Elves

### Description

Tall, immortal beings with golden skin and an inherent connection to the Dominion of Light.

The Elves, or Sylvari, as they are properly known, are a race of immortal beings who originate from the realm of Alfheim. The first of their race were birthed from the Light of Alfheim, (also known simply as "the Light"), the sacred gift bestowed by Ra unto his brother Ouranos, to commemorate his supremacy over all Creation. As such, all Sylvari are inherently skilled in wielding the Dominion of Light.

## Appearance

The Sylvari are without exception ethereally beautiful creatures, capable of transfixing most mortals with their unearthly beauty. The majority of them stand at the average height of around seven feet, with lithe, fluid forms that move with hypnotic grace and dazzling poise. Their coloring marks them as inhuman, for their skin tones include gold and silver and starlight-white. A faint glow always emanates from their flesh, though it is especially visible in the darkness. The eyes of a Sylvar come in some colors familiar to mortals, such as shades of blue or green, but also in gold, purple, silver, amber and white. Always, their eyes shine with an inhuman glow. The hair of a Sylvar is a thing of wondrous beauty as well, coming in colors such as black, red, white, silver and gold, and always reflecting any light that strikes it. Curiously, their most mundane feature is also the most well known: their tips of their ears, rather than being rounded, taper to slight points.

## Traits

### Life Cycle

Pureborn Sylvari are a rarity, and for good reason. In order for a male elf to successfully impregnate a female of the species, the pair must successfully mate together twice a day, once at dawn, and once at dusk, with the unobstructed light of the sun, stars, or moon upon them, for a period of twelve consecutive years. On the first dawn of the thirteenth year, the mother will become pregnant, and so long as she is kept under uninterrupted exposure to the light of the sun. If these conditions are met, she will give birth as the sun sets and the moon rises, and the child will be born as the stars come out.

If there is any deviation from the necessary conditions, such as a missed mating session, or the mother being obscured by a patch of shade. the attempt at conception will fail. Should such an obfuscation occur during the pregnancy, the mother will miscarry.

Once a child is successfully born, it will mature at a rate identical to that of a mortal child. It is this fact, combined with the tremendous trial required for the conception of a Sylvar, that children are utterly hallowed and exalted within Sylvari society. Two decades, after all, is nothing to an immortal, a blink of an eye.

### Souls

Upon their death, the soul of a Sylvar will be drawn back from whence it came: the Light. There it remains, and can be summoned forth and communed with through the proper use of sorcery.

### Sustenance

Sylvari do not require physical nourishment as most other creatures do. Instead, they require exposure to light in order to maintain their strength, though they can partake of food and drink for the purposes of pleasure. If kept confined within darkness for a month of more, a Sylvar will begin to weaken, grow depressed and weary, and eventually, die.