A Twist of Eternity, Page 2

  Chapter 2 The Tavern in Corbond

  Extract from ‘The Anthropology of the Elder Races’ by Solin’De’Teinde.

  Concerning my own brethren whom we name the T’Iea in our own language, or as we are known in the tongues of men, the Elves. 

  On the one hand we have been called the ‘high elves’, or T’Iea’Denarin, who in ancient times lived in great and beautiful cities and still prefer the feel of stone walls around them. Lovers of art, of beautiful paintings, ornate sculpture, composers of great musical works. Great academics, writers of history and of stories and pursuers of pure knowledge.

  On the other hand the ‘wood elves’, or T’Iea’Tarderi, lovers of natural beauty, of ancient lore, makers of mysterious artefacts, scholars of living enchantment, masters of the mysteries within nature. A race then split loosely into two peoples, both of which above all love the beauty of the world and everything upon it and living in it.

  All T’Iea however appear the same physically and have an identical outlook and attitude in the world, for instead of relying upon their own selfish invention and device, they remain in harmony with the world itself. Haters of evil in all of its forms. Upholders of light and the word of the Maker.

  But in war, for war surely came to us, not a frail people to shun the battlefield, but fierce as any race. Our art and culture flowed naturally into the design of weaponry and other gear of battle and into the discipline of combat. For when faced with conflict the T’Iea defended against it by creating another art form, the art of warfare.