Praetorians

The circumstances by which Praetoria rose to prominence are shrouded by history. Some (non-elven) scholars argue that such a society was unavoidable. Praetorians were blessed, after all, with immortality. These scholars claim that without the natural cycle of ageing and death, knowledge and skill accumulated exponentially. Blessed with such opportunity, Praetorians pushed every imaginable boundary of capability.

The Praetorians (or The Praetorian Elves, or The Early Elves) are the earliest known civilisation, at the heart of which was the namesake imperial city of Praetoria. The Praetorians are associated with the height of unified Elven society, but also inevitably with their downfall and The Etiolation, wherein the Elven people were shattered.

The Etiolation

Some great calamity befell Praetoria, which altered the rules of Praetorian immortality. Age began to afflict all Praetorians, and society destabilised rapidly. The old among Praetorians felt time crash down upon them, and their minds and bodies were ravaged by years they had long ago spent. This loss of knowledge and skill was a tragedy to a culture that scarcely knew death. Society fractured, and the city of Praetoria was razed during civil unrest.
From this ruin, different streams of the elven people emerged, apparently shaped by their philosophies on how to adapt to their new physiology. Most modern High Elf societies claim to be the survivors or successors of Praetoria, and fiercely dispute the claims of their rivals. No modern culture stands as a clear continuation of Praetoria, and in all likelihood the greatest achievements of that people were lost along with the City of Miracles.
Perhaps amid the dizzying heights of their edification, some cosmic thread was plucked at until it broke. Perhaps Divinity itself looked down upon the Praetorians, and found them too close for comfort. Or perhaps they were waylaid by enemies unknown to them, or more terrifying, beyond their capability.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Artworks alleged to have survived from Praetoria depict all its people with the aesthetics still idolised by most elven cultures today. They are shown as slender figures with elongated features and fingers. Weaponry and armaments match this style; even the most foolhardy con artist would know think twice about parading a "Praetorian" maul.
Praetorians admired the virtue of dedication, and the development of a skill. Great mastery was the highest pursuit.
The arts flourished in Praetorian society, as did study of natural sciences.

Relationship Ideals

Praetorians would consider a pair to be life-bound when their union created new life, which was seen as virtuous. The raising of offspring was not a commitment to be undertaken lightly, as it took almost one hundred years for a Praetorian child to reach maturity. Praetorians were also a polygamous people. This led to large and intricate families, although it is thought that Praetorians did not hold much value in distant relatives.

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