Doka (dohk-ah)
The Doka are the Elves of the stone cycle. All elves were created together by or from forces of their world to embody a system, a cycle; for the Doka they came straight from the earth to be the cycle of stone. From magma to sediment, to sediment to stone and back around again. Much like this cycle, it takes immense heat or pressure to change a Doka who are otherwise cool and unmoving. They are set in their ways, stubborn and long lasting it's as if they never truly move forward in a way any others can see.
They share a lot with Dhargen in their inborn hatred for those on the surface and what damage they have wrought to their planet - the very fact that the planet is as it is now... despicable.
Still they have their own way of doing things, while they share their priorities, their methods differ. Doka like other elves, have an affinity for learning magic and knowledge and keeping tabs on the rest of the world, something Dhargen have little interest in. For this difference, the Doka of course know Elven but often take to learning Neppic to speak among themselves.
Neither here nor there, Doka live longer still than the Dhargen and their grudges run even deeper. To this day in modern times there is constant threat of war between the territory of Eixidor and the Kethaa Empire for land after the Doka were misplaced during The Rupture. Currently set in a tepid truce, although knowing all the while each side uses the respite to regather and invent before war inevitably fires up again.
It is also said they have systems through the earth rumoured to stretch across the planet - where their allegiance-like relations with the Dhargen allow it. Stories of attacks and alliances with the dark 'elves' the Stygvens are rampant as they share similar methods and their goals are at least adjacent. Such details would be hashed out only after they deal with the first step: clearing the world of those who have harmed it.
While many elves seem haughty, turning their nose up at others because they see themselves 'better,' Doka turn their nose up and stare at others as prey because they are 'worse.'
Appearance
- Doka skin tones can take on any hue or shade of cooled magma, from a dark obsidian, to an ashy light grey, some take on a navy blue sheen while others may have a lingering orange glow in their veins. Regardless, it allows for a Doka to perfectly blend into the underground stones.
- Their eyes usually range in metallic tones, anything from tungsten to silver.
- Their hair consists of tiny beaded strands not unlike glow worms, however smaller and some extremely fine so as to run your hands through the tresses it feels like fine silky sand and gathered together appears white and slightly twinkling. And just like glow worms, the Doka can make their hair glow - it is believed that in primitive times it was a way to attract food, with a stronger hypnotic element to their glow they could attract much larger creatures.
Height & Weight: Their size and build are similar to humans but more slender and slightly taller than average.
Features
Of a Cycle
Elves are resound in their ways, cycles are about change yes, but only on a set path. To break it is to cause ruin. So Elves are naturally stubborn in their mindsets, but that does come with it's advantages. Magic aiming to claim their minds in any way, struggle to do so.
Their minds also do not travel to the uncontrollable realm of Ribosia when they sleep - in other words, they do not dream. Instead they sink into a calm nothingness to allow the centuries of memory they accumulate to rest and settle and not add more images to the pile - or otherwise risk losing themselves to madness. As such they are able to remain somewhat alert as they sleep so it's not as easy to sneak up on them and they do not - for better or for worse - feel the effects of Ribosa.
However they can still be put magically to sleep, and depending on intent, this can then force their minds to travel to Ribosa. In fact it's a known ole wife's tale that an Elf can become addicted to such magics - to dreaming - and for minds carefully made to support long lives of memory, doubling the load proves disastrous.
Of Stone
Stone is often associated with the underground, and for good reason. For its best found below the layers of earth. As such, Doka are better suited to life underground where it is darker and cooler. Accustomed to delving into the caves underground and reveling under the night sky, they have better vision in the dark although struggle to make out colour - as if they need it anyway.
In fact, they see so much better in the dark that their vision in sunlight suffers, which in turn hinders some of their day-to-day life and skills. So if not underground, Doka tend to be found in the darker areas of the world, hence their surface capital being in the Dark Ring.
More of the magical ends, after centuries of existence and practice from the moment the Magic Thread came to be, Doka, like all Elves, have some minor magic that have come to be an innate ability. For these connects to the cycle of stone, they can essentially manipulate stone in small ways such as speeding up the effects of erosion or cementation or even temporarily harden their skin to the likeness of it.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Elven names are often long (at least 3 syllables), for as long lived as they are they wish for each to individual to stand out - far too easily can history be twisted when one can accomplish so much in so many years.
And a name is all you are, and when you live that long, you are much, and thus so is your name. While they are given a full name at birth, children are referred to a shortened version (like a nickname) until they grow up. Once they are considered an adult, it is considered an insult to be referred to by anything less than their full first name because it is a marker for them growing into themselves - thus 'growing into' your full name. From here on only those considered close, and/or with permission, may shorten an adult Elf's name into the 'nickname' as it shows they have become familiar with the book and it's contents and no longer rely on title and cover.
For these reasons, those of only partial Elven blood are given 'half names' which are much shorter.
On the other hand, some Elves of higher power may enforce use of the shorter version of their name as a way of saying 'you should know of me, and if you don't, be careful.' Although this is usually reserved for nobility and the like.
For an Elf to completely resent their name and give themselves a new one, is to turn their backs on all of Elven kind.
Examples: Sherriala (Sherri), Thaiamasdane (Thaia), Klassmerid (Klass), Varessida (Varess), Matteodan (Matteo), Sersilas (Silas), Rutheron (Ruth), Sessalees (Sessay), Vincender (Vince), Anthearosa (Anthea) or Jabneelin (Jabneel)
Family names are more of a duty and anchor for an Elf to return to if they drift, and so have great meaning in Elven but are usually much shorter.
Examples: Vemor (Vital knowledge), Yerta (Sea Farer), Merthio (Battle hardening), Irphenkiir (the gems of a plant), Jolay (Joy of sweetness), Tomseree (delight in lawful trouble), Sprinona (Spring coloured wind) or Sorcha (Sun warmed sand)
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