Arrogant, beautiful, haughty, intelligent, prideful, masters of artistry and the arcane. High elven society long straddled the boundary between the Prime Material Plane and Faerie Realm. Many average mortal looks upon true High Elves like they might look at something stepping out of a myth, with awe, curiosity, and even fear of their powers. Despite their fall from the highest heights, even Kings offer their respect to High Elf nobles, for the power they still wield is not inconsequential. High elven cities were magnificent marvels of elegant architecture made of wondrous towers and structures that blended seamlessly into places of natural beauty. Many high elven cities were found in locations where the border between the Prime and the Feywild was particularly thin—isolated mountain vales, green islands, storm-wracked coasts, and the deepest reaches of ancient forests. But in reality, they are Isolated and alone in a world they no longer control, the High Elves are facing the twilight years of their existence, their cities no longer bustling with vibrancy and life as they used to be but now serve as a gloomy reminder of their past, and potential, impending demise.
Appearance
With their unearthly grace and fine features, elves often appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are predominantly slender of build, and near the average height of humans or slightly taller (5.5 to 6.5 feet), weighing only 100 to 160 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females. Elves encompass a wide of physical appearances, including the normal human range of skin an hair tones. The most common tend towards a fair complexion, with skin in shades of pale, tan or olive, and hair of white, gold or brown, and eyes that of a green, gold or blue tint.
High Elves represent the heights of elvish society. When in elven attire, it is of the utmost quality possible while still maintaining functionality, and often sacrificing some in favor of appearance. Their robes are dazzlingly vibrant colours, hemmed with gold and silvers, with woven pattern. Their armour is engraved with wings, made of shining scales, and large amounts of filigree, and jewelry is extremely common among both men and women, from rings and bracelets to earrings and necklaces. Many describe their appearance as gaudy, ask the next person and they may describe it as opulent, and yet others may just be baffled in amazement.
Demeanor
High Elves are generally kind, polite, and noble by nature, meaning the best for those around them; but that's because they know what's best for everyone. High elves struggle at times to sound like they're not talking down to someone, even more so if they're not trying to. But, they also have a grand past, one they are very proud of and slow to let anyone forget it. They are steeped in traditions of the past, unwilling to move beyond them, but rather hope one day to return to them. Despite their noble and compassionate nature, which was once one of the Elves greatest and most noble characteristics, it has been replaced in many by a great sense of pride, hubris and vanity in their superiority to others.
Society
High elves lived in grace with the touch of magic found throughout their lives, it permeates them and their world. High elven practices of all sorts were influenced by this from dance and song to swordplay and wizardry. The cities of the high elves were stunning locations of beauty, formed and shaped by the blending of magic with graceful and elegant designs. High elves favor elegant clothing and armour in bright colors, and highly polished metals, with often lavish jewelry. Education features very heavily in their society, with many year of formal schooling for young elves. Society is led by the noble princes and normally a High King of the land. Compared with their wood elven siblings, comparatively few High Elves become druids, with Spellsingers, Bladedancers, Wizards, Eldritch Knights and Arcane Archers being far more common.
They are master artisans, creating some of the finest weapons, armour, and wondrous items the world has ever seen. Where
Dwarven work may be more durable and able to stand the test of time, High Elven work is known for its intense artistry and craftsmanship.
The High Elves follow the same
Pantheon as their wood elf brethren but place different emphasis on particular Gods. They particularly place an emphasis on two categories of gods, the Cadai and Mirai; loosely the good and bad. In High Elven culture, both Cadai and Mirai Gods are worshiped, but just carefully for the Mirai gods.
Heliod - God of Light, Sun and Summer and
Selûne - Twin Goddess of Illusion, Moonlight, Night form the pinnacle, of the High Elven Pantheon.
High Elves also follow what they call
"The Path". A moral, and self-disciplinary code meant to protect their people from once again falling to rampant desires and emotions. This code often means that it takes quite a bit to rouse visible or external evidence of emotion high elves, leading to sense of coldness of passivity. But this couldn't be further from the truth, and does not mean they cannot indulge themselves, they just know how to control it. Many high elves who leave the confines of the remaining high elf kingdoms loosen their following of the path, and explore the moral and emotion world outside of a rigid life.
Isolated Realms
What remains of the High Elven realms, is now a fractured, independent set of small kingdoms or city states. At times these disparate bodies will work together towards a common goal, but they are often separated by great distances and mighty empires. These are a few places that the High Elves still control and live in sizable numbers:
High Mountain Realm of Lothrimir - One of the largest remaining independent Kingdoms, it resides high up in the Kybar's Teeth Mountains, at the north east end of the Ondari province of
Drakenwald, protected both by their naturally rugged mountains themselves, and by powerful magics. Here, in their high Alpine valley's the Elves of Lothrimir continue life much as they have for thousands of years, in dedication to their craft, martial prowess, or arcane knowledge. For more than a thousand years, Lothrimir sheltered itself from the outside world with powerful magics which kept their high mountain valley's hidden from the outside world. The Elves of Lothrimir are considered "rough" by High Elven standards, and are commonly seen wearing hunted furs, animal trophies, and tattoos; all of which are essentially unheard of in High Elven lands outside of Lothrimir.
The Summer Islands of Ellyrion - Hidden away in the Bay of Tureon for thousands of years by powerful magics that saw boats sunk, turned around, disappear, or simply reappear on the other side; has resided the Summer Islands of Ellyrion. It is an enchanted land of sweeping plains, azure skies, bright forests and pollen laden fields. Rumors say that the island is enchanted to see a mild summer all year round. it is famed for its Elven Calvary, merchants, wine, and fine linens.
Coastal Realm of Dor'Danil - The Realm of Dor'Danil is a northern coastal realm, inhabited by shrewd and hardy folk. It is a land of short temperate summers, and deep cold winters battered by chill northeastern winds, icy winter seas and driving rains. But it retains a rugged beauty of thick ancient coniferous forests, rocky shorelines and pristine skies. It's often joked that the rugged beauty of Dor'Danil is little-loved, save by its own people. Unlike most other realms, Dor'Danil is consider a dual kingdom, with both a High Elf, and Wood Elf leader ruling together. The majority of wood elves can be found on the mainland in their hidden towns and treetop lookouts, while the coastal peninsula and islands are inhabited by their sea-faring high elf cousins and the soaring spires of the capital Wy'Drioth.
The Twin City of Shen'Dralar - The High Elves of Shen'Dralar emerged from the woods near the Dwarven City of Baraz Wurn late in the 5th Epoch. Their city is built on a space of ground particularly close to the Fey Wild; and is a haven for creatures and beasts from that realm. the city is in fact split, half in the mortal realm, and half in the Fey-Wild; and is linked by a permanent realmgate. Faeries, Satyrs, Centaurs, and other Fey beings are commonplace, giving the city a more "
Wood Elven" feel at times than many of their other High Elven brethren.
The Under-City of Shal'Endar - Hidden within the Graymantle Peaks, Shal'Endar is believed to be unique within the Elven realms, in that it is a city found entirely underground. This city resides in an enormous cavern lit by magic to represent the cycles of the sun, moon and stars in the sky. It's nestled at the rear of the cave protected by a wide moat which separates the city from the cave entrance. It is also one of the few Elven cities which boasts a sizeable
Dwarven and
Gnomish populations. Despite having politically revealed themselves to the world, the exact location of the city is kept a closely guarded secret with most day to day trading and diplomacy taking place from the above ground town of Shal'Ralis. The Elves of Shal'Endar maintain a sizeable underground kingdom beneath the peaks, much to the chagrin of some dwarves.
The City-State of Tel'Anor - Tel'Anor is is a young, but bustling city of High Elves. During the reign of the Zentherian Dynasty, Tel'Anor was a small village of several hundred elves on the Northern Bay of Tureon; perpetually repressed and monitored by the Dynasty. During the fall and the wars, Tel'Anor managed to avoid destruction by quickly joining forces with the Ondari rebels and lending what they could to the effort. After the founding of
The Ondari Dominion, they became a beacon for those who could reach it, and it rapidly grew in size, and was later given semi-autonomy within the Dominion. Today, it is a center of culture and learning, with an incredibly wide array colleges, universities, guilds, libraries and organizations. After the old Elven kingdoms revealed themselves again, Tel'Anor became a sort of hub for them, where High Elves from the Remaining Kingdoms opened their first Embassies. It remains mostly elven in population with still more than half being of High Elven decent.
The City-State of Quel'Andris - Quel-Andris is a sea-faring independent city-state across the sea of Ulmo between the fringes of the
Meridian Concord and
Cindarian Dukedoms. For a time, they too stayed hidden, but returned to the world much sooner than many of their cousins. It is known for a powerful naval tradition, spellsingers, and hydromancers, which have kept them protected from invaders for generations.
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