The Elen'nar

Meaning "those bound by the stars" in the elven tongue, the Elen'nar are a kingdom of elves who originate from the Harkan Mountains of K'allpa. They were the first to "discover" and settle The Talhani Isles after the disappearance of its previous occupants, The Atotakah.
Their mastery of science and magic make them the de facto leaders of The Assembly of the Isles; "first among equals" as many put it. Indeed, even before the Assembly, the Elen'nar have existed under a common banner far longer than any other kingdom currently in the Isles. In theory, they were contemporaries of the Atotakah, though the elves have no public records of any notable interactions with the mysterious empire.

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

Like many elven cultures, the Elen'nar favor knowledge and influence that benefits the group. This is something that is translated into their dealings with their fellow Assembly members; offering their knowledge of magic, alchemy, and history to elevate their fellows and improve their own understanding of the subject matters.
Thanks to their elven longevity, the Elen'nar also place the arts and self-expression in high esteem. Their colonies in the Isles are built with just as much reverence and splendor as their ancient cities within the Harkan Mountains.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Because of their longevity, the elves of Elen'nar break their lives into three distinct phases. First, there is the fledgling stage, which encompasses everything from birth through the first 2 or so centuries of life. In this stage, they are young, restless, and relentlessly curious; learning all they can from their elders first and then the wider world later. Then, there is the matron/patron phase that encompasses the middle centuries of an elf's life. It is here where most elves begin to settle on a chosen path to follow for the rest of their life and a skill or profession in which they seek to achieve true mastery. It is also here where those that wish to have children settle down to raise a family. Finally, there is the matriarch/patriarch stage, which encompasses the last few centuries of an elf's life. At this stage, they are considered wise and powerful elders, influential leaders, and represent the absolute pinnacle of mastery in their chosen field. Matriarch and Patriarchs often focus their efforts now on sharing everything they have learned to the next generation and prepare themselves for what lies beyond this mortal coil.

Coming of Age Rites

The Elen'nar share a common custom with that of The Aeturnum Elves of Archaios, though to a much less formal degree. When elves "come of age" towards the conclusion of their first century of life, many Elen'nar elves choose to go out into the wider world to experience it firsthand. These peregrinations can last anywhere from a few short months to decades, with some elves opting to fully ingratiate themselves in mixed society and never truly return to their homelands until much later in life.
It is during this stage that many fledgling elves become involved in relationships with many lesser-lived folk like humans and dragonborn, making for a curious dynamic wherein fledgling elves make generational friends with entire families or engage in romances that, to the human, were life-long journeys, but to the elves were a mere fraction of their lifespans.

Common Myths and Legends

Like any culture, the Elen'nar look to the Divine for answers to life's greatest questions. But unlike most, the Elen'nar do not worship their deities or pray in the hopes of finding answers or enlightenment. Indeed, the Elen'nar believe their gods to be dead.
This is the basis of the Elen'nar Obsequy.
Once, the elves of the Elen'nar worshipped a vast and storied pantheon of many minor and major gods. However, something in their past caused a great upheaval in their faith, one they believe resulted in the utter destruction of their pantheon.
This does not mean they do not conduct religious ceremonies and rituals. Instead of celebrations and invoking power and influence from living gods, Elen'nar rituals are more akin to that of wakes, dirges, and funerals. The concepts of mourning, grief, acceptance, and self-fulfillment are core tenets of their spirituality. Clerics of the Elen'nar offer funeral rites to the dead gods of specific domains in order to invoke power from the domain itself. This act is both a means of honoring the dead god while also symbolizing the elves moving on and finding power within themselves.

Magic and Technology

Elen'nar elves specialize in mastery of the arcane magics. Their stores and archives of magic texts and anthologies are the envy of wizards across the Talhani Isles. In general, the Elen'nar are forthcoming with most of their arcane knowledge, but seem to keep their greatest discoveries close to the vest.
In terms of notable works, the Elen'nar are renowned for the following:

• Bladesinging. the elves of Elen'nar are master practitioners of a special blend of magic and swordplay that culminates in the production of exceedingly deadly warriors capable of channeling potent magic through their weapons. Bladesingers boast a fearsome reputation amongst the scum of the Talhani isles, and more than a few have been appointed to the SABRE Initiative over the years

• Magic Tattoos.The Elen'nar have perfected the craft of infusing ink with potent magic, which they use to bestow a number of powerful abilities onto those whom they mark with such tattoos. Some more traditionally minded elves believe this to be a sacred rite that should only be bestowed on fellow elves, but others are more than happy to provide the service to any who have the coin to afford it.

• Arcane Cannons.One of the elves most recent accomplishments and one inspired by the gunpowder weapons brought over by The Haedian Colonists, the Elen'nar have developed a magically-charged, ship-mounted weapon that lobs globs of raw, elemental magic instead of high velocity iron. These weapons boast vast range and stopping power, and have made more than a few pirates rethink a raid on elven ships.