thoughts from The Defiance==
An interesting viewpoint that some of the acolytes seem to have had in the past is that the Elves were guardians of nature and that their departure was forced upon them by some evil external power. As has become obvious, the Elves are in fact people of Empire and so far have exhibited no particular love of nature or balance. Those acolytes that had the mistaken belief are occasionally teased about it, generally good naturedly.[[Day 21-27 – The second week in Northlake
In Day 35-41 – The fourth week in Northlake, Golderod asserts:
If the Elves were so powerful that they could invoke magic that simply transported them all away and made everyone else forget about them, I fail to see how this fractured realm was able to resist their invasion. In some ways this is as fanciful as theory as that once held by a small faction in the Church, their belief that the Elves were the true guardians of nature and the balance – well look how true that turned out to be!”
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For Drogo Fatbelly's incomparable views of this race, see Anthropological Guide to Cuisine
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