Amlorath

The Cluthara'han

The Elves are a race often shrouded in mystery. To outsiders, the mere mentioning of elves brings about a sort of awe or confusion. You see, Elves hide themselves away far from the realms of man. In the past, most Cluthara'han chose to avoid contact with the outside world entirely. Those Cluthara'han who chose to leave their homeland were considered Forlorn, and were forbidden from returning. Many different peoples have many different accounts and experiences of encounters with the Elves as no two tribes look the same, Elves are visually the most diverse race in all of Asterra. They have the supernatural ability to slowly adapt to a new environment, happens over the course of about 50 years. Sometimes they simply develop more sweat pores and their skin grows lighter, whereas other times the elves entire diet changes to extreme conditions. The Cluthara'han specifically live deep in the forest of Amlorath, a beautiful dense forest filled with all sorts of strange wildlife. Adapting to their home, the Cluthara'han adapted to an herbivore's diet, losing the ability to digest meat in exchange for the ability to live off the forest itself.
In the age of the Green Sea, the Gnomes of Mora faced near extinction until they stumbled across the Cluthara’han. The Cluthara'han, taking pity on the poor creatures, granted them sanctuary in their forst as long as they swore the oath of the Elves. Any Gnomes that would leave Amlorath would become Forlorn, and they would live like the Cluthara'han. For thousands of years this unique relationship would remain unchanged, until around two centuries ago, when the Legion of Mora showed up searching for the Cluthara’han. The Elves issued a warning, but the warning was ignored by the Morans. The Moran consul, Cornelius Maghnisius Lutharacus, marched his legions right to the heart of the forest. The stomping feet of marching men made the ground almost quake around the grand tree, the Cluthara’han were completely surrounded and would have to fight for their lives or surrender. Cornelius offered the elves peace, as the Morans wished only for an alliance… Or so he had said. The Elves reluctantly agreed, but much to their dismay an alliance with the Morans meant that their homes were now also the Moran's homes. Now Amlorath sits as a proud city of Mora, the forest around the Elves' great tree slowly receding away from the city of man. Some Cluthara'han speak of revolution, where as others cower in the streets.

Culture and Religion

The Cluthara’han, or Forest Elves as the Morans refer to them, are a recluse people. Until recently with the occupation of their homeland the Cluthara’han had avoided most contact with the outside world. The Cluthara’han have always valued peace with nature;living alongside it rather than utilizing it. Some may say this is taken to the extreme with the Cluthara’han, as the Elves have an extremely unique diet. All life is valued among the Cluthara’han, and as such even the over-consumption of vegetables is frowned upon.
The elves have long since adapted to being able to eat the leaves and bark off of trees, as well as safely drinking the sap from the trees. The Gnomes could never adapt to the elven diet, as such they do their best to follow the strict diet of the Cluthara’han but often struggle with the day to day life of the elves. For this reason many Gnomes in the past wound up wandering from Amlorath becoming Forlorn and abandoning the Cluthara'han way of life. Many Gnomes even celebrate the Morans, who help the Gnomes live better lives than they lead under the strict Cluthara'han ways.
The Cluthara’han venerate all the patrons except Anilvim. The Elves choose not to venerate Anilvim because traditionally they hold all beings accountable for their actions. Anilvim’s actions, while often forgotten by the younger races, are still being felt today. Many grievances are caused for his heretical transgressions. Indeed, many elves are repulsed at the mere mention of his name. When Cluthara'han come to forgive Anilvim’s actions they are often banished from Amlorath, becoming Forlorn. Since the occupation of the Morans, the Elves have been forced to accept the worship of Anilvim though they feel that condoning his worship will only bring damnation back to Asterra.
The favored Patron of the Cluthara’han would be Ellymlean, the Patron of Life. The elves believe her to be both one of the most mortal-like patrons in existence for her deep relationship with mortalkind, and the mistakes she made in the distant past.

Partnerships and Halfbreeds

The Cluthara’han were not known to intermingle with the other races until the arrival of Humans. With the human acceptance of diverse cultures and races it was natural that they would feel an attraction to the elves, but the uncanny resemblance the Elves came to see in the Humans lead to some unsavory relations. The Cluthara'han never had a concept of Marriage, so when Humans began proposing to court the Elves they were baffled. This isn’t to say that the Elves never had lifelong partners, but such a partnership would come about naturally and last a lifetime much like that of many creatures in nature. Some Elves even have large harems, both of males or females. Indeed the Cluthara'han are far and wide known as one of the most accepting peoples on Asterra.
The Cluthara'han still frown upon their fornication with humans, as this directly results in what they believe to be a weaker, less-healthy and natural offspring. Half-elves lose the natural adaptability of the elves, and live only a fraction of the lifetime. Half elves often only live to be around 140 years of age, whereas some elven druids live to the ripe old age of 1000 before dying. This does not change the Cluthara'han's unconditional love of their children, but it does result in a depressing predicament for them.
The Gnomes and Elves have always gotten along, however there has never been any result of the two races fornicating like the humans. Indeed, Gnomish and Elvish relations are not unheard of, however rare they may be, they never result in offspring. This may be because of the drastically different ancestors of the two races, as Gnomes are descended from a different realm much unlike Asterra, a long lost realm which was the home of the Fae. Indeed Gnomes are thought to have descended from ancient powerful fae, but while once immortal the Gnomes have descended into a strange state of mortality living alongside the mortals since Anilvim ripped them from their own world.

Type

National Territory

Inhabitant Demonym

Cluthara'han

Owning Organization

Senatus Populusque Moranus