This is the story of the sundering of the Elven people of Eria. It is a sad, yet necessary tale.
Once, long ago, the Elves were one people. They all lived under the protection of Nethallin, their beloved and caring mother, revered above all else. It was no paradise, but they were united. They lived immortal lives, with no fear of disease, time, or anything else to take them. Their kingdom was thriving, and all their own, with no real challengers.
But this all ended when Va'lethin, the destroyer, the creator of discord and Nethallin's mortal adversary, started a series of wars. He spoke into the ears of some of the most prominent Human leaders, and sparked war. They were always jealous of the Elves due to their long lifespan, and how well-off they were in relation to them. How quickly the tides can turn from peace to destruction.
The Elven people fought for years untold, some amongst themselves but most with the Humans. Nethallin heard their cries, but to some it felt like she had abandoned them. How could she let so much suffering happen? But she was hard at work trying to stop Va'lethin, with the help of some of the other gods.
The Queen of the Elves, at this point, was Erilian. Her beauty and caring nature was renowned, and she was a beloved leader by most all of her people. She tried her best to keep their spirits high during these struggles, and fought as hard as she could for their sake.
But this all ended when the royal palace was overtaken, and she as well as the few surviving royals were captured by the Human leaders. She was killed shortly thereafter and burned at the stake. What little fight that the Elves had by that point was gone, and the Humans took over the Elven kingdom. It became their most prosperous kingdom, cruelly and ironically sharing the namesake of the Queen that they killed.
After these events, the Elves split. One group, mostly comprised of those who were closest to the Queen and generally higher-class, left and settled in the area that would eventually become Athana. They become the Pure Elves. Nearly all of the remaining Elves formed their own wandering clans, and they became the Common Elves. Their separation is but one of the lasting harms that is a result of these events.
As for Nethallin, she was finally able to defeat her adversary, but it drained a considerable amount of her power. From that point on, she has taken a less active role in the lives of the Elven people. She still watches them from afar, loving and supporting them from a measurable distance. Some say that this is why their lifespans are different, now. Nethallin's influence gave them longer lives, and now that she has stepped away, they live shorter lives so they can go and be with her sooner. Still, many Elves secretly wait for the day that they can reclaim even a fraction of what was lost to them.