Elves

The oldest race of Maydon are often seen by outsiders as universally graceful, lithe, and beautiful, however within the culture of the elves there are several large delineations that have caused wars genocide and more for centuries.
Elves may be generally tall thin and agile but as with any race there are a wide variety of body types found. Tall, short, thin, or broad elves may be found working any job in any place in the world. Among their own people however most elves strive for the graceful angular and thin aesthetic as it is what the high elven culture has defined as "beautiful".
Elven hair, skin, and eyes come in any color found in nature. The specific ancestry of an elf may be indicated by the way they look but isn't always. No matter how frowned upon relations between the different elven nations may be there are always exceptions.
As elves have a longer life than many of the races of Maydon they tend to live their lives differently. Many consider elves to become wiser and somewhat more inclined to slow down as they age. this however is not always the case. Though frowned upon by some of the more stiff and cerebral of the elven ruling class, many elves find joy in continuing to learn and explore well into their three four or even five hundreds. These elves are often indistinguishable from a twenty year old elf to outsiders and likely add to the mystique of the elven race as they have the knowledge of centuries but also the physical capabilities of the prime of their life. Some even suggest that elves who stay active in this way live far longer than their brethren who choose to become idle and sequester themselves away from the world.
Male and female elves are usually distinguished at sight by the presence or absence of breasts. In many situations however this may not be a method that can be relied upon due to clothing, distance, or differences in an individuals physique. It has therefore become common practice among those who frequently encounter elves to begin conversing with neutral pronouns until the elf themself identifies their gender. Conversely those who wish to degrade elven folk often use slurs highlighting their androgyny or purposefully degrading males as feminine or females as masculine. In civilized areas this behavior is punished when found as the world continuously strives for peace.
Elves are only able to reproduce a handful of times in their life. Many are still investigating why this might be but whatever causes it most elves have no siblings. Incidences of twins or even triplets are relatively high however which combines with elven longevity to produce a population that declines at a fairly slow rate. However the elves will likely never again achieve the numbers they had in the imperial ages.
There are two broad categories to the elven species usually termed the "high" elves and the "wood" elves. These terms come from an ancient split in the elven race that predates the other races of Maydon. High elves are those who trace their lineage to the great conquerors and lords of the ancient elven empires. Wood elves are those who were conquered or in some cases those who fled into the forests and jungles to continue a life of freedom and rebellion against their would be masters.
High elves are those of Fiwan. The elves of cities and civilization as they define it. These elves are largely defined by their society, one that praises intelligence and social bearing above all else. Even in their athletic or martial endeavors high elves tend toward the academic teaching theory and physics as much as training the body.
Wood elves have lived a much different history and as such their society holds different ideals utmost. The elves of the deep jungles of Rycel value skill in hunting and archery. They value nature as their guardian and friend. A wood elf is more likely to be wary of outsiders and to strike first and ask questions never. While some "wood" elves may be found spread across Maydon and indeed even living with their brethren these elves are very often outcasts. Though some keep their distance by choice most are simply fighting all of history being against them. Even other races are tainted by eons of elven tales and stories of the dangerous elves of the wood. They are widely seen as dangerous, wild, unpredictable creatures and occasionally as disease ridden pests. Only in their hidden cities can they truly be who they believe themselves to be. The ancient children of this world here to guard her from invaders and heal her of her wounds.
Since the orkish rebellion a new name has been used for a particular group of elves. Deep in the desert dunes of Rycel live elves who for generations have dwelt apart from the cities or forests of their brethren. During times past these elves were considered "wood" elves by those in the cities and "high" elves by those in the wood. Now however it is clear they are distinct. Rather than flee from the orks either to the woods or Fiwan they have in stead dug in to the vast desert and fight a harassing war against the orkish nation of Bahak. These "desert" elves are darkly complected and short for elves. They tend toward light hair and eyes the color of sand. Their society is mysterious as outsiders very very rarely encounter them, or at least survive the encounter. These elves are often seen from a distance wearing light flowing clothing and bearing spears and javelins rather than the swords or bows of their brethren. Their magic seems strongly rooted to the land they live in and focuses largely on illusion and destruction. They have proven formidable in their resistance of the orks and many now wonder about their past and certainly their future.

Elves High

• Dex 2
• Int 1
• Cantrip

Wood

• Dex 2
• Wis 1
• Mask of the Wild

Desert

• Dex 2
• Con 1
• Fleet of Foot
• Survivalist-May attempt to hide in desert terrain regardless of foliage or time of day. Proficient on survival checks made to find food, water, shade in deserts.
• Desert weapons training-Proficiency with shortbow, javelin, quarterstaff, spear, dagger