Hilar Elf
These inlanders don't see what we have seen. They sit in their homes, warm, and comfortable, while we are the ones protecting our holy lands. We are not blessed. We come from Hilar!The Hilar elves are the southern cousins of the Blessed Elves. They live mostly in the southern parts of the Blessed Nation of Syl around the major cities of Hilarlen and Nentilien. The long coastline and the harsher weather in this area made them shorter over the generations and broader in their shoulder sections than the blessed elves of the north. The area gave them their name: The Hilar Coastline. In many cultures, they are known as the "southern elves" or the "sea elves" due to their traditions of fishing and seafaring. Most elves you will find on ships are Hilar Elves. Their skin is tanned and their bodies are shorter but broader. Compared to Humans they are still taller and more elegant, yet compared to the blessed elves, they appear more uncivilized and barbaric. The most common hair color is brown, often worn short or tied to a ponytail. Most Hilar elves have red eyes.
Culture
Shared customary codes and values
Seafaring
The ocean is neither your friend nor your foe. It takes and gives. We travel over it and think we control our part, but the ocean is no beast we dare to tame.Due to their closeness to the Bay of Hilar, where the big rivers Sylvias Stream, Nentil, and Swaran end in the ocean, the Hilar Elves are strongly tied to seafaring. Most ships of the Blessed Nation of Syl are built, maintained, and crewed by them. Most Hilar elves that live in their core population regions either work directly in the maritime industries, like fishing or the navy, or have at least connections to it due to their work or connections. Seafood is popular in their diet, especially the plants that grow close to the shore underwater like seaweed.
Trading
How dare these Hilar fools to take money from us. We are serving Sylvia's holy cause, and yet we must pay for the wood? We should find other supplies...While their northern Blessed Elves friends are finding a core identity in their faith, the Hilar elves find it in pragmatic choices and wealth generation. Their united trading networks span over the whole Sylvan Lands and beyond that. They are faithful, yet not as fanatic in this as other elves. If there is money to make, they will take the chance. Due to their long natural lives, many Hilar Merchants built their networks over decades and centuries. Their investments often only return to them after many years, but they are willing to wait for it.
Adventure Spirit
You can come home whenever you want my dear. Stay close to the main roads and do not trust the Fae folks, they are all tricksters!Hilar elves are known for their wish to see the world with their own eyes. Many will start at least one big expedition during their lives before they settle down somewhere. This has spread their population beyond their core population regions and you can find Hilar elves in many regions of the Sylvan Lands. Those elves of Hilarlen often group with others of their age and try to see as much of the world as they can. These expeditions often take decades, in which they will periodically settle in towns and regions before moving on.
Tolerant
Mermaids swim faster and nobody can carry as much as a centaur. It is not breaking my pride to say this.The hilar elves are, for elves, rather tolerant towards other species and lifestyles. They even go so far as to accept that other species are better than themselves in certain things. That is a rare trait for sylvan elves, as most have a relatively strong superiority complex for their own species compared to others. Hilar elves are pragmatic, for elves. They see that others can be better at things, even if they are of a different species.
Encompassed species
Related Locations
