The Great Schism
The Elders of Ehnol and their Children of Llen met at Highmoot many, many moons ago. This was the troubled time when Duarvi pushed further and further into the Land of Elv and war was now certain. The Elders and Children needed an answer to Duarvi and a plan to guide the People of Elv. Each Elder and Child came with their own ideas and spoke them all at once, forgoing the turn-taking that is expected in Highmoot:
Nyphana - Behnol House Elder
With Children Endanis and Llendanis and Fathii
Vitani - Mihnol House Elder
With Children Vidrani and Betani
Feth - Cohnol House Elder
With Child Suthis
Morosis - Lahnol House Elder
With Child Necta
Lorel - Sehnol House Elder
With Children Monarii and Delphina
Sunarti - Pahnol House Elder
With Children Altona and Delanil
The Elders and Children argued and argued and grew more restless. Fists slammed and Tongues grew sharp as each thought they had the solution to the Problems. This fighting of words was fought for hours and days and finally the Nyphana stood on The Table and said: "We are all Elders of Ehnol and Children of Llen. We alone can lead the People of Elv and they look to us for guidance. How can we fight Duarvi if we are fighting Ourselves?" The others listened and nodded, understanding her meaning. The Elders agreed to leave for three days and then return to talk at Highmoot in the proper way. But Tongues were sharp and words cut deep during the Days of Fighting and the Child of Lahnol held those cursed words in her heart. She went to Fathii and Delanil and the three schemed their scheme.
The three days of thinking were had and the Elders and Children returned to Highmoot to talk once more. Each took turns with ideas and words and votes in the proper way. This went for many hours and solutions to the Problems were found and discarded as is the way of the Council. Nyphana stood to speak her thoughts again near the sun's end and as she stood Fathii came behind her with a spear and drove it through her heart. She fell dead and her Betrayer Son sat in her place. The Elders could not react before Necta burned her father and Delanil smashed his father's head. Morosis and Sunarti lied dead by Betrayer Daughter and Son as well. The other Children defended their Elders from the Betrayers and cast them out.
Endanis was made the Heir of Behnol, and Altona Heir of Pahnol, and they replaced their Elders at The Table, one seat still empty. With the Betrayal still in their minds the Elders could not think to agree on a solution to the Problems and sat in silence for many days. When Lorel finally spoke he said: "We are heart-broken and betrayed and cannot think or act. Our Sacred Laws are broken and the Highmoot finished. We have failed the People of Elv. We must go in shame and guide them without a Highmoot." So the Elders and Children who remained at The Table stood one-by-one, announcing their decisions.
"I will lead my House west" said Vitani. "I will lead my House north" said Lorel. "I will lead my House south" said Altona. "I will ask the Gods what to do" said Feth. "I will keep our House here" said Endanis. The Elders and Children and Houses left until all who remained was Endanis and Llendanis and their House.
The Betrayers fled the Highmoot and tried to run but could not run from the Gods. The Mark of Betrayal was placed on their blood and each was transformed by The Curse. Red eyes, for the blood spilled of Nyphana. Ashen skin, for the burning of Morosis. White hair, for the broken bone of Sunarti. Necta was now the Heir of Lahnol and her House took The Curse as well. She took Fathii as her mate and the House of Lahnol left the Land of Elv Once-and-For-All. Delanil followed and spoke to the Goddess Lolth and asked for aid. She promised to guide them to a new home, but tricked Delanil and dropped him into the earth. He asked how the House was to follow him and she turned him into a spider so he could catch them in his web.
This is the story of how the Houses of Ehnol fell apart.
Historical Basis
The prior Old Elvish text was found inscribed on a boulder in the Wildlands by a group of explorers some 40 years ago. A rough translation in common is provided. Some see it as confirmation of myths thousands of years old as history, but due to the nature of the writing and the location it was found, it can't be taken as a primary source on its own. Scholars consider it a retelling of these myths in a different format, as dating it magically places it somewhere around 1,800 years old. Modern science and magical study confirms what has been assumed for hundreds of years - there is no major physiological difference in elven ethnic groups, regardless of skin coloration, eye color, and slight differences in height, weight, and average age. No divine curses or boons, magical heritage, or mythic claims can prove otherwise and are foolhardy to believe.
One of the only verifiable segments of the story is the war between elves and dwarves, as battlefield remains, ruined forts, and thousands of rusted weapons discovered across the continent can attest to. This myth may simply be more of a retelling of cultural anxiety and trouble at home in the face of an invading enemy.
Variations & Mutation
Though this story isn't as commonly told or heard as it once was, judging by historical artwork, it still can be discovered by speaking to the right elves or reading the right books. The varying ethnic groups of elves tend to place themselves at the center of the story. Their elder was the one who spoke, convened the Highmoot, and was unjustly betrayed by another varying tribe. The dark elves take the brunt of the central betrayal in most variations, but the sun elves have a unique retelling where they remained the only house who didn't kill their own elder, preserving the past in a way the other tribes failed to. The dark elves place the betrayal on the eladrin, and claim that they used their status to drive the underclass of dark elves into the hidden places of the continent. For the eladrin, this myth ties directly their own cultural heritage, where the god Corellon plucked them from the mortal realm to his own Feywild, choosing them as his people for their bravery in the face of betrayal and war.
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