#elven languages do not use gendered pronouns in this world

In the ancient days, when the elves were still governed by kings, an orcish warlord, form what was then called Urgragresh, sought to conqueror the elves. His reasons were simple. For even in those days it was well known that the elves were the source of spices, silks, dyes, and magical goods which were traded across the Uthemial.

Thus, he mustered together an army of six thousand orcs and humans and marched them towards the mountains which even today guard the elven homelands.

His march was no secret, for the valkiur eagle riders saw at once what was happening, and few back over the mountains with their news, spreading to every town and city they landed at.

In those days, the elves did not gather for a grand council. Instead the elves were divided into many smaller nations, whom all bickered and fought with each other. Yet it was plain to all that no one nation could stand up to this army being marched towards them. Thus did all the elves agree that they must ally with each other so that they could face this threat.

Yet, even with the threat of the six thousand, the kings, councilors, and chieftains all bickered bitterly. For all of them feared they would leave themselves vulnerable to the depredations of their neighbors, and secretly sought to advance their own nation and the others’ expense.

As they argued however, six warriors gathered in the city of Everska, high in the foothills. Between them was the knowledge that the six thousand would march to the very gates of Loria itself before any agreement would be reached.

One was from the north, a rider of the taltiar horse nomads.

One was from the south, a skirmisher from the jungles of Kyriel

One was from the coast, a rainbringer from Hybrasil

One was from Loria, a bladedancer from the lowland forests

One was from Everska, an armored windbreaker from the highlands

And one was of the Losalsifar, the wide-ranging people of all-lands

Thus they swore that they would do everything in their power to protect their kin and territories. To serve and defend all elves regardless of nation. Thus they decided that even if just the six of them stood against six thousand, they would still do whatever they could.

So they crossed over the mountains, to either defeat the six thousand before they could cross into elven lands, or die in the attempt.

In those days, before the human descendants of the Marrowlanders would settle in that valley, the lands beyond the mountains were still heavily forested. Thus the six used the forest to their advantage, as all elves have done. While the army of six thousand fought its way through brush, thorn, and dead fall, the six elven warriors moved through the trees unimpeded.

They struck at the army quick and fast. Striking whenever the army was vulnerable, killing ten times their number in every attack, and retreating back into the forest before their enemy could retaliate. Soon the army of six thousand learned to fear every birdcall, every breeze, and every whistle of wind through trees; for every sound of the forest could be the only warning they received before the six warriors struck at them again. The warlord cursed these warriors and tried time and again to draw them into open battle. Yet not matter what trap he set, the six warriors continued to evade him. Continuing to strike and fight at the times and places of their choosing.

The six elven warriors were not alone in their attempts. The valkiur elves, flying high above the earth on their eagles, saw all that was going on below them. It was them who told the six of the army’s movements and warned them of every trap and ambush which was set. The scattered elven outposts and camps in the valley were always welcoming to them, and gladly shared hearth, company and food to these warriors who fought for all elves.

Slowly the six warriors carved away the army of six thousand. Each battle, like a chip of wood out of the trunk of a tree. One blow after another, each strike adding to all the ones that came before it, until the army of six thousand had become the army of merely six hundred.

Yet the warlord marched his army of six hundred up the mountain passes towards the elves, and there he finally confronted the six warriors in the open battle he so desired. For even as decimated as his army was, six hundred was still a match for six.

Yet the six warriors had known this battle must happen, and had planned accordingly. They riddled the mountain pass with traps, killing all those who were eager for battle and charged in without caution. And when the army of six hundred finally found them, in was on a narrow path, through which only a few could pass through at a time.

And because they were prepared, the six warriors faced down six hundred and triumphed. The last remnants of the army of six thousand were unable to break through that narrow pass, and faced with defeat at the hands of only six warriors, they broke. Retreating back over the mountains. The warlord returned to Urgragresh in disgrace and would never again be able to muster another army of six thousand.

As for the six warriors, kings, councilors, and chieftains all heaped rewards and praises on the six for their defense of all elves. Each one of them returned to their kin and territories rich in wealth and renown.

With the threat of the warlord and his army of six thousand gone, the nations all returned to their bickering. But the legend of the six warriors would live on, and today, when all the nations of elves gather together in a grand council, they are remembered for what they did for all elvenkind.

And it is remembered, that even in those days, six could stand up to six thousand, and triumph.