Grass Elves

The Ones Guarding the Plains

The grass elves are a smaller ethnic group in Enyanin, a mostly wood-elven nation, and they are related to the wood elves. These elves now mostly reside in the Enyanian plain in the northeast of the country and constitute the primary ethnicity in the city of Aenyth, which lies at the mouth of the Marn River.   They once roamed as far as the Yavin River, a memory of a time when elves ruled much more of the world. However, they have since been replaced by humans, finding themselves relegated to a comparatively small area of land.   Physical Appearance These elves are much lighter skinned than their woodland kin, and their hair is often a lighter shade of brown, even dark blond, with yellow being a rare color seen only occasionally. Their facial features resemble those of the island elves—long and serious—and their hair is mostly curly.  

The Plains

Their section of plains is nearer the forest, making it quite lush. It also sits on the Marn delta and is very flat, with rolling hills and endless flower fields, occasional lakes surrounded by patches of woods breaking up the landscape. Their coasts are smooth and sandy, with the gentle waves of Isich Bay beating the shores. It is a quiet place, home to animals such as the Yavinian brown-tail deer, the most common grazing animal, and the wolf to hunt it. But other than that, there are not many large beasts here.  

Cuisine

Because these plains offer not many domesticable cattle, the grass elves have long adopted those from the forest. Marnen pigs, in particular, are a common part of their diet. However, they also remember their past as hunters of the plains, and any decent grass elf male will frequently go on a hunt for brown rail, rabbit, hare, or any of the other critters that roam these fruitful plains. Those living by the coast might also choose to go fishing in the bay, calm and kind waters teeming with fish waiting to be caught—these fresh fish are a significant part of the grass elven diet, especially in Aenyth.   Besides meat and fish, these plains are known for their agricultural potential. Various varieties of grains, as well as potatoes, onions, and a wide variety of vegetables, are grown here. This makes them especially distinct from their wood elven kin, who consider eating bread a thing for humans. However, anyone walking along the streets of Aenyth in the mornings, or any grass elven town for that matter, will find the scent of freshly baked sourdough bread welcoming them.  

Culture

The grass elves are a plains people who used to run these plains until humans gained the horse from the island elves. The grass elves gained horses not much later, but the damage had already been done—the humans had mastered horse-based warfare much faster and better than these elven foot soldiers. As a result, the grass elves were driven into the south, leaving a permanent mark of scorn and lost glory on their history.   Even though this is now one of Enyanin's wealthier provinces, with a unique and thriving cultural society, they can't help but remember the days when they were the masters of the plains. Of all the elves, these are the ones that harbor the most resentment towards humans. While they live with them, trade, and deal with them on a daily basis, there's always an air of contempt and dislike. They will consistently offer better prices to fellow elves or even dwarves than to humans.   Despite this historical bitterness, they are generally a calm people, living on the serene green flower hills of the southern plains. Great wealth flows through their port on a daily basis, and life is good.

Leadership

They are led by a prince-bishop, something that used to be common amongst the elves, although now there are but a few left, as most of these bishoprics have been incorporated into the crownlands over the years.   For more information about these religious practices, see The Faith of the Seven   ---   Their consumption of vegetables in favor of tree-grown foods, is why they are considered to be a rather strange folk by the wood elves, and some even claim they must be a half-breed, muddled with human blood, something they take as a grave insult.

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