Forest Elf
Forest elves, otherwise known as the Tenashi elves, are the elves who reside within the depths of the woods of the northwestern part of Emicara. They are considered to be uncouth rubes by their high elf kin, but are the ones who retain the old ways that the elves all used to live by in the Feywild. They have established what is more or less a continuation of that society in the depths of the Alsonan western forests, using their magic to conceal themselves from the human world. Rumors abound of the forest elves practicing cannibalism or still holding humanoid slaves of other races, but these are for the most part, false allegations. The forest elves are renowned woodsmen and scouts, but are slow to trust outsiders.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Amilleath, Allalas, Cyliene, Nylaeleas, Wanysea, Viliynn, Thely, Illirania, Larinar, Rhyasa
Masculine names
Felanaes, Shagorm, Alanaes, Lilalaeath, Chanar, Ylithas, Rarin, Madaron, Larfran
Family names
Shadesinger, Ambermight, Dewshot, Wintermight, Summerstriker, Forestblade, Lunaweaver, Truedew, Windshadow
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The forest elves speak a variant of Elvish that is closer to the sylvan tongue of the Feywild. While still recognizable by their high elf kin, the forest elves speak Elvish first and foremost, and Common only reluctantly. Many choose to pretend to be worse at Common than they actually are in order to cause humans to underestimate their abilities. Their vocalizations in Elvish are typically considered to be primitive and unrefined by the high elves.
Art & Architecture
Forest elf architecture is grown, not built. Using a combination of druidic magic and wizardry, forest elves grow massive trees to form the shapes of the homes they wish to live in. All furniture within and without are made completely of naturally grown wood, and furniture often reshapes itself to provide the maximum amount of comfort for the user. The forest elves are not averse to cutting down trees when needed, but the organic woodcraft acts not just as a spectacular architectural feature, but also as a defensive mechanism, being resistant to fire, and allowing the elves to make their homes in the trees high above the ground, avoiding detection by lost humans.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
Within forest elf society there are only a handful of express gender based roles in a few specific areas, and even then, there is significant overlap. The majority of warriors and generals are male, while the majority of wizards and magic users are female. When it comes to the practice of magic even, there is a divide between the different types. The male spell casters are typically druids or clerics, while the women are more scholarly, following wizardry as their approach to power. Women are therefore considered to be typically the more powerful spell casters, usually specializing in enchantment and illusion magic.
Relationship Ideals
Due to the lengthy lifespan of a forest elf, relationships are a tricky matter. Friendships can last for centuries, and therefore a forest elf is very picky about with whom it keeps company. They are incredibly slow to trust members of any other race, particularly humans. Most still believe, like their ancestors, that other humanoid races are barely sapient, assuming they are at all, and thus you could no more be friends or lovers with one than you could be with a wild animal. Marriage is uncommon among forest elves, and lovers are very carefully picked from among close friends, as elves only rarely have children, and usually only one or two over the course of the hundreds of life an elf experiences. Bonds between children and parents are very close, and are maintained throughout the centuries, eventually evolving from a paternal or maternal relationship to a hard forged friendship.
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Languages spoken
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