Mountain Elves

A largely unknown type of Elves, for their population is small and their homeland inaccessible. They dwell in the Bloodstone Mountains, the highest known peaks of the world, organized in a loose coalition of mountain villages. Their drastically different appearances are thought to be the result of their ancestry, ancient Pasture Elves mixing with the now extinct Orcs.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

As with Elves, they are hermaphroditic and do not have a concept of two sexes. Mountain Elves mate for life and take turns gestating offspring. Offspring take a lot of energy and resources, greatly impeding the mobility of the gestator, or carrier, in the later stages. Their gestation length is the longest out of the Elves, requiring over a year. During this time, the carrier will require large amounts of sustenance and care, typically provided by their partner and other family members. Young are much more developed at birth than other Elves as a result. The exhausting process of gestating necessitates the switching of roles, and those who conceive out of marriage are looked down on.
During gestation, breasts will begin to develop and produce milk. After the young have weaned, they will shrink. Twins are a rare and unlucky occurrence, as they almost never survive infancy. Carrying offspring is such an exhausting process that it necessitates the switching of roles.

Growth Rate & Stages

Among the Mountain Elves, reaching approximately 50 is when one becomes an adult. As typical of Elves, they age slowly, and even at the end of their lives, do not commonly suffer human frailties of old age.

Ecology and Habitats

They live among the Bloodstone Mountains, located in the north of the Elven continent. It's typically cold year around, but they do have a warmer summer.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Their diet composes of lots of meat from livestock, as well as mountain shrubbery.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

They have notably more prominent jaws and sharper features. They also have larger incisors than other Elves. Their ears, while pointed like other Elves, are not very long, and could actually be mistaken for human ears without a double take.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

They share the Elf ability for magic mastery, though they also have enhanced strength compared to other Elves.

Civilization and Culture

History

It's believed that the Pasture Elves were once the progenitors of the Mountain Elves. In their distant travels, they came across the native Orcs of the Bloodstone Mountains. The Orcs were on the brink of extinction, having lost their males in the Great Death, a catastrophic event that killed the majority of the males of monster races and upset the birth ratio. The sexless Pasture Elves intermarried and mixed with the Orcs, creating the Mountain Elves, their mixed heritage is evident from their rugged features and great strength.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Elves

Lifespan

They may live up to 200 years, but on average, they make it to 150.

Average Height

They range from above 5 and half feet to 7 feet, at their very tallest.

Average Physique

They are the largest species of Elves, and generally tend to be taller and more muscular.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

They are notably pale, but their lower classes tend to be more tan. Their eye colors will range from red to brown to black. Hair colors range from strawberry blond to red tinted black hair, but brown is most common.