The Recluse

This isolated group of elves, living deep within the Sylvq Forests, are well known for their exellent literature, and preservation of a culture from before the slaying of Tiamaat. While only numbering a few hundred, they fiercly defend their isolation, only occasionally placing a book in a prearranged point after retrieving a cache of supplies. They continue to write in old elven, a language that is only barely understandable to those who speak modern elven, but their fluidity of prose and general style is highly evident even in translation, and as such even copied translations of their works are highly prized, and the originals can fetch top gold.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The group appears to speak exclusivly a very slightly modifed version of old elvish, the language spoken around the time of the fall. This language is unintelligable to speakers of modern elvish, but with some study and practice it can be understood, and a few books and treatises survive from this time that can help with translation.

Culture and cultural heritage

They appear to have arised from an isolated group that survived the fall. While almost all elves that survived the fall were either at one of the great colleges of magic, on a mountain, or was independantly protected, they quickly gathered to reaffirm their heritage and set up communities to keep themselves going. Somehow this group did not get the message, possibly due to a lack of sparks, and when they were discovered just a few centuries ago they did not wish to join what they saw as a corrupted, modern elven society. They were more than happy to get rid of some of their old books though.

Shared customary codes and values

They are very similar to the The Monastic Order of the Followers of Deneir the Wise in their principles and outlook, though with a unique spin. Endlessly fascinated with writing, they dedicate their lives to it, learn it from birth, and shun those that do not partake. While this does produce excellent works, with skills honed over centuries with an elf's sharp mind, it does lead to a social toll for those that are not as enthused, and while other work is found for them, it is a kind of second class of membership, and they are looked down on.