II. The Departure

(50,000 years ago)

After Noi'sho'rah prophesied for the elves and ascended to be with the Arkati, Tahlad gathered his followers. They became known as the Dhe'nar, meaning "First Born," in reference to being the original race that was native to Elanthia. Several thousand elves followed Tahlad. The journey was well documented even amongst the other elven houses who had their spies watching the Dhe’nar Exodus. Though estimates vary from as few as 3,000 to as many as 30,000 elves departing with Tahlad, it is more likely that the larger number was the more accurate estimate given the great interest by the seven houses and considering the great length of the journey.

Tahlad led them away from the fledgling elven houses, never again to return. He leaned heavily upon his long felwood staff, wearing the grey robes of mourning that were customary at the time. When asked, he said he was mourning the death of the elven people. Upon his right index finger he wore a large platinum ring, inset with a sunstone, the stone that symbolized rebirth. He often said he wore this ring to remind him of the resurrection of the elven soul that The Way promised.

Noi’sho’rah had long spoken of leading his people on the journey to their promised land. Why he did not is unknown. Some believe he was too old. Others thought that his conflicts with Korthyr had darkened his outlook and made him question his own faith in the elven future. Regardless, in a final meeting with Tahlad, the elder elf told the priest about a land of great tests, through which the First Born must pass before their ascension.

Armed with that knowledge, Tahlad led the elves south, searching for the place of testing. He sought out a place shrouded in mystery and darkness that was known only to few at the time; a place whose name was barely whispered by even the Arkati. The Dhe’nar were to find Rhoska-Tor. There, the strength of the First Born would be tested and their character reforged and strengthened by the dark power of the barren wasteland. When the time was right, they would move on to find their promised land.

They traveled along what would be named later as the Dragonspine Mountains by humans, after leaving west from the elven capitol. With so many elves in such a large group, many resources were stretched thin. Not all the elves following Tahlad had been prepared for a long journey. Many had brought no food, no tents, and no blankets. Some even traveled barefoot. It took almost a year for the group to reach the eastern edge of a huge mountain range. The pilgrims turned south, using the wall of stone as their guide.

It was midwinter and the mountains were blanketed with snow and temperatures plunged so low that even the water carried in canteens worn under robes froze. Many elves died from exposure to the elements. The survivors slept huddled together, covered with the blankets and tents the prepared few had brought with them. The few warriors and hunters among them provided game to feed the mass of cold elves and fended off the wolves and other creatures of the mountains that attacked.

The group traveled slowly, due mostly to its size, but also due to its poor morale and its lack of supplies. As winter progressed, Tahlad turned the throng east toward the coast and warmer weather. As the elves left the mountains, they were beset in the foothills by a horde of trolls. Barely trained and still recovering from the frigid climes of the mountains, many elves were slain before the trolls could be beaten back. The casualties were great. Five hundred stone cairns still mark the graves of these elves, many leagues west of the site that would later be known as Shadowguard.

To recover from their losses and to prepare for any further attacks, Tahlad beseeched the elves to spend time gathering supplies and training for the eventuality of future combat. Tahlad was also intelligent and compassionate enough to know that many would need time to mourn the losses they had suffered. The Dhe’nar did so. A large village was built from rough-hewn timber. Huge fields were cleared and many of the elves, even the children and the aged, spent hours training with the warriors. Five years passed thus, until Tahlad decreed that it was time to move on. In one night the village was cleared and prepared for travel. The next dawn, the pilgrims set off to the southeast.

The remainder of the journey was no less treacherous. Many more elves died. Some lost faith and remained behind, establishing small settlements of their own. Others returned to the lands of their origin that would later become the seven elven nations. Tahlad did not begrudge these elves their choice, or attempt to argue or convince them to stay; but with every elf that left, the burden that Tahlad appeared to carry grew heavier and he leaned more and more on his staff with every elf that was lost.

After 15 years, the First Born arrived in the wasted and blasted ruins of Rhoska-Tor, playground of the Ur’daemon, where the drakes had blasted their foes into the nothingness of the Void.

During the years of travel, Tahlad had experienced many visions and dreamed many prophetic dreams. In one of these dreams, which are described in vivid detail in his journals, he had seen a great black obelisk of basalt, tearing into the sky like the hungry claw of some great beast. He knew from his vision that this monument would mark the gates of the place of testing, the first real stop on his pilgrimage to the Dhe’nar promised land.

When Tahlad saw the obelisk he fell to his knees. His laughter could barely be heard over the wasteland’s howling winds and his tears of joy stained the whirling sands for a brief moment.

The elves had reached their destination. Their happiness, despite their parched and blasted surroundings, was an almost palpable thing.