Sea Elf
The sea elves are said to be the original primordial Elves of Laeriss. The Elves are said to have been made by Ktuywayit as a very malleable sentient species, only beaten by the Goblin people, able to make extreme adaptions to the environment. While the Elves who migrated underground became the Drow, the elves of the forests became the Wood Elves, and the Elves of the mountains became the High elves, and the Elves who stayed in the seas became known as the sea elves, with an entirely different culture to that of any other type of Elf.
"It is ironic how while we were the first Elves born onto Laeriss, we were the ones nearly wiped out during the solstice, most likely we will be the first Elves to completely die out."After The Solstice of Shadows, every ocean except for The Carili Sea was emptied into the open sky, killing 92% of the sea elves living on Laeriss. They have teal, blue, indigo, grey, or silver skin, they can breathe in water because of gills located on their face and chest. Most sea elves have pure black, shiny hair, which is quite thin and very straight.
-Philosopher, Tilaeis Wenlev
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The dialects vary widely from the sea elves who live on the surface or shallow water, and the ones deep at the bottom of The Carili Sea. While higher elevation sea elves have commonly higher voices and talk at a normal volume, the deep sea elves usually have very booming and deep voices.
Culture and cultural heritage
The culture of the sea elves is very multilayered and sophisticated. The complicated web of customs in sea elven society is extremely difficult to learn for an outsider. Though as you get deeper into the sea, the people get wealthier, the customs get more advanced, and the people are more pompous.
Shared customary codes and values
One of the biggest values of sea elven culture is love and relationships. In their courting they spend huge amounts of money and gold, when in a relationship they will do anything for each other and spend every moment with their partner. They consider it to be more valuable than even their friends, family, well being, or personal life.
Average technological level
While the sea elves do not have very advanced tech, they use powerful magic. Many clerics and paladins of Ktuywayit reside in sea elven society and they use their holy magics to do many great spells. While their practical tech is not particularly incredible, the art and architecture of the sea elves is a sight to behold.
Common Etiquette rules
While in sea elven society you are expected to show politeness and humility to those who are wealthier than you, you do not have to show manners for people on the same level of wealth as you or poorer. Though for a significant other you are meant to show the upmost respect, even more than that of any king or queen.
Common Dress code
Since typical clothing is not very fit for swimming, the sea elves only wear a special type of cloth created by them. Usually this cloth will be wrapped around the chest and crotch region. Leaving most of the skin of a sea elf exposed, since skin color is such an important part of beauty.
Art & Architecture
A sea elven city is made up of only a few giant buildings which are covered by glass domes. These domes are specially built to have beautiful symmetrical patterns. These giant mega-buildings are usually made out of stone since they are underwater. Much like every other part of sea elven architecture, the stone is carved with detailed patterns. It is said sea elven architecture is some of the most beautiful on Laeriss.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
One of the main customs of sea elven society is to make everything elaborate and beautiful, from their buildings to their food and music everything must be beautiful and have meaning. Each pattern of lines and swirls has a complicated meaning, many compendiums have been made to describe these patterns but most books can not hold the incredible amount. Only one giant tomb created by many people holds the secrets of every symbol, though only a native sea elf will truly be able to understand their meaning.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
When a sea elf is born, they are dipped in blue makeup if they are a girl, or green makeup if they are a boy. An ancient sea elven song as old as their existence on Laeriss is sung by the family of the baby to give them the blessings of Ktuywayit and welcome them into the world.
Coming of Age Rites
When a sea elf turns a hundred years old they will commonly have one day of feasts and joy as they enter into the adult world and gain their new adult name, as all Elves do. They sing olden songs of the sea elf people and as the clock strikes midnight they will lead in a great ballad of Ktuywayit.
Funerary and Memorial customs
When a sea elf dies, a unique pattern made up of many lines and colors representing them is painted onto a seashell in their memory and to immortalize them in a symbol which will represent their memory forever. Since billions of sea elves have died in the history of Laeriss, each symbol may be painted with hundreds of unique lines and angles with unique colors. While two symbols may look very similar, no two are ever alike as it is said the god Ktuywayit would not allow it.
Common Taboos
It is extremely taboo for a sea elf to be born on the surface, as it is seen as sacrilege to Ktuywayit. It is also taboo to not paint a symbol onto a seashell when a related sea elf dies. Yet the most taboo thing which a sea elf can commit is to mistreat a partner, a sea elf who hurts or abuses their partner will often be outcasted from their cities and is believed to be forsaken by Ktuywayit.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Often sea elves with more colorful skin colors are seen as more beautiful and makeup is used to increase the vibrancy of their skin. Unlike other ethnicities of Elf, the hair of a sea elf is often cut very short or buzzed, as having long or uncut hair is a sign of poorness. Close cut hair in intricate patterns and swirls is also seen as very beautiful.
Gender Ideals
While it is considered beautiful for male sea elves to have bright green skin, they usually do not heighten the blue color of their skin. Female sea elves increase the blue color of their skin but usually not the green. Often the patterns cut into the hair of male sea elves are wavy and smooth while the patterns cut into the hair of female sea elves is usually more straight and angular.
Courtship Ideals
When courting it is considered respectful in sea elf culture to gift large amounts of luxury food to the one you are interested in. While the rich can afford to pay large amounts for these feasts the poor may spend huge amounts of gold on these gifts, because of this, dating is much more rare in the lower classes than for the wealthy.
Relationship Ideals
Often sea elves in a relationship will cut their hair in mirroring patterns, when two sea elves break up they will often both cut off all their hair, while in sea elf culture having short hair is a sign of wealth, baldness is a sign of a newly broken relationship or misfortune. The sea elves strongly hold love and relationships in high regard and will sacrifice huge things for their partners.
Major organizations
Since most of the remaining sea elves on Laeriss reside in The Carili Sea, they mostly live under The Surrani Empire. Many sea elves are also part of The Crimson Skulls and The Krakens of Death.
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