Elves

Living primarily in Faykeep, the elves keep to themselves as they are a proud race and only known to interact with the mainland on very rare occasions that involve Faykeep specifically. Any elf you see outside of Faykeep is most likely banished or, on rare occasions, allowed to leave for educational or trading purposes. It is not common for them to truly mingle as they prefer to keep to themselves as a secret race. As old as Oasis itself, the elves feel that they are in charge of recording and keeping track of Lunaecia's history from the beginning. Few are truly welcomed into the world of Faykeep. They have a strange contempt for dwarves but other races are strange to them. The is not much truly known about elves, only from those allowed inside their world.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

With their unearthly grace and fine features, elves appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly shorter than humans on average, ranging from well under 5 feet tall to just over 6 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females. Elves’ coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes skin in shades of copper, bronze, and almost bluish-white, hair of green or blue, and eyes like pools of liquid gold or silver. Elves have no facial and little body hair. They favor elegant clothing in bright colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

Ecology and Habitats

Forest and woodland areas are preferable.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Elves run under a monarchy. The current monarch is Empress Uladove, having served since the beginning of the Great Divide.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Purebred elves call Faykeep home.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the hundredth birthday, and before this period they are called by child names. On declaring adulthood, an elf selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every elf bears a family name, typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some elves traveling among humans translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Elvish version.

Beauty Ideals

Hair is an important aspect of elven beauty within all subclasses. From birth onwards, elven hair should be long, well maintained, and a thing of value. Long hair represents longevity, commitment, and happiness. An updo with long hair could mean multiple things, mainly negative. Short hair is stigmatized and thought of as rebellion, rejection of tradition, and a bachelor lifestyle. Lighter color hair is favored for dark hair is akin to drow ironically enough and is thought to bring about bad luck for Silver High elves.

Gender Ideals

Gender to elves is seen as a mortal concept. Gender truly is of no importance to the entire race. To choose one's gender is only beneficial when dealing with mortals or if one chooses so, if one does, they must be expected to cater to that ideal of gender based on mortal thinking.

Courtship Ideals

To court an elf there is a period of courting that lasts a minimum of ten years. Once made official the couple celebrates through a festival and giving each other a lock of their hair to wear around their neck. Their marriage ceremony usually lasts a year.

Relationship Ideals

Marriage is seen as a lifetime commitment. Breaking said commitment is more of a cultural taboo than an actual one. If one must marry again it cannot be with another elf.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Elvish and Sylvan (by the older generations)

Culture and Cultural Heritage

A secretive race, very few have come in contact with the outside world. The gates of Faykeep and whether or not they should be opened to all is a hot debate between all elves. Some rumor this debate may spark a civil war.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Elf festivals happen once every month. Elves gather around to eat feasts, be merry, and dance from dusk till dawn. Each festival depends on the time of year and month. Sometimes they would throw one for fun or to celebrate a child being born. Another common tradition is cutting a piece of a loved ones hair and keeping with them in a locket of some sort for remembrance and good luck.

Common Taboos

• Sharing elf secrets with mortals
• Mingling with drow elves
• Cutting your hair OR cutting another elf's hair: Exiles, oathbreakers, and other undesirables are forced to cut their hair as their first punishment.
• Violation of the natural world, specifically Faykeep
• Any sever offenses can lead to permanent banishment from Faykeep. Wanting to leave Faykeep on your own volition is a very taboo concept. Once an elf/half elf chooses to leave Faykeep, they are branded.

History

Within the race itself are subraces of elves listed below:

• Drow: Known as the first race of elves, Drow elves seclude themselves either beneath Faykeep or in secluded areas in Eskye. They prefer to stay with themselves and despise going above ground and speaking with mortals. They are the only elf race that does not mind dwarves. They are perceived as evil by all. Their skin is dark and hair is usually pale in color. They eyes are usually white and are mostly thinner and taller than other elves.
• Eladrin: Eladrin elves are native to the Fae realm. They can choose either the mortal realm or the Fae if they so wish. Many choose to stay with the fae respectfully. Many of course still stay in Faykeep but also the in between realms going back and forth. They are one with nature and associate themselves with a season. They can either associate with one season or shift throughout the four. Eladrin are the most emotional elves, showing their emotions through the color of their skin. The season and weather also accounts for mood.
• High Elf: High elves are seen as the masters of magic and history. As the most common elf race, there are subclasses within the two: Silver and Gold. The Silver high elf is arrogant and reclusive, very few ever interact outside of their own race. They believe them to be superior to other races, even other elves at times, and are mainly in charge of military and tactical, logical positions in politics. Gold high elves are more amicable and open to the mortals. It is more likely than not that mortals may come in contact with at least one Gold high elf in their lifetime.
• Sea Elf: Check Myths and Legends.
• Wood Elf: A mysterious race that sticks within the woods. They mingle with elves and mortals respectively.

Historical Figures

• Empress Uladove Valfiel: Ruling monarch of Faykeep since the end of the Great Divide. She has kept the peace between mortals and elves for as long as anyone can remember. Her age is unknown but she looks about late 20s in human years.
• Oladi Feanrea: Famous and retired historian as well as a writer dedicated to the underbelly and goings on of drow life and crime in Lunaecia. They have been known to lurk in the most decrepit places of Lunaecia to find information about World Eater.
• Ronan Deupleaux: Half elf assistant to Oladi who continued their work, only to be silenced and had taken his own vocal chords and never speaks again after finishing up Oladi's work.
• Helefina Amelia Valfiel: First and only daughter to Empress Uladove, a half elf, and co leader in the elven rebellion.

Common Myths and Legends

• Sea Elf: A race of elves making their home in the sea. A rumored race that only the elves themselves know to be true.
• Uladove has multiple half elf bastard children as well as a drow elf lover. These rumors are highly unlikely and spread by those who do not want her on the throne. Though these rumors have not been disproved for hundreds of years.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Elves are mostly isolated creatures. They only interact when necessary with mortals but that does not mean they have their own opinions. Dwarves and elves keep their distance. Elves believe dwarves to be brutes who know nothing but work and rocks. They do respect their craft. Dragonborn are looked down upon by elves. Other mortal races are pretty neutral to elves themselves. Within their own community, drow elves are completely shunned.

Genetic Descendants

• Half Elf

Lifespan

Unknown

Average Height

5'5 ft-6 ft~

Average Weight

100-145 lbs