Elves

The race known commonly as elves refer to themselves as the Sheeth’a, or the Ays Sheeth’a. The elves are reputed to be the most knowledgable and wisest race on Aeryth, with a much deeper understanding of magic and the nature of the world than other species. Even their knowledge is imperfect, however, and much that was once known has since been lost over the centuries.
Elves are taller than the average human, very lithe, and usually have very good, almost cat-like reflexes. They can see in almost any environment, even in extremely low light, and they are able to sense magic when it is being used. Some say they can even tell what kind of magic is being used. They are excellent navigators and have an inerrant sense of direction.
However, they also tend to be much more fragile, with lower constitution and strength scores than other races. What they lack in hardiness, however, they more than make up for in dexterity, intelligence, and magic ability.
Elves sometimes settle in human cities, but most have a dislike of areas that are too civilized. There are no known elf cities in Aeryth. Instead, elf communities tend to be highly nature-focused, with elves settling in forests, hilly regions, or other areas of pristine nature. They see themselves as Aeryth’s chosen defenders, and consider it their duty to protect her.
This has led to a particular hatred for all demons and abominations, alien races not native to Aeryth, along with complete antipathy for the orcs.
Despite these generalizations, elves are nearly as diverse as humans. No elf knows everything about magic, nor about elvish history, so it’s not uncommon to meet elves with profoundly different ideas about the mysteries of Aeryth.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Elves are most commonly identified by their pointed ears and thin, delicate facial features.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

High cheekbones and pointed ears.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Though a variety of elvish enclaves exist, there is no proper “elvish homeland” on Aeryth. The elves refer to a place called “Teirna,” “Teirna Nohg” “Seelie” or “The Seelie Court” that cannot be reached by mortal means. Not every elf is born in Seelie, but most feel a powerful longing for the fabled land, even if they’ve never seen it themselves.
Seelie is described as a magical land of eternal twilight, connected to Aeryth but not of it, where a person can feel as if they are light as air. Legends say that a person can enter Seelie and return to Aeryth at a point far different from where they left. Time is said to work differently there, with years on Aeryth lasting only hours in Seelie. Some people believe that the apparently long lives of the elves are nothing more than a side-effect of the difference in the passage of time between the two realms.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Elves have excellent hearing and superior vision in darkness.

Civilization and Culture

Average Technological Level

Of all of Aeryth's mortal species, the Elves are the most knowledgeable of magic. They are able to create metals and textiles that are far beyond what most other species are capable of, expect for perhaps the Dwarves. Because of their secretive nature, it is difficult for other peoples to determine just how advanced the Elves are exactly. However, even the most knowledgeable Elf will admit that their understanding of "magic" is far inferior to what their ancestors knew. Most Elves believe only a fraction of knowledge has survived the ages to the present day.

/*Of course, what other call "magic" the Elves know to be nothing more than technology. While they are extremely knowledgeable about how to use most of the ancient technology that has survived to the modern day, and many have a fairly accurate understanding of history and the laws of physics, the ability to create new technology on the level of the Golden Age has been lost. */

History

/*The Elves are descendants of humans who migrated to Mars and the great orbital stations in the sky. As a result, they have evolved superior hearing due to Mars's thinner atmosphere, and better night vision due to the reduced sunlight. They are taller and thinner then humans, as a result of their adaptations to lower gravity, and they shun bright sunlight. Their bodies are so deeply intertwined with their technology that what humans refer to as "magic" is almost second nature to them, and many of them are sorcerers. Elven technology appears is called "fey magic" by other species, and the Elves are not eager to disabuse them of that notion. */

Common Myths and Legends

According to elven mythology, they were the first of the humanoid races. Some elven stories even argue that they were responsible for awakening the gods themselves. In the elven version of history, the elves were once the only humanoid beings on all of Aeryth, and the only awakened creatures until they called upon the help of the gods and brought them into the world. The elves eventually came to serve the gods, and between the two of them they helped preserve the beauty and wonder of the world.
This golden age ended when a demon of incredible power arrived in the sky. The elves and gods together fought the creature, which took the form of a second moon. Many elves and even gods died fighting a cosmic war that raged through the centuries. The demon moon gave birth to all of the aberrations and dragons and demons of the world, erupting from the moon one day to blot out the sky.
To fight this demonic host, the elves created new races with the help of the gods to fight against the enemy. That is how the orcs, the dwarves, the halflings and the humans came to be. After many centuries of war, the enemy was finally defeated, and peace returned to the world. But the fighting had scarred the land, and Aeryth was forever changed. While elves could still control magic, the war had taken its tool on their knowledge. The magic that modern elves are capable of is only a pale shadow of the miracles they had been able to accomplish during the golden age.

Lifespan

Hundreds of years.

Average Height

6'2

Average Weight

170lbs

Related Myths

• The origin of the orcs