The Elves of Lineage 2 begin their journey beneath the branches of the legendary Tree of Life, deep within the forests of Elmoreden. Their starting area is more than a peaceful woodland—it is a kingdom filled with ancient history, divine legends, political conflicts, and the lingering consequences of wars that continue to shape the game's story.
This article explores the lore behind the Elf race, the history of their homeland, and the role players take during the opening quests.
The Tree of Life and the Origins of the Elves
At the heart of the Elven forest stands the Tree of Life, the sacred symbol of the entire race. During the Great Flood, when the world's waters became corrupted, the tree began to wither. To save it, the First Guardian sacrificed herself, merging her spirit with the dying tree. Her silhouette can still be seen among its branches.
The Elves call it the Mother Tree. Its fruits grant them extraordinary longevity, while the tree itself possesses intelligence and communicates its will through the Elven Elders. Of the original twelve elders, only Asterios and Thestian remain alive.
Long ago, the giant spider Nerupa made an eternal pact with the Tree of Life and became its guardian. By this same agreement, the Fairy Queen sent a group of fairies led by Murika to protect the forest.
A Forest Struggling to Survive
Although the Elven forest appears peaceful, it faces numerous threats.
Murika has become increasingly concerned about the declining populations of animals and birds, asking adventurers to help restore the natural balance. At the same time, poisonous spores drifting from the nearby Sea of Spores continue to spread corruption throughout the forest, creating giant mutated fungi and slowly poisoning the ecosystem.
The forest's survival depends on constant vigilance against these growing dangers.
The Elf Village and the Temple of Eva
The center of the Elven kingdom is a beautiful village built above a crystal-clear lake. Elegant bridges, graceful architecture, and towering trees reflect the refined craftsmanship of the Elves.
Its most important landmark is the Temple of Eva.
Originally, the Elves were created by Shilen, who once served as the goddess of water and nature. After her fall and transformation into the Goddess of Death, Eva became the new protector of nature. Though she lacked Shilen's power, Eva's devotion to the natural world eventually earned the Elves' loyalty.
Legend says that after the destruction of the Giants by Einhasad, Eva mourned so deeply that her tears formed the beautiful Rainbow Lake.
The Rise and Fall of the Elven Kingdom
Following the extinction of the Giants, the Elves became the dominant power on the continent. Their rule was eventually challenged by the Orcs, forcing Queen Bieora to seek assistance from humanity.
Humans agreed to help defeat the Orcs in exchange for learning Elven magic.
After the victory, however, humanity betrayed its former allies. To survive, the Elves sealed their homeland behind a magical barrier, isolating themselves from the outside world.
The destruction caused during these wars also drove many forest spirits into madness. Once trusted allies of the Elves, the Lyrain spirits now attack the village with violent winds that destroy homes and terrorize its inhabitants.
The Birth of the Dark Elves
Not every Elven clan accepted peace after the war against humanity.
The Brown Elves wished to continue fighting and eventually turned to forbidden dark magic. In response, the other Elven clans declared war on them.
During the conflict, the dying Wood Elves placed a terrible curse upon the Brown Elves, preventing them from walking beneath the sun. From that day forward, they became known as the Dark Elves.
Although the curse was eventually lifted, the hatred between the two races remained.
The final battle took place inside an ancient underground fortress built during the Human-Elf War. As both armies fought to exhaustion, demonic creatures suddenly emerged from the gates of hell and slaughtered soldiers from both sides indiscriminately. Few survived, and the tragedy left a wound that still divides the Elves generations later.
The State of the Elven Kingdom at the Beginning of the Game
By the start of Lineage 2, the once-great Elven kingdom has weakened considerably.
The forests surrounding the village have become dangerous, filled with mutated spiders, corrupted creatures, restless spirits, and the ruins of old battlefields. Maintaining control over their territory grows more difficult each year.
Meanwhile, the Orcs of the Misty Mountains prepare a new invasion.
The Player's Role in the Starting Story
The player's first mission is to help defend the Elven homeland from the advancing Orc tribes. Under the guidance of the village sentries, adventurers eliminate two Orc leaders, forcing the invasion to collapse before it reaches the village.
Another growing threat comes from the Ratmen, whom the Elves blame for spreading disease throughout the forest. Because these creatures once fought alongside the Dark Elves, they are viewed with particular hatred.
Players venture into the Underground Fortress to eliminate Ratmen, including their leader, Dirty Claw, helping secure one of the kingdom's most dangerous regions.
The Secrets of the Underground Fortress
The Underground Fortress serves as one of the central locations in the Elven starting storyline.
It is overrun by undead, demons, and the restless spirits of soldiers who perished during the ancient civil war.
Several quests gradually reveal its tragic history:
Merchant Unoren believes the undead are fallen Elven warriors and asks players to recover their remains so their souls can finally rest.
Sentinel Starden, a survivor of the ancient battle, asks adventurers to recover the lost poems of his friend, the Elven poet Rumiel Moonlight.
Merchant Creamees seeks revenge against the demon Kirunak, whom he blames for the massacre inside the fortress.
However, after Kirunak is defeated, he reveals that his contract with Creamees has already been fulfilled. Shocked, the player confronts the merchant, who finally confesses the truth: he was the one who summoned Kirunak and the demons, hoping to gain power. When they began slaughtering everyone without distinction, he fled, hiding his terrible secret for years.
This revelation transforms what first appears to be a simple revenge quest into one of the most memorable stories in the Elf starting zone.
The Sea of Spores
Another major storyline centers around the spreading corruption from the Sea of Spores.
Despite the magical barrier protecting the forest, poisonous spores continue to contaminate the surrounding lands.
The Elven Tetrarchs organize research expeditions in search of a cure. Players gather rare spores, medicinal ingredients, and other materials needed to develop treatments for the mysterious illness affecting the researchers.
These quests introduce one of the most important environmental threats in Lineage 2's lore.
The Mystery of the Tree of Life
Perhaps the most significant storyline begins with the slow decline of the Tree of Life itself.
Tetrarch Asterios discovers that the water nourishing the sacred tree has been poisoned and initially suspects the Dark Elves.
Players investigate the sacred spring north of the village and discover that plague zombies have contaminated the water with their remains. Although this explains the immediate corruption, it is only part of a much larger mystery.
The true reason behind the Tree of Life's decline is not revealed until much later in Lineage 2's overarching storyline.
Leaving the Elven Homeland
After proving themselves as defenders of the forest, new Elven adventurers finally leave the homeland that had remained isolated behind magical barriers for generations.
Their journey into the wider world marks the end of the starting chapter, but the mysteries surrounding the Tree of Life, the Dark Elves, and the Sea of Spores continue to influence many future events throughout the world of Lineage 2.
