Elves

Elves are commonly known for their extreme prowess when it comes to stealth and/or perception. They are a very focused race and seldom let their set target escape. While handy with a bow, spear or even blow gun elves and darkelves do not only hunt anymore, but in most cases have developed a rich culture and made their hunting grounds their home with camouflaged housing and well protected cities.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Elves are all in all very tall humanoid bipeds with long necks and four ears. They have two, quite long, skinny arms with astounding musculature and two feet wich admitedly have a quite limited surface area, but in actually are quite soft and offer perfect grip on any surface.

Biological Traits

There is also a special condition where the young elves grows an antler during puberty, depending wether the individuals is a surfacedwelling elf or dark elf the antler will either be on the left or right. The antlers are usually quite small, but the most royal of families often have quite prominent antlers.

Genetics and Reproduction

Female elves, upon successful insemination will deliver a child within the period of 12 months with a quite high possibility to recieve twins, wich is to observe in almost 50% of all cases.

Growth Rate & Stages

Elves are born with two ears and the neck is also quite short in comparison to the adult versions. They will be cared for and fed milk from their mother in the first few months. After that time has passed elven children will resort to prefer meat and begin to crawl and climb on their own. At the age of 3 the growth of the secondary pair of ears, wich at first are just tiny studs. They sometimes cause irritations, but these are easily treated. Over the course of the next 15 years the secondary pair of ears will have fully grown and thus begins elven puberty. As with the human puberty there is a harsh change in mindset and most elves will suffer of a superiority complex and try to challenge and overthrow their parents, wich often fades with the beginning of their 30th birthday. The elven puberty is also the time where their neck starts to elongate. After that elves will have grown taller and lankier than previously and are now considered adults. With the age of 100 elves will experience a sudden solace and will most likely return to their homeland and take the place of the elder, wise and in charge of educating the young. The natural life of an elf usually ends around its 170th birthday.

Ecology and Habitats

Most elves will prefer the woods or other heavily obscured terrains with lots of local wildlife. As elves are mostly carnivorous they get most of their water from their food, so prey is more important than that. Water sources are often secondary, but also sought after as they promise easy prey.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Elves are mostly carnivorous, but will also consume herbs and fruits on occasion. As mentioned before water is secondary to elves and they will mostly gain it from their food.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Elves have quite recessive, flat noses. Their eyes are rather round and their mouth houses 24, rather sharp teeth, with the minimal amount of flat teeth back in their mouth. They have four ears with the bigger secondary and the smaller, but more agile secondary pair.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Most elves will prefer territories with large populations of indigenous prey and wildlife, with the darkelves, of course preferring the caves beneath the surface.

Average Intelligence

Most elves will be able to speak and write. Further scholarship is not that common.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Elves with their four ears, one pair larger than the other and both pointed, have quite keen hearing and are reported to have slightly better eyesight than humans, but they mostly rely on their hearing, wich is further augmented by their ability to rotate and angle their ears, the secondary pairs more easily than the primary.

Civilization and Culture

Beauty Ideals

In elven society the normal beauty ideals are a round face, big eyes, long hair and strong muscalature. Flat and curved noses are also more desirable than more prominent ones.

Gender Ideals

There is actually nothing really to distiguish. While pregnant the female often gets looked after by the male, both have the same capabilities in terms of hunting. The only thing to note is, that females are often more craftier when it comes to the use of bone and hide, while males are more adapt with woodwork.

Average Technological Level

Elves actually have made quite a progress and have very talented mages and scholars amidst their ranks. They are proficient in masonry and can build impressive buildings, blending in with their surroundings. Their most impressive feat, though still is their archery since elves do not need to see a target to hit it.

Common Dress Code

While long in the past, elves tend to adorn themselves with the prey they have conquered. The prey has changed, but the tradition persists. While Surface elves will adorn themselves with maybe, a bit of bone jewelry or fur, scholars will wear excerpts of their latest studies, to show to the odd comrade.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Every kind of elf, more or less has evolved with the ancestry of the ancient hunting tribes with feral methods and there are several relics of this past to find in modern elven society.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

The handshake:
Most elves will, upon meeting each other not engage in a handshake, but will nod in aknowledgement of the others deeds. Should one of the parties be either too young or uncapable of having done anything useful, the other, higher elf will not nod, but the other will be forced to, because otherwise it would be rude behavior.

Bragging:
While it is normal and almost expected of an elf to show his pride in his accomplishments, there is a fine line between pride and boasting. Most elves will often recite their most impressive deed upon greeting each other and after that they will do their best not to mention it again, without being asked for.

Matchmaking:
It is almost an unspoken, or unknown rule, but elves have been observed of adorning themselves with medals, furs and trophies more often around the warm spring seasons. Males as well as females will, mostly during this time show more intense interest each other, and while usually quite reserved, elven couples have quite a strong bond with each other.

Common Myths and Legends

It is said that Decus and Malitia were siblings and both came from the spirit of the great stag, hence the antlers, and both agreed upon splitting their attention. While Decus would lead his people to the forests above, Malitia would house underground with hers. Through unknown reasons there was a fight between Decus and Malitia, wich resulted in her getting blinded and swearing revenge to her brother and his creations.

Genetic Descendants

• Bone-elves
• Dark-elves
• Wood-elves

Scientific Name

Bipes Venandi Sapienta

Lifespan

160 - 190 yrs

Average Height

1.8 - 2.3 m

Average Weight

65 - 85 kg

Average Physique

Elves usually have quite good statures, astounding strength regarding their otherwise lanky exterior and almost unnoticable bodyfat. A lithe and feligrane entity with astounding speed and agility.