Elves

Aloof, graceful, poised, and xenophobic. Elves can be beautiful and fearsome. Most elves are both. Apart from their physical features, a feeling of racial superiority, and incredibly long life spans elves from different continents of Tartarus have little in common with each other.

Khorvairian Shadow Elves

Three millennia ago the elves of House Phiarlan left Aerenal and settled in Khorvaire. Since then they have grown fairer of skin, developing a gray hue and a talent for illusion and shadow magic which they used to take over the entertainment industry. They have adapted the most to the other races and deal with them frequently while maintaining a cold aloofness. Half a century ago a branch of the house split due to cultural differences forming House Thuranni.

House Phiarlan Shadow Elves

House Phiarlan controls the entertainment industry, traveling the continent in caravans with few permenant enclaves. They use their natural grace and magic prowess to put on shows that enthrall the masses.

House Thuranni Shadow Elves

Over the millennia a bloody rift formed within House Phiarlan which led to some of it's families splitting off to form House Thuranni. While the split is very recent in elven eyes, the cultural differences that caused it are profound, and while the Thuranni share their physical characteristics and gifts with the Phiarlan, they use them much more nefariously. Unlike their kin they build permanent enclaves in remote places and engage in mercenary wet-work for the highest bidder.

Aereni High Elves

The golden skinned elves who live on the island-continent of Aerenal are xenophobic, protecting their home from the world outside. The high elves worship their ancestors, but in two strikingly different ways leading to a large group of them immigrating to Khorvaire and forging a separate nation of Valenar.

Aereni High Elves

The highly xenophobic elves fiercely protect their island and worship their ancestors who still walk among them in a state called Deathlessness. The Deathless are eon old elves who have surpassed mortality. Together they form the Undying Court which leads their nation.

Valenar High Elves

The elves of the northern isles of Aerenal do not deny the Undying Court but choose to venerate their ancestors by following in the tradition of great warriors. Valenar elves crave the action of battle and glorious victory over a challenging foe, which caused them to cross the Lunar Straights to Khorvaire at the height of the Great War. The elves proved themselves to be masters of horse riding and the double ended scimitar. Serving as elite cavalry for various nations during the war, but when it ended, they did not leave, instead choosing to remain in southeastern Khorvaire and founding the nation of Valenar.

Xen'drik Wild Elves

The original elves were called to this world by the ancient Titan civilization and used as slaves and blood sacrifices, until one day they rebelled. The great warrior Aeren led his people to the continent that now bears his name. But there were those who chose to remain on Xen'drik. The obsidian skined elves who were left behind live in the deep jungles of the dark continent and are openly hostile to outsiders.

Roleplaying and Characteristics

Aging

Elves mature much slower in comparison to humans and 150 is considered the age of adulthood, and can live to almost 800 years of age. Contrary to many other races opinion, they do experience the effects of old age, they just show it less physically. Elves roll for attribute loss at the thresholds of 400, 560, and 720.

Reproduction and Children

Elves have difficulty conceiving children. Most elven females will only have one or two children in their lifetime. Because of this children have a special place in elven society and are fiercely protected. Siblings are rare and usually have an intimate bond because of it. The gestation period for elves is 3 years.

Physical Characteristics

Elven facial features are often narrow and angular, and most often characterized by their long pointed ears. Elves tend to be taller than humans, but their small frames tend to make them much lighter. Determine as humans but start with: 5'8-6'6 inches. 80-120 lbs.

Cultural Impacts

Elves have the same intellectual capacity as the other races. Their long lifespans and cultural focus on tradition is both a blessing a boon. Elves have a difficult time understanding the innovation of the younger races. They take their time and measure events in decades not years. So while a human swordsman will try to learn an entire fighting style in a few years and a human mage might familiarize themselves with an entire grimoire, an elf might spend a decade practicing one sword swing or spell.

Language

Several common elven words:

Genetic Descendants

• Deathless