Lethvens (leth-vehns)
Vens are a branch off the Elven tree, somewhat of a subrace if you will. All Vens are Elves, but not all Elves are Vens.
As such the two Vens; Stygvens and Lethvens are sometimes referred to as the Dark Elves and the Light Elves respectively. However, while the Vens care little for the specifications of this, some take some offense to this. The Vens are of a different creation, using Elves as a template a step after all the Elves were created together. Stygvens came from the Dark and Lethvens, from the Light - two forces directly opposing rather than representing a cycle they represent a constant battle, even down to their biology.
Similar to Elves with their unearthly grace and fine features, Vens appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and other races, but even more so that they become just off-putting enough in the right - or wrong - light.
Lethvens, also known as The Light or Light Elves, are made from the Light and as such follow the god of light, Pashakal. His decree to this day lives in their very being - from birth to death - to keep back the Dark. For this they have become duty-bound and honourable people centered in a city called Mihtrea alongside the Qedoza, guiding lights to those lost when their duty allows it.
Appearance
- Lethvens skin initially can be of any human tone, but the differences come in two features:
- One, they have a sunscreen-like sheen layer that reflects light from them, as such they appear to faintly glow.
- Two, areas they blush. Their blood is not just red, but bright red even when gathered, making a lot of their skin appear pink to red in areas
- Their eyes are of a bright red colour.
- Otherwise, like Elves they have tapered ears and graceful form. They bleed bright red that does not congeal to darken in colour.
- Their hair is often pale in a range of colours, although pinks and silvers are most common.
Height & Weight: Their size and build are similar to humans but more slender and sinewy.
Features
Light Makers
Light is a spectrum of colour waves, which waves an object reflects determines what colours are seen. When white is present, all colour is reflected and can even make something appear to glow in the dark if pure enough. Whereas black is the result of all light being absorbed.
A Lethven's skin appears to have a shimmer like that of sunscreen and a similar reflective property, making it difficult for light and light-based magic to affect them. Due to this fact, Lethvens have a cool to cold body temperature, making them invisible to their counters - the Stygvens - heat sight at night.
These biological features are also built-in defences for the effects of using magic. True to their name, the Light Elves create light when using magic - any magic. So bright that it can be blinding and can even start to increase their body temperature even with the aid of their reflective skin. Not great if they wish to remain hidden and with extended or extreme use can cause their naturally cooler temperatures to quickly burn up. Hence their practising mages will often wear black materials that absorb the excess light produced.
Like many others, Lethvens have the potential to learn other magic but they will always have the innate ability to affect light and its heat. For example to simply condense the light around them into a blinding effect, or enhance the reflectivity of items of allies to create glowing effects or small light aids.
Violet Vision
Lethvens have a second type of vision they can choose to use called violet vision. This allows them to see 'invisible' markings called violet markings on other creatures that appear to glow colourfully in the dark to them. (Think UV light and fluorescent objects).
This includes violet marks on themselves as Lethvens have made a practice of painting invisible art on their skin that only becomes visible to their own people when using this sight.
Become Reflective
A Lethven can magically force all light upon them to be reflected in a single direction rather than scattered, making themselves become a sort of 'mirror person'. When done so in complete darkness they can become invisible even to those who can see in the dark as long as they direct it correctly. However, in doing so they rapidly increase their body temperature so this cannot be maintained for extended periods of time.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Vens differ from Elves in naming as well, in that they put less strain on the giving and using names, and in fact, are more like humans in this area. Once again being the sort of bridge between the two. Although the names still have a tendency to sound less like typical human names they aren't restrained by length and care less for nicknames and more for the weight of a family name if anything.
Examples: Thalvo Rand, Rhimi Hester or Midre Trakas
Comments