Elves

When I first came into contact with the Elves, they seemed like a more tall and slender form of our species. Their movements seemed elloquent. Their manners and way of dressing stiff, yet beautiful. I expected much from the minds accompanied by such grace. Needless to say I was wildly dissapointed when their mouths started moving ever so gracious. I fear we gnomes truly are the most brilliant species in the galaxy...

— Gilleon Galley, about his first encounter with the Elves.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Long, slender, thin bone structure. Long ears.

Genetics and Reproduction

Due to their long lifespan, reproduction is quite rare. Woman are able to conceive a child only on one week every 20 years between their 80th year and their 300th year. The mother is with child for one year, after which it is born. There are seldom difficulities at birth.
Important to note is that male elves are also able to procreate with humans. Their offspring are half-elves and cannot reproduce. Male human procreation with elves is as thusfar unheard of.

Ecology and Habitats

Most elves live in dense forests and are called Wood Elves. Some however live in other environments such as the Sand Elves, Snow Elves and Sea Elves. Since the invention of the Helm, Elves have been settling other planets and even moons too.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Most Elves are vegan and require little food. Their skin is able to transfer some of the warmth of the sun into energy. Their diet consists of various berries, fruits or fungi. Dark Elves or Drow have lost their ability to transfer energy from the sun and instead need to eat more than their surface brethern.
The Elves sustain themselves mainly by foraging, or in big communities where foraging would unbalance the ecosystem they run small agricultural operations.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Long ears, no facial hair. Their faces are very smooth and free of wrinkles for the first 300 years.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Most Elves live on the

Average Intelligence

Mediocre, their natural (or societal?) interest in nature and magic leads to most of the Elves having atleast a basic education.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

5 basic senses and nearly all of them have at least a heigthened magical sense.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

Summer Court Winter Court

Beauty Ideals

Themselves

Gender Ideals

A Queen should rule her court, for she bears fruit to all life.

Courtship Ideals

Usually the man courts the woman. Courting above your social status is unheard of.

Relationship Ideals

Looks first, cunning second.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Respect for nature's balance is ingrained in Elven culture. This includes both life and death. The Elves see dying as a way to reunite with nature.

Common Taboos

The cannibal Elve tribes.

Historical Figures

Queen Titania King Oberon Queen Maeve

Common Myths and Legends

It is rumored that both courts are secretly plotting against each other despite their formal agreements.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Either welcoming of other species as long as they respect nature. Or very xenophobe, expecting the worst from other species.

Scientific Name

Dryadalis sapiens sapiens

Lifespan

700 to 800 years

Average Height

1.7 to 2.0 meters

Average Weight

35 to 60 kg

Average Physique

Flexible, long lived, hardly ever sick. But they aren't very strong.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Skin colours can vary wildly from region to region. Wood elves have a brownish hue Sand elves have a bronze hue Sea elves have a blue to green hue Snow elves have a pure white skin Drow have a dark black or purple tint