Ur-Mera

Ur-Mera are a Humanoid species, the root or basal species of the macrogroup Mera, also known as Elves or Elfkind. Put differently, they are the most genetically "pure" of all elven species, having experienced the least amount of genetic drift with other Humanoid lineages.

The genetic descent of elves is somewhat mysterious: they are widely thought to be terrestrial descendents of true merfolk (the origin of the name Mera), however the provenance of the true merfolk, in turn, is lost to history.

Often called Sun Elves, Cliff Elves or Sand Elves, the first Ur-Mera apparently evolved on arid planes, where a merfolk's lifestyle is most at risk. They are distinguished from other basal Humanoids by their smaller stature, angular features, narrow noses, pointed ears and coppery skin tone. This origin is likely also the reason elves are more likely to be born Aspected to water (usually called undines or ondines) than other lineages. Also noteworthy are gathlain, elves born aspected to the fae ("faetouched"). More information into Mera's deeper origins is highly sought after in many archaeological circles.

Range

Ur-Mera are uncommon in the Greater Eridún Crux Region (GECR), generally found on remote planes where they are the dominant apex predator. On more cosmopolitan planes, elven curiosity and long life-spans, combined with human gregariousness, has resulted in considerable genetic drift between the Meran and Anthran lineages, and as a result mixed human-elven humanoids, known as Meranthic Peoples, have slowly become the most populous humanoids in the GECR.

Among these Meranthic elves are, most famously, the Eladrin (wood elves, red elves), the Altnoréth (iron elves, high elves), the Drow (dark elves, nyx elves) and Halflings, however there exist dozens of other subfamilies around the local cluster, including the the Enari (ghost elves, snow elves, bone elves) of the Silurian Eighth and the Shar (cave elves, dolomite elves) of the Dornnish Eighth. Most of these societies are unaware of their desert origins. They are generally taller and swarthier than Sun Elves due to their mixed human genetics.

Theorized Origin

Daybreak scholars theorize that the original elves, root of the Ur-Mera lineage, originated from merfolk on an arid plane, forced to abandon their aquatic lifestyles due to shrinking territory. Based on frequency distribution studies, they believe the origin of elves lies somewhere in the Kolarian Eighth, possibly Tassalit or Ninkarrak.