Eladrin

## Description:

Eladrin, also called Fae Elves, are a subrace of Elves that chose to flee to the Faewild rather than remain in the Material Realm upon their loss of dominance at the hands of mankind. These Elves would slowly mutate thanks to their time spent in the Faewild, becoming powerfully magical and unstable in the process. Eladrin's appearances change according to their mood, with certain moods corresponding to one (1) of the four (4) Seasons; these changes could be very rapid in some Eladrin and very slow in others, while some never changed at all. Eladrin prefer to live in areas abundant with life, like forests or jungles, but are primarily found in places of high Fae activity, like the Fairy Kingdom of Ireland or the Froderlands. Eladrin commonly stand at the same height and weight range as other Elves, usually taller but lighter than an average human man. Eladrin were not well-attuned to outright combat, but instead are exceptionally agile.

Eladrin physical features could change according to their mood, with everything except height and weight shifting with their feelings. Eladrin eyes could be blue, white, gold, orange, red, brown, gray, or black depending on mood; their hair could be white, bluish, blonde, orange, red, brown, gray, or black; their skin could be pale, blueish, orange, yellowish, gray, or brown. These features changed with an Eladrin's emotions, which also makes Eladrin susceptible to certain forms of shapeshifting and Illusionary Magic with their mutable forms.

Eladrin are seen as exceptionally beautiful, but also very alien, to most other races, even other Elves. Eladrin are considered unusual among the Elves of the Material Realm, creatures more akin to tall Fairies than actual Elves, and this often leaves people feeling wary, cautious, and untrusting of them. Despite this, their shifting appearances give them a supernatural allure that attracts some types of people and disturbs most others.

Eladrin are not considered conventionally intelligent; like the High Elves, Eladrin are exceptionally stubborn and stuck in their ways, too used to the mannerisms of the Faewild to adjust to life anywhere else. Eladrin refuse to use modern forms of technology, and look down on such inventions as useless detritus to be thrown aside in favor of Magic; Eladrin have the capacity for higher understanding, but instead choose to use their Fae-attuned scheming intellects to pull pranks, devise plots, and carry out schemes according to their current emotions. Eladrin are viewed by other races as silly, annoying, deviously conniving, and impulsive. Eladrin are, unlike other Elves, not at all wise in the ways of the world; their time in the Faewild has left them without an understanding of the world, their minds too consumed with strong emotion and Fairy Magic to allow them to sit and be still or contemplative. Eladrin consider such things as philosophy and self-analysis to be wastes of time meant for the mortals, while they have the luxury of simply enjoying life to the fullest in the Faewild without worrying about a higher purpose. Although Eladrin despise technology, and hate non-Elf races, they compensate for the ignorance with their powerful Magic; Eladrin are very attuned to Magic, and can cast a number of Spells thanks to their supernatural origins.

Eladrin reproduce sexually, but can do so only while in the Faewild. Eladrin have children very rarely, even less often than High Elves, although Eladrin have shorter pregnancy times and higher fertility rates. The rearing methods of Eladrin are unknown, as all Eladrin societies and their children are kept in the Faewild until adulthood, at which point they are free to wander the Realms as they see fit; it is believed that an Eladrin child removed from the Faewild for too long will mutate them into a High Elf instead, a great shame for an Eladrin family. Eladrin have infinite lifespans, like most Elves and all Fairies.

### Personality:

The goal of every Eladrin is to live life however they see fit, following their tumultuous hearts wherever their feelings take them; Eladrin seek to live without attachment, live without shame or guilt, and spend some time getting their payback on humanity and the other intelligent races through pranks and schemes. Eladrin are often seen as immature, emotionally unstable, hedonistic, and dangerous because of this Fae lifestyle they have been accustomed to living.

Eladrin have exceptionally frail temperaments; their time in the Faewild has given them Fairies' love of etiquette and custom, but also given them the anger and emotional instability of the Fae. Slight insults can set an Eladrin off, although they may be intelligent enough not to show it; instead, some Eladrin of the more cunning variety will opt to keep their grudges a secret until they can exact their exaggerated revenge at a later time, while others are more prone to flying into a rage. Eladrin are also known to have very inflated egos, like many Elves, and are considered insufferable to other races for their constant insistence of their own superiority over the others; if this ego is threatened, Eladrin will become disturbed and likely furious, seeking to prove their excellence in either a fair competition or an unfair revenge plot.

Despite the Eladrin's connection to the Fae and their use of Geases, Eladrin hate slavery. Eladrin's personal love of freedom and absolute self-reliance mean that they see the enslavement of anyone to be a grievous offense, even if the slaves are the humans Eladrin so despise. Some Eladrin are known to hold others in a form of indentured servitude, but none are ever officially "enslaved." Because of this, Eladrin often come into conflict with their cousin race, the Sun Elves. Eladrin are often fond of each other, but rarely interact with others of their kind if they are traveling outside of the Faewild. While Eladrin are against slavery, they are not against killing members of other races on sight, humans, Drow, and Fomordrin especially; the Eladrin's long-standing vendetta against mankind on behalf of the Fae makes them quick to anger and slow to forgiveness.

Eladrin are considered the most hedonistic of all the Elves. Eladrin indulge themselves on whatever food, drink, activity, or individual they feel like in that particular moment; Eladrin are seen as slaves to their urges by most other races, shackled to their shifting forms. Eladrin's wanderlust, especially present early in life, prevents many Eladrin from indulging in this hedonistic temptation for some years until they settle down somewhere, most likely in the Faewild. Among Fairies, Eladrin are no different from any of them when it comes to their love of pleasure and joy.

Eladrin may hate members of other races, but they are also relatively trusting of those same groups, save for other Elves, whom Eladrin believe are constantly competing to see which subrace is the best. Eladrin look down on other non-Elf, non-Fae races, and believe them to be too weak and stupid to pose a significant threat to their power; this underestimation gets many of the most troublesome and prank-inclined Eladrin killed. Eladrin also trust one another, although Eladrin rarely group together outside of the Faewild, each individual Eladrin too absorbed in their own personal experience to worry about anyone else.

### Abilities:

Eladrin are physically superior to humans, but not as imposing as High Elves or Wood Elves; Eladrin are closer in comparison to their Sun Elf cousins, as both subraces dislike physical combat in favor of Magic, although Eladrin also prefer pranks to fighting. Eladrin experience heightened, sensitive senses of smell, taste, sight, hearing, and feeling, with some of the senses being particularly heightened when attuned to one Season or another.

Eladrin may lack in physical might when compared to their fellow Elves, but their natural affinity with Magic makes them incredibly powerful. Eladrin obtain affinities with a certain element depending on their Season (fire in summer, ice in winter, necrotic in fall, and healing in spring), but can also step into the Faewild at will, teleporting a short distance in the Material Realm. Their current Season of attunement also changed the Spells they could cast innately; summer focuses on offensive Spells and Pyromancy, Spring focuses on Abjuration, life-giving, tranquility, and peace, Winter focuses on mind-affecting and Cryomancy Spells, and Autumn specializes in Necromancy and decay. Eladrin also put off auras of emotion according to their attuned Season (sadness for winter, anger for summer, joy for spring, and goodwill for autumn) which would slowly make people nearby feel those same emotions; this often meant that most people kept at a distance when interacting with Eladrin.

Eladrin are, like all Fairies, weak to Silver and Cold Iron. Eladrin are also weak to Psionics, and are easily detected by such abilities; Eladrin are also susceptible to mental manipulation through Magic or Psionics, and are considered either very good at or very bad at lying.

### Culture:

Eladrin culture is considerably sparse and difficult to study, according to JPCU scholars, due to its isolation within the Faewild and intense hostility to outsiders; while other Fairies appreciate new guests to manipulate with their well-planned tricks, Eladrin distrust outsiders and are wary of even other visiting Elves. However, it is known that Eladrin culture places a heavy emphasis on personal freedom, emotional fulfillment, and free-spirited joy over everything else; Eladrin within an Eladrin settlement are free to do as they please as long as it does not negatively impact the life of another Eladrin, and many Eladrin are free to take up whatever occupation they want. Religion plays a moderately important role in Eladrin culture, as they believe the fulfillment of their emotions and indulgence in the fruits of the Faewild to be a form of divine interaction.

Eladrin are not partial to any form of government, and are considered to be quite anarchistic and anti-establishment when traveling in the Material Realm. Eladrin see most forms of government as unofficial slavery, which is only barely tolerated; Eladrin will actively fight against groups or nations which propagate slavery.

Eladrin speak Fairy as their first language, and many learn Elven and Common while young.

## Religion:

Eladrin polytheistic religion has a very inwards focus with no interest in converting anyone, as all Eladrin are innately born with a love of the Faewild and therefore a love of their gods. Divine interaction comes in the form of engaging with their emotions, fulfilling their emotions, living freely, and living in the Faewild. For the Eladrin, their Afterlife consists of a belief in Reincarnation, the hope that, if they live lives according to the Fairy code of conduct, they may one day be reborn as full Fairies or even Archfae. The supernatural for Eladrin is all forms of Magic, in and out of the Faewild, with a particular emphasis on Fairy Magic and Nature Magic. Worship comes in the form of great feasts, grand parties, orgies, traveling, etc. Holidays are few and far between, and celebrate important Eladrin primarily.

### Clergy:

Uniquely, Eladrin do not have a form of clergy, as their religion is disorganized. Instead, each Eladrin is tasked with using their emotions as a moral compass to determine when, where, why, and how they should best live their ideal lives as Fairies.

### Cultural Aspects:

Eladrin consider their holy symbols to be those of the Fae, while their holy colors are a pastel blue, deep orange, brown, and a vibrant yellow for each of the four (4) Seasons. Learning for the Eladrin is passed down via oral tradition in stories and music.

Deadly sins for Eladrin are apathy, stagnation, laziness, and slavery, while the highest virtues are expression of emotion, activity, progress, and freedom.

Art is very important to the Eladrin, who wish to surround themselves in as much beauty as possible. Eladrin make all kinds of art themselves, and are known to steal or commission works of great art in other Realms to be brought to their homes in the Faewild. Eladrin are also known for their incredible music, special instruments, and complex musical talents.

Coming of age for an Eladrin is two hundred (200) years old. An Eladrin coming of age is tasked with going out into the other Realms beyond the Faewild and experiencing an adventure, only returning when they feel fulfilled and have a suitable trophy with which to return; these adventures can last centuries, and may not end at all for some Eladrin.

Marriage for Eladrin is optional but very serious. Married Eladrin also obtain a sympathetic link to one another, their emotions connected and shared between them. While many Eladrin choose not to marry, those that do are greatly respected, as the sanctity of marriage is held in high regard; respect for marriage is considered a form of "freeing slavery," a paradoxical concept in Eladrin society. Marriage is, on one hand, a shackle to a particular person, but the power of the love and the shared emotions between the two induce a greater feeling of euphoria than could be achieved alone.

Eladrin treat death as another step on the road to ascension as a Fairy. However, Eladrin are terrified of death outside of the Faewild, as one of the other Elven gods/goddesses may snatch their Soul before it can return to the Faewild and Reincarnate properly; Eladrin also consider Undead to be one of the greatest sins that can be committed against another Eladrin, as it prevents the Soul from moving on. Eladrin may carry special Magic items on their persons that ensure their Souls return to the Faewild properly, to alleviate their fears of being separated from their kin. Eladrin remember some of the most important events from their past life upon completing their coming of age ritual, and can unlock more and more as time goes on.

Eladrin do not attempt to convert outsiders to their beliefs, and refuse to allow outsiders to view their rituals or celebrate their holidays. Eladrin are concerned only with themselves and their personal spiritual journey.