High Elf

Awakening as the second race in the world of Edda, the elves were divided into four different ethnicities or sub-races. These races were the high elves, sea elves, wood elves, and dark elves. High elves are distinguished by their very light skin tone and typically have blond hair with either blue or green eyes. A war arose between the high elves and dark elves for the great city of Taurgaladhos. Historians and scholars aren't quite sure on why this feud began but it came to be known as the First Great War --or the First Kin Slaying. The two ethnicities came to an eventual truce until the Second Great War, when the high elves tried to enslave the primordial race known as gaians. After that war was fought, the elves split off into their own respective kingdoms. The high elves created the largest of the elven kingdoms and named it Heaseon.
As men started chop down the forests and woodlands to expand their ever growing kingdoms, this brought them into conflict with not just the high elves, but with the sea elves and wood elves as well. The elves were pushed further and further back until they came to inhabit the wooded areas that they do today. The sea elves inhabit the Blue Woods, the wood elves dwell within the Timberlands, and the high elves live within the Greenwood, Eastern Wood, and White Forest. Wanting to prevent further human incursions, the remaining elves united together as one elven nation under the leadership of the elven high king who lives within the Greenwood.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Aelene, Aemma, Allania, Aredhel, Beala, Calarel, Daella, Daenys, Elenwe, Filaurel, Filauria, Gaelira, Ghilanna, Glynnii, Gylledha, Haela, Halaena, Holcene, Idril, Ilyrana, Irithiel, Kaeda, Keya, Kythaela, Laena, Leilatha, Lyraesel, Maelyrra, Miriel, Phelorna, Phyrra, Raerauntha, Renestrae, Saeya, Syndra, Taeriel, Tiatha

Masculine names

Aelrindel, Afamrail, Aithlin, Beluar, Briareth, Cirdan, Cohnal, Curunir, Darcassan, Edrahil, Eladithas, Elaran, Eluchil, Faelyn, Falael, Folduin, Haemir, Halafarin, Hatharal, Horith, Ilbryn, Iolas, Jhaeros, Klaern, Kyrenic, Molonym, Morthil, Nardual, Onas, Oribel, Othorion, Phaendar, Raegel, Tehlmar, Tirandal, Uthorim, Vaeril

Family names

Adanell, Aelasar, Aldaval, Amarthen, Braegen, Castien, Caundur, Corellon, Cormyth, Cubrinmyr, Deryth, Ealoviel, Elassidil, Ellarian, Erladden, Faefindas, Faenion, Gaelen, Gourael, Gwaelon, Hasterien, Hatanar, Hessarion, Ievos, Ilnatar, Laelithar, Larethian, Maertel, Norodiir, Rhothomir, Sarsantyr, Selakiir, Siltral, Straeth

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

All elves speak a universal elvish tongue known as High Elvish (Aratedhel). Among the elven ethnicities --Wood Elves, High Elves, Sea Elves, and Dark Elves-- they all speak their own dialects of the same language. But, when elves of different ethnicities come to speak with each other, they use High Elvish to communicate.
High elves have no dialect as they speak High Elvish as it is. This is part of the reason why they have a bit of arrogance and superiority about them as compared to the other elven sub-races.

Culture and cultural heritage

With the elves being otherworldly, they're somewhat aloof and detached from the rest the world. High elves exemplify this trait above all the other elven sub-races. This has caused them to have an air of arrogance around them and the rest of their people. This is a basis for their culture where they view themselves as superior to the other elves and those around them. This is driven home even further by the fact that their language is the basis for all other elven languages. With the high elf king being a high elf this cements their racial superiority even further.
High elves are also quite patriarchal. Not to the point where women are reduced to second class citizens but high elf males dominate important social roles. High Elves are also known to be quite adept at using magic.

Common Myths and Legends

The elves believe that their gods are the ones who created the great cataclysm. Deep Sashelas used the plane of water to create the oceans, lakes, and rivers. Rillifane Rallathil raised the land from the sea, and the water soaked into the earth bringing forth the trees, fields, and all other plants, Sehaine Moonbow harnessed light from the realm of fire and created the moon and sun. Like Laurentians, the elves believe that sentient life came from the bark of trees, and that Corellon Larethian taught them the use of magic.

Ideals

Courtship Ideals

Elven spouses will choose each other long before they ever get married. If the two parties are underage then they need the consent of their respective families. At a meeting between the two families the parties will announce their betrothal in which rings are exchanged between the couple. This signifies their engagement in which they wait a year until providing a date for the wedding. The engagement can be called off at any time with either party returning the ring, but this rarely ever happens. The actual marriage is celebrated with a feast between the two families in which the spouses swap out their betrothal rings with wedding rings. For the marriage to be considered legitimate the vows must be spoken, and then later the couple must consummate the marriage. Once consummation happens the marriage process is considered complete.

Major organizations

• Heaseon
• Greenwood
• Eastern Wood
• White Forest

Glorfindel by Spartan K42

Encompassed species

• Elf