High Elf
High Elves, also known as Hiyel, are a subrace of elves known for their characteristic chromatic eyes, elegant features, and penchant for magic.
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
High elves speak High Elvish, which is a distinctly different language than the language spoken by the low elves, i.e. Low Elvish. Both are considered "elven languages," however, as they share the common ancestor of Old High Elvish. High Elvish can be seen as a direct descendant of Old High Elvish, as most of the aspects of the language have remained relatively the same as its ancient counterpart. On the contrary, Low Elvish belies Old Draconic influences, as well as traces of other sporadic language families (including but not limited to human, orc, dwarf, and gnome).
Though dialects of High Elvish do exist, they are only minutely distinct from one another. The greatest differentials are small adjustments to the cases and minor additions of vocabulary. The former is a result of natural linguistic shift over time, with vowel-sounds dropping in favor of others vowels, or consonants shifting to other similar sounds; the latter comes from the discovery of new concepts, which necessitates the invention of novel terminology. Whereas other cultures adopt words from other languages to name foreign ideas, High Elves are highly resistant to such reliances, and thus often resort to constructing compound expressions, or kennings, in their stead. For example, the Uriho dialect of High Elvish composed a term meaning "earth-sea" to describe a desert (which came about when the Uriho elves were driven south by human colonists into a much drier climate). Interestingly, Old High Elvish does have a word for desert, but the Uriho dialect lost usage for the term after its speakers migrated to tropical climates. When the concept was reintegrated into their lexicon, the dialect favored the invention of a new term, rather than a recycling of an ancient one. The reason for this is unknown and seems antithetical to the high elven axiom of tradition, yet it is also rare for high elves to forget parts of their history due to their longevity, so it is likely a consequence of ignorance over preference.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
