Sea Elves

The I´quya, colloquially known as Sea Elves, or Aequandhi in Yirsi'tal, are a semiaquatic seafaring race of elves originating in Eldham, they are known for their nomadic lifestyles and their talent for marine navigation.
==Physical characteristics==
I'quya share many of their primary physical with characteristics with other races of Elves. These traits include a bipedal humanoid body plan, elongated ears, and the longevity of their natural lifespans, which can last of multiple centuries.
More distinctly, the I'quya are known to possess sharp pointed teeth, with their upper teeth possessing serrations for cutting into their prey, and elongated tongues of an obsidian hue. The ears of the race, while elongated and pointy like other elves, are one of the race's most distinct qualities, for they have developed a fin-like a quality and appearance, one of these developments is a set of muscles behind the ears, which allow for far greater ear movements than any other race of elves. In addition to this the I'quya have developed a pair of secondary eardrums for detecting underwater vibrations, sealing their ear canals in the process. They additionally possess an extended lung capacity, being capable of holding their breath underwater for several hours. Their skin is covered in a slimy mucous, similarly to that of frogs, in order to protect it from prolonged exposure to salt water. They are known to possess elongated arms in comparison to those of other humanoids, along webbed upper and lower digits, the latter trait being shared with the Rathniri variant of Hyakki ice elves.
== Origins ==
Archaeological evidence points to the ancestor's of the I'quya arriving, and settling, in Eldham ca. 11,000 years ago, during the Elven Migrations period. Further archaeological evidence points to a schism occurring between the members of this elven group, leading to several members setting sail, eventually becoming the nomadic I'quya. Their bodies having since become uniquely suited for their seafaring lifestyle. With the oldest preserved example of an I'quyan body being estimated to be ca. 8,000 years old.
It is theorised that the members of the elven group, which the I'quya split from, would go on to become the ancestors of the Hyakki race of elves, due to shared genetic markers and the Ratniri variant of the race possessing webbed lower digits, similarly to those of the I'quya.
== Lifestyle ==
Unlike other races of elves, most of the I'quya spend the majority of their lives at sea, never quite staying in the area for long, and normally only ducking ca. once a month. The crew of an I'quyan ship are generally a made up of tight-knit communities, which can number in the hundreds depending on the size of the ship. The crews have a hierarchy similar to that of a family structure, in which every member possesses an important and valued role. Additionally, the I'quya are known to form large fleets, composed of hundreds of I'quyan ships of varying sizes.
Common occupations among the I'quya are merchants, pirates, and fishermen, though they can also be found as woodworkers, architects, and shipwrights.
==History==
===Golden Age===
At some point, a large number of sea elven tribes chose to come together, after generations of having been spread throughout Eldham, to construct the largest city-vessel in their shared history. This ship would come to be called "the Whale Ship". The construction of "the Whale Ship" lasted for over a century, during which time various noble families had begun to spring up. The creation of "the Whale Ship" would finally finish 123 years after it had begun, which many believe had ushered in a golden age of the Sea Elves.
The golden age of the Sea Elves lasted for over a millennium. They dominated the oceanic trading routes of the region and raided with both scale and coordination the likes of which the people of Eldham had never seen before. At the same time, the golden age brought with it a sense of unity and shared culture among the Sea Elves. And with this newfound sense of unity, the Sea Elves created various art pieces, the majority of which were wooden sculptures and songs.
Though eventually, this golden age would end due to the noble families forming factions in a bid for control of "the Whale Ship", this would lead to a civil war that lasted for over a century and eventually culminated in the sinking of the "the Whale Ship". After which, the sea elves again spread out across the waves of Eldham's oceans on their city-vessels.
Category:Elves
Category:Races
Category:Eldham
Category:Lost History
Category:History
Category:Lore
Category:Traveler's Era