Some of the pods landed within the various forests of Dhachaigh. Hundreds of years ago, a sharp increase in mutations occurred. This increase produced births having elvish characteristics. While many of them died, over the next decade or two, the births stabilised into what is now known as the elvish races. What is remarkable is these elvish were consistent across multiple areas of forests that had no contact with each other.
These new elves have been supportive and harmonious during the decades of change within their tribal structure. However, over time, the Elves split into two separate races. There were those elves who lived in harmony with the forest as it was, and then there were those who changed their environment to suit themselves. These two distinct factions were called the Forest and High Elves, respectively. The Elf's inherent use of magic was also different between the subraces. High Elves utilised a form of forceful and destructive magic, while the Wood Elves practised magic closer to a synthesis with nature.
In some forests, a single faction dominated. In others, the forest was shared. Over time, forests containing both factions split apart and became very authoritarian. Those who could not abide by the dogma of either society were banished. These reasons range from the use of forbidden magic to attitudes towards nobles or outsiders or just these elves fed up with the highly structured authoritarian societies themselves.
The number of elves banished was surprising, and most ended up in various cities. Over time, these elves formed a new subrace called City Elves. The City Elves, in general, are more tolerant than the other Elven subraces but are still volatile in their reactions towards threats to the nation or nature.