Elves

The Elves of Aefeodel are almost as old as the land itself. They claim to be heirs to magic itself, possibly the first magical race to come into being. Their long life tends to reinforce this idea as a single Elf can live close to a thousand years. The reside within forests all across the realm, usually staying out of the live of the world around them, seeming to watch on with disinterest.

There are 4 different clans of elves in Aefeodel, each with their own cultures, ideals, and practices. Despite them having different views on life, most of the Elves live in harmony. The four clans rarely get into arguments with each other unless there is a pressing reason for such a conflict. The four clans of the elves are: The High Elves, The Wood Elves, The Dark Elves, and The Ash Elves. The High Elves follow the old ways of magic, seeking direct connection with the magic that surrounds them. The Dark Elves follow a different teaching, one that is more secretive and deceptive but lends to great power in the arcane arts. The Wood Elves follow the lessons of the land and heed the voice of nature as it guides them through life itself. While the High, Wood, and Dark Elves live in harmony with each other, the Ash Elves on the other hand have remained sequestered in the fiery Mountainlands of the North Central continent. Most Ash Elves rarely venture from the Mountainlands unless there is reason to do so. They focus primarily on their own self interest and lean to more darker sinister powers and knowledge. Rumors abound that they are masters of necromancy and had dark designs on the world.

With their long lives, the Elfs of Aefeodel have much knowledge and wisdom to share should anyone seek them out. They have lived through some of the darkest times in Aefeodel's history and now stand as an example of what can be achieved if one learns from the past and can set aside their differences to make way for a better future.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Elves of Aefeodel are humanoid individuals whose most distinctive physical characteristic is their pointed ears. Their skin is smooth and youthful as elves have long lifespans, and their ears are elongated.

With their unearthly grace and fine features, elves appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 120 to 150 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females. Elves’ coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes skin in shades of copper, bronze, and almost bluish-white, or whitish-green; hair of blonde, gold, black, green or blue, and eyes like pools of liquid gold or silver. Elves have no facial and little body hair. They favor elegant, flowy clothing in bright colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

]Aside from their ears, Elves have other major differences between them.[/p

Genetics and Reproduction

Elf mating and procreation is not that different from any other humanoid races, while the type of Elf that is born is most effected by the race their parents are, the magical forces within the very land and location they are born in can occasionally play a part as well. Parents genetics large influence the development and type of Elf is born. For example, if two Wood Elves have a child, their child is most likely to be a Wood Elf. If a Dark Elf and a High Elf have a child, their child has an even chance to be either a Dark Elf or a High Elf. However, due to Elves being highly sensitive to magical forces of the world, there is always a small chance for a child to be a completely different race of elf then their biological parents.

Growth Rate & Stages

Elves have a long slow growth rate in regards to their mental development, however their physical growth was very close to that of normal humans. While it may take nearly 50 years for an Elf to mentally mature into that of a young adult, their bodies would reach physical maturity between the ages of 26 and 29 years of age. Like other humanoid races, female elves tended to mature faster than most male elves in both physical appearance and mental maturity. Elves as they age maintain a youthful appearance even up to their elder age, were the most noticeable signs of their age are a few winkles on their face making them look like humans between the age of 50 and 60.

Ecology and Habitats

Elves live almost entirely in the woodlands throughtout Aefeodel and other realms of the world. There are however, some who have settled in towns and cities.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Elves are almost entirely vegetarian. Many find the consumption of flesh distasteful. They do not hold issue with use of animal products and certainly have used animal products themselves.

There are however occasional elves who will consume meat products.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Elven social structure varies greatly. Because Elves live less in great kingdoms or cities but as widely distant towns and villages throughout the wooded areas of the realm, some societies are matriarchal, patriarchal, and some even more democratic (though that is few and far between). In some of the older clans, a nobility exists.

Facial characteristics

Elves faces are often described as 'all angles' in a away that is nothing short of absolute grace. Their ears typically tend to be between 4 and 6 inches in length and are swept back to and elegant point.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Elves of Aefeodel primaraly live within the forestss, but they can also be found through out the lands of Aefeodel.

Average Intelligence

Elves have similar intellect to humans but because of their exceptionally long lives, they have a perspective that comes across as wisdom.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Elven ears have a different hearing range from humans. While human adults here noises from 400 to 20,000 hertz , elves hear from 1000 to 30,000 hertz, a slightly higher range. This is probably why elves speak in higher pitches than humans.

Elves have an excellent sense of sight especially in close ranges. They separate colors better, and therefore make better archers and hunters in forested areas, when shades of green are the difference between a leaf and a meal of frog legs.

Smell and taste are usually the same as humans, though what elves and humans like to taste and smell is not always the same.

Many elves have a natural, inate ability to use magic. Because of their deep connection to the world itself, their natural magic is quite different from that of mages and other magic users. It is old, deep, and elemental. It is however, significantly 'weaker' than the magic of spellcasters and other magic users. Their magic is directly connected to life and the world and manipulation of anything beyond that requires spellcasting.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the fiftieth birthday, and before this period they are called by child names.

On declaring adulthood, an elf selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every elf bears a family name, typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some elves living among humans translate their family names into the local tongue, but others retain the Elvish version.

Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall

Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis

Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Naïlo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal)

Beauty Ideals

Elves have no facial and little body hair. They favor elegant clothing in bright colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

Typically, elves can find great beauty in most other elves and therefore physical ideals are rare, and individual attractions tend to result from what one does with oneself, either in terms of goals and acheivements, or in terms of how one adorns ones body and clothing.

In general, there is an inherent androgyny in elven features and they find that attractive in other races too.

Gender Ideals

Elves themselves are relatively androgynous so gendered appearances is relatively unheard of. Like most species in Aefeodel, Elves are mostly pansexual. Because of this, linked with their androgyny, elves have few gender 'ideals', instead focusing ideals on the individual rather than the gender.

Relationship Ideals

Polyamory is the norm in elven society, with most 'family units' consisting of typically no less than three males and three females.

The act of courtship is complicated and often waits until a more mature age is reached.

During adolescence and early adulthood, elves often find themselves desiring monogomy, letting youthful ideas of romance govern their romantic and sexual relationships. As they mature, they typically cluster. Often close friendships from early in their lives become more romantic. Organic bonds start forming and after many years, family units emerge. It is not uncommon for young adult elves to find themselves joining existing units.

Because of these units and the interconnectivity of them, the idea of family is difficult, not just to understand but to define, as so many clusters have direct connections to other clusters. This results in elvish society focusing less on family units and more on overall community.

Common Dress Code

They favor elegant clothing in bright colors. The nobility, wealthy, and community leaders tend to wear rich colors of fine fabrics with gold embroidery.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Elvesh culture is strong. They are great patrons of music, poetry and are great historians and wizards of the world. Even now, elven arts are incomparable, and they sing and dance on their great halls of wood constantly, where it seems the feast will never stop.

In behavior, elves can seem very conservative. Their societies usually have few laws, but these laws must be obeyed, especially when it comes to magic.

Elvish books and art is highly valued throughout the world, and both scholars and connoisseurs of art would do well to learn the Elvish language should they want to go far in their profession.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Elves are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, though a few elves make a good living by trading crafted items for metals (which they have no interest in mining).

Elves usually hold huge festivals during natural events, especially the passage of seasonal stretches. Being more connected to the natural world, the stretches for the elves also cause behavioral changes. They go more taciturn during winter but are happy and more charitable during spring.

History

For millenia, the elves were seen as the epitome of existance, almost something to be aspired toward. Their interconnectivity with nature and magic was revered by other races and their exceptionally long life made many jealous.

Despite their great wisdom and magical abilities, elven aggression and conquest was all but inexistant.

In the early years of the Empire of Aefeodel, elves offered council to the Empress, Gennon, and were seen as an ally who helped unite the twelve warring human factions. Before the Great Cataclysm, Gennon's opinion of the elves seemed to change. She viewed their magic, and long life with skepticism and she expelled elven council from court.

Sensing a shift in alligence, many elven tribes began uniting and amassing a formidible defensive force.

Seeing the construction of an army was all Gennon needed to confirm her suspisions. She called a synod of warlocks and had magical boundaries imposed on the elves.

In 1825 FA (-1825) a catastrophic seismic event rocked all of Aefeodel. Mountains in the Central Provence exploded, tsunamis battered nearly all the shores. The Earth shook so violently that the roof of the Great Keep of Kairndern Castle, Gennon's citadel, collapsed. The Empress instantly believed this to be an elven magical attack, and after just a year of reconstruction, Gennon led the largest military force Aefeodel has ever seen across the realm, eliminating or subjegating all 'subhuman' species in a military campaign now called The Great Purge.

Gennon's offensive resulted in the deaths of millions of non humans and the eradication of at least three species.

Despite their significantly reduced numbers, elven culture survived, but instead of in great woodland cities, now only in small towns and villages, fearful that too many gathered together could result in another attempt at genocide.

Following the Terrible Divorce, human culture began to see elves as less threatening, and slowly many integrated into a community life with humans. Both species however still hold prejudices and mistrust toward the other.

Lifespan

800-1200 years

Average Height

5.5 - 6.5 feet

Average Weight

135lbs

Average Physique

Elves tend to be about as tall as their human counterparts but tend to run leaner.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Depending on the race of elf, the skin color can range greatly.

High Elves tend to have extremely fair to medium tanned skin. Occasionally with light blue, as the sky.

Dark Elves tend to have browner coloring with occasional black flesh.

Wood Elves are almost always a shade of light green, usually an olive green. They never have the same color green as orcs.

Ash Elves coloration tends to be exactly as it sounds - ashy grey.

Related Organizations

• Kingdom of Qethanvale