Research on Topic of: "Silver Grass Elves"
Authors name for this document: "An forgotten elven tribe."
The Silver Grass Elves.
What they were? Why were they banished? Why was that tribe working as sellswords? What did they use their "extra income" on?
AUTHORS COMMENT
Authors disclaimer: During several years of study in elven society lore books, talking with volunteers(sources remain in secret for their own safety) and much overall research, I managed to reconstruct this story, it might not be 100% accurate and might skip some periods (period of living in Ir-O-Kee lands for an example), but this document contains as much information as I managed to find. Author is not responsible for any mistakes in document and damages caused by inappropriate use of this document:
Chapter 0, the Prologue
Who were the Silver Grass Elves?
Before the "Age of Ice" began, Elven race was quite widespread and had many more houses/clans in it. In modern societies Elves can mostly be seen, in Kuriotates and around White Mist Isles, there are few forest-retreats all over Erbus, however these contain only a very small number of elves. Elven race has always been shared into minor factions, called houses or clans (depends who you ask from, elves themselves seem to prefer "house"). One of the less know clans, that Exists(ed) on "modern Erbus" was "The House of Silver Grass".
In modern day, they are most often known as one of the Battle of Jarv participant - there they worked under Bannor command, their influence on battle was quite large, without them, it is possible that Clan of Embers would have not been stopped. One notice about the battle of Jarv is, that the Silver Grass elves refused to set City of Jarv houses on fire (saying that civilian population could be hiding in those houses), this however did not cancel their contract with Bannor and they were payed for their job.
In historical annals, it is also possible to find few clanlords and warlords who used Silver Grass elves services, those who refused or were unable to pay for elven services, were never seen alive again. It is possible that Silver Grass Elves sold their "services" to over 90 different individuals, more likely number is probably around 60. Interesting fact is, that Silver Grass elves never hurt civilian population and sometimes turned against their employers, if commands of killing defenseless locals were given. None of the battles, that elves took part in were historically very important, so I will not list them here.
It is surprising that all the time, Silver Grass Elves were in Ir-O-Kee lands, none of the locals ever reported an colony of elves, despite of no "official" sighting reports, some local folklore supports the idea, that elves were there for at least 200 years.
Authors note: You can find most of the Battles, where Elven Mercenary Fighters (which I assume, were Silver Grass Elves) were used in "Battles of Erbus - Details, numbers and descriptions" by Gabril Efasantos.. There are also plenty of local folklore books to be found in ruins of Ir-O-Kee.)
Chapter 1,
General knowledge about Silver Grass elves and comparison with other elven tribes, BEFORE Age of Ice.
Silver Grass house has two "symbols" (like most elven clans)
1. The Silver-Ferrurom (Custadoidilis) - an editble, not much sunlight nor fertility needing plant
2. White (or silvery) owl, usually pictured holding arrow-staff combination.
Banner of Silver Grass pictured Ferrurom plants on ground and Owl on background (size about 4x bigger than plants - holding an stick with different ends - arrow(one end) and wizards staff (other end)
Before Age of Ice, House of Silver Grass was about average in size, compared to other elven houses on Erbus. Unlike other houses, Silver Grass did not have powerful archers, good fighters or skilled scouts. To compensate that "flaw", Silver grass house had something, what other houses did not - they had very large knowledge and skill in magic. Silver Grass elves were famous and feared magic users - they use(d) enchanted arrows, summons and even some "darker" magic. So, to "keep up with" other houses, Silver Grass was forced to rely on magic use - as their military, compared with other houses lacked in both numbers and skill.
Chapter 2,
Threat to entire race, First time elves United as one race.
Having many and skilled magic user, back then, was a rare sight - only few, powerful wizards or warlocks (call them as you wish), knew the secrets of magic. Back then, powerful magic users roamed land of Erbus, in search of artifacts or in need for something to create of them. One of those magic users was Vika, also written as Vicca, in some books (there are several books that speak about Vika, those who are interested should have no problem finding them). Vika was interested in Elven magic knowledge, especially in Silver Grass magic users. Instead of asking or "convincing" elves to teach him their knowledge, he decided to take it by force. He rised undead and summons on his way towards elven lands (elven lands= lands surrounded by Misty Strait), his magical soldiers attacked, imprisoned and tormented elves and other warlocks, where ever they could find (and catch) them. Elven houses were wise enough, to understand the threat, that Vika was to them.
Houses mobilized themselves to war, new arrows were made, new children were thought how to fight. Despite elves mobilizing themselves, they were unable to win fights again Vika, usually suffering heavy casualties against his summons and undead army. If they would have fought as one, not as each house for itself, they might have succeeded, but history is full of "might" and "could", we do not need to repeat these words again.
As Vicca marched towards center of Elven lands, destroying anything and everyone that stood (or lied)in his way. Seeing the destruction of entire houses and that few, unorganized, houses cannot hope to stand against army as large as Vika controlled, Elven houses were united under common banner. Under Banner of house Misty Lily. This house was lead by Elven Queen of Linwë Séregon. She was not leader, chosen by blood, rather she got leadership with skill. She was first elf, who united elves under common banner, of course elves had been under common banner before, but always fought as separate units (each house for itself), now joined under one banner they were finally fighting as one, under Linwë Séregon leadership, elven race become what they are known as, in modern Erbus.
Chapter 3,
The Special Request, The downfall begins
Linwë Séregon knew, that Vika and his endless army can only be stopped by killing or seriously wounding the leader, Vika. She also understood, that even if elves manage to defeat Vika, more and more enemies will look towards elves and their magic. She made a private meeting with elders of House of Silver Grass and request them to do something, what other houses would not agree with. She wanted Magic users of Silver Grass to plunder surrounding tombs, learn enough knowledge to seal Vika away, separate magic from his body and then use gathered magical energy to make an artifact, what elves could use, to defend themselves against further attacks.
However, looting and disturbing rest of dead was (and still is) highly shunned in Elven community and anyone found, either plundering (for own use, without command) or even worse, looting tombs, would be killed. Linwë Séregon, also said, that Silver Grass actions have to remain secret, so neither Vika, other races on Erbus nor even other elven houses would know about it, if Silver Grass should fail, she would deny any connection with these disturbing deeds. Silver Grass elders, knowing their entire races situation and that they are the best magic users in elven race, agreed with this.
As Vikas army was huge and slow, often stopped to plunder found tombs or fight with minor, local wizards. Elves had several months to prepare for final assaults, minor skrimishes were held with Vika, but none of them could be called "victory".
For those several months Silver grass looted tombs and ancient wizard towers for books, scripts and magical items, practiced art of sealing and separating magic and during their spare time, even fighting. Vikas armies approached elven race slowly and steady, other houses warriors practiced art of fighting as one unit - Failing to stop Vika here, would mean that elven race ceases to exists or will be reduced to almost nothing - few hundred survivors here and there are not enough to keep an entire race alive.
Chapter 4
The clash of magic, arrows and swords
Few nights before final battle, Linwë Séregon herself met with elders of Silver Grass and told them about a tomb, located near future battle area. Tomb itself belonged to a very old and very powerful magic user who, by race, was an elf, but had de-connected herself from elven society and elfish behavior. Looting tombs of other races, is always lower crime than looting tomb of their own race, however Queen believed that final part of mystery - how to forge artifact, so it would not lose much of its strength, could be found in that tomb. As I know now, she was right.
When Elven Army, first time in history, lined up and fighting as one - not as several different houses but as an organized army, met with Vika, Silver Grass elves were standing next to them. In proper formation. Quick glance on battlefield and forces on it, would have said, that battlefield was good for elves, but Vikas undead and summons were much, much more numerous and stronger. Battlefield itself was perfect for elves - woods, pre-prepared traps, learned areas, pre-prepared spells and weapons, hidden paths etc. But no force had stopped Vika before.(of course he had always avoided battles he could not win.) Elves were out numbered 4 to 1, perhaps even more, as Vika continued summoning during entire battle.
When the battle began, Silver Grass house sounded retreat and went to "plunder"/gather information from the final tomb. Other elves continued following orders of Linwë Séregon. As magic users have an "habit" of protecting their tombs with undead, traps and similar "decorations". Silver grass elves, had to literally fight themselves through undead hordes to reach their destination - the bottom grave, where their magic users, managed to decryph and learn spells that were inside of that tomb. Silver Grass warriors did their best, to keep undead away from scholars. Many died or were left behind To die or fight themselves free. "Leaving some behind was better cost than letting entire race die" atleast, so Silver Grass Elves thought and still think. When Silver Grass scholars and magic users rushed back to the battlefield, united Elven army was winning, despite of all odds and being outnumbered. Vika himself was wounded by several arrows and was unable to control his creation properly, what did not mean that his armies collapsed and he continued to summon more and more.
Silver grass scholars Started sealing ritual and before they could say first words, came under attack by undead - now weakened and uncontrollable - but mana-holics (what happens if you are constantly "fed" by mana), sworn to protect their mana "supplier". Many scholars died, because they did not have enough protection - many of their protectors had fallen in tomb, other were too busy keeping themselves alive. But few scholars finally managed to seal of Vika and his strength. This did not stop summons and undead from attacking, but being leaderless, and headless, they were simple to "clean up" by professional elven warriors.
Chapter 5
After battle, You can win battles, but dilpomat can turn those victories into loss.
In normal conditions Silver Grass Elves would have been heroes, however one of the houses, the Minor House of Bannizeam had noticed that Silver Grass elves "disappearance" and blamed them in "fleeing from battle". Their scouts also found the tomb and inside they found several survivors of Silver Grass. Silver Grass was blamed in fleeing from battle to plunder and loot, an action punished with death. However Linwë Séregon, "the First Queen", managed to convince other houses in simply exiling Silver Grass from elven community.
Soon after that, the age of Ice began, no one, heard about Silver Grass and their elven citizens again and even most knowledge about them, was forgotten by almost everyone...
Chapter 6
Exiled Silver Grass, their travels and new home
But Silver Grass elves did not forget, that they still had something to complete - they managed to take Vikas mana, with them and few scholars who survived took as many scrolls, runes and books, as they could carry. Elves traveled for quite a long time on Erbus, until they found themselves a place with perfect ley lines, to create an artifact and made their home there. (OOC: those ley lines were perfect for weapon not for entire empire to use!) Since that time, Silver Grass Elves were working on a project of creating an artifact weapon, what could be used to defeat any enemy similar to vika. However much knowledge and skill was lost, new generation of scholars had to learn from practically nothing, new information was gathered, this time bought with gold, not with shovel. Gold, that was earned by working as sellswords.
During the Age on Ice, those (about 6) elven generation of Silver Grass managed to grow this house in size and regain most of the lost knowledge. BrondMinyature was one of the youngest generation elves, he lead newest generation of elves to earn gold, so they could finally complete this artifact and return to elven community, telling the truth about what they forefathers did. The warriors of silver grass, however were forbidden to use any magic, so noone would decide to "gather that knowledge" again.
Chapter 7
The end.
As far as I know, elves did not manage to complete that artifact, as one payment did not reach them. This is sad, but unfinished [Name of the artifact][unreadable] - artifact lies deep inside of Silver Grass home and caves underneath of them. Elven magic users, sealed themselves into the tunnels and attempted to finish artifact, but did they succeed or failed, is not known. All, that is left now of Silver Grass is Few children and elders of Silver Grass - whom were rescued from undead by "Mist Elves" - their fate remains unknown.
What artifact did the elves work on? Why did they continued to hide this even after several generations? Why did they just not turn back to elven community and create their own, remains unknown. Is that artifact good or, perhaps, was it poisoned by Vikas mana? Can it be restored and used or is this artifact lost forever? Is the way to artifact simply sealed off or perhaps even protected - That I do not know, but I shall find out.
Signed,
Ephros Embor,
Historian
Authors notice: My source(s) shall remain secret.