Elf
As ancient people, elves have seen great change and have the perspective that can come only from watching the arc of history. The oldest of the ancestries, they struggle with their identity. Elven history teaches that they were the chosen people of the gods, only to be soon after forsaken, their divine purpose lost with the Cosmic Schism. Some Elven cultures have moved on entirely from this, while others have held onto their traditions with vigor. To some, the elves are objects of awe—graceful and beautiful, with immense talent and knowledge. Among themselves, however, the elves place far more importance on personal freedom than on living up to these ideals.
Elves combine otherworldly grace, sharp intellect, and mysterious charm in a way that is practically magnetic to members of other ancestries. They are often voraciously intellectual, though their studies delve into a level of detail that most shorter-lived people find excessive or inefficient. Valuing pride and beauty, elves always strive to improve their manners, appearance, and culture.
Elves are often rather private people, steeped in the secrets of their groves and kinship groups. They’re slow to build friendships outside their kinsfolk, but for a specific reason: they subtly and deeply attune to their environment and their companions. There’s a physical element to this attunement, but it isn’t only superficial. Elves who spend their lives among shorter‑lived peoples often develop a skewed perception of their own mortality and tend to become morose after watching generation after generation of companions age and die. These elves are called the Forlorn.
While their height can vary wildly, elves possess a fragile grace, accentuated by long features and sharply pointed ears. Their eye color can be nearly any on the spectrum, and have enhanced vision, as well as heightened hearing and pallet. They often boast great beauty in the face. With sharp and symmetrical features, their skin is often flawless and has a high level of androgyny. While the vast majority of elves cannot grow facial hair, the hair on their head grows quickly and has a natural volume and robustness that seems supernatural. Elves gradually adapt to their environment and their companions, and they often take on physical traits reflecting their surroundings. An elf who has dwelled in primeval forests for centuries, for example, might exhibit verdant hair and gnarled fingers, while one who’s lived in a desert might have golden pupils and skin.
Elven fashion, like the elves themselves, tends to reflect their surroundings. Elves living in the forests and other wilderness locales wear clothing that plays off the terrain and flora of their homes, while those who live in cities tend to wear the latest fashions.
Elves reach physical adulthood around the age of 20, though they aren’t considered to be fully emotionally mature by other elves until closer to the passing of their first century, once they’ve experienced more, held several occupations, and outlived a generation of shorter-lived people. A typical elf can live to around 350 years old.
Elven Cultures & Ethnicities
Cithrielian
An ancient costal people who spend their days in discourse, specifically on the topics of philosophy and politics.Curüc
Guardians of the Tree of Life, these elves live in harmony with their dwarven counterparts, protecting the harmony of the natural world.Drow
Denizens of the Great Below, the dark elves have been locked in civil war for centuries are plagued by a meddlesome goddess.Eresselian
The oldest culture on Eliosara, these prideful elves live in isolation within their ancient kingdom, holding fast to ancient tradition.Oliar
An culture of diaspora people who now reside in the frigid tundra of Xantarus, living out their days as humble hunters and fishermen.Pherasti
A prolific population of warrior-poets and mercantile masters from the gilded costal cities of Mani M'baza.Sildyr
Uprooted by invaders, they moved their home forest thousands of miles away to the once untamed Awildian, hoping to start anew.Tian
Another ancient people, these uncharacteristically friendly elves are masterful artisans and sailors, seeking out ways enrich their culture through amalgamation.Uncaru
A mysterious and modestly sized culture of elves that traverse the deserts of Muqad as nomads, and who have become one with their homeland.Xil
Also threatened by invaders, these wood elves uprooted the earth, separating it from Iseldrania and made a new island home.
Lifespan
350 years
Average Height
1.3m - 1.9m
Average Weight
45kg - 90kg
Average Physique
Lean
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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