Elf
Basic Information
Anatomy
An elf is little different from a dwarf or human, although they possess several peculiarities not seen in other races. Their skeletal structure is built much the same save for their long fingers, wherein each digit is between half to a full inch longer than those of the average human.
Given current levels of elven/human interaction, the likelihood of a 100% full-blooded elf outside of Heimat is slim. This is, sadly, to be expected as dilution was an unfortunate fact of a relatively low starting population and the old Udynean trend of captured elves becoming pleasure slaves—a trend that disturbing rumours suggest is not dead.
Their rate of healing is twice that of a human’s and somewhere between a third and a quarter faster than dwarven abilities. This may be linked to a faster metabolism and is, perhaps, in direct correlation to their natural leanness. Their bodies put out more heat than even the average dwarven man. This is despite being shorter than their sentient counterpart, sometimes by several feet.
An elven man who claims either half or more of elven ancestry is not capable of growing facial hair. In fact, hair on all elves is largely lighter than human or dwarven counterparts of similar age. Past scholars have given several theories on why; the wider accepted lean being that their ancestral climate negated the necessity of such dense hair. Men who claim their blood being over half elven can also expect to not go bald like humans. Nor does their body hair thicken as in most dwarven men. The hair does, however, go grey in their very late years.
Biological Traits
They are lean and with a dexterity incomparable to a human of similar size. Muscle can be bulked via an intense regimen, but not to the extent of a human in the same position. They possess greater stamina overall to that of humans or dwarves, which gives them a slight lean in their favour in terms of endurance over long distances or extended activity. Elves have been documented as having a more energetic libido than humans, with the urge towards intimacy heightening in a vast amount of sexually active elven women nearing their breeding cycle, which is monthly like humans.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Observation of the canine definition is typically used as a way to denote dilution of blood as, the more prominent an elf’s canines are, the more elven an elf’s blood is. Speculation leans towards the supposition that their ancestors subsisted on a meat-heavy diet and, whilst modern-day elves can live off a similar diet to humans and dwarves, they will generally prefer meat over other forms of sustenance.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Little is known of the land from which they originated, even the natives of Heimat—people who are far removed from the Udynea Empire and their toxic environment—and those who still live according to the nomadic practice of their wandering forebears have only fragments of their past. Beyond these clans, there is little concern expressed with this cultural gap in their heritage. This casual disinterest is almost unanimous, but admitted only if pressed.
Due to their systematic enslavement, elven groups, of both the free and the still enslaved, can be found all over the continent. The greatest concentration outside of Heimat being the Udynea Empire.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Elven sight is far superior to that of a human’s, almost on par with dwarven vision in distance and tracking. It is not certain if their night vision is of any higher quality or simply whether they use their enhanced hearing to pinpoint threats.
The ears are, of course, a rather large defining quality to an elf and are twice the length of a human’s from lobe to tip. Whilst they exhibit some flexibility, the ears are somewhat just as rigid as those of any human or dwarf. Any elven ear that is recorded as suggesting movement is likely more due to abuse of the cartilage than a natural ability as they are often the target of the small-minded. Slicing or breaking the ear has become an all too commonly used assault in Udynea. When such an attack happens, the ear is often not completely removed, but rather just the pointed half.
They possess the ability to purr. Not the occasional rumbling of a pleased dwarf or human, but a consistent thrum much similar to that of a domesticated feline. Unlike cats, who purr in all manner of situations, this phenomenon only occurs if the elf in question is content. This behaviour is common knowledge amongst elf-dense populations and there are wide reports of human/elven couples where the elven half of the pairing is noted to purrs in their sleep.
Like humans, spellsters and their nulled counterparts are present in all elven communities with their abilities being no weaker or stronger than most humans. Early records of multiple elves being subjected to infitialis leashing during the Udynean enslavement suggests their magic is a natural occurrence rather than to the introduction of human blood. There also appears to be a relatively equal ratio of magically sensitive to the non-magically inclined as displayed in the overall human populous. Ratios for the Nulled Ones are less certain, but speculation would deem it as less owing to new understandings of circumstances leading to a Nulled One’s birth.
Civilization and Culture
Beauty Ideals
Elves are, by and large, considered as beautiful to other races. When it comes to their own ideals on beauty, it would appear that human opinion has muddied the waters for many groups living within or near human settlements. Nevertheless, elves of all genders take great pride in their appearance.
In the nomadic caravans, it is a person's height and canines that dictates what is looked upon as attractive as most caravans strive to ensure their lines remain elven and these two markers are reliable indicators of strong elven bloodlines. A petite woman with impressive eyeteeth will be able to have her pick from an array of fawning men.
Gender Ideals
There is no singular outlook on sexual acts, with opinions varying not only from one caravan of nomadic elves to the other but also in other groups throughout the kingdoms.
Courtship Ideals
When it comes to looking for a partner, many elves maintain what appears to be an almost ritualistic stance. Some customs of their ancestors have managed to survive through the ages, the widest-used one having to do with floral wreaths, where the gifting of one symbolises the intent to marry and choosing to wear such a gift is seen as accepting this unspoken proposal. Each wreath is crafted by the proposing partner with a promise woven in with the flowers having distinct meanings.
Once married, the wreath is often dried and kept in the couple's bedchamber.
Relationship Ideals
The 'breaking down' of a marital home is a custom that, on the surface, seems to originate from the nomadic clans where elves live largely in tents and caravans that are commonly sectioned into two distinct areas. But many city-dwelling elves who have never had contact with the caravans also know of, and adhere to, this custom. When a newlywed couple first enters their family home, they will engage in sexual acts in each room to determine a person’s role within that room. This authority over a room is determined via domination during said physical activity and is mostly agreed upon before entering their abode, whilst sleeping chambers are often mutually claimed.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The elven language managed to survive the initial meeting of humans, although it has suffered greatly. Beyond the population of Heimat and most of the nomadic clans, finding an elf capable of understanding the tongue of their ancestors is incredibly rare.
Whilst the vast majority of elven speech patterns can be mimicked by humans and dwarves alike, elves possess the ability to voice extra notes. This is more evident in those with higher voices, particularly if they speak their ancestral language or sing, where there is a songbird quality to the words. Every full-blooded elf that has been tested is capable of this and thus it is presumed that all of them are. However, this ability varies in those who claim even a dilution as much as an eighth of non-elven bloodline.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Their ears are extremely sensitive to the touch and most elves will allow only their partners this privilege. Whilst the elf’s reaction to such a touch is not instant arousal as others believe, it encourages such thoughts and continued stimulation of the area will also expedite climax.
Amongst elves, the deliberate touching of another’s ears is seen as a sign of closeness and a willingness towards initiating intimacy. Allowing another to place their lips upon their ears is a sign of not only trust on the owner’s part, but also often of deep affection for the kisser by the receiver.
Nomadic elves choose to pierce their ears with precious metals, to both gift a child with the means to survive should they be separated from the groups of caravans and to display their virility in their mature years.
History
Much of the tangible facts can be found in the old slave records of the Udynea Empire. These state that the elves arrived en masse in vast ships—vessels that, reputedly, carried several thousand each and were dismantled on-site for their resources—on the shores of what is now Obuzan. This was some centuries back, when the Udynea Empire was but a third of its size. If the question of how these people managed the journey, or why, was ever asked of them, then such information is lost save a few scattered caravans speaking of a great terror. Seeing there have been no new sightings of other gigantic vessels, it must be presumed that, if the original elves were fleeing, whatever they fled from has not given chase.
Having first reached the shore of a land that freely exploits its own, much of the elven population wound up in slavery. Those who escaped, whether through the initial catch or later, fled to form Heimat. To this day, those who live there are suspicious to overtures made by outsiders, human or dwarf. They trade via the nomadic clans who wander between this elven country and the place of their original berth, wildly skirting the Udynean border in the process.
Whilst relations between human and elf are more common than between elf and dwarf—this being rather due to the spread of both races across the continent than any avoidance by either party—there is a common human bias towards elves. Few gain notable status and are far likelier to be the target of bigotry. The degree of this alienation is, largely, dependent on the country. Where one elf might suffer harsh looks and the occasional slur, others will be forced into lives as beggars, if not taken and sold.
Lifespan
75-91 years. Less amongst poorer communities or slaves.
Average Height
All known current records state an upper height of 5’6” and around 3’8” at the lower end of the scale, with the possibility of human blood being prevalent in taller elves.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
It can be gleaned from the old slave records that the diverse skin colour and features of current elves came not from the addition of human blood, but were already in effect. This leads to the possibility of a continent not unlike this one that hosts only elves.
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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