Elven Subraces

High Elves are the predominant form of elves on Rakuen. They make up the vast majority of all Elven beings, and due to their large numbers, are generally subdivided as such:

• Solar Elves (High)
• Lunar Elves (Wood)
• Stellar Elves (Eladrin)
• Dark Elves (Drow)
• Gloom Elves
• Arbor Elves
• Saline Elves

Some Elven subraces have few differences, only limited by what seems to be broader societal differences. Other Elves are completely different beings entirely, with unique physiological characteristics.

Solar Elves

Solar Elves, also known as high elves, are the predominant subrace of Elves throughout Rakuen. They get their name from their focus on High-Elven rituals that use the magic and light of The Sun. The average Solar Elf is fair in skin, although with a remarkable variety therein. Most Solar Elvish culture tends to revere the practice of various magics, artisanship of various skills, and education as the highest marks of culture and happiness. As such, most Solar Elvish culture - and as a result, most Elven culture throughout the world - resembles this form of society.

Lunar Elves

Lunar Elves, also known as wood elves, are the second most prominent subrace of Elves. They get their name from their focus on High-Elven rituals that use the magic of The Moon, as well as their use of nighttime for various activities such as hunting and exploring. Lunar Elves are naturalistic by nature. They embrace a form of society more based around that of nature, both in reverence of nature and application to nature. Lunar Elven societies tend to be built in forests, or away from spaces occupied by other races, often making these places difficult to find. They tend to have stronger connections to they fey, to beasts, and druidic needs, as well as to that of the feywild. However, while they have a strong connection to Rakuen itself, their cultures can be very inward and conservative, slow to react and change to outside forces.

Stellar Elves

Stellar Elves, also known as Eladrin, are a rare type of Elf. Nearly distinct from the rest of their peers, Eladrin are more fey than humanoid. They get their name from the belief that they are descended from the stars. Many tend to live in the feywild almost exclusively, rarely stepping out to the Prime Material. Similar to Lunar Elves, Eladrin are pure naturalists. They blend fey techniques of life with Elvish culture, creating a highly distinct society all their own. Even amongst their peers, Eladrin are seen as haughty, distracted, and beyond the scope of many; however, their talents with druidic magics and High-Eleven rituals is unmatched, keeping them very well respected.

Dark Elves

Dark Elves, also known as the Drow, are a race of Elves that are distinct from their peers. They get their name from their inhabitance in the Underdark. The majority of current Dark Elves lead lives in the Underdark, where they had been banished by their Elven peers millennia ago. Dark Elves have greatly diverse societies, and have many societal and cultural features that are unique to their own, almost separating them from other Elves entirely. They are known for great feats of magic and ingenuity, however, are seen as untrustworthy and evil by the majority of other races due to their ancient history of perceived misdeeds, not to mention their currently lax views of morals in the modern day.

Gloom Elves

Gloom Elves are those who have surrendered their souls to that of the Imperatrix Elnoyle. In ancient times, Gloom Elves willingly left the Prime Material for The Dirge, setting off to the Far East. With their ties to their Reverie severed, they were forced to learn a more mortal life. This transformed them in many ways, as did their flexible attitude for darker magics, particularly those involving the use of souls. The Raven Queen valued these lost causes, and adopted them in her flock as foot soldiers, with an endless promise that one day they might be something more than husks of their former selves. With The Dirge opened, the Gloom Elves were reunited, and accepted the newfound Imperatrix, she has given them a semblance of life, if only just.

Arbor Elves

Arbor Elves are an ancient off-shoot of The Paragons. Before the earliest wars among The Paragons, some chose to leave, retreating to various other planets in the solar system. This shielded them from the chaos that befell their forefathers, however their nomadic nature pulled them further and further away from their traditional roots. By the time they returned to Rakuen, they had changed in much the same way the Elves had. Having lost most of their culture to time and travel, Arbor Elves simply adopted a simpler way of life, living as fey beings. Although they are not fey themselves, they believe their connection to nature is stronger than others. Arbor Elves worship The Arbor, although not exclusively, instead courting with many naturalistic spirits, gaining strange shapeshifting powers.

Saline Elves

Saline Elves are some of the more odd Elves among their lineage. Having felt spurned in ancient times, Saline Elves did not seek to return to Rakuen, as they saw it as uncontrollable and dangerous. They instead ventured to Wreathe, where they started a vast civilization that waxed and waned in prominence. After the reopening of the Feywild, Saline Elves slowly began to make their way back to Rakuen, refusing contact with the land, and instead embracing with the wide open seas. After the opening of The Dirge, they used their playful memories of past lives to guide their principles in caretaking the natural aquatic worlds. They worship Rhea and Iapetus exclusively, as well as The Sea.