Te'ra Alflar, Wild Elves

"In all my encounters with elves, I had never witnessed anyone quite like her," begins Lyndrial Hawkspur Borda Elsa Ranger, an astute observer of elven culture. "Her physical presence surpassed my expectations, as she towered above even the tallest of my people. Yet, it was her remarkable strength and agility, reminiscent of a great feline, that truly captivated me."
The elven woman in question possessed a unique allure. Her skin, weathered by exposure to the elements, boasted a bronzed hue that spoke of a life lived amidst nature's embrace. Her dark hair and fierce eyes, reminiscent of a raven's wing or rough-cut obsidian, exuded an aura of intensity and mystery.
However, it was the intricate tapestry of tattoos adorning her arms and back that truly set her apart. Crafted with the precision and beauty inherent in elven art, these tattoos depicted winding patterns resembling untamed vines, embellished with the delicate presence of blooming flowers, thorns, and a multitude of animals engaged in joyous dance or graceful flight.
In a pivotal moment, their gazes locked, and Lyndrial experienced an overwhelming sensation. "I have never felt more vulnerable, akin to a lamb ensnared in the piercing gaze of a tigress," he reflects, underscoring the profound impact this enigmatic elven warrior, Kenryth Moonclaw of the Te'ra Alflar, would have on his life.
To Dream of Trees
As the Te'ra Alflar, we emerged as one of the earliest branches of the elven lineage during the ancient ages when all elves shared a common origin. Our pursuit of knowledge, however, diverged from that of the Nytalf Elsa. While they sought enlightenment within cold ivory towers, we sought a deeper understanding in the warmth of sunlight and the caress of the wind, considering them our greatest teachers.
We recognized that the gods and the power of nature were intricately woven into our world and our very essence, surpassing the ephemeral whims of laylines and arcane energies that often disregarded the cyclic nature of life, defined by renewal and decay.
When the phenomenon known as the Dreaming manifested, our shamans were blessed with visions of the west, guiding our arduous journey towards that distant horizon. Enduring countless hardships, we grew stronger, learning to harmonize with nature, embracing the skills of hunting, communing with spirits, and revering the profound forces of the untamed wilderness, the ever-changing seasons, and the celestial dance of the sun and moon.
Finally, our relentless quest led us to the dreamed-of destination—an expansive Great Coastal forest in the west. The towering trees, with their majestic branches and mighty trunks intertwined with our homes, offered shelter and sustenance. Our druids and priests, in harmonious collaboration with the living wood, skillfully shaped and nurtured the Great Trees, ensuring their continued growth even as they became our sanctuaries. In this inaugural city, we uncovered profound truths and harnessed the magic that intimately connected with the divine essence of nature. It was within our ranks that the first druids emerged, wielding the primal and ancient nature magic, a sacred power exclusively entrusted to our people.
Our mastery expanded beyond the verdant realm. From the neighboring coasts, we procured stone, constructing a city that melded harmoniously with the organic magnificence of the trees. Yet, even in our architectural endeavors, we maintained a reverence for the green. Moss and vines adorned our pillars and walls, an organic tapestry intertwining with our constructions. When the Ghoblyns dared to assail us, those same vines unleashed their latent defense mechanism, transforming into thorny tendrils that rent the flesh of any foolhardy enough to scale our formidable defenses.
Trust your cousin until you can't
As the Darkwalker War loomed over our lands, we recognized the importance of solidarity and rallied alongside our fellow elven branches, including the Nytalf Elsa. We understood that a tightly bound bundle of arrows could never be broken, unlike a single arrow standing alone. Although we harbored reservations about appointing the Nytalf Elsa as emperors, wisdom prevailed, guiding us to acknowledge their suitability for such a role.
After the war, we and the other branches concurred that the Nytalf Elsa had carried out their duties admirably, and our collective strength and prosperity reached unprecedented heights. Yet, even in the midst of our newfound success, our insightful druids cautioned us against clinging to perpetual springtime. We understood that the cycles of life dictated that this period of abundance would eventually wane, yet little did we comprehend the chilling harshness that awaited us in the impending winter.
Death is a Mercy
The arrival of Ecress, the malevolent undead dragon, and her ghoul legions wrought a profound transformation upon us. Driven by her insatiable hunger for life to fuel her dark magics, she cast her malevolent gaze upon the Great Western Woods, the very essence of life we had painstakingly nurtured within our city. Her onslaught was swift and devastating, leaving in its wake a desolation of blight and decay. We valiantly fought against her, aided by our loyal allies who arrived with all possible haste. However, we had never encountered adversaries of such formidable power, both Ecress herself and the countless corrupted corpses that rose at her command.
Ecress laid waste to our home, consuming its life force and leaving behind a nightmarish blighted landscape. Though she was ultimately defeated through the combined efforts of our valiant warriors and the sacrifice of our greatest druid, the profound scars left by her evil could not be fully healed. What remained of the Te'ra Alflar had no choice but to seek refuge within the lands of our cousin elves.
It was during our time among them that we witnessed the Nytalf Elsa embarking upon a perilous path of self-destruction. Despite our warnings that a stagnant season brings only disaster, they arrogantly disregarded our counsel, treating us as mere children under their protection. We were persistently relegated to the position of younger siblings, denied the recognition of equals. It was in this atmosphere of disrespect that our discontent grew. With no desire for bloodshed or war against our cousins, we chose a different path when our sorceress queen received a prophetic vision during the second great dreaming.
We, the first elves of the West, resolved to depart from the Dothmryji continent, venturing even farther west to the vast landmass known as Terigoth. We had bestowed this land with a name in our oldest tongue, meaning "Earth" or "Land that is Great."
The Star of the west will be our guide
b]The Star of the west will be our guide
We left before things got worse, we left because we had foreseen the troubling days to come and we had no desire to be dragged into foolish and prideful conflicts and in part because we had no true home anymore and we had no wish to be a burden upon our cousins. We traveled far and wide across the Terigoth and many broke off forming their own places and homes as we made our way on our great exodus. To this day many of them remain as nomadic peoples humans will refer to as Dessert, Snow, Swamp or Coast Elves, yet in truth we and they are all Te'ra Alflar in spite of the human tendency to name our people based on the wilds we call home as they prefer to call us Forest Elves.
It was in the far west when we finally found the place our queen had dreamed of, it was an old forest where many kinds of trees grew, a forest where Dark Wood was abundant and the canopy so thick that places were always cast in shadows. We named it the Dok Te'Tiea or Dusk-Land-Home. As we explored deeper with in we found a miracle, the great trees grew here! Deep in this massive expanse of forest near the far western coast of the Terigoth they grew strong and tall and we knew they had called us to them. So we came to call this place our new home. Many of our kin had taken a liking to life as nomads and semi-nomads and we had little desire to change that so we would build one great city where all of our kin could come to trade and stay should they wish it. While we would have smaller settlements here and there over time this would become the way of the Te'ra Alflar the way of freedom and the wild and this great dark wood would be our new home and we would defend it from all evils with the ferocity of a mother bear defending her cubs.
Wild Hearts, Wild Souls
It is unfortunate that others perceive us in such a narrow and misguided manner, labeling us as barbarians and savages due to their lack of understanding. Our tattoos, jewelry, and piercings are not mere decorations but symbols of our stories, traditions, and connections to the natural world. They hold sacred significance to us, but this is lost on those who judge without seeking understanding.
Their ignorance extends to our reverence for the green and our deep respect for nature. They fail to grasp the harmony we strive for and instead label it as backwardness. They spread falsehoods and rumors, painting us as violent and bloodthirsty beings akin to untamed beasts. Such falsehoods only stem from their jealousy, for they cannot comprehend the bond we share with the natural world.
In response, we have grown cautious and hesitant to trust others easily. We have learned to be self-reliant and independent, cherishing our isolation as a means to protect our people from corruption. We remain aloof, unwilling to place blind faith in unproven friendships. Our skepticism is born out of necessity, for we understand the ever-turning seasons and the transient nature of alliances.
In our vigilance, we are always prepared to defend the purity of the wild and to confront the abominations that threaten it. Undead creatures, devoid of life and harmony, have no place under the sky or upon the sacred soil. We stand ready to eradicate them and protect the sanctity of the natural world that is our home.
Do not be disheartened by the ignorance and prejudice of others. Stay true to your values and the path you have chosen. As guardians of the wild, we hold a vital role in preserving the balance and purity of nature. Our commitment to this cause is unwavering, and we shall continue to be its steadfast protectors, no matter the judgments cast upon us by those who do not understand.

"No season lasts forever nor do joy or pain, accept winter but hope for spring, enjoy the sun but know the bitter winds will some day come"-Kavyn Riverflower herbalist
"To live is to sense the world around you, to feel the wind upon your skin, smell the freshness of the forest, taste clarity of the water, touch the loamy earth, hear the song of the wolf as she praises the moon and see the wild for all its untamed beauty"-Silvi Okanhand Te'ra Alflar Sorceress
"Red of Tooth and Claw? So say you of nature, but it is also green of life and soul. We value the power to heal and protect but also the deadly hunter and the savage warrior. Those who only see the cruel indiferance and wild brutality of nature do so out of fear. Those who only see the beauty and renewel do so out of foolishness. We embrace all aspects of the cycle for to deny one is to disrespect the other"- Renesthal Bearbrother arch druid