A History of the Elfish Speaking People s.I

In the distant past, during a time now lost to mists of history, the folk were born with wings and soared across all the heavens. They were the Avariel. By day they flew among the clouds and by night they moved among the stars. All the folk were as one and they lived above a great green valley which they called Teranis and kept to the skies of it, which they called Aeranis. None of the folk knew natural death at that time, and each was immortal and could not die, save by violence.

Aerdrie Faenya was the Ranaa of them during that Age. She was noble and just, a true daughter of the Master of Song and not easily swayed away from the concern of her people. Under Aedrie, the Avariel lived apart and did not concern themselves with matters of the Teranis below.

In the skies, the Avariel were keepers of the Faestone and of the sacred flame that it produced. It was they that built fires upon the heights of the Tablelands in emulation of the stars of the sky. They did this to honor Corellon Larethian their Lord, and to reflect the majesty of the Ere of All.

Now there were things stirring on the surface of Teranis and the curiosity of some of the folk caused them to watch and wonder and leave aside their duties with the sacred flame. So Aerdrie decreed that her children should leave those people to themselves and not in any way interfere.

Aerdrie warned, "The way of Teranis is not like the way of Aeranis. There every person fights over land and the creatures that cross over it. The way of Teranis will always be one of war. If we interfere now, we must interfere forever. For one person claims what another person wants and so it will be forever until the end of time. Their way is not our way, for we are Skyborne and they are Landbound."

So it was that throughout the First Age the Avariel watched. Over and over they saw the depredation of the Urok against the Holbyt and Gnummor and Dwenir and Vyrum, but they did not involve themselves. At long last, they were able to witness the coming of the Tytanos to bring the justice upon the Urok and restore peace to all Teranis.

Many of the people had been slain and the plants of the ground grew tall and took over all that had been. The Entwe were rulers then and they were masters of plants and other creatures of Teranis that did not move, and that time between times belonged to them.