A YJA Moment - Elves

Of all the species in Known Space, none are more self-assured and driven to excellence as the Elves. One of the few peoples blessed with true immortality, the Elves once were pivotal in the events of the universe.  Today, most of them refrain from involving themselves in the affairs of the "young peoples", preferring to remain apart in their well-guarded homeworlds.

The Elves believe that they were chosen to be above all other species by the Valar, the central angelic figures of their original religion.  They were created by the Valar on Cuiviénen, their ancient homeland where it was said that they communed with their creators and learned the secrets of the universe. Without the threat of old age and death, they were able to hone their skills like few others.  It would remain this way until the Great Schism, which fractured their people and wounded their spirit.

Though there are conflicting stories of the Schism, this part is known: that two-thirds of the original Elven population refused to heed the Valar.  The resulting war split the Elves into three Nations.  The Dark Elves were exiled to the desolate Svartalfheim, while the loyal Light Elves settled on the verdant Valinor which eventually became known as Alfheim.  Those who refused to involve themselves in the conflict became known as the Grey Elves, who cast off their immortal nature to become what would be the Vulcan and Romulan peoples.

The Light Elves had retained much of the knowledge of their forebears and developed a rich tradition of magic.  They opened portals to several worlds to establish colonies such as the ones on Middle-Earth.  In contrast, the Dark Elves remained on Svartalfheim because they no longer had the mystical or technical means to travel off-world.  They would eventually be contacted by The Shadows and that would allow them to merge magic and machines into the arcane devices they use today. Finally, the two branches of Elvenkind would meet during the Shadow War, though few actually met face-to-face.  

The Dark Elves were locked in battle with the Asgardians, who drove them back to Svartalfheim and decimated their homeworld.  The primary theatre of the Light Elves was on Middle Earth, where they aided the Human kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan against the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron in the War of the Ring. 

 At the end of the Shadow War, the Dark Elves isolated themselves on Svartalfheim to bury their dead and rebuild their fallen cities.  Most of the Light Elves too retreated from Middle-Earth and their Grey Havens on other worlds, to return triumphantly to their homes in Valinor.  There the White Council vowed never again to involve themselves in the affairs of Mortal Races, which they have kept these many centuries up until the modern-day.

A few enclaves of Light Elves still remain in Known Space, most notably on Earth, wherein this Fifth Age some have taken rulership over the fae folk.