The deception started when I was but a child living in my village deep in the forest, a village never seen by human eyes. Very curious about the outside world and other races, I often wandered seeking to learn of these things. On one of these adventures I encountered a human mage, old and frail he seemed as I hid in the thicket and watched. A power radiated from him the likes I had never seen. Never seen even in my village where all practiced the power of mystic words, for magic is the elven way. Yes, ‘tis true I am elven, born of pure elven blood. How then, you ask, am I of human form? Please let my story continue.

After watching the old mage for a time, I feared darkness and fled home slipping from the thicket undetected. The next day I left my village as the sun rose and returned to my hiding place among the thicket. I waited, hoping that the mage would return so I could observe him for a longer period of time. After an hour or so he appeared from the woods. He walked to the spot he sat in the day before, paused leaning on his staff for a moment, then sat cross-legged on the soft grass. He tilted his head so the sun could cover his face with its warmth. He sat motionless for some time just basking in the sun.

Then in a voice almost a whisper that seemed not to come from where he sat, but rather lips close to my ear, “Boy, come from that thicket and sit beside me in this fine sunshine.”

I froze in fear, how could he know of my presence? He spoke again as if he were in my mind, “Fear me not, young one. I hold no hate for elves.” My fear turned to overwhelming curiosity, but move I did not.
“Suit yourself, silly elf.” came the voice once more.

I sat not moving for a period, but the fear of missing a chance to meet a human was greater then my fear of harm. I slowly crawled from the thicket and paused. He remained as he had for hours, face to the sun and legs crossed. I eased towards him, and when within 10 paces of him he spoke (this voice from his lips unlike the one I heard in the thicket), “So I see your thirst for knowledge has won its battle over your fear.”

I nodded yes.

“Do not nod at me boy, you favor a tree with a branch bobbing in the wind. I would not converse with a tree nor will I with a nodding boy. The gods gave you a voice, use it or go bother some monks.”

I spoke, but my voice cracked, “Yes.” I answered, but the word barley made it passed my lips.

“Good,” he stated, “now do you have a name, or do I go on calling you boy."

“I am Aeolus.” I answered.

“Well, Aeolus, I am Majere. Have you heard of me?”

“Nay.” I answered, but indeed I had, for anyone with the power of magic knows of the God of Good Magic; but could this be him? ... this old frail human?

“Lie not Aeolus, lying leads to swift deaths.” He thundered as the words boomed from his mouth. There came a great flash of light and the earth stopped, the air left my lungs and movement was not possible. Only seconds passed, but it seemed an eternity. As air found my lungs again, Majere knocked me to the ground. In that instant, the world had stopped. He rose to his feet, closed the 10 paces to make me take leave of my feet. As I hit the ground, a bolt of energy struck the old mage in the chest not phasing him. I rolled to look in the direction from which it came “Oh GREAT GODS!” I exclaimed.

Standing less than one hundred feet from us, four great black daemons appeared from the very air that filled my lungs.

“Kal Vas Flam.” rose from Majere’s lips as his hands rose and the first daemon ignited in flames that started at it's feet and rose above it's head, and as the flames faded, so the daemon did ‘til but a pile of ash remained. The three remaining daemons took no notice of this great deed and, in almost perfect harmony, cast silent spells one after another at Majere.

“In Vas Mani.” voiced Majere, and tiny sparkles of light surrounded and spiraled about his body and his health rose. He stood tall against the onslaught of spells. “Corp Por." were the next words he spoke, and a flash of energy flew from his hands striking the closest daemon. The daemon's hands took leave of his arms to which they were once attached and fell to the ground. It's eyes opened wide and its knees began to buckle as it tilted forward to fall. It's upper torso rolled off and landed by it's feet. The spell had sliced this great beast in half. Nary a drop of blood fell, for the heat of the spell had cauterized as it passed through.  Another spell came from Majere before this beasts demise had finished. “An Grav.” and the remaining two daemons vanished in plumes of steam like smoke. “Just as I expected,” Majere exclaimed, "summoned daemons, weak ones at that. Are you alright, Aeo?" he asked. I had no words to speak nor air to speak them with for I had forgotten to breathe. Gasping I took air in as if I had been drowning.

“You're safe, young one. Stand, it's ok.” he said as he smiled from above, offering me his hand. I reached to his hand and as it closed around mine, serenity filled my heart and mind. Everything I had feared my entire life left me and everything I had wanted to know I suddenly knew. My mind filled with knowledge of things and places I knew nothing about. I felt as if I could do anything and go anywhere. Majere pulled me close, his lips close to my ear. “I grow old, young one. I found you, or should I say you found me, not by accident. You see, this is my last trip among mortals and I shall not return to this realm. I must take my seat in the heavens. I delayed my leave long enough to seek out one with which I could leave my earthly knowledge.”

“But why me, a young elf?”  I asked.

“Why not you?” He answered.  “I chose you, young one, because your heart is true and you're young enough to stay that way. My only fear for you is if you can overcome the loneliness that this power and knowledge will bring you early in life. Be strong, young one, and beware of the green…"  his words stopped and he was gone.  The world went dark and I fell to the ground.

I awoke presently, the earth blurred and the night fallen. My head ached but the power and knowledge remained. On the ground next to me I found a small pack. Inside the pack was a tattered book, some rune stones and a small pouch with assorted reagents, all of which I had instant knowledge. I placed the book in my hand and noticed my hand had grown. I looked to my feet and my feet had grown. My body had grown with the power and knowledge I had gained. Not a great deal had I grown, but enough to notice. I looked back to the book and turned to the 4th page and spoke these words aloud, “In Vas Mani.”

All my pain vanished with the echo of the words and I felt better than I had ever felt before. I gathered up the pack and slung it over my shoulder and looked into the dark forest without thought, I spoke "In Lor.” and the night was filled with light. I was almost frightened of my actions but there was a peace that filled me and the fear quickly passed. The sun had been in the sky about an hour when I reached my village. As I entered, I was welcomed not with hellos but stares and whispers, and I felt not a part of this place in which I was born and spent all the years of my life. My father appeared as if out of nowhere and stood in front of me. His face was filled with sadness and he spoke in a weak voice, "My son, what has happened to you? You are tainted with human aura.” I told my father of my encounter with Majere, how he had slain the daemons and of the passing of the knowledge and power. He became enraged and spoke of betrayal and disgrace. He said that an elf had no need for human knowledge and power.  I was unyielding in my defense of Majere and this enraged him more and he raised his hands and said, "You can live as a human if you insist in defending their knowledge!” and without words his spell hit me and again the world fell black.

When I awoke this time, I felt no pain but something was very different. Everything was different as I came to a little more. I held my hands up in front of my face, "But my hands, they are not these, these are the hands of a human."  My father, true to his word, had transformed my outer being to that of a human. My knowledge, my power and my appearance all human. Only my heart and soul remained of my former life. This must be the loneliness of which Majere spoke.

The forest that I now occupied was very foreign to me, but I feared not nor did I question my fathers actions. I knew he had no choice in the matter. He acted by the code of elves. The problem at hand was to get some idea of where I was and what to do next.  I made no conscious choice, but rather just started walking north. I had not gone far when I happened upon a wandering healer who told me I was in the Yew forest. He seemed aloof and wandered off before I could ask more of him.  At that time, my great lie began. For to all who asked I would answer, "In Yew I was born."