Elves were the descendants of the humans of Caanae that escaped into the forests and wilderness at the start of the Second Age, when the Horde destroyed the city of Caanae. Over time, the moon of Moradeim transformed these forest-dwelling humans into thinner, more perceptive humanoids, with significantly increased lifespans and an affinity to nature. They called themselves elves and many were members of the Arboreals, capable of communing with the flora and fauna of the forests to assist them in many ways. Elves were also among the first followers of Asaka, Goddess of the Wild and were deeply aligned with the first lycaeans.

When elves began to move into the cities of Kinsarmar, Stavenn, and Antioch, they again adapted to the new environment and become hardier and stronger, and traded their affinity to nature for a deeper understanding of magick. The citizens of Kinsarmar deemed these new versions of elves as the sidhe, while the unchanged elves became known as sylayans.