Rivaen

Once referred to as River Elves, the Rivaen were native to Evermore Proper and exiled to Riverpass in what is today referred to as the War of the Lang. After their treatment by the Langites, they were the first of only two groups of Elves to side with humanity in The Sylvan War. They are now known as Imperial Elves, and are well suited to urban environments and the lifestyle of The Empire, though a few traditionalist Rivaen clans populate the River Kingdoms.
Rivaen are short elves that we might otherwise think of as traditional fantasy elves. They are slender, with small pointed ears and eyes that resemble a human’s. They are capable of covering short distances very quickly due to long legs and a natural runner’s build, but their frail constitution means that they are not endurance runners.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Merriva, Nesilya, Oranarrill, Adassa, Sehra, Iovera, Orara, Nesinne, Shaeya, and Vahari are common women's names.

Masculine names

Zevlasan,Gethlasan, Sarthon,Samhorn, Zathrith, Yevdis, Varalan, Taehorn, Tanarel, and Getros are common men's names.

Family names

Leoni, Grunal, Firen, Dilela, Zuola, and Tretun are the most common family names. Family names seem to originate from ancient political alliances.

Other names

Some Rivaen families have adopted surnames of Jianro and Skaldorish influence, such as Yang, Tsui, Kato, Ryang, or Phan.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

There are two groups of Rivaen: those who have embraced the Empire and serve it with enthusiastic zeal, and those who maintain the traditions they developed while forced to live in The River Kingdoms. The River Kingdoms Rivaen, who still prefer River Elves to Imperial Elves, continue to worship familial water spirits and celebrate solemn holidays such as the Day of Shame, in which individuals strive to correct wrongs they believe they have committed.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Imperial Elves celebrate Victory Day, in which it is common to fly flags in support of The Empire. The day in large cities is sometimes observed with reenactments of important victories for humanity in The Sylvan War. The day is always celebrated with a feast at the oldest man in the family’s house, with the entire paternal extended family invited. The meal is traditionally focused around expensive food, families saving all year to afford rarities from across the Empire. Poorer families usually resort to mutton. While humans do not celebrate Victory Day as a whole, it is common to invite friends to these feasts, and tradition for each guest to bring some other dish. The tradition also holds that guests who do not bring a dish must do the washing. The end of the day is celebrated with singing patriotic songs by firelight and invoking prayers to The Guardian.
Mother’s Day is a less grand affair, celebrated with a much smaller feast wherein it is the oldest woman in the family’s house, and the entire maternal side is invited. The meal is always prepared by the men and children of the house while the women drink and share stories, ending the night with a family dance in the streets. It is considered polite to invite local single women and widows to participate.
Aside from holidays, the Imperial Elves practice some religious holdovers from the days before the Empire, such as burning incense, abstaining from mixed meat dishes and grape wine, and carrying small familial totems passed from parent to child.

Common Taboos

Whether Traditionalists or Loyalists, Rivaen share a disdain for Langite customs, which is the reason they abstain from wine, a traditionally High Elf product. Rivaen that form attachments to Langites that are not Imperial citizens are typically shunned.

Diverged ethnicities

• Gwelin

Encompassed species

• Corpse Kraken
• Elves

Related Organizations

• The River Kingdoms

Related Myths

• Ghost Ships of the River Kingdoms