Nehvní

The Nehvní

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General

The Nehvní (NEV-nee) , like their distant Quinarian, Taelithrien, and other cousins, are attuned to the supernatural forces of the world. They, passed down by their ancestors, have an innate sense that ties them physiologically to the void, letting them harness its chaotic powers to minimal detriment. How they often utilize this power is through a black ichor-like substance called cainell (kai-nell), which they put on their skin in the form of runes and sigils. The creation of this substance is a well guarded secret among the Nehvní, and more mysteriously, very deadly to those outside of these elven people.

The Nehvní do not live in a centralized country or have any form of unified government. Culturally, they believe in individual responsibility, and thus more often are only seen in smaller groups and settlements scattered about Doth Moria who share their individualistic beliefs. While outside of their own enclaves, they tend to hide their cainell tattoos, keeping their powers more secretive.

Rumor has it that the Nehvní have a larger settlement near the southern border of Doth Moria, but none outside the elves have ever found it, or even believe its existence-- but the rumor tells of passage to the void itself that the eldest of the Nehvní utilize.

History

When time came for the children of King Vylarus Tyrelias to spread out into the world to venture into their own, Nehvahrí (nev-AR-ee) chose to lead those who followed as explorers, rather than settling a formal nation. She had believed that they did not need to settle as the others, but forge as adventurer’s on their own, living their lives as they chose.

However, Nehvahrí’s adventures led them into a fateful encounter, in which they were thrown into the depths of the abyss when the great demon titan emerged from a tear in the Bay of Lune. The horrors of the abyss were numerous and the elven people continued their fight through the abyss hoping to find a way out. At first, the warriors banded together aiming to protect the collective, but simply could not see to everyone and so very quickly did the survivors learn that those who do not help themselves, do not get help. Each person would have to watch out for their own lives if they were to ever make it out alive.

It was uncertain how long they had remained there until they came across an infernal being - a ferryman of sorts - who offered them a way to freedom into a place where they might have a better chance of surviving. The ferryman did not offer the choice lightly, and the elves were made to make payment for passage. It was here that they first experienced the Void, and here where a deal was struck. The ferryman offered them the means to even thrive in the Void, providing the secret to creating the cainell. In exchange, though, a Geas was placed upon Nehvahrí and her followers. Should they ever reveal the secret, he would come to hunt the revealer and those who learned, ferrying them into the depths of the abyss.

From then on, Nehvahrí and her followers had become accustomed to the nature of the Void, and while they discovered a way out, often returned to it on their own to build upon their own stations in the material world.

Cultural Facets

General Appearance

Nehvní who have chosen to live amongst other cultures are nearly indistinguishable from the more populous elven races. Their ears have a shape that falls between the backwards, sharp point found in Quinaria, and the more upward point from Selendrias. As such, they can pass as both races rather easily. Nehvní, due to their secretive nature, assimilate seamlessly into their surrounding cultures. Nehvní that call Quinaria home are dressed like Quinarians, while Nehvní who have settled in Selendrias are more earthy like their neighbors.

Cities and Settlements

While there are more Nehvní concentrated in Doth Moria, as it is the central location of the species, Nehvní can be found all over Arawyn. As void channelers, they are generally adventurous- so if they aren’t living in an established settlement, they could be hiding anywhere that other elven species are expected to be found.

Cahar na Eiheh, City of the Night

Though they primarily do not live in large settlements, the city of Cahar na Eiheh (kah-Har nah EE-heh) is the closest thing to a city that the Nehvní have. This is simply because this is the place where the council of elders, called the Kielvher (KEEL-ver) reside. Its location is a well kept secret among the elven people, as revealing it would be revealing the secrets they were gifted and is strictly forbidden.

The Vordressi Clan

The Vordressi clan of the northern mainland of Doth Moria was a rapidly growing settlement of Nehvní that had existed for several generations. Run by its own village council, modeled after the Kielvher, which consisted of five elders, each of whom oversaw a specific aspect of day to day life and tradition. The people within lived fairly simple lives, balancing the structure of the society they lived in and their inherently chaotic natures, but above all keeping their true nature as Nehvní hidden from outsiders.

Political Climate

Because of their roots being based in the necessity of survival, they are incredibly individualistic. The council of elders, the Kielvher, guard the main Void passage, and have the additional responsibility of ensuring secrecy and resolving disputes. Aside from those two functions, the political climate varies wildly from settlement to settlement, depending on what the local elves have established as their shared cultural values. Nehvní that do not belong to a settlement follow the political structures of their chosen geographical region, as if they were natives.

Regardless of the climates they tend to find themselves in, the Nehvní always tend to apply their own ideology into how they interact with a particular civilization. As history has shown them, they must act for themselves before considering others if they are to continue surviving. Because of this, they tend to be skeptical of lands with too many laws governing the person, as such restrictions may have led to their downfall in the first place.

The only law enforced by the Kielvher is the Geas that was passed down from Nehvahrí. None shall ever reveal the secrets of the Nehvní.

Religious Practices

Faer Farantrochta - The Ferryman

Many of the Nehvní pay homage or more firmly worship the Ferryman because of what he had done for their people. It is a deity of both healthy fear and reverence. His worship is not in that of the traditional sense, but rather as an honored figure, like a great hero, to the elven people. Because of this, formal priesthood tends to be rare, but does exist. More often, the strictest sense of worship paid to the Ferryman is a single gold coin, bearing the name of the elf written in cainell left in a wooden box under the darkness of a new moon. They believe that this tithe continues the agreement made between Nehvahrí and Faer Farantrochta.

Glomm - Goddess of the Golden Coin

Those who have chosen to live among the societies who favor Eodran deities over other religions have found themselves drawn to Glomm, the goddess of mysteries. The beliefs of Glomm lean heavily into the self-reliance and individualistic idealism of the Nehvní, by which she revels in secrecy and the free flow of coin that comes from the economic ideology held by many of the elven people. Due to the almost seamless nature of Glomm’s teachings and the Nehvní beliefs, clergy in her worship tend to be more common in the populated civilizations.

Holidays

Saoradh - Liberation Day

This day celebrates the day that Nehvahrí and her people struck the deal with Faer Farantrochta and found their freedom within the Void. Though much of the celebration is still secret from the other denizens of the world, it has been noted that the Nehvní are often found celebrating under the new moon in March.

Fásta - Coming of Age

When Nehvní turn 18, they receive their cainell from the elders. The immediate family paints the first sigils, and the young elf enters the void for the first time. The elf then goes off into the world to find their place amongst the clans or outer cultures.

Relations to the Supernatural

The Nehvní do not fear or turn away any power if it can help them, but tend to be wary of any that requires more of them than they get back. They tend to shy away from anything that requires the imposition of more rules on their person. Beyond that, nothing tends to be off limits, especially if they do not have to give anything in return.

Political Relations

Because there is no formalized public governing structure among the Nehvní, they don’t really have a strong political standing anywhere. If they do, it is the individual’s standing in that nation, and not something that carries to the rest of the people, and even then, more often they are mistaken as a different type of elf because of their secrecy.

Warning When Playing

The Nehvní are very secretive people, and even more secretive of their elders, their connection to the Void, and the methods to make the cainell. If ever another finds out that one is giving away this information to someone who should not be in the know, it is likely they will aim to kill the person they consider a “betrayer”.