Elves of Tyre

The elves of Tyre are one of the oldest races to inhabit the land. In Tyre, elves typically live around 200 years. They settled in the rich southern forest, a land of large deciduous trees where the Elves made their homes primarily among their high branches. The elves society is organized around small, tight-knit family units that differ significantly from the large but insural clans of the dwarves or the loose but expansive extended families of the halfings. The strongest bonds are between parents and their children with even extended family held at a greater distance. Many say this developed because of the fact that elves for reasons no one has figured out can only have a few children. Most couples will only one or two kids despite their long lifespans and extended youth. A few will have three elfings and a very lucky few find themselves blessed with four – most often through twins. This explains why even given their lifespans and innate gifts elves have remained an ever smaller minority in the land.
The elven fertility dynamic also has come to shape much of elven culture. Children are an extremely valuable resource not only for families but for the elvish-kind as a whole. When a child is born the parents become single-mindedly devoted to the child and the immediate family even to the point of weakening ties with their own parents and siblings. In elvish culture the move into parenthood marks a radical transformation in an elf’s life even more so than marriage. It is marked with a special ritual where the parents ceremonial separate themselves from their children so that the new parents can be full devoted to the new child. Losing a child through sickness or some unfortunate event is always a tragedy in any society but in elvish society it invites a whole other level of mourning where the entire society participates in elaborate rituals and a funeral that rival state funerals in other lands – or rumor has it – few non-elves have ever seen these rites. Perceived betrayal of ones parents or ones children is considered the most egregious act and elves can find themselves disavowed or even banished from their families though even the mere threat of such actions is a rare and grave act.
The rarity of children also helps explain the elvish aversion to risk and conflict. However, they heavily train all their children in self-defense as well as the healing arts. The first 30 years of an elf’s life are devoted to rigorous education and training – some would say too rigorous – with stiff competition among the young ones for honor and achievement. This training often makes elves deadly warriors when pushed or cornered – though most prefer to avoid fighting at all costs.
Most elves will still spend their lives within the safe confines of the forest immersed in learning and competing to increase their status through the various games and competitions that run the social calendar. However, various elves do leave the forest. There are the families sent as ambassadors and emissaries throughout Tyre. Being called into service to the outlands is considered to be a deeply patriotic act of service in the elvish kingdom. Some families who enter into such service count the years until they are able to return. Others, however, find the freedom from what can be the stifling culture of the elves exhilarating and volunteer to remain in the outlands, often passing the posts to their sons and daughters. Getting called back to the kingdom can be traumatic for those that have grown up as expatriates. Other elves walking the land of Tyre have chosen to leave to seek adventure, escape their families or in some instances are pushed out in disgrace for some perceived fault. Whatever the reason elves that spend most their time out of the forest are viewed as a curiosity or even with deep suspicion by most of their kin.