Elf

"There is wisdom in the roots, just look at this magnificent tree that has grown!"
The Elves of Thorus have lived in the Central Lands for as long as they can remember - and their Great Forest longer still. They are a people with few worries, whom some consider priviledged unwelcoming of outsiders. The truth is more complicated, however, as the Elven culture differs greatly from that of the other peoples' of the central lands, largely in part to their unique environment: The Great Forest of Thorus.
The Great Forest is a wondrous, magical place that seems set apart from the outside world, with little indication of the changing of seasons beneath the canopy. The climate seems to be self-regulating, constantly at a comftorable temperature reminiscent of a pleasant summer night. As a result of this unique habitat, food is plentiful year-round, with many fruit- and nut-bearing plants sustained by the magical springwaters that seep through the forest floor, thought to be part of a massive underground reservoir. Although the Elven diet is occasionally supplemented with meat from wild game, hunts are rare and often significant events usually followed by a feast or celebration. Most of the animals and magical beasts (of which there are many) are given great respect by the Elves, and it is not uncommon for the two to form bonds of friendship. It should be pointed out, as the Elves will be quick to do, that there are no domesticated beasts in Thorus; they are wild creatures, and there is no reason for them not to be.
Elven society can seem contradictory to outsiders: one can find no greater champion of individuality, yet no one more rooted in tradition (Dwarves aside). This comes from no particular disdain of other cultures' practices, nor any notion that Elvish traditions are superior to that of other peoples, it simply comes from a complete lack of desire to change. Things are as they are, and as they have been for as long as their people can remember. The few things that do change amongst their people are never internally driven, but rather the result of external factors. Elves began to interact with humans when the plight of their people was apparent: humans needed food, and so the Elves created the Rosestone, so that the humans of what would become Zarkadia could have a prosperous home and be able to provide for themselves. This interaction lead to the begining of the small ammount of trade between the two peoples. Although the elves sought nothing from humanity, they were given two things that elves did not have, cotton and steel, in exchange for teachings in the magical and unarmed arts, as well as the occasional food shipment when time were scarce.
Art is paramount in Elven culture, with musicians and living-sculptors given particular attention. Oddly, paintings and writings of fiction seem all but absent in Elven cities. Things that make the heart flutter are greatly valued by the Elves, whether it be an inspiring piece of music, a beautifully assembled outfit, or a dashing individual in said outfit. Elves hold two strong beliefs when it comes to beauty: that beauty is subjective and in the eye of the beholder, and that inner beauty is very important. This is not to say that elves do not care for how they dress or present themselves, but they acknowledge that individuals' outward appearance can change drastically over time, often from factors beyond their control, and as such inner beauty is where one shines. Generally this is viewed as tolerance and benevolence towards others, and an appreciation of the beauty of others, regardless of whether they fully appreciate it or now.
An elf will not comment on a strangers' appearance (unless they believe them to be injured or in distress), but are quite prone to making suggestions about how those close to them may present themselves. This comes not from any judgement of the individuals tastes, but rather a desire to point out or suggest new ways that may be an improvement to something they do or wear. They are quick to back off if it is made clear their advice is unwanted, though this may have the consequence of the elf believing to have mistaken the nature of their relationship. For an elf, there are effectively two types of people: those they are close to, and everyone else. Among strangers, elves are polite, if a little cold. Among friends, however, they are expressive and open.
When it comes to romance among the elves, they take to heart their saying of "Do as you will, and allows others to do the same". Although relationships between an elven male and elven female are by far the most common, same-sex relationships are not outside of the norm. Slightly rarer are relationships between elves and non-elves, though this too is supported and cherished as any other pairing. Although elves hold no judgement of polyamorous relations, they are exceedingly rare among their kind, as they have a deep inclination towards monogamy, with most re-pairings or second marriages being the unusual result of a death of a partner. For non-human partners, they can often feel alienated among elven communities, as it takes time for elves to grow used to outsiders, time which shorter-lived races do not experience equally. Still, this is one of the only successful ways of joining an elven community, as for most this is a near-impossible task.
For those looking to live among the elves, they face a multitude a challenges, chief of which is lodgings. Although some taverns and inns provide temporary lodgings in cities, most of the smaller communities have no such places. Building a new home, while not discouraged, is nearly impossible, as the trees of the Great Forest are not allowed to be logged (such a thing would surely result in the banishment of any such individual attempting to do so), and importing enough materials highly impractical, due to the lack of roads and dense forest. The opening of a previous resident's home is rare to the extreme, as each is inhabited by multiple generations of family. These factors, combined with the apparent coldness of the community, and the fact that the Great Forest is nearly impossible to navigate without a knowledgeable guide, makes immigration nearly non-existent, though the elves are, once again, not opposed to such arrangements.
The homes and businesses (which often operate out of the same tree) of Thorus are all incorporated into and around the mighty Ironwoods that make up much of the Great Forest. Over generations, the trees have been encouraged to grow in such a way that they have many rooms and compartments within. When a child grows and requires a home for their family, a suitable section is made via magic, traditionally above their parents home. This can continue for generations, with homes only being recycled in the event of a death, and even then, rarely in the same layout. As such, elven communities tend to build upwards rather than outwards, with many walkways between the various homes and businesses. The grand city of Thorus, by far the largest elven city, stretches many floors upwards, and is a sight to behold to those not familiar. Within the branches of these trees lies the throne room of the elven monarch, currently King Darcassan Daefir, where court is held on the occasions where it is necessary.
Generally, the elven people manage their own day-to-day affairs, with communities electing a council when decisions need to be made. Only when an agreement cannot be reached, or when a problem is not able to be resolved by the community alone, is council with the monarch sought. In such cases, the monarch will arbitrate or provide aid as required. Otherwise, the monarch only makes decisions for his people as a whole, such as their dealings with the other races, or when a larger-scale threat appears. The monarch's opinion is well-regarded, and their decisions rarely questioned. When a threat arises to his people, the king is swift to dispatch warriors to deal with it.
As is the case with most of their people, Elven warriors make an art form of what they do. Graceful strikes and shots, meant to disarm and subdue, but rarely to kill, are practiced daily by the Lotus Warriors and others like them. Though swordplay is relatively new to elves (due to the recent introduction of metals), they have taken to it like a duck in water, with most using the signature weapon of their people: the Elven Curve Blade. Prior to this, Elves chiefly relied on unarmed and staff-based combat, traditions which are still practiced today. Few can match the swiftness or grace with which elven monks deliver whirling blows, and they are highly sought after as teachers of these styles. Of course, even these techniques are new compared to the ancient elven tradition of archery, which is frequently used to scare off the unwelcome, though used to kill only as a last resort.
For an elf, there is little that is more abhorrent than the taking of a life. In all cases, all attempts are meant to find a non-violent, then non-lethal means of stopping crimes and resolving conflicts. In the rare and mournful occasion where killing is necessary, usually to save the life of another, it is meant to be dealt swiftly and mercifully, for there is much disdain for cruelty and vindictiveness, which is viewed as an ugliness of the soul. For even the most dire of crimes committed, there is no capital punishment, with the worst offenders instead being banished from Thorus altogether: which most elves view as a fate worse than death. Otherwise, every attempt at rehabilitation is made for those convicted, with their punishment being decided by a council of those considered to be wise by the local community. Trials for those believed to have committed a crime can take months to complete, as the council attempts to view all sides of the situation, and then weighs the potential options for reprimand. It is not uncommon for those convicted to spend years or even decades aiding the grieved, should they allow it. Often times, this results in forgiveness and sometimes even friendship, though the success of such punishment with non-elves can only be speculated upon.
Like many things in elven society, education is equal opportunity for those who seek it. While children's education is left entirely up to the parents, Thorus has a great number of colleges and similar institutions that teach a great variety of trades and crafts, with their magic colleges in particular being well-known throughout the central lands. Though there is a fee for such institutions, tuition can be paid through alternative means if gold is not an option. This often takes the form of services for the institution, whether through cooking, cleaning, or in some cases as teaching assistants. Most colleges in Thorus have courses that span years and even decades, with near zero rejection rates. After all, elves have plenty of time to learn from their mistakes. Obviously, this has problems for the more short-lived of the races, and some institutes have set up "fast-track" courses for such students, though the difference between say, a fast-track wizard and a traditionally schooled wizard is quite apparent based on the form and regularity with which spells manifest.
Because of the prosperity they live in, elves have little to no career obligations. As a skilled tradesman is not likely to retire for hundreds of years (if even then), and is likely to have many apprentices during this time, most elven youths are free to pursue a career or path of their choosing, and it is expected that they will try many trades and arts before they settle on one profession. Combined with the fact that gender-based roles are virtually non-existent among their society, it is possible to expect any individual filling any role. Outsiders often see this strange, and particularly remark at seeing feminine males and masculine females among elvenkind.
Finally, elves are somewhat unique in their lack of a class system, as gold plays only as much of a role as it is required to purchase things from other peoples. It is fully possible for an individual to live without a piece of gold to their name, between the readily available food and water, and the fact that nearly any household item has likely been purchased by a family member who is more than willing to lend them as needed. Many families often pool their resources together, spending their gold only when necessary. As there is little in the way of meaningful power or wealth to separate say a hunter and a successful businessman, most elves meet each other, and outsiders, as equals. As in any culture, there are exceptions to this rule, but such individuals often venture out into the world to seek their riches.
In general, the elves are a reserved but accepting people with no desire to seek major change. Though they can seem aloof, if not polite to most outsiders, they are warm, vibrant individuals with those they become close to (and sometimes those they have just met at late-night festivals). Although accepting of outsiders and their ways, they have little taste for customs not their own, and rarely find need to adjust or create new traditions. They hold favorable opinions of Zarkadians, and consider mankind a close, (if short-lived) friend and ally, as evident by the number of half-elves in the Central Lands.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Elves have a typical humanoid anatomy similar to that of humanity: two arms, two legs, one head and a bipedal stance.

Genetics and Reproduction

Elves, as the majority of humanoids, reproduce sexually between a male and a female of the species. Their gestation period is typically longer than that of humans, typically taking 45 to 48 weeks to complete. It is believed in Elven culture that a longer gestation period will result in a more well-developed individual, though there is little recorded evidence of this.
It may be noted that the gestation period of human-elven hybrids produced from elven mothers see no difference in gestation period.

Growth Rate & Stages

Elven infants and children grow at only a slightly slower rate than that of human infants and children. However, even as they reach biological maturity, Elven society does not consider one to be an "adult" until after many years of experience, with no clear cut-off point.

Ecology and Habitats

The majority of studied elves are from the Great Forest of Thorus, though occasionally elves with a non-Thorian ancestry of a few generations exhibit genetic changes, suggesting the ability to adapt to different environment after only a few generations (though due to the longevity and relative low reproduction rates of Elves, this still may span centuries). The Thorian elves are well suited to the forest, living unobtrusively within the trees and without much destruction to the ecosystem.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Due to the abundance of available food in their habitat, elves generally eat a diet consisting largely of fruits, vegetables and nuts foraged throughout the forest. They do occasionally supplement their diet with meat during hunts, however.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Although there are Elven leaders, they are generally chosen for their wisdom and experiences. There is little to no distinction in roles between genders or any sort of major class system.

Facial characteristics

Individuals are noted for having sharp facial features, with oval-shaped eyes with irises of varying colours and intensity. Skin is smooth and usually unblemished.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Mostly found in the Great Forest of Thorus, with a smaller but still significant population dwelling in the Lesser Forest of Thorus, with many individuals scattered throughout the Central Lands.

Average Intelligence

Generally elves seem to pick up new ideas quickly and learn easily. They are generally well-educated and fairly logical.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Elven eyes are well-suited to their forest dwellings, as they are capable of picking up more light then that of humans, though they mostly lack the darkvision present in cave-dwelling humanoids. Some exceptions have appeared among non-Thorian elves, suggesting genetic capabilities of this trait.
Elven ears are capable of picking up a greater range of sounds at greater distances than that of a human, and are somewhat more sensitive to high-pitched and high-volume sounds.

Origin/Ancestry

Most scholars suspect that the Elves have some connection to the First World, largely due to their natures and the magical properties of their Great Forest. However, their ability to have children with humans leads some to speculate a common ancestor.

Lifespan

550 years

Average Height

5'6"-6'8"

Average Weight

96 lbs - 148 lbs

Average Physique

Elves have slim, dextrous builds. Although they are as capable as developing muscles as humans, they do not often possess the stamina required of hard labour or extended durations of physical activity.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Though most have somewhat pale skin, they have shown an inclination to adapt to their surroundings over time, with some individuals even taking on bluish or violet tones.