Stone Elves

Rock elves and steel elves were created by genmaturgists of Xylian Dominion to serve as basic industrial slaves, both as miners and metallurgists to create metals necessary for creation of xylian vast legions of deadly warmachines. They were then introduced to where they could support the industrial power of Xylian Dominion the best.
Most of them lived in small groups among the general population, settled where Xyl needed them for industrial work. There were, however, exception from this rule, for example Iron Mountains and southern Scavia, where they existed in bigger groups. In Iron Mountains mainly because this area was deemed as located safely far from all outer borders to place majority of Dominion industrial power, while in Southern Scavia it was due to it being a burning border and local elves needed industrial support (not to mention a maintenance for warmachines fighting in a cold lands of the north.
Following the collapse of Confederation of 40 Tribes and general elven population most of them fled to the Labirynth or mixed with other elves and ceased being unique, over time degenerating into low elves. The elves from Iron Mountains either fled to Labirynth or set up a Kingdom of Manelin that resisted human invasions succesfully. Those from Scavia generaly fled north together with what remained of kingdom of Vanorlan, soon hidding in Scavian Mountains where they recreated their power.
In all this places Tribes of Rock and Steel - that lived very closed to each other and cooperated at work - mixed with each other over time creating a singular, combined subrace divided only in terms of relation between their 'rock' and 'steel' components, with some rare familias still being relatively pure members of two basic subraces, however with general population as a whole mixed to the point when all scholars prefer to just consider them one combined specie.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Typical humanoids. Two hands, two legs, one head. Their muscular system is notably improved at a cost of increased requirement of food intake and generally warmer bodies (with about 39C being their normal temperature). Thus they particularly dislike colder climates, on Scavian Peninsula living mostly deep beneath the ground, in Labirynth.

Biological Traits

As all elves, they are very dependant on level of their blood purity. Mixing with other elven subspecies makes their offsprings genetically inferior, slowly degenerating into low elves, making special traits of their subspecie much weaker with every generation, and lowering their lifespan.

Genetics and Reproduction

Their reproduction is typical for elves. Can have children only with other elves, ogres and very magical beings, for example shapeshifters and high dragons . Pregnancy ranges from 9 to 10 months, depending on level of blood purity.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Lack of facial hair with exception of eyebrows. Their skin tends to feel and look rather soft and delicate. Skin light, hair brown.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Labirynth beneath northern and northwestern Karadia, especially beneath Scavian Peninsula, Visenia, and Iron Mountains. Most of them is a part of the Imperium, with the exception of those inhabiting Scavia, which are... rather negative.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Those with more rockelven blood have slightly improved eyesight that is capable of seeing decently with lower ammount of light (useful in mines), while also possesing a sort of rudimentary echolocation capable of getting a rough estimation of things behind for example a corner of the tunnel.
They also possess two sets of special senses that descent from Tribes of Rock and Tribes of Steel ancestry. From Tribes of Rock came rockhearing, ability to 'listen' to rocks, detecting hidden ore veins, and dangerous things like underground rivers, metane and so on. From Tribes of Steel came steelhearing, ability to 'listen' to metals, detecting parts of alloys, and sometimes - if pure bloodlines - temperature it was made in, who made the 'listened' object and so on.

Civilization and Culture

Courtship Ideals

Elves tend to have a rather strict, patriarchal culture, especially among the higher strata of their societies. It isn't different among stone elves, with courtship in most cases based on a candidate(s) proving to their beloved's father that they are truly the best he can pick for his daughter.
On the other hand, they also tend to actually ask the female in question about their opinion, which tends to set up notably higher than for example high elves or sea elves.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Scavian Speech,
Elven Speech, Manaelin Diallect,
Elven Speech, variety of postLanoirenn diallects.

Common Myths and Legends

As among most of the elves, they have a taboo about relationships with members of another subspecies. While this does happen, it is generally shunned among most of elven societies, making elves that attempted it in most cases move to other provinces of Imperium.

Created by: Xylian Dominion.
IC: Occurence: Uncommon
IC: Danger: Not Threatened

Lifespan

80-400

Average Height

1.5-1.8m.

Average Weight

60-90kg.