Dark Elf
Elves are a magical people of otherworldly grace, living in the world but not entirely part of it. They live in places of ethereal beauty, in the midst of ancient forests or in silvery spires glittering with faerie light, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. Elves love nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the good things of the world. With their unearthly grace and fine features, elves appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly shorter than humans on average, ranging from well under 5 feet tall to just over 6 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 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 in Dark Elves, a pale white to dark gray complexion and red to pink eyes. Elves have no facial and little body hair, with dark elf hair usually being either black, white or grey. They favor elegant clothing in dark colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry. Elves can live well over 700 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, elves can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.
Elves take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. They dislike the pace of human society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them travel freely and set their own pace. Elves also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes.
Elves’ coloration encompasses the normal human range and in Dark Elves, a pale white to dark gray complexion and red to pink eyes. Elves have no facial and little body hair, with dark elf hair usually being either black, white or grey. They favor elegant clothing in dark colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry. Elves can live well over 700 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, elves can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.
Elves take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. They dislike the pace of human society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them travel freely and set their own pace. Elves also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes.
Civilization and Culture
History
The Great Calamity / The Heliocide had a profound affect on all races inhabiting Astara, fundamentally changing the way many cultures survived. The majority populous of many races were wiped out entirely, and those that survived were left in utter desolation. The years following the Calamity consisted of mass migrations of displaced cultures, forced to move somewhere safe or intact to start anew. During this time, alliances were forged and broken, ancient treaties abandoned, and a lawless chaos ensued. Most were desperate, and resorted to whatever measures necessary to survive. This greatly impacted the behavior of not only individuals, but cultures as a whole, as seen with the re-emergence of unsavory practices like cults, slavery and cannibalism. As such many races had evolved throughout the calamity, some only vaguely resembling their former selves. See below for some important distinctions of this race:
Legend has it that during the Calamity, the dark elves prayed to their deity Neoma to protect them. And their goddess did protect her faithful, however, at the cost of a curse - turning their entire culture into undead vampires who cannot stand the light of day. Sterile and unable to procreate, the Dark Elves were quickly alienated by others and forced underground, where they hide to this day in lost civilization. Dark Elves have been known to hunt animals, and keep thralls of particular species to feed their populous and limit the impact of their hunts. Regardless, all of the other races have shunned them, except for a select few. Some say the Tiefling populous has banded together with the dark elves in some great underground community.
Legend has it that during the Calamity, the dark elves prayed to their deity Neoma to protect them. And their goddess did protect her faithful, however, at the cost of a curse - turning their entire culture into undead vampires who cannot stand the light of day. Sterile and unable to procreate, the Dark Elves were quickly alienated by others and forced underground, where they hide to this day in lost civilization. Dark Elves have been known to hunt animals, and keep thralls of particular species to feed their populous and limit the impact of their hunts. Regardless, all of the other races have shunned them, except for a select few. Some say the Tiefling populous has banded together with the dark elves in some great underground community.
Lifespan
~ 750 years
Average Height
5' - 6'2"
Average Weight
100 - 145 lbs
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