Elves

Elves

Among the oldest and longest-lived races in the ‘verse, elves were the first to harness their magical skill to extend their reach to the stars above. Svelte, stately, and regal to a fault, Elves often view themselves as the true masters of the galaxy, a perspective which has sparked innumerable conflicts in ages past. While they are not physically much different from terrestrial Elves (save for their tremendously long lifespans), Elves of the ‘verse are often referred to as “Star Elves” due to their wildly different outlook and their connection to the great stellar houses.
Unlike the Elven races of more isolated worlds, star elves are not split down genetic or racial lines; rather, they have deliberately self-separated into fantastically prominent Great Houses, or families, each of which claims sole residence of one of the planets in the Elven home system. These separate families modify themselves to assume the traits of traditional Elven subraces. In this way, even though star elves long ago homogenized to a single appearance, every variation of elf can still be found among their ranks. Their austere focus on house and family, while unifying, has also led to notoriously strict traditions regarding naming, relationships, and procreation.

Rise of an Empire

Rise of an Empire Of all the major galactic alliances, the Elven Empire holds the largest territory. Hundreds of life-bearing systems and thousands of planets live under their rule, each a mirror of the glory that is the homeworld. While orderly, well maintained, and generally free of pirates and other ne’erdo-wells, elven imperial space is often regarded as stiflingand still dangerous for most non-elven spacers.
To those that cross into Elven space, adherence to the law of the throne is paramount. While the Elves of Etilion are celebrated as masterful negotiators and diplomats, they are also decried for their iron-fisted rule and brutal censorship. The last thing any free spacer wishes on an enemy is a trip to an Elven prison colony.
In a surprising turn, vect are allowed both complete autonomy and full citizenship on any world in the empire, a lingering gesture of thanks for their support during the Night Crusade. It is not a gift most vect take up fully, but it has generated much goodwill between the races since the war.

The Rite of Naming

All elves of the empire proper are born or reared on Uneara, second planet in the Etilion system. During the first hundred years of their lives, “newborn” elves are taught the ways and traditions of their people—educated in all manner of magic, sciences, art, combat, and other properly-elven studies. In addition, they are rigorously tested and sorted into the elven Great House best suited for their particular talents.
By tradition, the Rite of Naming also adapts elves for their house by means of a series of powerful transmutation spells. Ostensibly, these spells are meant only to imbue a physical change on the elves’ skin, returning their appearances to the traditional elven ancestors from each of the Etilion planets, but in practice, it helps cement elves into their houses for the rest of their days.

High Elves

Those who display aptitude in the magical arts, rhetoric, and diplomacy, in addition to exuding lordly manner, enter the great house Mala’Fiil, and may take up residence on Deuxcator, third planet in the Etilion system. Deuxcator is the seat of power for the elven empire, and all emperors and empresses of the empire have been of Great House Mala’Fiil. Furthermore, Deuxcator is home to the Elven War College and is the center of the empire’s military might. Elves in this house are normally referred to as High Elves.

Wood Elves

Those displaying scientific aptitude in addition to an inborn connection to nature are named to Great House Molo’tak and are moved to Troisha, fourth planet in the Etilion system. Here, these Wood Elves are taught the secrets of growing and carving the empire’s Forest-Fleet of tree-ships from colossal ironwood trees. While the empire has many other worlds from which it supplies its fleet, the greatest of its shipyards is the whole of Troisha.

Fey Elves

Elves talented in high magics and deemed to have a connection to the Feywild, the realm from which Elvenkind originated, are named to Great House Mere’gaal. Carto, sixth planet in the Etilion system houses these Fey Elves and the empire's grand libraries and magical vaults. While all star elves are naturally gifted in magic, the fey elves of Carto have the natural advantage of living on a homeworld that directly intersects a galactic ley line, greatly enhancing their powers.

Drow

Lastly, those who exhibit a talent for subterfuge, stealth, and shadow magics are named to Great House Miri’tesh, and given home on Siink, the ninth and furthest planet from the Etilion sun. The Rite of Naming induces incredible changes in elves of House Miri’tesh, pigmenting their skin to blue, purple, or shades of grey, and bleaching their hair to ivory white. Outside Elven space, most refer to them as Drow, though that name carries no meaning in the empire. The dark elves of Miri’tesh serve as the empire’s spymasters, assassins, and shock troopers, as well as deep space exploration and tracking experts.

Houseless

Despite the total commitment expected of each and every elf to the Empire and their house, there are those who choose to break from their familial lines and never undergo the Rite of Naming. In the end, the same fate lies in store for each: total servitude to the other houses as a Houseless, exile from elven space if their servitude is not absolute, and death if exile is refused.

Regulated Breeding

Due to the strictness of the House system, breeding amongst the elves is a highly controlled affair. New elves may only be conceived and born on appropriate worlds in elven space, and must be transported within 10 years of their birth to Uneara for schooling and assessment, lest they be cast out. Children born outside these confines are either torn from their families and consigned as Houseless or are purged from the empire; the same is true of half-elves and planetouched born in elven space. Those isolated elves who are found native to a colonized elven world are sorted and sent to their respective new homes for a minimum of 50 years before being integrated intostar elf society, or are purged if they refuse.