Elves

"I am the words the wind whispers.I am the watcher the in the still waters. I am the flickering in the fire and I am the very stones that you step upon. When you ask where do I dwell? What nation do I claim as my own and, by what right do I claim it. I only have to spread my arms to all the woods of the world and all the archers behind them." Vanya'tia Syls'alor Leader of the Sicari'tial at her speech of independence from Fraeport and the Empire. The Elves are an ancient and long lived race of fey living in a world not entirely their own.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Bipedal humanoids with thin frames and heightened perceptional abilities

Biological Traits

Elves have unique eyes and hears which give them a keen edge in perceptional abilities. Also due to their Fey ancestry they have natural resistances to charming magics along with the inability to be but asleep magically.

Genetics and Reproduction

Elves don't become fertile until they reach around hundred years old and only during certain cycles which can take several decades. When they go into heat and can successfully reproduce. If a breeding cycle is successful they will gestate for a little over a year to bear children.

Growth Rate & Stages

Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 along with gaining the ability to reproduce sexually and can live to be 750 years old.

Ecology and Habitats

Although depending on the subrace most elves enjoy environments harmonious with nature to some degree and will sculpt their living quarters to this regard.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Elves are very lithe and their bodies are very efficient, thus requiring only small amounts of food and water to sustain themselves and do not require meat to survive. Elves will either forage/hunt for food naturally or grow mass gardens magically for larger populations.

Biological Cycle

Although they do age physically similar rate to humans they will stop showing signs and effects of aging at their physical prime and even when they are considered elderly will be physically similar to middle age in appearance. Key milestones for growth and aging come in the form of trances that elves go throughout their lives. The first trance a elf will undergo is The Trance of Nascence and will last til the elf is born through the first few months of it's life. Secondly when a elf grow into adulthood to the point they can sexually reproduce they will undergo an intense trance that lasts a day or more. The Trance of Pubescence usually lasts for a day and will impart the elf with the ability to bear children during certain cycles. Finally when a elf reaches the end of it's long life they will one day enter their final trance. In The Trance of Metempsychosis an elf will slowly pass away in it's trance and die of natural causes.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Elves typically tend to stick to their own and are very independent for themselves. Some Elves tend to be rebellious and chaotic by nature but tend to follow very strong individuals. Others tend to have strong family ties with long bloodlines stretching back thousands of years. Cities of Elves are govern by Wardens which are chosen for their incredible skill and individual talents.

Facial characteristics

Elves are noted for having very long ears and sharp features along with having very bright eyes which can have a shimmer or shine to them.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Elves are spread all over the world and are one of the eldest races.

Average Intelligence

Elves are famous for their high levels of intelligence, wisdom, and over all cunning in no small part to their incredibly long lives giving them centuries to study and learn while most other races have mere decades.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

They have sight,scent,touch,taste, and hearing much keener than other species.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Elves tend to be named in Elvish and usually be names which bare great significance to themselves. Although they always keep their last names most elves have a child name until they reach adulthood and then they choose their own names.

Major Organizations

The city of Fraeport is the last true surface Elvish city and stronghold and is very closely guarded by the elves. The Sicari'tial are a group of illegal Elvish rebels which has a large elf and half-elf populations along with the Ashari. In the underdark the drow empire of Arachnida dwells and plots for ever creeping power. A far off kingdom of elves named Valenar is on the rise along with several ancient city-states dot around the world.

Beauty Ideals

Elves have high standards of beauty and tend to be very self conscious about appearance with key details to facial features and eyes.

Gender Ideals

Elves tend to be very transient in terms of roles of gender and are considered to be the most progressive in terms of sex and gender to the consternation of other races.

Courtship Ideals

Elvish courtships are the stuff of legend and the lengths to which an elf will court someone has lead to many famous tales. Typically poems,treats and mighty feats of romance are not uncommon.

Relationship Ideals

Elves will have many lovers within their long live but will normally find a partner during a breeding cycle to start a family while others simple have flings and trysts never really settling down. The former relationships form incredibly strong bonds which last ages while the latter form trysts and poly amorous relationships.

Average Technological Level

While elves have high levels of luxurious technologies they tend to focus on more magical needs to fulfill societal demands.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Elvish is the primary language of the elves and is a language famous for it's use in poetry and philosophy. Additionally, some elves speak the older dialect of Slyvian.

Common Etiquette Rules

Some Elves adhere to very strict rules of court etiquette and curtsy while others throw tradition and court etiquette to the wind. Common rules are slight gestures of respect and greetings in elvish.

Common Dress Code

Some Elves dress in fine clothing and the latest fashion as elves designers are some of the most sought after in the world. While others will wear rags and natural attire to nothing at all.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Elvish culture is famous for its gravitas and sense of attachment to nature and the feywildes which extends all the way back to Pandyssia and even further back to the Feywildes with the Eladrins.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Common customs tend to involve celebrations and rituals involving pagan Archfey worship and more widely practice is the passing of the four seasons with a holiday for each season and a holy day for the Archheart and the Moonweaver. Traditions involving the trances of transience tend to have celebrations tide to them.

Common Taboos

The killing of elvish children or youth is considered very profane along with the unwarranted and meaningless destruction of wild life and nature is seen as extremely taboo.

History

Elves where one of the first races to walk the lands and swim the seas. Descended from the Eladrin, they are the shepherds of the wilds and wardens of the fey. They had many great kingdoms and tribes with many different creeds and races like a great branch of a tree which created vast amounts of magical items and weapons. However, as the perils loomed great tragedies befall the elves of Pandyssia and when all the races fled to the isles loosing much of their knowledge and history and the elves were of lesser numbers than other races. This created much distrust and unrest between the elves and the other races which culminated in many battles which brought elvish powers to kneel. Now the Elves working with the powers that be must find their way in a world were they consider themselves in the highest esteem but no longer the most powerful race in the world.

Historical Figures

Vanya'tia Syls'alor Leader of the Sicari'tial, Lord Regent and former Royal Spymaster Theodluin Marrow, High Warden Zeld'via Amoura of Fraeport, Warden Sir Celin'dar Qustera The Verdant Lord and commander of the Verdant Vanguard. The Sovereign Matriarch Araneae Tenebris of the Matriarchy of Arachnida. Faindar Valladis The Far Seer

Common Myths and Legends

It is said the Archfey can still be found amongst the wilds of the world and great and ancient Elvish treasures are rumored to still be found for the wayward adventurer.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Elves have lukewarm relationships with there neighboring races. Many view elves as arrogant and undeserving of their long lives while elves tend to view others as lessor than themselves. This is especially true for Dwarves as a blood feud of deep mistrust and racism as stood for so long no one can even remember why it began in the first place.

Scientific Name

Dryadalis

Origin/Ancestry

Eladrin

Lifespan

500-750 years

Average Height

6-6'6 feet

Average Weight

100-150 lbs

Average Physique

Most elves are very lithe and petite of frame physically speaking with deceptively tone and strong muscles allowing for an edge in terms of dexterity.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Elves are noted for having a wide variety of colors from being very fair to deep tans.