Elves

Elves are a second most widespread species after Humans. They are also known to possess the highest number of subspecies after the beastmen. They can be very different from each other, but there are also many elements that are common to all of them.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Ancestors of elves were humans living on the steppes and mountains to the east of Karadia. They were caught, bred and purposefully geneengineered by Xylian genmaturgists. While their general appearance seems the same, Xyls modified them quite significantly.
The biggest change in their stature is that all elves seems to lean strongly towards slimness. It's very hard for one of them to have a body-builder's look, as their muscles work (and grow) a bit differently. Strongest elf alive will still look like random, not very strong human. This also includes secondary sexual characteristics - only one or two subspecies have bigger than 0% chance of growing large breasts or ass, the rest remaining uniformly on the slender side.

Biological Traits

Iron Allergy

All elves are allergic to iron and all alloys that include it. This condition is believed to be caused by Xyls on purpose, to render their servants biologically incapable of touching and using the xylian warmachines and their own, personal, techmaturgic weaponry. This trait depends on their level of blood purity - the purer the elf, the worse the reaction to that metal. It is also worse in case of particularly magical subspecies, that were probably seen by Xyls as a potential threat.
In case of low elves it is a minor irritant, at worst a minor rash under the iron ring they wore for a long time. For a pure-blooded elf, the effect is normally much worse and merely donning such a ring might cause widespread rash on big part of their body. A member of a magical subspecies (like Ice Elves) can suffer an anaphylactic shock after merely touching the iron.

Subspecies

Originally, there were fourty subspecies of elves. Many of them, however, went extinct. Either considered useless by their creators and wiped out, or killed by interbreeding after fall of Xylian Dominion.
They were divided by imperial scholars into four categories.
Primary Subspecies are those that were created by Xylian Dominion to serve as a basic inhabitants of a significant parts of the Dominion's territory. They are the most common subspecies of elves, due to how widespread they were before the fall of the Dominion. Most of them created important member-states of the Confederation of 40 Tribes.
Secondary Subspecies were created to serve a certain role in the Dominion's society. It could be serving as elite combatants for the army, exploring the Labirynth or other things like that. Due to often being spread in the territory of a Primary Subspecies, most of the extinct elven subspecies were Secondary ones.
Tertiary Subspecies were created with using certain type of magic (in most cases without the need to contract daemons). They were the rarest, and often the most unique subspecies. Their uniqueness often serving as protection against dying out - many of them can't interbreed with other elves, or does this under different set of rules.
Quaternary Subspecies were created after the fall of Xylian Dominion. They are rather few and most of them were created by various gods and deities. Due to that they tend to be rather different from normal elves.

Subspecies List

Ashen Elves, a Secondary Subspecies created as a variant of Mountain Elves. They were made to inhabit places surrounding active volcanoes and were tailored to thrive in such a hard environment. After the Black Iron War they mostly degenerated into primitive barbarians. They are on the verge of dying out, conserved only by imperial help.
Bleak Elves, a Quaternary Subspecies created by Twice-Seven, a pantheon of the Vhessan Empire and can be described as perfected version of Dark Elves, with many flaws in their genome fixed. Excellent black magicians making up for significant part of Vhessan aristocracy.
Blood Elves, a Secondary Subspecies created to serve as elite bodyguards of Xylian sorcerers and their magical aides. They thrived during the age of Dominion, during its late stage growing in numbers to the point of creating whole armies. They almost died out during the age of Confederation of 40 Tribes, today being on verge of extinction.
Boreal Elves, a Primary Subspecies created as a variant of Forest Elves. They were made to inhabit north-eastern parts of Dominion's territories, among the vast (and often cold) forests on the western verge of Dragonbone Mountains. While they suffered a significant level of damage during the human invasion, they were partially saved by their remoteness - relatively low number of Secondary Subspecies and lack of Primary Subspecies to co-exist with saved them from degradation into Low Elves.
Dark Elves, a Secondary Subspecies created to serve as a mean for the exploration of the Labirynth. They underwent a vastly different system of eugenics and selective breeding for reasons unknown. Due to influence of their gods (the Twice-Seven) they were catapulted into being one of the most widespread elven subspecies.
Desert Elves, a Primary Subspecies created to serve as basis for elven population in the south and southeast parts of Karadia. They are especially well adapted to living on deserts, where they remain a very populous subspecies.
Domestic Elves, a Secondary Subspecies created to serve as house servants of the Xyls themselves (and few very succesful elves). They were essentially a subspecies of maids, butlers and housekeepers. Widespread and known for their extreme beauty, they were among the first elven subspecies to die out due to interbreeding.
Fire Elves, a Tertiary Subspecies created as dedicated fire magicians of the Xylian Dominion. Often considered an elven variant of Halfdaemons. Used to serve as a religious caste of elves in the southeastern Karadia. Today most of them lives in the Kasytian Empire.
Forest Elves, a Primary Subspecies that was at first created as a Secondary Subspecies. It was elevated from being a hunter/foragers of the Dominion for reasons unknown. Possess incredible stamina and make up for majority of elven population in the northwestern Karadia.
Hallowed Elves, a Tertiary Subspecies created to be a natural elementalists (without attunement to any element). Today most of them remains on Alvaenan Isles, were they make up for the significant part of magicians and nobles.
High Elves, a Secondary Subspecies created to serve as an elite military forces of Xylian Dominion. Physically strongest (while incredibly agile) subspecies of elves. They however suffered terrible casualties during Black Iron War and human invasions, today permanently balancing on the edge of dying out.
Ice Elves, a Tertiary Subspecies created as a dedicated ice magicians. They are a weird subspecies, very well organized and extremely antimperial as a whole. They serve as a leadership of the quasi-theocratic Ice Kingdoms.
Low Elves, a Quaternary Subspecies that sprung into existence when Xyls died out and there was noone to control the elven population to prevent it from interbreeding. Today there are the most widespread type of elves, that also mostly went fully human in terms of culture.
Machine Elves, a Tertiary Subspecies made to serve as dedicated techmaturgists. It is unknown why they were limited only to a very limited area in the Dominion. They went extinct after the Command AI decided they were a threat.
Mountain Elves, a Primary Subspecies created to serve as basis for elven population in mountainous regions. Well adapted to this environment they remain significant in numbers, even when most of them succumbed to barbarism for reasons unknown.
Night Elves, a Quaternary Subspecies firstly created by Xyls to serve as a dedicated subspecies of prostitutes and courtesans, providing sexual relief to other elves. They almost died out after the fall of the Dominion due to interbreeding, saved only by the existence of several dedicated breeding zones and the intervention of Deviation, that remaked them into a Quaternary Subspecies.
Sea Elves, a Primary Subspecies created to inhabits areas on the coasts of seas and on islands. Served also as mariners of the Dominion. They remain one of the more populous subspecies of elves, with several states to call their own.
Shadow Elves, a Secondary Subspecies that is believed to be created as a Primary one but for some reason considered faulty. They are a variant of Forest Elves, limited to Kingdom of Armarivia and are rather rare.
Snow Elves, a Primary Subspecies made to inhabit northern lands of Karadia. It began as a sort of border guard against the razors, but they evolved into lords of significant part of Karadia. They are well adapted to living on a frozen wastes.
Steppe Elves, a Primary Subspecies created to serve as a basis of population on the steppes of the northeastern Karadia. Create riders, that suffered a lot of casualties during the human invasion but managed to remain an important subspecies.
Stone Elves, a Secondary Subspecies that began as a fusion between Stone Elves and Iron Elves, two subspecies dedicated to mining and smithing. They managed to adapt to the postxylian environment quite well, remaining a rather important subspecies.
Swamp Elves, a Secondary Subspecies that is believed to be something in the middle between this and a Primary one. They were made to inhabit (and fight) at the swamps, but this rather limiting biome meant that they were almost unheard of during the Xylian Dominion. Despite this, they survived to this day.

Genetics and Reproduction

Elven reproductive system underwent serious modifications at the hand of Xyls. It is believed that there was a central elven species for a while, created directly from the captive humans. Then it served as a basis for creation of elven subspecies. It was, however, a rather flawed idea.

Interbreeding

Elves are, in fact, cursed by that. They are limited in procreation to other elves, ogres and heavily magical species like Shapeshifters and High Dragons. When interbreeding occurs between members of two elven subspecies, every subsequent generation will be partially robbed of its unique racial skills, degenerating into low elves.
This wasn't a problem in the Xylian era, due to their extreme approach to all mixbloods (they exterminated them), but in later eras it causes a on-going degeneration of elven blood and extinction of some subspecies. Interbreeding with ogres and magical species is even more troublesome (although rather rare). In all cases it ends with the offspring belonging to the other species, rather than being an elf.

Pregnancy and Fertility

Elves remain fertile for much longer than humans. In fact, most females remains fertile until the death of old age. On the other hand getting pregnant while very old (especially after their hair goes white) is very risky (to both children and mothers). Then again, their periods are almost bloodless and in most cases painless.
Very important thing for elves is that while they can have sex all year long, they can have children only for two months a year, surrounding the summer solstice. It's believed that Xyls hoped to have better control over their reproduction. With around nine-ten months long pregnancy, this means that the elves generally give birth a month or two before the fertile period, which is a necessary cooldown period to be able to safely get pregnant again.
Pureblooded elves have ten moths long pregnancies. Low elves around nine. The pregnant periods are mostly unchanged (few days of difference, top) in length, regardless of blood purity.

Growth Rate & Stages

Elves achieve adulthood quite normally (they stop growing about their twentieth birthday), but get older much different than humans. Their face never gets wrinkled, their skin remaining the same until their death of old age. Their hair does get white, but it happens much later and much faster. In most cases merely few years prior to their death.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Elves lack fangs and are generally oriented towards vegetarian diet. This doesn't mean they can't enjoy meat in their diet. Their situation varies. Their digestive system seems to have problems with things that are considered hard to digest by humans, especially meat - but this depends on the individual. Those of more pure blood seem to tend towards being vegetarian by default, but there are exceptions.
Their digestive systems on the other hand seem to be able to digest many things like bones and chitin that normally would be rather troublesome for a human being. It is also much more efficient, easily gaining a lot of nutrients and all necessary microelements from purely vegetarian diet. If they eat meat they do that for the taste, always picking the softer ones (due to lack of fangs). Fishes are considered a good addition to elven diet, and one that fits their digestive track pretty well.
They however have a problem with alcohol. The enzymes dedicated to its digestion work differently in elves than in humans. Elves are very resistant to alcohol, and making them drunk is actually very hard unless strong alcohol is used. On the other hand, their hangovers tend to be rather bad and can theoretically end up being lethal. Many of them are also allergic to alcohol.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

They are different than humans in a way of an almost complete lack of facial hair They lack both beard and moustache, with only eyebrows being there. The general shape of their heads is mostly the same as in case of humans, however faces are typically long.
The biggest difference is their ears. They are pointy, almost horizontal. The longer they are, the purer their blood (but there are many exception to that rule).

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

Written in order of military strength and prestige as perceived by the Imperium:
Vhessan Empire - A mostly underground empire of dark elves and bleak elves with a strong religious underlying theme. Classified by Imperium as an Empire.
Holy Elvharian Empire - A quasi theocratic empire of high elves ruling over vast population of forest elves and humans. In fact divided between several very antagonistic clans that keep fighting for supremacy. Classified by Imperium as an Empire.
Ice Kingdoms - Very loose theocratic coalition of snow elves, razors and several subspecies of beastmen, living under absolute rule of ice elves. Suspected of being a vassal state of Pandaemonium, and because of that considered a mortal enemy of Imperium. Due to its military and magical might classified as an Empire.
Kingdom of Inrithia - A kingdom of desert elves and humans, strong because of their religion (inrithism) and ruled by a two rulers (the king and the pope). Classified by Imperium as a Kingdom.
Hezranian Caliphate - A quasi-theocratic state of desert elves following the Hezrant, a splinter religious faith of inrithism. Ruled by Caliph, who has a supreme power both in secular and religious matters. Classified by Imperium as a Kingdom.
Despotate of Elevhia - A strongest remaining countries of sea elves, created by those elves that fled west and settled on the archipelago of Elevhia near the continent of Lana. Today a military dictatorship ruling over a loosely organized alliance of military commanders and corsair warlords. Classified by Imperium as a Kingdom.
Kingdom of Alvaena - An internally divided country of forest elves and mountain elves, ruled over mostly by a magocratic aristocracy of hallowed elves. Severaly decimated during Synkardian Wars. Still adheres to old elven rule of only the strongest being allowed to rule. Classified by Imperium as a Kingdom.
Triumvirate - Three immensely wealthy sea elven republics that control most of the sea trade in the eastern part of Native Sea. Known for its corrupted oligarchs and vast slave trade. To say that it isn't exactly like by its neighbours would be an understatement. Classified by Imperium as a Kingdom.
Kingdom of Manaelin - A mostly underground state in the eastern part of Iron Mountains. Inhabited by stone elves. Despite relatively low population and limited military might it remains an important part of local economy due to its ore trade. Classified by Imperium as a Grand Dukedom.
Horennan Confederation - A loose confederation of mountain elven clans and tribes, serving as eastern border of the Imperium (unless it decides to annex the Diretian Freedom and the human Kingdom of Visenia. Despite being in its sphere of influence it is mostly independent. Classified by Imperium as a Grand Dukedom.
Kingdom of Greziya - A country of steppe elves, known for its potent military might and great cavalry. Vassal state of Vhessan Empire, though one whose loyalty is fleeting. Classified by Imperium as a Grand Dukedom.
Republic of Vycheav - An underground federation-state of dark elves that converted to Inrithism under the pressure from the nearby Kingdom of Inrithia. Prone to heresies, but remaining a steadfast ally of Inrithia. Representative democracy. Classified by Imperium as a Grand Dukedom.
Kingdom of Viathey - An underground kingdom of dark elves that long ago adopted extreme form of patriarchy, practically taking all rights from local women. In a semi-permanent military conflict against nearby Queendom of Lileth. Classified by Imperium as a Grand Dukedom.
Queendom of Lileth - An underground kingdom of dark elves that long ago adopted extreme form of matriarchy, practically taking all rights from local men. In a semi-permanent military conflict against nearby Kingdom of Viathey. Classified by Imperium as a Grand Dukedom.
Kingdom of Armarivia - A contested battleground between the Vhessan Empire and Nikopolan Hegemony. Decimated by centuries of warfare, but remains a well developed and strategically placed land. Inhabited by shadow elves. Classified by Imperium as a Dukedom/Grand Dukedom (its classification tends to change overtime as its power grows and wanes).
Kingdom of Berberhia - A loose confederation of desert elves that fled south when humans came, almost to the Southern Wall Mountains. Rather insignificant in terms of military power, but is sometimes used by the Imperium to threaten the Karthian Oligarchy. Classified by Imperium as a Dukedom.
Kingdom of Vandalya - A loose confederation of desert elves that fled south when humans came, almost to the Southern Wall Mountains. Rather insignificant in terms of military power, but is sometimes used by the Imperium to threaten the Karthian Oligarchy. Classified by Imperium as a Dukedom.
Kingdom of Litheana - A dark elven state beneath the crown provinces of Imperium, installed on purpose by the Imperium when it decided to colonize local Labirynth. Almost totally imperialized in terms of culture. Constitutional monarchy. Classified by Imperium as a Dukedom.
Leshyan Dukedom - A swamp elven autonomous state. Remains as a part of Kingdom of Visenia. Mostly composed of semi-barbarian tribes. Insignificant. Classified by Imperium as a Dukedom.
Batanian Republic - A sea elven oligarchic trade republic that is an important player in terms of maritime trade in the western part of Native Sea. Despite this it is mostly subservient to Novian Republic. Classified by Imperium as a Dukedom.

History

Elves were created by the Xylian Dominion, during its third and final attempt to create a race of gene-engineered slaves. They were created to serve as a foundation of Xylian army and economy, purposefully bred to great numbers and soon overtaking their creators in numbers. Despite this, they never managed to change their political station, remaining a servile species until the end of the Xylian Dominion.
After the Black Iron War happened, the elves were orphaned by their makers. Despite their attempts to remain united (as a Confederation of 40 Tribes and, then, Elven Empire) they effectively broke into dozens of successor states, ultimately allowing themselves to lose their dominant position in Karadia to humans.

Subspecies
Primary Subspecies
Boreal Elves
Desert Elves
Forest Elves
Mountain Elves
Sea Elves
Snow Elves
Steppe Elves

Secondary Subspecies
Ashen Elves
Blood Elves
Dark Elves
Domestic Elves [EXTINCT]
High Elves
Shadow Elves
Stone Elves
Swamp Elves

Tertiary Subspecies
Fire Elves
Hallowed Elves
Ice Elves
Machine Elves [EXTINCT]

Quaternary Subspecies
Bleak Elves
Low Elves
Night Elves

Lifespan

80-400, depending on blood purity.