Long ago, when the worlds were still young and the power of the cosmos tore through the

realms like lightning in a stormy sky, there lived a community of wood elves. They tried to live,

anyway. They tried for a few generations, building homes among the gigantic trees

of the forest and carving temples from the stones of the earth. They lived with nature and her people,

and for a time it was good. But as a leaf turns from green to red, so too will peacetime turn to

war, and so it was that war spread across the land, and though

they lived in the largest and densest forest in all existence, it spread to their home too.

A great high elven lord had risen against the ruling council and sought allies among the

wood elves.

He came to the forest and spoke with the queen of the woodfolk, making grand

promises of land, wealth, and power. The queen was jealous of the high council, and easily swayed

by the Lord's impressive magic and vast wealth. The woodfolk weren't sure what to make of the stranger.

He was tall and beautiful, but not like a tree which gives life.

His beauty was like a bolt of lightning crashing down to earth with shocking violence.

His power was like a tornado consuming everything in its path.

The woodfolk feared him and worried for their queen.

She assured them that the strange lord from outside the forest

was their best chance to survive. Nature's people had turned against them. Fires burned the trees.

They would burn here too if they did not side with the Lord. The woodfolk wavered in their support, and some openly questioned why trust

this strange Lord. Voices rose and tempers flared. Finally, one voice called for them to abandon

their queen and fight the strange Lord themselves. The shock of rebellion reverberated through the crowd

and silence fell over the wood.

...