Elves

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Elves do not require sleep but rather must spend at least four hours a day undergoing a semi-conscious state known as a Trance. While in this state they are completely unaware of their surroundings and enter a dream-like state. During this time they are able to reflect on memories they have or fabricate entire scenarios for them to experience. This is like Lucid Dreaming for humans. Children will use this time to fabricate fantastical worlds for them to explore and reflect on teachings. The Trance is a reason that elves will spend so much time carefully inspecting the world around them so they can reflect on it more clearly during their Trance. Spells that would cause an elf to fall to sleep instead force them into the Trance and if it influences their dreams it can cause the elf to lose control over the events that transpire during the Trance.

Genetics and Reproduction

Elves reproduce by a variation of parthenogenesis. The connection that elves have through the Quintessence of Magic must be deep enough for elves to reproduce, this is called Weaving. All elves produce a sperm, but what is encoded on them depends on the Weaving itself. Through the Weaving an elf can rewrite the genetic code of a sperm and effectively self germinate. While a uterus is required for an elf to be born, it does not have to belong to the elves that are Weaving. A third party can be involved to bear the child. In some societies, some female elves take on this role as a profession. These elves are highly respected.
Because of the self coding of sperm, this allows elves to reproduce with other species sexually. Humans are among the most common that elves will pair with as their reproduction systems are the most closely related.

Growth Rate & Stages

Elves in their first few decades grow at a similar rate to Humans, looking mature around the age of 18. After that, they grow significantly slower. An equivalence of the aging process is about every 100 years for every 10 years of a human (so a 300-year-old elf will look closer to a 30-year-old human).
Once they reach about the age of 600, they have a deeper connection with the Quintessence of Magic called "The Bonding". While all elves have a connection with the Quintessence of Magic, The Bonding is a point in which they can draw upon deep reserves of magic using their own life force as a conduit to cast much more powerful spells. Few elves do this as it can result in their own death, however, it has been known to happen. When attempting these more powerful spells, several elves that have The Bonding will join together to reduce the strain on themselves.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The blood of elves has been used in many dark rituals that require a deeper connection with the Quintessence. Elves that have The Bonding are more desired for these types of rituals.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Elves have a hightened awareness of other elves. Because of elves connection to the Quintessence of Magic they can sense each other and have a better understanding of how another feels through this bond. Some bonds between elves can grow so strong that communication can be done in almost complete silence. It is not telepathy since one can only express emotion, but for some, it is very close.

Civilization and Culture

Beauty Ideals

For each culture of elves this will vary. One thing that is common across all elves is their preference for those with what they call "beautiful souls". Often they care more about the personality of a creature over anything superficial.

Gender Ideals

Because of their ability to Weave, elves do not fall into specific gender ideals. Females are more common among leadership roles, however, this will vary among different cultures.

Relationship Ideals

Because of the creation stories of the Elves and their deeper connection to each other, there are no taboos on the types of relationships that one has within the various elven cultures.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

When Celle created Aureal, he gifted her with the language of the Elves. She passed this language onto her children. As time has passed each of the elves have developed their own dialect of Elvish. However, it is easy enough for any Elvish to be understood if you know one dialect of it.

History

All Elves share a similar story for the dawn of their species. The first of the races that Celle, God of Knowledge and Magic created was the Elves. The first of their kind was Aureal, Mother of Elves. She was so admired by many of the gods. First was Temp, God of Life and the Sun who gave her both the blessing of the Sun and of Life, creating the Sun Elves and the Wood Elves. Next was Blinn, Goddess of Love and Water who gifted her with blessing of the Sea, creating the first Sea Elves. Werno, Goddess of Time and Earth came next, giving the blessing of sand and creating the first Sand Elves. Lastly was Thanatos, Goddess of Death and the Moons. She gifted Aureal with the blessing of the Moons, and thus the Moon Elves were born.
At first, the Elves lived in harmony, a united Elven Kingdom. But peace would not last forever. The armies of the Kagaath, Demon Lord of the Hunt invaded the Elven Kingdom. A bloody war raged for a century until Aureal had been slain in battle. Kagaath was driven back under the rage of the Elves at the loss of the Elven Mother. When the battlegrounds settled, discussions among the first of each race of Elves turned to bickering and then infighting. The five children of Aureal divided and created their own kingdoms promising to never return to Lathlaeril until all were united. Since the great divide, Lathlaeril has been lost to the world.

Genetic Descendants

• Half-Elf
• Sand Elf
• Sea Elf
• Sun Elves
• Wood Elves

Lifespan

750 years