Lore:Lefthanded Elves

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The Lefthanded Elves (or Left-Handed Elves), also known as Sinistral Mer (or Sinestral Elves), were a race of elves from Yokuda. They were the enemies of the Yokudans (ancient Redguards) and fought long and bitter conflicts with them for a thousand years, with the Orichalc Tower being involved in their wargames. They were said to have had a large empire. They used a type of stone known as gypsum alabaster in many of their structures. In Vivec’s legendary sermons, it is claimed that when Vivec and Nerevar went to Yokuda, Vivec wed one of the native kings leading to the birth of new “monsters” who would ultimately destroy the land. This alleges that Vivec had a hand in the creation of the race.

During the Mythic Era, the Na-Totambu (Yokudan royalty) fought to a standstill among themselves to decide who would lead the charge against the Lefthanded Elves. Their swordmasters, though, were so skilled in the "Best Known Cuts" as to be matched evenly. Leki intervened, introducing the Ephemeral Feint, and a victor emerged, and war was subsequently declared on the Elves. Diagna, an avatar of the HoonDing, brought orichalc weapons to the Yokudans, which were instrumental in defeating the Elves. The swords of the Ansei sent the Left-Handers into the oceans, before the Yoku themselves went into a civil war which ended in the destruction of the continent. The Ra Gada's extermination of elven colonies along the coast of Hammerfell is due to their hatred of the Lefthanded Elves. The Redguards no longer speak of the Lefthanded Elves, as recalling the elves' abominations serves only to darken their days.

Despite being driven out of Yokuda in the Merethic Era, the Left-Handed Elves surived into the First Era, and attempted to conquer the Systres from the Breton druids who lived there in 1E 660. While they took the island of Amenos and built a fortress on it, they were unable to conquer the rest of the Archipelago and their campaign ended when Mount Firesong of Y'ffelon erupted in 1E 676. Left-Handed Elves continued to live in the Systres until they were wiped out by the Yokudans once more in the Ra-Gada Warrior waves fleeing the sinking Yokuda in 1E 785.

The Lefthanded Elves' defeat by the Yokudans and the subsequent sinking of Yokuda imply that the race is extinct, although it has been speculated that there may be a link between them and the southern Maormer. They are believed to have sailed near Thras as well, leading some to believe the buoyant steel salvaged by the Sload came from their shipwrecks, though it was much more likely Frog-Metal. Due to suffering under Elven rule in Yokuda, some elven-loan words made their way into the Yoku language.

For more information, see the main lore article.

Gallery

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  Yokudan statue of Morwha carved from gypsum alabaster obtained from the Lefthanded Elves

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  Lefthander's Aegis Belt, a Sinistral cincture

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  Yokuda, homeland of the Lefthanded Elves

References

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.