Elves
Basic Information
Growth Rate & Stages
These elves age like humans up to adult hood and then slow down greatly. They have been known to continue aging until killed by outside means but never known to die of old age. However the sea is dangerous so most are killed by the time they are 400-500 years old.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Elves had a number of abilities that set them apart from other humanoid races. Like their kin the eladrin, elves were agile, dexterous creatures. However, elves could move slightly faster than their eladrin kin and could move swiftly through even the roughest terrain. Elves were also more preternaturally aware of their surroundings than eladrin, as well as possessing better common sense. This aided elves in many ways, allowing elves a high degree of perceptiveness that they could lend partially to allies. Additionally, elves were extremely accurate in their attacks, having a degree of precision that would be unusual for other humanoids.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
When an elf comes of age, it is customary for her to chose an adult name for herself. Those that knew her as a youngster may or may not continue to call her by her child name.
An elf's adult name is a unique creation, innately linked to her nature. It often reflects the names of those she admires or others in her family. Sometimes past deeds or special characteristics help shape the name. Non-elves often find elven names quite similar, and often believe that several elves may share a name. The truth is that human ears cannot discern the subtle differences in pronunciation. Family names are combinations of regular elven words, and are often translatable into other languages. Some elves chose to use the translated form when dealing with humans.
Male Names
Allanlaigh, Barreight, Bruibevann, Braedonnal, Byrnwbhie, Connal, Conannelaght, Caelcormac, Ceincorinn, Cormac, Corvwyn, Daegandal, Darochinn, Delwynndwn, Derwyndal, Devlyn, Eagandigh, Eamonnal, Finn, Gannelganwn, Garradh, Glyngrean, Lachlan, Lynn, Merwyndin, Niall, Rannoch, Rhuobe, Rhys, Riordan, Seabharinn, Siele, Sliebheinn, Talerdigh, Tuall, Wynehclan
Female Names
Ailein, Alleina, Ardenna, Ashleight, Audreeana, Breeana, Brigyte, Briona, Bronwyn, Caitlannagh, Camrynnyd, Caileight, Dannagh, Deirdre, Duana, Erinn, Fiona, Finnegwyn, Glynna, Gwenyth, Gwyneth, Gwenneigr, Leeana, Llewellyn, Mawrmaval, Meaghan, Meabhe, Niobhe, Nysneirdre, Rhiannin, Rhondal, Sinead, Siobhan, Tuanala.
Family Names
Aleach (Starflower), Amalachloden (Gemflower), Galanohel (Moonwhisper), Holomilach (Diamonddew), Liadonel (Silverford), Meliamene (Oakenheel), Naibohan (Nightbreeze), Siannodenel (Moonbrook), Thimanonell (Gemblossom), Wilosbhent (Goldpetal).
Major Organizations
The Elven Court has fractured from a single large kingdom into many small ones, just as the human Empire has shattered. Every elven settlement now has its own version of the Elven Court, but none of them can match the glories of the original. Like the humans, the elves hope to reunite the elven lands to recapture the beauty and grace of the past.
The type of elven ruler varies from court to court, depending on what the elves of that nation value. The elves of Tuarhievel favor warriors, while those of the Sielwode prefer mages as their leader. Of course, each court prefers its type of leader over all others. If elves are to reconcile, they must first set aside their differences in taste.
Although elves have kings and queens who appear, to the eyes of the human tribes like the rulers of human realms, it would be a mistake to assume that elven governance has more than a superficial resemblance to that of one of the human tribes. For a start elves pay almost no heed to the hereditary principle - although in some realms it is not uncommon for a child of the former ruler to succeed them to the throne this is more do to the child being interested in the role or having served their parent closely than any right of succession - the elves would not be surprised if another became ruler. This is hardly surprising when it is realized that some elves have ruled for longer than human history - Tuar ruled the elves of the Aelvinnwode for at least three millennia and the legendary Sidhe Braelachheim ruled before her for over thirteen millennia.
Perhaps the truest difference between a human and an elven ruler lies in the simple phrase 'a human king is obeyed because he is king, an elven king is king because he is obeyed'. A human ignored by his people would have legal rights to enforce his laws, an elven king would simply not be king. That said the intense disinterest of most elves in governance means that in practice elven rulers have substantial, often entirely unchecked power - their followers trust that the rare orders of the crown are valid and should be followed unless blatantly corrupt. Elven rulers tend to see rulership as a burden, for they like most elves dislike responsibility for others and share the general elven attitude of incomprehension towards the desire to accumulate wealth.
History
The elves of Cerilia are a graceful but reclusive race, suspicious of humankind. Early in Cerilia's history they contested human settlement of Cerilia's vast forests, and a strong current of ill will towards the human nations still runs strong in the elven woods. There is only one race of Cerilian elves; they call themselves the Sidhelien (SHEE-lin). The Sidhelien hold court in deep, mist-wreathed vales in the darkest heart of the ancient Cerilian forests.
The elves competed with humans for the most beautiful land in Cerilia. At first, the elves thought they could live in mutual enjoyment of the forest, with the humans never invading elven lands and the elves avoiding the humans carefully. It worked for a time, for the presence of the humans drew the attention of the humanoids that constantly raided through the forest. Despite the ferocity of the humanoids, the humans proved to be resourceful enough to stand fast, and eventually the humanoids were beaten back -- and humans began looking to elven lands as places for expansion.
The elves were fiercely resistant to this, for they had fought long and hard to keep their lands from the humanoids. When the humans began to force the elves from their ancestral homes, the elven leaders began the Gheallie Sidhe, or Hunt of the Elves. Elven knights roamed the lands held by the elves, slaying whatever humans they found trespassing in their borders. Woodcutters and peasants gathering firewood were slain as brutally as the warriors would-be kings sent to conquer the elven realms. It was all-out war between the two races. The elves had the advantage of skill with many elven warriors having centuries of battle experience however the elves were pushed back year after year. All human records agree that this was because of an element that the elves had never seen before -- priestly magic. The elves could call upon the forces inherent in wood and water, field and air, but had never worshiped deities and thus couldn't understand this new source of power. The priests were the deciding force against the elven expertise in magic and combat; the gods favored humans to such an extent that the elves found themselves practically powerless.
The elves of Cerilia are not the run-of-the-mill elves that most players might expect. These elves, though civilized enough that their music can bring tears to the eyes of even the roughest forester, also have a core of savagery that permeates their being. Having lived with the brutal humanoids for thousands of years, the elves have had to learn to deal harshly with those who oppose them. Besides, they've watched everything they built over the past millennia come crashing down around them with the arrival of the humans such a short time (about two elven generations) ago.
As such, they harbor deep hatreds in their collective breast for those who've dispossessed them. This extends to humans or humanoids, or whoever stands in the way of the elven dominion. However, there are elves who take a more rational view to the whole thing, seeing the humans as the next step and a needed catalyst for change. These elves look to the humans for ways to improve the elven kingdoms, to teach the elves the realities of living in modern Cerilia.
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
750
Comments