High Elf

High elves built the old elven cities which now stand abandoned or were given up to other races as they moved through. They are more given to intellect than other elves, believing in the superiority of magic than most. They practice the oldest elven arts, but hide from the eyes of younger, shorter lived races in their isolated settlements. Once inhabiting mountains, many high elves have now settled in meadows and forests.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Like most elves, high elves suffer from low fertility rates, more so than even other elves. Vuria's high elf population has reached a negative population growth for some time now, leading to a fear among the racial purists that their race may be dying off.

Additional Information

Social Structure

High Elves have a caste system that has carried over from long lost Selna Dorei. Women hold the highest leadership positions in high elf communities and family lines are traced matrilineally. Beneath her are landowning lords and barons who the warrior caste beneath them (professional soldiers such as samurai and arcane archers) swear loyalty to. The peasantry (farmers, fishermen, hunters, etc.) are often tied to the lord's/baron's lands they work. Finally, at the bottom are the merchants, artisans, and craftsmen, viewed as the lowest caste for making a living off of what others have produced as well as their likelihood of having to interact with those of other races.
The high elves of the Zhathair Isles have almost completely abandoned this way of life however, only carrying on the matriarchal and matrilineal traditions of their ancestors. More traditionalist high elves from other regions of Vuria look down upon the Zhatharian high elves as being "too humanized."

Facial characteristics

The high elves of Vuria typically have silvery or pale golden hair, with darker colors such as raven black, blue, or violet being uncommon. Their eye colors are typically gold or violet.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Following the fall of Selna Dorei, the high elves spread out far and wide across Vuria. Many found their way to Northern Lamera, Ballardan, and the Zhathair Isles (although most other high elves would look down upon the Zhathairian elves for being "too humanized."

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

• Male names: Aithne, Narrek, Takaris, Wilsaron, Kaeros
• Female names: Baltana, Alachia, Dallia, Eliana, Melara
• Clan names: Navarim, Messias, Beldroth, Kaelis, Salmullor

Major Language Groups and Dialects

High elves speak Trade Common and Elvish.

Common Dress Code

High elves traditionally wear complex gowns and flowing robes, favoring clothes the color of pure driven snow, the noon day sun, silver and gold, with accessories of polished leather, and contrasting colors and jewels. Their cloaks are often deep blue or purple. For battle high elves favor plate or chainmail, with winged helmets.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The high elven qualities of haughtiness and patience often both demonstrate themselves in sun elf art. High elven architecture, while undeniably beautiful in most cases, is often flashier than what other elves commonly build, a quality in part due to the fact that high elves accept nothing short of perfection, working tirelessly in their art to constantly raise the aesthetic bar. High elf art, poetry, music — all of these demonstrate a regal attitude that had come to be closely associate with high elven sensibilities.
They are exceptionally skilled crafters of magic items, especially scrolls and tomes. Massive libraries are common in high elf communities and nearly all high elves have access to a private store of knowledge and no self-respecting sun elf lacked the capacity to read or write.

History

High elves perhaps of all of the elves, draw the most from the fallen civilization of Selna Dorei and many of their old cities in the mountains across Vuria remain abandoned or reclaimed by the other races. In the years following the Rains of Destruction, many high elves found themselves reluctantly dependent upon the "lesser" races for survival while others hid from the world in isolated and remote settlements.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Elf

Origin/Ancestry

Fey

Lifespan

650 - 750 years

Average Height

6' - 6' 5"

Average Weight

130 lbs - 170 lbs

Geographic Distribution

• Northern Lamera
• Southern Lamera
• Zhathair Isles