Elf
Known For: Slender, lithe build; being attractive and knowing it.
by Roweena, rigger "Many people, especially those of other metahuman races, see elves as the most fortunate metahumans. We’re so pretty, they say, so glamorous. Some humans try to borrow that glamour by pretending to be elves—it would never cross their minds to imitate orks or trolls. Why, we elves even have our own nations! Being an elf must be wonderfully exciting. Never a dull moment for us Beautiful People—or so the prevailing view goes. Well, I can tell you otherwise. I’m proud to be an elf, and I can’t complain too much about my own life. But I don’t live the fashionable lifestyle that the trid programs tell you is every elf’s birthright. Nor do many other elves I know. And as for the singing-songs-to-trees, can’t-find-Enter-ona- keyboard stereotype … my t-bird and I are living proof of how wrong that one is! This may come as a surprise to many, but there are poor elves, ugly elves and boring, everyday elves. Being poor or socially handicapped is hard on anyone, but it’s harder on elves because it violates their own and everyone else’s expectations. An ork living in a squalid tenement causes no comment (which is sad enough). But an elf living in one … there must be something terribly wrong with her. Everyone knows elves are meant for better surroundings. An elf in anything less than a glamorous setting is an especially pathetic failure, at least in most people’s minds. Poor baby, you may be thinking. How terrible, not to be as beautiful and exciting as people think you are. You should have such problems, yes? But it is a problem when no one else will take your real troubles seriously—or when they judge you more harshly for having them than someone of a race that’s “supposed” to have a hard time. Granted, our burdens are lighter than those of races like orks and trolls, whom many others openly revile. But the glamour of elvishness is no protection against subtler forms of prejudice. I’ve lost count of the people who see us all as nature-loving daisy-eaters, unable to cope with modern technology. Please, somebody, help the poor elf girl use the big, complicated public Matrix terminal! Or make a big production out of bringing some wilted salad to the cute little elf, so she won’t have to soil her lips with meat. We elves know the sting of prejudice, but unlike our ork and troll cousins, we’re not supposed to express our anger. Angry pixies aren’t lovely and ethereal. Some elves, eager to be as “tough” and feared as any other races, really violate the stereotype—they become gang members or loaded-for-trouble street samurai. Others, like me, do our best to ignore what we’re “supposed” to be like and just try to follow our hearts. It’s true we’ve had it easier than others at fitting into human society, and many of us do. Others have moved to tribal lands, or to the elven nations of Tir Tairngire and Tír na nÓg. The movement of elves to live among “our own” has caused its own problems for those of us left behind; with fewer of us around, we’re more conspicuous. Also, it adds to some people’s belief that elves are snooty and deserve to be taken down a peg. We don’t generally have trouble finding employment and housing, but those who don’t like us often suggest (with varying degrees of rudeness) that we should go live in “your own country.” Some people also suspect elves for a reason other races do not share: our culture. The Sperethiel language, claims of old customs, our general talent for magic, the legendary ancient elves, all this and more make some people uneasy about us. They speak darkly of an elven conspiracy to take over the world. Well, if there is such a thing, no oneever told me—and I wish they would. I’m getting tired of working for a living!"
Elf Culture
No other metahuman culture has had the obvious world-changing effects as that of the elves. Three nations, isolated neighborhoods in almost every major sprawl, personalities acting as a primary face or voice for almost every major world power, and even with all of that they have still built a culture full of humility and founded on understanding of their fellow metahumans. Somewhere in the preceding paragraph I was a bit untruthful, or at least skewed the truth a little. And that is the way of elven culture. Known for their grace and beauty, elves have enthralled the masses with their charm and pissed them off with their arrogance. Their slightly-taller-than-human stature, usually with a lean and muscular frame (or so the stereotypes go), narrow facial features, almond-shaped eyes, and silky hair have filled the airwaves since the earliest days of UGE. They are usually loved or loathed, but they rarely feel the need to acknowledge either emotion when it is not expressed by another of their kin. They use the natural grace and beauty they were given to create an image of trust, while stretching the truth and mastering the art of public relations with their charm. Their ability to spin and skew truths is only part of what defines elves; their isolationist mentality is the second half of their cultural identity. As the elves are often seen as the most attractive of the metatypes (though many orks and trolls would disagree with this characterization), their fashion trends tend to be the most frequently copied. One such style, long flowing straight hair, is more than just a trend. That hair is a source of pride among elves, and those who wear it best gain a certain level of prestige. This vanity is both a blessing and a curse as elves, both male and female, suffer from frequent eating disorders and exercise addictions in order to maintain their image. This, and the common “elven prize” phenomenon, push many elven youth, and some full grown adults, to an unhealthy brink as they try to be what everyone else wants.HOW ELVES FIT INTO SOCIETY
They don’t have to fit into society. Society adapts to them. Elves connect with elves and do elven work. They don’t work regular jobs to fit in, they don’t join bands because their friends did, and they don’t do menial labor because it’s their only option. Elves work behind reception desks, host trideo shows, anchor the news, work for PR firms, act as the face of ad campaigns, sit first chair for the orchestra, and do a host of other things that include nothing but using their charm, grace, and presence to make others feel comfortable or buy something. Do I exaggerate? Yeah, a little. There are elves at the bottom of the ladder, just like with any other metatype. But the pressure they feel to be something else, and the guilt they feel for failing their heritage, can be considerable. The funny thing is, even when they are shoveling drek for a living, they still carry that annoying air of superiority. Now, what about in elven nations, you ask? Someone’s gotta be at the bottom there, right? That’s why they allow at least some of the other metahuman races to be around. Grunt work, whether civilian or military, is full of orks and trolls. More technical work is filled by dwarfs and humans. The bosses—those are the elves.Basic Information
Anatomy
Adult elves are on the average slightly taller than humans (≈190cm), and they are usually somewhat more lightly built (i. e. thinner with an average weight of 72kg), giving them narrower frames than humans', which is especially pronounced in their narrow facial features. This slenderness is particularly pronounced in elves of Polynesian and Australian descent. Elven physique is leaner and lighter than that of Norms, even though muscles, tendons and bones are of comparable strength.
Elves generally have an eyelid crease, which gives their eyes an almond-shaped appearance. Especially in dark-skinned elves, the eyes are often prominent. Like Orks, Elves are endowed with more, and more sensitive, rod cells in their eyes, giving them adequate visual performance with a sixth of the amount of light that a human would need, if not sufficient color perception. For that, they were believed to be naturally nocturnal, but with the exception of the metavariant of the Nocturnes, this claim was not substantiated.
Their skin color varies, similarly as with humans, from white to black. Elves have 32 teeth, women two breasts, and ears that end in a prominent tip.
Elven body hair is sparse, almost non-existent in individual cases. Head hair, on the other hand, is thicker than a human's, even if the hair follicles themselves are much finer, giving the hair a "silky" texture. In most elf populations, the hair is straight or slightly wavy, but in some it can also have very tight curls.
Elves generally have an eyelid crease, which gives their eyes an almond-shaped appearance. Especially in dark-skinned elves, the eyes are often prominent. Like Orks, Elves are endowed with more, and more sensitive, rod cells in their eyes, giving them adequate visual performance with a sixth of the amount of light that a human would need, if not sufficient color perception. For that, they were believed to be naturally nocturnal, but with the exception of the metavariant of the Nocturnes, this claim was not substantiated.
Their skin color varies, similarly as with humans, from white to black. Elves have 32 teeth, women two breasts, and ears that end in a prominent tip.
Elven body hair is sparse, almost non-existent in individual cases. Head hair, on the other hand, is thicker than a human's, even if the hair follicles themselves are much finer, giving the hair a "silky" texture. In most elf populations, the hair is straight or slightly wavy, but in some it can also have very tight curls.
Biological Traits
Some elves can have violet, blue, or metallic hair colors.
Rare elves can have pale green or pearly, iridescent skin; this might occur for “spike babies” born in high-mana areas.
Rare elves can have pale green or pearly, iridescent skin; this might occur for “spike babies” born in high-mana areas.
Genetics and Reproduction
Elves usually give birth to a single child, but twin births are common, although both twins are not always viable. The normal gestation time for an elf is 360 days (12 months). The average birth weight of an elf as a percentage of the mother's weight is 5.2% and the medically suggested minimum breastfeeding period is 25 months.
Elves mature mentally at about the same rate as humans do and physically slightly slower. Elven puberty hits at 14.2 to 16.8 years and they reach maturity at 20 to 24.
Elves mature mentally at about the same rate as humans do and physically slightly slower. Elven puberty hits at 14.2 to 16.8 years and they reach maturity at 20 to 24.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Low Light Vision
Civilization and Culture
Culture and Cultural Heritage
More than other metatypes, elves have developed their own culture. This "elven" culture seems influenced by unknown sources, and appears to have roots several thousand years old, based on some prehistoric elven civilization (or so they claim).
And further, elves from different parent, pre-awakening cultures, both independent from elf countries and local subcultures, actually show some pretty interesting similarities. An inclination to respect age and experience more than youth and determination is one of them. A high valuation of artistic expression and beauty is another, both of one's own and that of others. And the spread of the Path of the Wheel, specifically among elves, is a third.
Another commonality is a tendency to be drawn to one another, and to isolate oneself from the rest of metahumanity. Of course, this is also due to the experience of prejudice, rejection and fetishization, but even factorin that in, there is an isolationist trend among elves. They seem to just enjoy each others' company a bit more.
But Elves are not only the centerpiece of "elf culture". Elves are an important part of wider pop culture in Sixth World. Here they are more present than any other metatype, with the exception of humans. To a large extent, this is due to their exotic and appealing appearance, partly also to the mystery of their "old" elf culture and the Elven language, Sperethiel. Elves appeal to other metahumans, whether they like it or not. Many media icons - from models to musicians to star lawyers, politicians and porn stars are elves.
And further, elves from different parent, pre-awakening cultures, both independent from elf countries and local subcultures, actually show some pretty interesting similarities. An inclination to respect age and experience more than youth and determination is one of them. A high valuation of artistic expression and beauty is another, both of one's own and that of others. And the spread of the Path of the Wheel, specifically among elves, is a third.
Another commonality is a tendency to be drawn to one another, and to isolate oneself from the rest of metahumanity. Of course, this is also due to the experience of prejudice, rejection and fetishization, but even factorin that in, there is an isolationist trend among elves. They seem to just enjoy each others' company a bit more.
But Elves are not only the centerpiece of "elf culture". Elves are an important part of wider pop culture in Sixth World. Here they are more present than any other metatype, with the exception of humans. To a large extent, this is due to their exotic and appealing appearance, partly also to the mystery of their "old" elf culture and the Elven language, Sperethiel. Elves appeal to other metahumans, whether they like it or not. Many media icons - from models to musicians to star lawyers, politicians and porn stars are elves.
CHARACTERS AND ELF CULTURE
To be an elf is to be better than everyone else, or at least to be raised with that view. Elves, whether they grow up in a corporation or on the street, congregate together with their own and look down their noses at everyone else. But while they do this, they don’t create the enmity most would expect. Their natural charm shines through their disdaining glares, and those around them often buy into the belief that the elves really are better than them. Being an elf means playing with a chip on your shoulder and a smile on your face. Working with the other metatypes is fine, but when it comes to social time, it’s generally preferable to be with those who deserve to be in your presence. Elves tend to live among elves and even have their bolt holes among elves, often making it hard to take others with them since they’ll stand out. For those who seek to go against the grain, they find the road often easy—but the ease is really a slippery slope. They make friends with their natural charm, they’re often deferred to when charm is called for, and they still get that same feeling of being superior without acting like a stuck-up drekhead. The problem is, they still have pointy ears and almond-shaped eyes, and there are those who, no matter how well the elves sell their goodness, hate them, and most of those people will be hanging out in the same countercultural locations. Elves become a target, a rather easy-to-spot one at that, and some of their “friends” are going to stay quiet when the local ork gang wants to have a “word.” This means playing an elf in the counterculture may be a trying experience for a person expecting their friends to back them up.Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments