Elves
Elves in Ghemjana are immigrants from other worlds. Many came through the Feywilds into Ghemjana, whereas others migrated from Spelljammer Ships and made colonies on the new world.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Elves look very much like humans, if more slender and graceful, with smooth complexions and slightly pointed ears.
Genetics and Reproduction
Elves reproduce extremely slowly and will often have few children.
Growth Rate & Stages
An elf reaches maturity around 100 years old, living for around 750 years. When an elf is born, after 9 months gestation, they will nurse for about 2 years, then enter into childhood. They remain a child roughly the same time as most races (until age 15), then enter adolescence until age 30. After this, while an elf will have a physical body of most adults, they still have the maturity and mentality of a young teen until about age 75. At this point, an elf learns how to be an adult elf, including how to enter a trance and relive their old lives.
Ecology and Habitats
Elves tend to favor less crowded environments, gathering in the woods and wilds to build their enclaves. Elven cities tend to have a much lower population density, as privacy and space are important to them.
Behaviour
Some find Elves to be aloof and haughty, or even arrogant of their long lives, though the elves themselves tend to view other shorter lived races as hectic, frantic or quick tempered.
Elves tend to be slower to react to social dynamics, often having an aura of calm and wisdom that comes with living for so long.
They tend to take the long view on change and history, making plans that often take decades or centuries to complete. But once an elf has made their mind up and started on a path, it is often near impossible to sway them from their goals.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Elven social structure is different from one group to another, though they all tend to form hierarchical structures that use cooperation and harmony to survive.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Elves can be found on all continents of Ghemjana.
Average Intelligence
Elves tend to have average or above average intelligence, but this is coupled with a greater wisdom from their long years of observing trends and behaviors.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Elves are a inherently magical race, with nearly every member able to manipulate magic of some sort, even in only in a very limited amount.
Elves do not require sleep, though they can sleep if they choose to. Instead, Elves must enter a meditation like trance, where they experience their previously lived selves, reliving the memories and wisdom they gathered then. Elves are reincarnated by their god, Correlon Levathien, and this trance is a way that they also find communion with their pantheon and Elven brethren. It is both a biological need for them, as well as a deeply spiritual experience.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
The Elven Empire in Southland is the largest contingent of Elves in Ghemjana.
The Elven Sorcerers of Emjarren are anther large group of elves that live deep in the woods of Emjarren Forest.
Origin/Ancestry
Humanoid
Lifespan
750 years
Average Height
5 to 6 feet
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Elves come is a variety of hues and coloration, from the pale blue skin of Sea Elves, to the obsidian black of Drow, to the golden skin of High Elves. Hair color can be almost any color and eyes range from violet to silver to black.
All Elves have an almost impossible inability to grow facial hair, though the hair on their heads is often thick, long and stronger than most.
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