Dalish
The Dalish are nomadic elves that seek to recover, inherit, and preserve the knowledge and sacred treasures of their fallen empires.
History
Originally, they lived in an ancient civilization remembered as Elvhenan. At some point between then and the rise of the Tevinter Imperium, their "perfect civilization" was enslaved by the rulers of the Imperium and their civilization was destroyed. Eventually, humans across Thedas rose up in a violent rebellion against the Imperium. This was known as the First Exalted March. During this, the enslaved elven people rose up and revolted against the Imperium. Due to their aid in the First Exalted March, the freed elven slaves were given a new place where they could rebuild their fallen empire. This place became known as the Dales. This period of time from which they had to travel from the Tevinter Imperium to the Dales is known as the Long Walk. For centuries, the elves saw the Dales as there civilization's new home. Many began calling themselves "Dalish" rather than "elven". Their civilization flourished in these forested lands until skirmishes began between them and Orlais. Orlais began a war with the Dalish, eventually dubbing this the Second Exalted March. Originally, the Dalish seemed far too powerful for Orlais. Upon taking Orlais' capital however, the Orlesians were able to rally a force that turned the tides and allowed them to crush the Dalish. The Dalish were driven all the way back to their own capital until finally having their nation annexed from them. Most of the Dalish died in this war, or fled their land following it. Some elves gave up their people's way of life and became known as cCity elves, while others refused to give up who their heritage and continued calling themselves Dalish. After losing the Dales the Dalish began leading nomadic lives, wandering Thedas. They attempted to cobble together what little memories they had of their old traditions, the most notable of which is the Dalish Pantheon. The Chantry sees this pantheon's existence as an active threat to their beliefs.Culture
The Dalish are currently in a period others refer to as "The Mourning". Having lost their homeland and most of their written history and traditions, they are a broken people. The Dalish now mostly dress in black clothing to represent this. Different tribes have adopted other traditions to reflect this as well. There are those elves who have taken it upon themselves to find what little relics of history still exist from their ancient glory. Keepers, as they refer to themselves, generally are the heads of clans and do what little they can to preserve the ways of old. The Dalish were once a people who lived for many centuries, if not longer. This is no longer the case. Their eldest generally reach the same oldest age of humans, around sixty to seventy. It is believed that due to their loss of the Dales as well as the interaction with the expediency of human nations, they lost their longevity. It is common for those that reach adulthood to be commemorated. Each member of a tribe will have the symbol of their chosen god tattooed on their body. This is known as vallasin.Magic
Unlike many of the other groups in Thedas, the Dalish revere magic and see it as a gift that they must cherish. To them, it feels like the one relic they can hold onto that their gods gave to them so long ago.
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