Elves

The Elves are a tall, athletics, and slender race of humanoids typically dwelling in woodland groves and temperate climates. Elves, besides being sensitive to magical energy in the world, are expert craftsmen, perhaps even more skilled than the Dwarves but it would depend on who you ask, talented carpenters, weavers, vintners, and swordsmen. Elves are secretive or distrusting of others generally but have a fondness for Men. When addressing an Elf it is considered polite to use their first name, followed by their surname, and last the place from which they hale.

Masculine Example: Thaelas Lokdëyë of the Silverblood Woods

Feminine Example: Raynia Alirthane of the High Kings Hold

The Elves of Vóreios value loyalty, intellect, wisdom, and mindfulness above all others. Elves are loyal and true friends but put their loyalty is to their fellow Elf first, always. It is this cultural philosophy that has helped preserve the Elves way of life and society. For an Elf to be ordain a traitor to their kind results in their swift execution. It is this level of devotion to ensuring the wellbeing of the entirety of Elves that has created the foundation for their strong bonds and honest nature.
The Elves have faced many hardships in their existence. They once dwelled in what was formerly known as the Valeia Glades but now known as the Wailing Mires. However, once the Dwarves unearthed the Black Tombs, the Orc and Goblin hordes spilled over and into the Valeia Glades. Despite the Elves military prowess, no strategy or tactics were resilient enough to withstand the sheer number of Green Skin warbands. The Elves fled south to the Old Elf Lands. It was in this retreat the Elves joined their efforts with the Dwarves in attempting to quell the Orc and Goblin hordes. After centuries of warring against the Green Skins, the hope of reclaiming their homeland seemed impossible.

The Great Elven Diaspora

Sensing a great disturbance in the world, the Elves abandoned their fight against the Orcs and Goblins, leaving the Dwarves to fend for themselves. The Kingdom of Môr’Gahldôr, a small kingdom of Men known for their inherent magical prowess, in the lust of power caused what is now known as the Obsidian Tempest. The Elves, sensing the drastic misuse of magic, sought to right the wrong and migrated toward the source of magical power.
Upon the events of the Obsidian Tempest occurring, the Elves moved from the Old Elf Lands through the Forgotten Sea, up through the Whiskycreek River through the Halfling Acreages, throughout the rivers of Númenas onto what was once an island inhabited by Jøtun. This migration took several years and amplified the already heavy influence the Elves had upon the Kingdom of Men, increasing the population of Half-Elves drastically. It was this influence that likely helped sway the Kingdoms of Men to grow in favor toward the Elves.

The Loss of their Ancestral Lands

The Elves shared a spiritual connection with the lands in which they dwelled. Being forced so far away and the Green Skin's destruction of their glades forced upon the Elves mortality. These once timeless must now face the grim realities of and endless sleep opposed to an eternal life. While still living far longer than any of the other races of Vóreios, the Elves have grown morose in learning to accept death as an inevitability.
However, despite having to face the perils of death, the Elves have committed themselves to aiding the Kingdoms of Men in driving the forces of Gahldôrrim of the face of Vóreios. The Elves have spared what regiments they can to assisting the Númarians in protecting their lands from the Gahldôrrim and preparing themselves a strategy in reclaiming the lands of the lost kingdom of Dúmenore. While this battle has been hard fought, the Elves and Men remain ever hopeful of a future free of Gahldôrrim incursion, and the Elves safely returning to their homelands.

New Elf Land Conflict

When the Elves came upon the island that would be their new home, they found several Jøtun settlements occupying it. The Elves claim the Jøtun demanded the Elves leave the island or face open war. The Elves refused and instead offered to share the land in peace. The Jøtun attacked and the Elves swiftly dealt with their transgression. When the Jøtun brought this conflict to the attention to the Kingdoms of Men, the Men sided with the Elves, believing the Elves claim of offering peace and the Jøtun resolving to war.
This ultimately lead to the Jøtun declaring open war on the Elves and Kingdom of Númenas. This war has resulted in centuries of Jøtun Vikingr raids on the northern lands of Númenas and New Elf Lands.

The Elven Interpretation of Half-Elves

The same level of esteem and respect the Humans shared for Half-Elves could not be said amongst the Elves. While not viewed disfavor by the Elves, Half-Elves were considered unruly and unaligned with traditional Elven values. This coupled with their shorter lifespan meant Half-Elves simply did not live long enough to gain esteem or climb the rankings of Elven nobility.
All the same, while the Elves have heightened their admittance policy to the Emerald Flame Magi's College in Thaëlhævn to non-Elves, those of Elven descent are still allowed free and open admission. While this decision has caused some disturbance amongst the academic community, the Elves insist their methods of studying are far to time consuming and rigorous for non-elves to complete; claiming that by the time a Human or Dwarf were to be half way through their studies, the Human would be long since dead and the Dwarf on its doorsteps. If the cost were not so great to teach one in the magical arts of the Elves they would keep their doors open. However, with the Elven population dwindling and mortality a newly ordained Elven fate, they must keep seats available to ensure their own kind are allowed to learn their ways before they perish.