Gold Elf
And this same progeny of evils comes From our debate, from our dissension; We are their parents and original.
Gold Elves aka Golden Elves are Elves who were captured by Seelie Queen Titania, and grew in the mirthful Seelie Court. While they evolved similarly to their Silver cousins, it was in starkly oppositional ways. They embraced, or were entranced by, mana empowered by Spring and Summer and gained skill in the arts of trickery, courtly pleasantries, and warm joy.
Still, it has been many millennia since the Silver and Gold Elves have been sent back to the material realm, and while some aspects of their former existence remain, they have largely evolved onward in a path similar to their cousin Elves, being embraced (sometimes with reservations) into the various cultures that sprung post-unification for Hippolyta.
Historical Origin
Long after Elfkinds manifestation from Mortal Forms, the Fae courts that represented nature in all its glory gazed upon them and grew ever curious. They were the first heralds of nature, and the first to come from its life, and yet the Elves too came from the trees and roots and flowers and boughs.
Out of curiosity, the leaders of the Fae wondered if taking the Elves and putting them in their realm would turn them into Fae, as they had the same origin. Thus, Queen Titania of the Seelie and King Oberon of the Unseelie played a game, each would lead a village of these Elves into their realms, and whosoever made them Fae first would be the victor.
Neither of them would get the victory, however, as they underestimated the Mortal Forms ability to adapt to their environment, so even without becoming full Fae, the captured Elves quickly acclimated to their new environment, evolving into their own demographics.
Primary Differences
Physical
Golden Elves, unlike their cousins, did not have as many physical differences with the common Elf when they first returned to Hippolyta. While they still possessed bestial or insectoid qualities, they were generally smaller, such as having fly-eyes, butterfly wings, or beast-like ears. Because these were smaller traits, they were not bred-out as intensely as Silver Elves have evolved, leaving many Gold Elves to still have their strange fae traits.
Unlike the Silver Elves, Gold Elves do still have a rather even split when it comes to skin tones, with some having fantastical colors and hues, and some having the same whites, tans, and browns as any other Elf. But even those with more natural skin colors will tend to have obvious undertones, and an unnaturally bright glow to their skin (often not a literal luminescence, but sometimes this occurs). The aforementioned undertones tend to be warmer hues, often yellows and reds.
As far as other physical traits go, Gold Elves tend to retain body fat in greater percentages than the average elf. It hasn’t been determined if this is due to having slower metabolisms or if their fae heritage merely makes their body process food differently, but on average it doesn’t seem to negatively impact them in severe ways. Speaking of how they process food, they also share the sharp, fanged teeth of the Silver cousins, yet just like them it does not seem to make eating vegetables, leafy materials, or any other food type a challenge. They also share high alcohol tolerances, and while it hasn’t been scientifically determined, many Hippolytan party-goers can speak to this inherited trait, although Elves with Gold Elf heritage, directly or fractionally, tend to get tipsy quick, but rarely ever black out from alcohol consumption. In fact, around the capital, some people refer to problems that seem simple on the surface yet complex in reality as “Knocking out the Gold Elf.”
Much like their Silver cousins, Gold Elves also have an innate magical prowess, although it differs. Where the Silver Elves have innate talent for what is sometimes referred to as “left hand” magic, IE magic that is directly harmful and/or deceptive, Gold Elves have more talent for “right hand” magic, which is generally more beneficial or less directly harmful. With this talent, the schools of healing, divination, transmutation, and conjuration come more naturally to them. Given Hippolyta gives great reverence to the Fae, Gold Elf descendants with these talents often go into religious service as healers or sanctified mages, but many also have a knack for performance and general reverie.
Spellcasters who make use of these talents also tend to reach out to their Seelie family in order to gain their favor, either as magical patrons or as direct sources of magic, as they are much more acceptable to ally with than the Unseelie are.
Similar to Silver Elves, Gold Elves have a keen sense of the flow of magic and actively cast spells in the area. While their enhanced senses are more keen at picking up the warm currents of beneficial magic, they can also pick up the cold sting of harmful magic. This also gives them a better sense of how to manipulate and change magic.
Cultural
While Gold Elves have the same reputation as any other elf elsewhere, in Hippolyta they have a social bias that has been more leaned into over the years: benevolent eccentrics and the life of any party.
While it’s a stereotype just as any other, many long-lasting Gold Elf families have embraced it and actively lived up to it. In the past, this was in order to ensure they could assimilate back into Hippolytan society smoothly, and be seen as favorable additions to the culture. In the modern day, many Gold Elf descendants don’t share the same needs or personality, but many noble families of Gold Elves or the aforementioned long-lasting families keep it up, partially out of political handiness or because it’s just what they were raised to do.
This isn’t harmed by the general attitude towards the Seelie Court. While they’re just as tricksy and callously arrogant towards mortal species, they are often seen as the kinder and benevolent alternative. While in reality it’s more of a lesser-of-two-evils situation, nuance isn’t always the main force in cultural perspective.
The Gold Elves of Hippolyta did do some serious work in the past, however, as it is their skill over the Right Hand magic and their connection with the Fae more willing to work with mortals that opened up a greater chance for study of these magics, and the magic that flows through nature as it’s lifeblood and breath. This is partially why Hippolyta and its cities were able to grow to nature-integrated metropolises so easily, and it helped develop the backbone of Hippolytan medicine and holy magic.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
As far as genetic origins go, Gold Elves only originate from Hippolyta, as it was a tribe of Hippolytan Elves that were stolen and returned by the Fae. With the "global" trend of modernity, the subspecies has spread far and wide, physically and genetically, but if one were to trace their blood back it would always lead to Hippolyta and the Fae Court.
While not as frequently as Silver Elves, Gold Elves sometimes inherit ornamental marks of lineage on their body, typically depicting a type of flower or leaf. They are more commonly flaunted as fashionable statement pieces or marks of beauty among Gold Elves, and long-lasting Gold Elf families entrenched in the noble society make sure their marks are seen and recognized as status symbols.
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