Birth of the Elves

The Unified Myth: A Human's Perspective

In the dawning days of the world, when the Stars of Power illuminated the night sky, Banor, the great architect of civilization, cast his gaze upon Rolara. Seeking to bring order and wisdom to this wild and untamed land, he began to shape its first inhabitants, the Elves.
Drawing upon the essence of the celestial heavens, Banor forged the High Elves, beings of intellect and grace, and imbued them with the gift of magic and knowledge. He taught them to walk the path of discipline and artistry, and to construct grand cities that reached towards the stars.
From the heart of the ancient forests, Banor crafted the Wood Elves, instilling in them a love of nature and the gift of stealth. They learned the language of the trees and the songs of the birds, forever bound to the heart of nature and Banor's divine guidance.
Finally, from the shimmering twilight between the Feywild and the Prime Material Plane, Banor guided the radiant Eladrin to Rolara. He forged an eternal bond with these beings of emotion and enchantment, infusing them with the essence of the land's beauty and magic.
Though each race of Elves held a unique connection to their divine father, they shared a common thread: the pursuit of wisdom and the protection of Rolara's fragile balance. And so, the Elves, under the watchful gaze of Banor, flourished and thrived, each in their own way, forever bound to the legacy of their divine creator.

Historical Basis

The myth of Banor creating the different races of Elves is rooted in Rolara's ancient history, when the world was still young, and the Stars of Power shone brightly in the sky. This period is marked by the emergence of Elves as a prominent race, their culture and civilization spreading across the land. The distinct nature and abilities of High Elves, Wood Elves, and Eladrin are believed to have been a direct result of Banor's intervention, particularly his role in modifying the Eladrin after they were lured to Rolara across Wildspace. This symbiotic, albeit non-consensual, arrangement led to the birth of the various Elf subraces.
However, there is an alternative theory that challenges the traditional myth. This theory posits that the Elves were not created by Banor, but were a naturally evolved race from the early days of Rolara. As time passed, environmental factors and cultural adaptations led to the divergence of the Elves into the High Elves, Wood Elves, and Eladrin. The Elves, seeking a greater purpose and connection to the divine, wove the myth of Banor's creation as a means to explain their existence and the differences between their subraces.
According to this theory, the historical basis for the myth of Banor creating the Elves is a conflation of their natural evolution and their need for a divine origin. In this view, Banor did not actively shape the Elves but instead served as a figure of inspiration and guidance, helping the various subraces find their place in the world of Rolara. The Eladrin, who were already present on Rolara and modified by Banor, are seen as a unique case in this alternative theory, with their transformation being a point of connection between the two theories.
This alternative theory suggests that the Elves were not the direct offspring of Banor, but rather a race that evolved and adapted to their environment and culture. The myth of their divine creation may have been a way for the Elves to elevate their status in the world and strengthen their bond with their divine father, Banor, while also acknowledging the unique circumstances surrounding the Eladrin and their arrival on Rolara.

Spread

The myth of Banor creating the Elves has spread far and wide across Rolara, reaching the many corners of the land where the various Elf subraces reside. However, the myth's prominence and acceptance vary significantly between different communities and cultures.
For the Elves themselves, the myth is considered a sacred part of their culture and history, and it is generally accepted as a central aspect of their identity. The High Elves, Wood Elves, and Eladrin all have their own variations of the myth, each emphasizing their unique connection to Banor and their place in the world. The myth is known by all within their societies, passed down through generations as a crucial element of their shared heritage.
Among non-Elven races, the myth's acceptance and familiarity are less consistent. While the story of Banor and the Elves is relatively well-known in some Human communities, particularly those with close ties to the Elves or a vested interest in the history of Rolara, it is considered more of an obscure legend in other parts of the world. Some may have heard of the myth, but they might not fully understand its significance or regard it as a true account of the Elves' origins.
There are also apocryphal tales surrounding the myth of Banor and the creation of the Elves. Some of these stories suggest that Banor had other, forgotten children, who were either lost or hidden away due to their unique powers or cursed nature. Other tales hint at secret alliances and rivalries between Banor and other deities, resulting in the creation of new races or the manipulation of existing ones. These apocryphal accounts are generally not considered canon by most Elves and are often dismissed as imaginative storytelling or conjecture. However, they continue to intrigue and captivate those who delve into the rich tapestry of Rolara's ancient past, seeking hidden truths and mysteries.

Variations & Mutation

The Wood Elves' Myth

In the time before time, when Rolara was still a wild land, Banor looked upon its untamed beauty and sought to create beings that could appreciate its wonders. From the heart of the deepest forests, he crafted the Wood Elves, instilling in them the love of nature and the gift of stealth.
As they wandered the glades and meadows, the Wood Elves learned the language of the trees and the songs of the birds. Banor, proud of his children, gifted them with bows crafted from the sacred branches of the world tree, Mythericalca, who was also Banor's beloved consort.
In the quiet whispers of the leaves and the gentle sighs of the wind, the Wood Elves found their place, forever bound to the heart of nature and Banor's divine guidance.

The High Elves' Myth

When the Stars of Power burned bright in the heavens, Banor, the great architect of civilization, sought to bring order and wisdom to the young world of Rolara. From the celestial essence of the stars, he created the High Elves, beings of intellect and grace.
Banor granted them the gift of magic and knowledge, drawn from the very stars themselves, and taught them to walk the path of discipline and artistry. The High Elves, enamored by the mysteries of the arcane, built grand cities and towers that reached for the heavens.
Under Banor's watchful gaze, the High Elves flourished, becoming the pinnacle of magic and civilization in Rolara, ever seeking to emulate their divine father's wisdom.

The Eladrin's Myth

In the shimmering twilight between the Feywild and the Prime Material Plane, Banor saw the radiant beauty of the Eladrin, beings of emotion and enchantment. With a tender hand, he guided them to Rolara, opening a path through the gossamer veils of the planes.
In the heart of the ancient forests, Banor forged an eternal bond with the Eladrin, infusing them with the essence of Rolara's beauty and magic. Thus, the Eladrin became the guardians of the realm, standing watch between the Prime Material Plane and the Feywild.
Bound to both the Moonwilde and the lands of Rolara, the Eladrin held their divine father's guidance close to their hearts, forever striving to protect the fragile balance between the planes and the magic that flowed through them.

Table of Contents

Telling / Prose

Lenksha Tablet

Related Species

• Elf

Related People

• Banor
• Mythericalca

Related Organizations

• Elven Pantheon