[ what of yours, ah. so much to say, but most of it comes out looking the same as this world's, but perhaps bloodier. or perhaps it's only that way because he lived these things, and the elves of the alienage were never in the wars that put them where they are. well, here we go. starting at the beginning. ]

For a long time, Aen Seidhe, my people, called elves by those outside us, covered most of the land. We lived peacefully among the other elder races. [ for the most part, a few skirmishes and scuffles here and there, but no all out wars to speak of. they coexisted. ]

When humans landed on our shores, they brought war with them. My ancestors thought little of them, ceded some lands to their conquests and called it fair. Even allowed them into our cities in peace. [ Iorveth snorts, shaking his head at the foolishness of the thought. It was their own pride, considering themselves above and beyond their reach, underestimating the cruelty of man. He takes a long swig of his wine, before continuing on. ] They returned with armies. Were it just a matter of skill, Men would've fallen there, but it was more about numbers.

We are long-lived, but reproduce slowly. Humans expire quickly, but multiple like vermin. Soon, the bones of Aen Seidhe cities were buried under new human ones. They didn't even bother changing most of the names. [ Vizima, Novigrad, Cidaris, Cintra. All Aen Seidhe cities now ruled by humans, where nonhumans are damned to the outskirt slums, assuming they aren't thrown in dungeons or put to the noose for one absurd reason or the other. Pathetic, really. ]

The Continent looks much like Thedas now, for my people.