Elf
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Due to Elven infertility as well as culture and long lifespans, Elves do not have family or clan names, like Humans and Dwarves. Since Elves are so few in number and so long lived, their is never an instance of two Elves sharing the same name, so the need for a family name to differentiate them is nonexistent. Despite not having a secondary name, it is quite common for certain Elves to be given titles in addition to their names. These titles denote special actions or characteristic of the Elf they are given to and are granted by their kin.
Beauty Ideals
Elves are considered to hold a beauty that is unlike any of the other races. While some may not find the Elves to their liking physically, none can deny the other-worldly grace that emanate from the slender forest folk. And just like the other races find the even ugliest Elves somewhat desirable, Elves find even the most desirable of the other races to be somewhat off-putting.
Gender Ideals
Elves have a matriarchal society, upholding women as generally wiser and more capable then the men. While Elven men are not prevented from the higher roles in most of Elven society, they are often overlooked in favor of women. Elven men often assume the roles of caretakers, gatherers, and healers, while Elven women are cast in the roles of hunter, scholar, and artisan, though these gender lines are open for crossover.
Relationship Ideals
The average Elven relationships are much different from that of the other races, often being viewed as odd or even immoral. Most Elven relationships take the form of polyandrous groupings called a circle, where one female Elf will have anywhere from two to four partners. There are many cultural factors that go into this phenomenon but the most basic factor is a physical one, the famed Elven infertility. With the great difficulty for the Elves to produce children, they believe that having a single female engaging in multiple relations with multiple males will increase the odds that a child will be born to her.
Once a child is born to the mother, all of her other partners take a role in raising this child, for none can be sure who the father is and none really have much care. Jealousy over paternity is unheard of amongst the Elves, instead the circle acts as a unit when raising their child or children, with no distinction being made between fathers. This communal form of parenting reflects the communal aspects in Elven society. Young Elves belong to their circle but once they reach maturity they are given to the tribe.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
- Elvish
- Common
- Commish
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Elven culture is a rather communal one, with their individual identity being found in their duties to their tribe, not in their family or in their own selves. Young Elves live their youth in the care of their family unit, or circle, being raised and taught the values and skills of the tribe until they reach maturity. Once a young Elf reaches adulthood their circle gives them to the tribe in a ceremony known as the "bes'edrae" which roughly translates to the "great opening" for the Elf opens themself up to the needs of the tribe.
Once an Elf becomes a proper member of the tribe they are allowed to pursue a mentor, who then instructs them in their given trade. Since Elves live for so long they are able to spend hundreds of years perfecting their trade, becoming the greatest masters in all of Dremlia. Elves within their tribes have little to no sense of personal property. While an Elven hunter may call the bow she uses to hunt with "hers", what she means is that this is the tool she is currently using, but she understands that the bow belongs to the entire tribe and the service of her kin.
Lifespan
900-1000 Years
Average Height
5'-6'
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Myths
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