"From the trees they came, long limbs carrying them swiftly across branches and down vines so that we were surrounded. Bows made of flexible wood creaked with strain as arrows were nocked and drawn, all tips pointed at us. They wore hoods of deep greens and browns that seemed to carry them in and out of visibility as the colors blended into the shifting trees behind them. All sounds of nature halted, as if the woad itself were holding its breath. One of them stepped forward, pulling her hood back. Her beauty struck me. She had copper skin and red hair, with features so human and yet so alien that I was both amazed and unsettled. Pale green eyes measured me and her mouth opened to speak." - An excerpt from "The Travels of Hafrick Moriarty"
Elves, or
Einfolk, are the oldest race in Mytkora. It began in Isatis when many among the Eleven came together to form a creature with sentience resembling their own. Being the first, they are both unrefined and perfectly designed, causing them to seem almost alien to the other races. They have the second most number of variant subraces, next to dragonborn, due to several of the gods wanting to have their own version to serve them. Elves are as diverse as their creators, living anywhere from the most remote mountaintops to the busiest cities.
Tall, Lithe, and Beautiful
Elves have delicate features, with high cheekbones and sharp jawlines. Their eyes seem slightly oversized for their faces, which can be intimidating when they stare right at someone. They stand usually over six feet tall, although they have slim builds. It is rare for even the largest elf to weigh over 160 pounds, with most falling between 100 and 130. Males and females do not have any variation in builds between them, and their features often cause them to appear androgynous. Elves have a wide variety of skin and hair colors, depending upon which subrace they fall under. They have very little facial hair or body hair.
Diverse, but Rare
Despite the gods creating Einfolk first, the race is uncommon across Mytkora. Many prefer staying away from civilization in settlements of their own. Those that integrate with society are seen as a privilege to interact with by other humanoids. With all of these factors combined, Elves have a commanding presence and will attract a great deal of attention when they enter a room. Cousin subraces are as uncommon to each other as they are to humanoids. It is rare for a moon elf to regularly interact with a high elf, for example. This separation leads to much different cultures between the elven variants.
Loyal Worshipers
Although elves have largely scattered in the decades since The Silence, a strong base of religious elves remain in Isatis. Their faith can range between all twelve of the Sleeping Gods, though the common gods worshiped are Otia, Cadros, Lai'lou, and Kebis. In their solitude, the elves often had a closer connection to the gods. The Silence hit them especially hard, and many have taken to wandering the lands in search of meaning behind their abandonment.
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