Steppe Elves

A collective term for the Elven tribes living north of the Haesinu Desert.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Girls are typically named after natural phenomena, flowers, or small animals.

Masculine names

Boys are usually named after larger animals, such as birds of prey, equines, or big cats. Others are named after tree or shrub species.

Family names

Steppe Elves do not use family names in the usual sense. While they believe in honoring one's roots, their culture is focused on the individual and prefers not to define them by their birth.
Therefore, children and young adults carry the names of their parents along with their own, but will replace them with a new identifier at some point. Some will end up attaching their profession to their name, while others will reference a personal achievement.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Their language is clearly rooted in Desert Elvish, but most tribes have developed their own dialect over the generations. As they moved away from the desert, some of them also incorporated aspects from Northern Elvish. One notable example is the apostrophe between compound words.

Culture and cultural heritage

They value freedom above anything else. In fact, this was the primary reason why their ancestors chose to leave Norume and its strict social hierarchy behind.
Every tribe goes back to a small group that, for one reason or another, disagreed with the Desert Elf traditions. Some were actively cast out, whereas others left voluntarily. However, many kept those traditions that aligned with their personal values, or modified those that did not.

Shared customary codes and values

Steppe Elves tend to be independent and open-minded. Many of them believe that someone who knows themselves will not be threatened by another person's opinions or life choices. Consequently, finding one's own identity is a cornerstone of their society.

Native Name

Esp'Elvin
Esp'Kenin ("Steppe Persons")

Inhabited Countries

Ki'orun
Sen'orun
Dir'orun
Fir'arun
Norume

Parent ethnicities

• Desert Elves

Diverged ethnicities

• Talma'kabi

Encompassed species

• Elf

Werewolf
Wolfbrood
Wolfblood

Skin Colors

dark gray

Hair Colors

black

Eye Colors

reddish-brown to dark brown

A welcoming community

Steppe Elves are more likely to accept outsiders than the Northern Forest Elves or the Desert Elves. As a consequence, many tribes include foreigners and members of other species.
Especially Werewolf families and mixed-species couples found refuge in those communities when the other Elves actively turned against them.
Since "Steppe Elf" only refers to those of Elven ancestry, several tribes with a sizeable portion of non-Elves have started using the broader term "Steppe Persons".