The First Sundering of the Elves

For a thousand years the elves remained content to remain within their forest strongholds keeping a close watch for any violation of their borders.
In this time they made one great breakthrough in their arcane research, a way was found to withhold the Dreaming from an individual. But this ritual had a major drawback, for one individual to be spared another must go early into the Dreaming, even then the first only gained ten to fifteen years added to his waking days. It was decided that the high king would be so sustained so they would have a continuity of leadership. While this plan appealed to the elders,who had very little time left and so were not likely to be ask to make the sacrifice, The younger members of the court were greatly disturbed by this decision.
By tradition the young did not have a voice in the council of elders and so had no means to oppose this move by the king. They began to gather together in secluded groves to discuss what was to be done.
Talking may have been the extent of their efforts if fate had not intervened at this point. Far to the east a presence made itself known. A presence not felt since well before the movement, a Mallorn was blooming. The grove of Mallorns deep within their forest was believed by the elves to be the only remaining grove in all of Ar-Lon. But the presence was unmistakable, Far in the east one of the High Trees was in bloom.
Seeing an opportunity to escape being sacrificed to the king a young (520 years old) elf by the name of Alainanen ne' Kail came forth and called for quest to find the new Mallorn. The Elders still fearful of the damage they had taken from the young races were hesitant to venture forth. And so as none of their number came forth to take up the challenge the king was forced to appoint the young elf to lead the quest. Alaine put out a call and the response was overwhelming, 10,000 of the host came forth and pledged their honor to the venture. Preparations were made and in secret 40,000 more elves went forth saying they were sending off their comrades but planning to join the host as well.
And so it was 50,000 elves that ventured forth onto the plains of the valley. They went forth with weapons tied and sending heralds ahead to declare their desire for peaceful passage east. Making great efforts to avoid settlements they traveled for four days before they were challenged. Alaine went forth alone and unarmed to parley with the human army that they outnumbered 4 to 1. Making his intentions known Alaine was informed of the existence of a great river between him and his goal. After much negotiation he traded a small fortune of gold and gems they had brought with them in return for safe passage to the river and enough wood to build boats to cross it.
News of the encounter sped ahead of the host like wildfire and they were greeted with cautious good will at each settlement they passed. Adding to the good will was the fact that they paid generously for provisions from anyone willing to do business with them. The promise of a new home free of the high king shone in their eyes.
They began to believe fortune had smiled upon them until they reached the river. There, standing between them and the much needed lumber, stood a force of dwarves demanding that they abide by the peace treaty and return to their forests. The words of peace and their intentions to cross the river as quickly as possible fell on deaf ears. Alaine told the dwarves that with or without their consent he was going to cross the river. When the dwarves refused to move he took a risk and commanded his host to drive them off taking care to not kill them.
So it was that the elves began to build great rafts to ferry themselves across the water. When the rafts were complete and they rested and prepared to begin crossing on the morrow.
In the night a great force of dwarves returned and fell upon the camp intending to slaughter all there.
So began a battle that lasted 2 full days. The elves fell back into a defensive stance with the river to their back turning back attack after attack. The dwarves sure the elves were simply an advance force sent to soften their defenses sent runners to further clans for re-enforcements to wipe them out.
The dwarves plan would have succeeded but that fate stepped in once again. Within the forest across the river rose a cloud, a cloud of sweet pollen of the mistral flowers. The mistral pollen has the quality that any who breathe it are stripped of all aggression. And so as the cloud swept down upon the armies peace broke out and the dwarves stood dumbfounded not sure why they had been so angry and unable to stop the elves from seizing the opportunity to board their rafts and leave.
By the time that the effects of the mistral had passed none of the elves remained on the western shore. The dwarves angry, but unable to follow, returned to their mountains leaving a small force to build an outpost to watch for any attempt of the elves to return.
On reaching the far side the elves set up camp and set about binding their wounds and making plans to settle this new forest and to locate the Mallorn grove.
But when they came together Alaine found his people were of two minds.
One group still fired with the dream of this new home wished to proceed into the woods and begin building homes for themselves.
The second group fearful of the battle they had just escaped and believing that the dwarves would try to find a way to follow and finish their intent councilled traveling downriver as far as possible and finding a new home there far from enemies.
For a month the two groups debated, neither one giving an inch. In the end it was decided that agreement was impossible, so those who would depart were given leave to reshape the rafts into sturdier vessels and to leave to seek their own peace.
So it was that in a short time the elves were sundered into three peoples.
Those who remained with the High King became known as the Vy-Nar or High People.
Those who settled the new forest became the Eld-Nar or grey people for they had left the light of the elders behind them.
Those who fled south down the river passed from the knowledge of their brethren and were spoken of as the Sol-Nar or lost people.
The dwarves who remained to watch eventually became the roots of the dwarven kingdom of Zirkast, though it would be many years and much would occur before that came to pass.