Elf

Elves, comprising the subraces of high elves, wood elves, and several others, are beings of otherworldly grace and beauty. They resemble beautiful humans with long, pointed ears, having no facial and little body hair, and a range of coloration somewhat surpassing that present in humans. They are lovers of the exquisite, exceptionally intelligent, and naturally longer-lived than any other humanoid race, having a life expectancy of seven and a half centuries. Because of their timeless perspectives, it is notoriously difficult for members of other races to form a lasting friendship with an elf, as to the elf, that friendship will be over before they can have the several decades necessary to truly get to know a person. It is difficult to bother an elf, as most troubles that vex other humanoids are petty and fleeting to them. They are, by human standards, aloof and indifferent in many cases, but once they do commit to a person, cause, or interest, that commitment is steadfast and relentless.
Elves make their homes in places of ethereal beauty, often regarding cities built by other races with disdain. They are master artists and architects, as, over generations, they have learned to create works that they can hope to outlive. Most elves spend the majority of their lives in places such as these, and although it is very common for an elf to spend some years of his or her life traveling, they tend to return home in the end, back into the arms of their own people. The typical elf cycles through a handful of careers throughout his or her life, becoming intensely focused on each one in turn, only moving on when that interest has been completely exhausted after several decades or centuries. Elves spend a very long time attaining skills after deciding that a certain area is worthy of their study.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Elf parents traditionally give their children "child names," short and simple, with the expectation that, once they are considered adults sometime after their hundredth birthday, they will choose their own adult name. The only exception to this custom worldwide is the Averan kingdom of Zatheravi, where many families discard this tradition.

Beauty Ideals

Elven culture is varied across the world, but there are many similarities one can count on. Elves are fond of long, draping garments, and most everything they wear is finely made, even work clothes. Traditionally, elves never wear their hair up without immediate practical reason, instead preferring to let it flow freely, as long hair is considered symbolic of age and wisdom. However, this is less the case in areas such as Gaulvista and Jeltir, where elves commonly mix with humans, and have developed an appreciation for the art of hairstyling.
Elves do not cut their hair. Short hair is guaranteed to raise eyebrows, as it is seen as a radical rejection of tradition, or could perhaps signal a terrible past misdeed, as in some places, those who commit particularly heinous crimes worthy of exile are often subjected to forcible haircuts to further distance them from the homes they have betrayed.
In some cultures, an elf might shave a portion of his or her head on either side, as a sign of mourning or resolve, or otherwise to signify some great change in that elf's life.

Relationship Ideals

The typical elf will likely marry sometime between the ages of two hundred and five hundred after a courtship of roughly thirty years. It is extremely uncommon for a couple to have more than four children, with two or three being the generally expected number.
Elves are, as a rule, monogamous. Though they might have multiple important relationships over their long lives, it is very, very rare for an elf to marry more than once.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Elvish is very, very slow to change, just as elves are. Though many different dialects and accents exist, all are mutually intelligible.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Elves do not celebrate every birthday, instead treating every tenth year of their lives as an extended muted celebration, called their "paeniu idhrinn," usually shortened to "paeidhrinn." The actual day of their birth is most often known only by their closest kin and friends, not because it is a closely kept secret but because it is considered an unimportant detail, like the time of day a human is born. If the day itself is marked at all, it is only by a time of private contemplation by the elf in question, which may be observed each year if desired but is typically done only during the paeidhrinn.
Rather than the celebratory nature taken on by the birthday celebrations of shorter-lived races, elvish paeidhrinn are generally considered times of reflection and gratitude. During their paeidhrinn, elves may treat themselves to more sumptuous meals, extended travel, and deeper rest, not precisely to celebrate themselves, but to ground themselves more profoundly in the world they are still a part of, while they can.

Funerary Services

Elven bodies do not decay like the remains of other humanoids; instead, they fade, over the course of 12-20 days, in a process known as lilathë. Therefore elves do not bury, cremate, or otherwise dispose of their dead; they typically just pack them up in something similar to a casket, called a raeloris, but uncover them to be prayed over and for the bereaved to pay their respects at a certain time each day (specifics vary by region) until the total disappearance, or the hena fosila, at which point a final ceremony takes place. The raeloris is then destroyed and repurposed in whatever way the deceased wanted.
There are some highly specialized wood elf artists that create natural cavities for this purpose in growing trees.

History

The elven species is native to Quellevore, having spread to Talazic early in the Era of Cloud, and Avera much later in the era.

Growth and Lifespan

Elves mature slowly compared to humans, reaching physical maturity sometime between the ages of 60 and 70. From there, elves are almost or entirely changeless as they go through their lives, with the only reliable sign of the passage of time being the slow growth of their hair. An elf's final century or so of life is normally a time of tranquil reflection on all that has been learned since birth, often spent largely in quiet solitude. An elf nearing the natural end of his or her lifespan always senses it coming, perhaps years in advance, and typically has plenty of time to get his or her affairs in order.

Common Myths and Legends

Many legends attempt to justify the presence of elves in this world. Some propose that said presence was an accident, or perhaps a punishment, after one or more elves did something that proved the entire race unworthy of their place in the heavens. The most popular legend, itself of elven origin, states that the first elves were physical manifestations of the love of Celeyra, goddess of beauty, for the world, as she walked in the forest of Elliskaphill. Evendur opened the world before her, with wood elves appearing from the trees and high elves from the air itself. This story is considered bittersweet, as no elf feels quite at home in the world, always yearning to be elsewhere.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Elves have high expectations, of which most non-elves fall short. They do, however, try to be gracious, and find the good in whomever they encounter. It is notoriously difficult for elves to get along with dwarves in particular.
Elves rarely form meaningful friendships with other species, let alone relationships which might beget offspring. When it does occur, the resulting half-elf is often fated for a difficult life, existing in the middle of the immense gap between humans and elves.

Lifespan

750 years

Average Height

5-6 feet