A Treatise on the Juristo Elves

   The elves of the Juristo Forest are an independent lot. The disagreement between Juristo and Shir elves occurred over twelve hundred years ago. As the centuries passed, more exclusion between the two factions happened. Now, Juristo and Shir elves think of themselves as complete strangers, even though only four generations have passed. They have become two squabbling siblings fighting over the heritage of the elven culture, both not seeing their folly.

The Cost of a Dance

   The origins of this conflict arise out of elven culture. Dancing, a long part of elven society is considered a high art form. However, few realize that is because of a dance that the Sundering, as elves call it, would occur.

   Twelve hundred years ago, a yearly celebration of the dawn of spring was observed by the Shir elves. Every elf in the forest looked forward to this day of renewal and life. It just so happens that the two main families of the Shir elves, Juristo and Del'isha, had different variations of the Dance of Spring Waking. Each one wished their version of the dance to be enacted during the festival.

   The subject was brought before the High Elders, which looked to the families to negotiate with each other. Elves have long felt that problems should be handled among the originators. Since the High Elders would reach no solution, the families decided to take it unto arms. No one could possibly think of the result of that private war.

The Battle of Jeraph's Glen

   Battles were quick and furious, elven blood shed on both sides. Scores of family members were slaughtered and stacked like cordwood on the battlefields. The most prominent battle occurred at Jeraph's Glen, in the center of Shir. The Juristo family had decided to stage guerilla warfare on the trade routes of the Del'isha. They lay in wait for over three days, patiently waiting for the Del'isha. The rival family had thought the Juristo might go to such measures. They arranged for one of the King's daughters, sister to Queen Sali'thrianna, to be escorted along with Del'isha goods. The Del'ishas, not afraid due to their company, did not realize their folly until too late.

   The leader of the Juristo raiding party, Lon'iela Juristo, did not receive any information of the King's daughter and proceeded with the raid. In less then a minute, every elf in the glen sporting Del'isha colors were blossomed with arrows. The King's daughter, whose name we do not speak of for grief, traveled under the Del'isha banner and received four arrows for the honor. The goods were taken; the Juristo's none the wiser.

   When the fallout of the situation reached the Lon'iela, he screamed out in grief. His hatred for the Del'isha had caused him to doom himself and his family. The King took pity among the Juristo and banished the members of the raiding party from the Shir forest. These elves journeyed to what is now Owl Home, where their descendents continue to live. This was the first step in the Sundering.

The Social Fall of Juristo

   After the death of his daughter, the King favored Del'isha over Juristo in a number of activities. This caused a large amount of money to be drained from the coffers of the Juristo family. They were nearly broke when a situation came up that would change their lives forever- the LoMontaigns had arrived in Kershak.

   Zoal'isha Krellse, then the head of the Juristo family, saw an opportunity to make a substantial amount of money and restore the family honor. They reached out to the humans, establishing trade and friendship. Money started to seep slowly into the vaults of Juristo homes, glittering pieces that attracted the sight of the King.

   The King still had not forgiven his daughter's death and decided to make a point of the friendship between Juristo and the humans. He viewed the humans as invaders of the realm and called for their destruction. Juristo's throughout the forest refused to fight their friends, who had never turned on them like the King. The King called for their removal of the High Elders, a position held by the heads of all of the families in Shir.

The Exodus of the Juristo

   Zoal'isha Krellse declared that if his family was not welcome among the High Elders, his family was not welcome in Shir. The entire Juristo family, including many relatives and associated families, decided to join their exile.

   In all, twelve families sundered all ties to the Shir elves and began an exodus to a new home. Many places were considered and eventually cast away. Finally, they found a home among the halflings and gnomes of the then Dark Path Forest. The friendships they founded gave them a strength the Shir elves would never hold. The forest was renamed Juristo, a stronghold of unity and cooperation among members of any race willing to extend a friendly arm.

   What began as a dance turned into a drastic situation which effected the elves of the Kershak District for two centuries. Zoal'isha Krellse, now dead for over sixty years, is considered a hero among the young elves of Juristo. Every year on the day of the Sundering, they celebrate with rash parties and bright colors. The elders of the Juristo take the day as a solemn occasion, a day of weeping for the loss of elven culture as a whole. It speaks volumes about the ideals held by the young and old of the Juristo forest.

   The twelve families of Juristo are named: Juristo, Krellse, Woodshadow, Abrethial, Oakleaf, Silverstem, Gellis'shara, Chellia, Streamhome, Jolia'ester, Boughthought, and Lightfern. The Juristo often wear light green and mustard yellow as their colors. All twelve families add their own color to the Juristo's to show their lineage.