"That's very wise of you. Andrastians aren't a good source on what elves are really like. Deep down, we're just people; the same as anyone else. But we worship our own gods. We call them the Evanuris, or the Creators. Long ago, before the coming of humans, we were immortal and we lived in a vast empire here in the south of Thedas. But it's said that with the coming of humans, we lost our immortality, and they conquered our empire, making us slaves in Tevinter."

The history of the elves is full of sadness and loss. They cherish what they've managed to preserve, and revel in their triumphs, few as they are. Ellana has always looked at things a little differently from most Dalish elves. She's saddened by all they've lost, but she doesn't let it weigh her down. Other wear their anger and sadness at what was lost like a mantle across their shoulders, and as time passes, they burrow deeper and deeper in. Ellana recognizes their past, but looks forward too, hoping for a brighter future. The more the Dalish isolate themselves, the more their bitterness will drag them down.

"We lost nearly everything then. Our history, stories, language, culture -- all of it was ripped away by the Tevinter Imperium. All we know today comes from those brave elves who continued to pass it all down through word of mouth, knowing they would be punished if it was discovered. Today we know words and phrases in elven, but not the complete language. There is very little of the written language we know either."