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A Brief History and Physiological Study of the Elven Bloodlines

Elves. Alfer.

We are magic born into flesh and we carry the history of the world within our blood. We are a very old race of people, but we are not the most common people upon this planet. We are wise and careful in our steps, yet we may still make the occasional misstep. We are mighty and powerful, deadly and dangerous, and all the others people may sing of us.

But most simply, we are just a people, living our days as we will, and then journeying to our reward beyond.

History and Appearance

And back in this time, some of the bloodlines looked different than they do now. Many believe that it is only the Drow (who are not Elves at all, but fallen Kaeron) that changed in appearance so drastically, but this is not the case.

The Saedhe still are, as they have always been, the fairest of all the elves. Most closely resembling the Kaeron, the Saedhe are tall and thin of bone, with a very pure and light complexion. Their eyes sparkle with the brightness of the stars, and their hair is the closest shade of gold, silver, mithril, and platinum imaginable. They tread lightly upon the earth, and their sweet voices never falls, but lilts heavenwards. They have remained unchanged and untainted throughout time.

The Oi’waen were a fire that gave over to the wilds of nature. Before the Great War, the Oi’waen wore very striking visages. Every bit as graceful and distinguished as the Saedhe, the Oi’waen were nonetheless markedly different. Instead of the piercing eyes and fair hair of the Light Elves, the Oi’waen had red and orange hair of fire, and eyes to match. They were the passion of the Alfer, and it burned brightly in them -- usually a bit shorter and stouter than their brethren. But when they refused to join the humans with the Saedhe, and instead gave themselves over to the Great Forest, this fire within them intensified.

Today the Oi’waen still bear reddish hued hair and eyes, but other aspects of their appearance have changed. Their skin, once as fair as the Saedhe’s, has been transformed by the forests into a light greenish-brown hue -- they wear their camouflage upon themselves. And most Oi’waen are now much taller, with arms and legs like branches. If one can catch a glimpse of a company of Oi’waen as they march through the forest, one would swear they are watching the trees themselves moving forth.

The Rhiallon--the Rhiallon are a difficult case. Before their betrayal they were the tallest and most gentle looking of all elves. Rhiallon skin had a little more sun upon it, and their hair was snowy white. Their brown and soft green eyes beheld a deep knowledge and wisdom, something which made them the most trusted of all the Alfer. And then they went on to betray all of Talanu.

I know their reason for the betrayal, and why they believed it to be right. I also know why it was the wrong choice. But that is between the Rhiallon and the Saedhe, and not for the ears and eyes of others.

But because of their betrayal, the Rhiallon were punished by Corellon Larethian. Their beautiful white hair became the darkest of black, and their eyes hardened their gaze into dark purples and black. Their skin took on an even darker hue of browns and yellow. They retained their knowledge and wisdom, but their appearance now bespoke a price that might have to be paid for their knowledge. Their look of trust had become sinister.

The Alfer Today

The Oi’waen remained in the North, in the new lands known as Trall-Goth. They chose to remain isolated within the forest, though the wanderlust that invariably affects every culture has brought the wide-world many Oi’waen of note, including the famous brother and sister mercenaries, Belatrias and Beatriasa Meadowyn. The most interesting thing about the Oi’waen today is that they are a very tribal bloodline of Elves, and they are in truth all Barbarians of some degree.

The Rhiallon were driven into exile and only a small number escaped being slain in retribution. The greatest mass of Rhiallon took refuge in the harsh society that sprung up in Trall-Goth. Information and knowledge was a means to survival in the icy north, and so the Rhiallon had something to bargain with. They made their home deep in the snow and tundra, immune to the harshness of the cold. Other Rhiallon eventually made their home in small sections of the emerging city-states -- sections that were as much prisons as homes. Rhiallon Quarters can still be found in Trall-Goth cities today.

The Rhiallon of the North seek only to be left alone, and are quite quick to point out that they weren’t even alive a thousand years ago, so why should they be blamed for the mistakes of their fathers and forefathers? Only a small handful are lying.

The Rhiallon that remained in what was to become Kar-Thone also initially took to hiding. They hid in forests and on undisturbed islands, trying to live their lives in peace and quite. But being in the hub of human activity, they could not. The proximity to hateful humans and the even angrier Saedhe meant the Rhiallon of Kar-Thone had to make steps towards contrition or perish. So the Rhiallon of the south gathered together under Vaner Coeriallon Dulcothe and pledged their service to the greater good of those they had betrayed.

They became a meditative and humble people. When kingdoms needed help with deadly monsters, Goblin invasions, or other dangerous endeavors, the Rhiallon were the first to volunteer. At the Battle of Adon’s Valley, it was Vaner Telliom Saras and his contingent of Rhiallon that lead the charge against the Orcish army. Slowly and painfully, Rhiallon began to shed some of the stigma that their moment of weakness had brought upon them.

That is not to say that Rhiallon are now loved and trusted -- this will be lost to them forever. But they can be counted as a noble ally once again.

Just not to the Saedhe.

Now, before exaggeration takes its hold upon the story, it should be noted that there are plenty of Saedhe that have a deep and abiding friendship with Rhiallon. They trust them with their lives and their secrets. This is the nature of friendship after all. But the Saedhe, as a people, will never trust the Rhiallon again. And it is doubtful that they will ever forgive them.

After the Great War, the focus of the Saedhe split down two paths: advise and assist the humans in building a fair and just rule, and hunt the traitorous Rhiallon to the ends of the earth. The Saedhe stepped into the role the Rhiallon had abandoned and became advisors and knowledge-keepers. They helped to guide Colanx and Daran in their formation of the lands that became the Empire of Kar-Thone, earning them the level of trust the Rhiallon were once afforded.

But not all Saedhe turned to assist the humans. Many Saedhe still felt the sting of betrayal and they dedicated their lives to hunting down the remaining Rhiallon. It became a genocidal endeavor that would have consumed all the Alfer were it not for three very powerful events.

The first was the formation of a cult of hatred. Spreading like wildfire, an undertone of resentment against all demihumans began to take hold in the common people of Talanu. Far away from the aspects of court and power, these people saw only the distant relation to the Kaeron that the Elves bore, and greatly feared the "alien" people. This undercurrent coalesced into a powerful organization, its name long since forbidden by law to be spoken. The organization seduced people into rising up against the Elves in violence. A dark night none of you can remember saw the blood of many Alfer and humans alike, spilled in the streets and the fields.

The organization and its leaders vanished the next night. No one will ever hear from them again.

Following upon this, Emperor Daran Kar-Thone issued a number of proclamations, the most important of which being this: Retribution upon the Rhiallon would not be tolerated within the Empire. The Rhiallon were not forgiven, but they would not be the fuel of hatred any longer.

The final event that caused the Saedhe to abandon their jihad was a visit by a strange Elf to the Queen of the Saedhe. What he said to the Queen is not to be known, but it is by and by upon this visit that the Queen ordered all Saedhe to lay down their vendettas.

And thus the Saedhe were saved their own downfall, and were able to focus once more on rebuilding their elegant culture and mastering the new magic.

Elven Paths

Goodbyes

The Peace of the Alfer go with you.

There, Toran. That is the two tales I owe you. Now I believe there is the matter of the two you owe me. I believe the story of that lovely ring that resides in your museum, and the story of the equally lovely Captain of your guards will suffice. Next time let’s not bet on sword fighting.