On the myth of humans
Third Eleven counsel of the fourth era year 1120
Many of the Elves and of this council and the kingdom remember the humans unlike the Dwarves, frost giants, and various people and beasts. The only others who remember are the oaken and river spirits, those of whom have no wish of documentation and even less have distaste of us and the others who walk this world. Humans have been gone for just over a millennium. Decimated and dispersed by the evil forces of the earth. They were deeply influential people with an enthralling spirit about them. An innovative spark about their being and dwelling. They were the main proponent of the treaty and meeting of the kingdoms and lands of all.
A short lived race in comparison to all the rest of us of these lands. Only one-fifth that of the Dwarves, who are themselves one-fifth the Dawn Elves. However for this fact or maybe in spite of it their lives could be more influential than those with years to spare. A fervent desire unmatched by any. They would burn like bright stars in the night only to disappear with the season’s turn. Much unlike the long dimness of most. This caused a mass population boom among them and a consistent involvement or annoyance with other nations. They would bustle the world and streets abruptly stringing the peaceful folk along in their whims. Begrudgingly, to sate them, we and many others would indulge them. In all their celebrations and melancholy. After seeing them generation after generation many thought lesser of them as lower folk. Eventually not honoring the allyship when human towns were invaded, seeing them as rabbits of reproduction that would bounce back anyway. Many underestimate the hurt this would cause them that filtered down the generations. A most consistent people remembering who betrayed their ancestors. Eventually, they were whittled to their capital while defending against evils of all. The only ones who showed them favor were the spiritfolk whom they assisted with loving care throughout their forests and springs.
The monstrous slime of the world then approached the human capital. Cave dwellers of all kinds—Goblins, Orcs, and other beasts, some winged, gathered for march on the city. The information spread by spirit or by each kingdom's messengers. So all readied their armies for the human defenses thus a great battle of all the standing good in the world and the crawling evil. They assembled outside the gates. The battle was brash, brutish and blood spilt like heavy rainfall. The humans slung stones from their castle and cast clouds of arrows over their walls making the victory almost trivial. One hundred dead from all accounts of the allies and ten thousand to even tens of thousands more of the enemies were ripped apart by our blades. They fell and fled scurrying to far corners and carving holds in the darker more forgotten places that dwell beyond our road or dream. The celebration was immense on the field, a grand victory. All waited for the humans in their character to come out and party and bestow us praises in singsong voices. So a while waited and a while came and went. So the people came into the city finding none but the spiritkind in the working of the defenses. The halls were silent and the road's empty wind whistled about carrying only the echo of the incoming dusk. A stir was about the nobles and kings. The elder spirits convened saying the humans had taken up boats going west across the sea.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
As recounted from the elder spirit Himral of the grand river south. They lost faith in their allies and so there were secret counsels with plans made. How long could they hold onslaught after onslaught when would their allies care? So spirits assisted unknowingly and by the end knowingly. Himral drove up calm swift currents; they were in boats by early morning and out by the afternoon to the sea west.
To quote Himral directly: “The crowned one said their hearts could not hold any more needless deaths.” Apparently humans are as familiar with joy as they are with sorrow. The spirits were also spurned by our treatment though Himral had arranged this battle since he suspected the only chance of an allied battle would be a treaty with humans even if it was just a fake one. Then he did something rather unexpected. From the river he drew the human’s crown. To quote once more “The human threw his crown into my river as they departed. The walls and all that are in them are now my dominion. I thank you for your service but morose are my waters. I ask you to take your leave at dawn for I have no celebration or song and resent burns in my kin.”
This is when Dwarven lord Gernider spoke up in a loud and accusing voice “why didn’t you stop them?”
“Why?” Himral asked. Then a silence for none had an answer for such a simple question. No more words were exchanged, looks were all looking at each other. Himral took to the castle with head cast down; perhaps he wanted a response. He turned back saying one more thing. “I will carry the crown for a human piece. It is not for a spirit’s head, it's not my right.” The people left in the night, not waiting for dawn.
This occurred in the 104th year of the fourth era two months before the winter season. We Dawn Elves, with assistance from the Dusk Elves have tried on two separate occasions to set sail west once each in the summers of the 150th and 500th years. Each attempt the Captain Erilye said “A storm was set against us by the hand of the world.” Many more attempts since then have been denied.
I don’t get it. If the humans were really at such a point, why would they not house themselves in our kingdom? Such a foolish thing. - Commander Kalius of the Elven Royal Army.
