The Sundering of the Elvirim

Millenia in the past, long before the Fall from the Stars, the Elvirim were one; the Drow Elvirim had not become a separate people.   In that distant past, all of the Elvirim worshipped Eia’au, the Creator of All. Eia'au had appointed the Safirim of the Nop Derk Safir as guardians and protectors of Derkomai, and for millenia of millenia, the world was as it should be. But after seeing the Elvirim joyfully worshipping their Creator, some of the Safirim grew jealous and harbored evil in their thoughts.   Those Safirim, Apopshe, Azazala, Niohueggre, and Thalatte, began to entice some of the weakest Elvirim, promising them power and wealth, that they would rule over other Elvirim. The only requirement was that, rather than worshipping Eia'au, the Elvirim worship the Safirim. Many young Elvirim believed the lies and half-truths, as well as some few of the elders, who saw an opportunity for greater power and prominence and sought to take advantage of the deceived young.   The deceived Elvirim, ("drow" means "deceived" in Elvrimkou), separated themselves from other Elvirim, forming new tribes apart away from the cities and villages. Believing themselves to be superior to the worshippers of Eia'au in intelligence, moral understanding, and martial ability, the Drow gathered together to launch a war against their Elvirim kin. Never a cohesive force, divided by which Safirim they worshipped, and the corrupt morality they followed, the Drow were quickly defeated, forced into underground havens, which they fortified with traps and magical shields and illusions.   Within their underground fortresses, the Drow Elvirim continued to fight among themselves in a series of brutal and bitter battles. Weakened by these internal conflicts, many of the Drow underground fortresses died out or were abandoned. In western Derkomai, Elvirim forces under the Heru Númenost from Ostnúmenoron drove the Drow south through Nyllamanne and into Yfel. In Yfel, the Drow fled underground, choosing not to engage the superior Elvirim army. Seeing that pursuit of the Drow into their underground stronghold would cost dearly, the Elvirim withdrew, leaving Yfel to the Drow. Over centuries, the Drow transformed that early stronghold into Isolabirre, which was strengthened by the arrival of the Yfeljang, Edan.   The Drow of Yfel were divided into six great Houses, House Zaquarn, House Kwaavaen, House Alierma, House Drynalaer, House Khanlatzeza, and House Siltevelar. When they fled underground, the six Houses were relatively equal in power, but over the centuries, riven by internal conflict as they nearly always are, House Zaquarn, aided by the Yfeljang, has risen to prominence, while House Siltevelar has been cast out and is just barely considered a royal House of the Drow anymore.   In their underground cities and fortifications, the Drow Elvirim were exposed to high levels of radiation from Ungulcah Crystals, which caused mutations - their skin was darkened and they became very sensitive to sunlight. Over time, the Drow Elvirim found it increasingly uncomfortable, even damaging, to be exposed to direct sunlight, and so they became creatures of the dark.