High Elves
"We are the heirs of traditions and history which have lived longer than you called any human 'Emperor'. Do not think to impress us with something so paltry as... a cart of gold. Do better."According to many legends, elves have existed on Ersidaire for as long as there have been any other living beings. In that time, they have splintered off into a number of different cultures which tend to blur together to outsiders. There are the 'wild elves' who dwell in various places on Erisdaire and tend to defend against efforts of humanity to "civilize" these places. Alongside these elves are many old families who keep traditions rooted in a time so long ago there are few who would remember it. They have cities wholly in the Faeweald, moved there to prevent destruction or disruption from the changing times on Erisdaire. These are the "high elves", a people who value restraint and poise as much as they endeavor to display skill and respect for other living things.
Primarily, the high elves keep to their own spaces and interact with the rest of Erisdaire when they want something. Even then, they tend to stick to a few places where it is more likely someone will be able to point them in the right direction. The general stability of the Rhyliss Empire and the arcane powers of the Myrisic Sages are the first places to look, before moving on to other potential sources. Treaties and agreements with high elves often are given more weight, due to the unlikely chances of the elves not being around to hold up their end. This has allowed such things to become written into law, even though it is not entirely understood why. For example, citizens of the city of Sanguine are required to avoid disturbing any trees from the Bethera Woods nearby, on pain of exile. Only the elves of House Naïlo know why, and it was because they preferred the local fruits from glades within the woods to others. Aggressive woodcutting had threatened the woods, and so they made a deal to provide wood instead for the next twenty years. By the time the agreement had expired, a new Governor was installed and only knew the woods were to be left alone. In this, and other small ways, the high elves have been responsible for many ways the world today can be experienced.
High elves rarely spend time outside of their enclaves and cities. If a high elf takes up the mantle of an adventurer, it is rarely for a deep personal reason beyond "boredom". There are elves alive who hold a newborn human child, and have similarly held their parents, grandparents, perhaps even great-grandparents at their births. When looking at a life which spans such an incredible amount of time, it can be expected to find a desire to seek things which have not been experienced before becomes more intense.
The Dawn Court
Long before there were human empires, there were empires ruled by the elves. Nobility was a matter less of birth or hereditary descent, and more a measure of which families were doing the most for the empire. After The Fall, those families had become beacons of light for the elves to gather around. Those who chose to remain and keep traditions alive came to call these five families "the Dawn Court", and ever since then most decisions which could shape the destinies of elvenkind are brought before the Houses to be measured and debated. Such debates can take decades before a decision is made even to entertain the notion as one requiring serious consideration, and so the Dawn Court operates on a scale of time which would be absurd to most humans... but is considered "practical" to elves.House Amerastacia
- "House Dawnstar"The oldest and most respected family of elves, also has only one surviving member. Elven history isn't clear on what happened, but during a time of civil unrest among the elves the family was all but exteriminated. The sole survivor, Lady Amerastacia, is reclusive and not prone to welcoming visitors. The symbol of House Amerastacia has been forgotten, supplanted by the personal signet of Lady Amerastacia, which is a sun (with five sunbeams directed upwards) on the horizon.
House Naïlo
- "House Nightbreeze"The second most influential family among the Dawn Court, they are also one who has dealt most with humans - both in times of conflict and peace. It was House Naïlo who championed a life of coexistence with the Rhyliss Empire to the other members of the Dawn Court, and thus are often seen as critically important by humans who study elven history. The symbol of House Naïlo is a gust of wind curling around a crescent moon. The current head of the house is Lord Tharivol Naïlo, and his wife Lady Raidel Naïlo. They maintain a visible presence in the Sanguine Province of Rhyliss, within the Bethera Woods.
House Xilocient
- "House Goldpetal"House Xilocient are one of the few among the Dawn Court families who are responsible for crafts using metal. They have mastered the fine crafting of metal into shapes and forms which appear flimsy and fragile, yet are indeed quite strong. They are the only ones entrusted with the creation of what has been called "elven chain mail" which is coveted by many for its rarity. The symbol of House Xiloscient is a flower in bloom, the flower itself unknown to humans but prized by elves. It is called the "dawn rose", and the Dawn Court very carefully keeps non-elven folk from acquiring seeds. The current head of the house is Lord Sian Xiloscient, and his wife Lady Treya is in ill health of late.
House Holimion
- "House Diamonddew"Unique among the Dawn Court, House Holimion dedicates itself to the art of combat and dueling. For the longest time, they have been the undisputed masters of armed and unarmed combat, among the people of Erisdaire. They do not teach their perfected art to outsiders, and train exclusively within their own house. It is worth noting, however, they supported a human known as Ardent in perfecting his own style similar to their own. The symbol of House Holimion is a diamond shaped like a drop of water. The master of the house is Lord Pel Holimion, a man almost as old as Lady Amerastacia. He helped to develop the design of elven chain mail with a member of House Xiloscient, but also is said to have designed and had made a heavier style of armor in the past.
House Nodellia
- "House Silvermoon"The least (and youngest) of the five "Great Houses", House Nodellia dedicated their attention to the stars and heavens. They climbed to where they are in the loose hierarchy by the talent of their mystic artists. These "artists" have developed effective divination spells, and an enchantment which allows travel over great distances in a fraction of the time. The symbol of House Nodellia is a crescent moon with three stars set inside it, said to symbolize the past, present, and future. The head of the family is Lady Siira Nodellia, the creator of several of their divination spells and enchantments.
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