Elves

The Elves were the original spellcasters of Ardhia, along with the Shabaq, long before the Manaba had become sapient enough to even learn of the different magic types. Many of the Original archmages of the previous world were elves or the other magically gifted races. The Elves of Adhia are a noble race of differing beings collectively referred to under one name as to the general number of characteristics that they share. While not all elves are the same in action and manner, they all generally share the same notable and identifying features.

## Physical Information

### Eye Colors

White, grey, gold, yellow, blue, pinkish-white, hazel, green, brown

### Haircolors

Black, white, blonde, gold, grey, ginger, brown,

### Skintones

Dark grey, black, cream, dark brown, ember, translucent white, brown, mocha, latte

## **The Ancient Fengari**

The Fengari are the darker counterparts of their other elven kin and are often found deep within jungles or dense wooded areas with a hatred for the outside world and its people, though there have been those to leave their ancient homes in favor of city life.

### Appearance

Fengari have dark grey or black skin with black or silver hair and white or gray eyes, their features are fuller than the average elf with full cheeks and large hooked nose, their lips are typically turned down in a frown at all times except when only accompanied by close companions or family members. Bodies lean and honed to move through the native jungles they live within, the Fengari have always been seen as a formidable, if savage, foe. Distictions of the Fengari elves are their double canines, almost resembling that of a vampire thought to be developed due to their largely meat diet, also their runic birthmarks glow a pale white not bright enough to illuminate their face or the area around them though.

### **Simple But Effective**

The Fengari have one single and dominant rule in their society, “One’s dagger must be faster than thine sword.” a common saying among elder Fengari which expletives the trickery and feinting Fengari use in their fighting.

All Fengari, at the age of 10 being where it begins, train in the art of dual wielding, more specifically, dual wielding a shortsword and a dagger. While they are trained in other weapons like the crossbow, blowdart, and concealed blade. This time of training in the art of what the Fengari lovingly call, Pa’ati Ziso, is known as a childs failing years as many children do not fully grasp the art of Pa’ati Ziso and; in such cases are given the job of a lesser Fengari (like slave, servent, or animal handler).

### **Like Father Like Son**

Fengari have many beings within their camps that are revered as blood-gifted; one who has even but a drop of the divine and holy’s blood; these blood-gifted become the Tribe chiefs, Holymen, and Midwives who perform the most sacred of duty in the name of the tribe. However, there are times when the blood-gifted is a warrior, thus named the Musvani of the tribe; holy warrior of the chief and divine, saint of the tribe and slayer of all those who oppose the tribe’s rule.

### **Fengarian Traditions**

The Fengarians have many traditions from those that are spoken of to those that are simply taught through a child's mimicry of the adult figures in their life. There have been many traditions lost to the ages, these are some that still ring true among many Fengari tribes.

* **Naming of the Child:** The naming day of a child is often a day of celebration for the whole of the Tribe as it means that one more has joined their ranks, though in the case of a failure of the Pa’ati Ziso it is simply acted out as tradition.

The Date of a child's naming day often coincides with one graduation of the Pa’ati Ziso rather than the day they were born, as when one passes the test that is the Pa’ati Ziso it is a defininent marker of a sproutling ready to take a proper place in the tribe. During the naming day the naming ritual occurs at mid-day when the sun is at its peak, the child is blessed by the sacred elven goddess, Luelle, and given his Pa’ati necklace (made using the teeth and bones of their first hunt) it is then that the child stands before the tribe and declares their name, the tribe then chants their name back at them. It has been known that if a child does not like the sound of their name that they may change it however many times it requires before the right one is found, because of this a child will often come prepared with many names to choose from.

### **Fengari Deities**

Deities of the Fengari Elves are the embodiment of their customs and beliefs, it is unknown which truely came first and while the deities are few, the cultural impact and importance of their presence is not something to joke about.

**Tinc:** goddess of silence, darkness, assassinantion, and chaos

**Enelik:** goddess of motherhood, family, honesty, and creativity

**Atalik**: god of fatherhood, parenthood, tradition, compassion, and family

**Mergenci**: god of hunting, animal husbandry, cattle, and archery

**Oumdu**: god of gardening, plants, farming, and milk

## **Guardians of the Sky, Iliako**

The Iliako elves are the second oldest of the elven subtypes, they favor the light of Isati's sacred sun and as such have built magical cities within the clouds were the sacred sun's light could always reach, these elves are also called Solar, Cloud, or Sky elves. When the sun is not present in the sky it was a dark time for the Iliako before they mastered the crafting of the Solar Orbs often called a Little Sun.

### Appearance

The Iliako are lean and light with skin ranging from dark brown to a pale cream, their eyes are often golden, yellow, or blue like the sun or sky that they live within, their hair can be white, blonde, or gold in color. They are more gaunt than their ancient counterparts, with somewhat sallow cheeks and more angular features typically associated with elven folk, the Iliako's birth marks glow a golden-yellow with their ears longer than the other subtypes of elves; their ears are also jagged along the outer cartlege.

### Great Golden Cities

Almost all Iliako live within the magical sky cities crafted by the Iliako with the aid of the elder Diwari, the cities are held high within the sky within the clouds themselves and held aloft by a massive network of magical vines which combine the talents of smithing as well as druidic magic. At the center of each city is what the Iliako call a Solar orb and outsiders call Little Sun, these Solar orbs light the city when the the sun dips beneath the horizon for the night; charged by the suns rays, the Solar orbs almost never run out with only the need of druidic intervention every few months.

The Cities buildings are made purely from quartz, glass, and condensed clouds crafted by Cloudcutters, a subsect of druids within Iliako society. Due to how the city is built with extremely reflective items, it can be difficult for a non Iliako to roam the city freely, which is why foreigners need to wear specialized goggles when in the city.

Part of why Iliako do not venture far from their sky cities is because their vision is specialized for the shear amount of light that reaches the city at all hours of the day, when they go down to the surface their vision is dotted by bright white spots which can take days to disappear and they can not see at all in low-light.

### **The First Iliako**

When the sun first rose in the west, Isati scrapped little flecks of flame with her giant nails, placing them on the surface of the newly formed Damis. These flecks grew wide and long with slender forms and glowing runes, those flecks became the first Iliako. The first Iliako are revered within Iliako society as patrons, they were risen to divinity after their death and several years later by their great-great-great grandchildren.

Brycetti, Kamier, Lyanu, Yero, Qaenme, and Suure were the first six Iliako and were the makers of all subsequent Iliako. Brycetti and Lyanu are the parents of the famed Vulwin, hunter of gods and patron of archers with the rest simply being the parents of the next generation of Iliako.

### **Rise of the Cities**

The sky cities were crafted by the druids of the great sky cities, with their only being 6 they all worked together to get each other into the sky. For years the Iliako worked on their own using their druidic magics in an attempt to raise their cities above the clouds but nothing ever worked, they created a network of vines beneath their cities acting as a support but this would not make it rise in it of itself. The Archdruid, Merith, made a controversial agreement with the nearby Diwari in which they traded the servitude of a number of their druids for the Diwari's help in raising their 6 great cities into the sky. With the aid of the Diwari the rift crystals were created, glowing blue crystals affixed beneath the city within their network of vines. Thus on the 3rd of Asteria in the 100th year the six cities rose into the sky where they would remain to this day.

### **Iliako Traditions**

**Waking with the Sun:** At the time of a days sunrise an Iliako will step outside be it on their porch, balcony, or what have you, and meditate for 2 hours initially starting in a chilled morning and ending in the warm gaze of the sun. It is seen as bad luck to miss the rising of the sun with many going out of their way to avoid it.

**Lighting of Little Sun:** Wherever you may be, you will see each Iliako gaze out the window, perhaps even a croud gathered around the dim Solar Orb atop the central tower wherein the Lightener lives. At the beginning of the sun's setting the Lightener places their hand along the smooth surface of the Solar Orb and utters the Sunlight incantation, lighting the orb for the days night.

### **Iliako Deities**

Iliako deities are often found within the main pantheon unlike Fengari deities which are lesser known patrons or demigods within the pantheon. However, there are some demigods which are only known of among the Iliako due to them exclusively existing on the six cities.

**Gyan Mastelli** - goddess of knowledge, information, documentation, and intimacy.

**Eiliamben** - demi-goddess of the sky, rainbows, wind, and clouds.

**Sylvyre** - demi-god of rain, snow, and wind.

**Castien** - demi-god of cities, wealth, and indulgence.

## **Elves of the Deep, Vythis**

Vythis are the cousins of the ancient Fengari, they live beneath the earth within cave cities connected together through various tunnels and caves formed during the Chaos age when Tunnel worms were plenty and Vythis were few. These connected tunnels and caves are known as the Expanse to the Vythis and other races that live within them but are known as Ziiluna with the Vythis calling the surface world Zertorik.

### Appearace

The Vythis are often regarded as the most unique looking of the elven subtypes with pale translucent skin, pinkish-white eyes, and white or black hair they are certainly somthing different from your above-ground races. They have gaunt and angular features resembling a freshly fallen corpse more often than not with dark circles under their eyes and sallow cheeks that make it appear as if they haven't eaten in days even if one eats more than their fill regularly the Vythis stay looking roughly in the same sallow state. Their birthmarks glow a pale reddish-pink which is about the only distinction the Vythis have from their upper-ground counterparts besides their distinctly Ziiluna characteristics.

### **Quiet as a Mouse**

In Vythis society your worth is placed upon your strength and skill, there is no room for weakness in Ziiluna with danger around every corner each Vythis must have their skills honed to perfection. Every child is trained in climbing, stealth, hand-to-hand combat, and swordfighting with children of noble houses going on to learn more intellect based skills. While there are a multitude of skills taught to a young Vythis, stealth is often put far above the others as in the world of Ziiluna one must be able to sneak past a multitude of enemies as there are simply too many dangers for one to fight in one day.

### **The Dark Cities**

Cities within Ziiluna are few and far between, you can often find yourself simply stumbling upon one during exploration of Ziiluna which still largely remains unmapped. The most well known cities which have their main paths roughly mapped out are: Lorn, The Sunken City; Mekphala, City of Stars; and Mekkurva, City of Ashes where the eternal fires burn. Within Ziiluna there are many paths that can take you stumbling into a city or could take you stumbling into a den of Slick spiders, without even realizing.

Each city is lit by a beacon of magical purple light which acts as a much dimmer sun from which different plants may grow and animals may thrive, this beacon is often called the Everlight, or Lavender sun depending on whom you may ask. This purple orb of sorts hangs vaguely in the center of the city growing dimmer throughout the day to indicate the passage of time on the surface until finally, it goes dark, wherein is must be lit by the Lavender Mages who tend to the Lavender sun.

### Vythis Traditions

There are not many traditions upkept throughout all of the Vythis society, though the traditions that exist have existed for several thousands of years, spanning across generations of Vythis and binding the community closer together.

**Days Pass:** In which the Lavender sun dims completely and for but a few seconds the entirety of the city is left in darkness then the Lavender mages stand before the dimmed sun and relight it indicating the beginning of a new day.

**The Proving:** As a child, all Vythis are presumed to be doomed for a life of squalor by their parents as a child is cared for only until their 14th birthday wherein they must prove themselves to their guardian. This event is called the Proving held every 100th day or every 3-4 months, the Proving is viewed by the guardians of each participating child, city goers, and sponsors. A child may lose the favor of their guardian in which their "ownership" of the child is relinquished and a sponsor may choose to take ownership of that child, children that are unwanted often must forge a life of their own in which they work jobs no one else wants to and live in squalor.

### Vythis Deities

Vythis deities are typically some of the more cruel and sadistic of the deities as a reflection of the society the Vythis have formed, however, there are Vythis deities who are "good" in the traditional sense, though they are often looked down on by their fellow Vythis deities and even the mortal Vythis.

**Vonarioth Aribir** - god of seduction, murder, blood, and envy

**Maur** - deity of darkness, silence, destruction, and chaos

**Tiaavia Iddare** - goddess of kindness, peace, and unity

**Dreiten Anvalsa** - god of war, suffering, and battles

**Ilkash Gylseelris** - god of trickery, stealth, assassins, and stealing

## Of the Forest, Daiso

The Daiso are the bastard cousins of the Fengari as they live within similar forest however, are much less old, much less fierce, and a lot more open to communitcation with outsiders. Daiso are often described as nomatic, traveling from one forest to another in order to not sap the local flora and fauna of life they find this to be a most effective way of living off the land without stripping it down as many civilizations had once done.

### Appearance

The Daiso are much stronger looking in appearance than their other subtypes with skin ranging from a dark brown to a light mocha color, hair in a number of colors equal to the humans, and eyes with just as much diversity. Their birthmarks glow a pale green and their eyes are more angular than the other subtypes.

### Our Brother's and Sister's

Daiso are broken up into about 5 core clans which travel along the same beaten path in cycle with the seasons. The Miyuru Clan resides nearby Cymai during the summer season when wild strawberries and grapes are abundant but leave to the southern forest of Jumige, whereas the Ipo clan does the exact opposite. The 5 core clans are: Miyuru, Ipo, Ayruyu, Ige, Liuus, and Ryjuksume, these 5 clans are the largest and most notable of the Daiso clans which interact with one another and cities neighboring their residence at the time. There are many other smaller and less notable clans like the Stuma and Cyube who are fewer in numbers and influence.

### Masters of the Bow and Spear

Daiso children are trained from the age of 7 to 15 in the ways of surviving in the wilds of Ardhia, part of this is the childs training with the bow and arrow and the spear which they will continue to use throughout their life in battles, while hunting, and for other such activities. Even at the end of their training the child is not considered a true master until they complete the Shulking where they are tried in their most necessary skills: stealth, spear combat, bow and arrow mastery, and agility/climbing.

### Daiso Traditions

**The Shulking** - occurs after a childs mentor, parent, or chief believes that they are prepared to be elevated to being a true master and warrior of their clan. The chief of the clan and the mentor of their respective child observes as they are tasked with various objects in order to test their different skills, after the child is finish, the chief of the clan and the childs mentor discuss if they believe the child should become a true warrior of the clan, if they decided yes then the Naming takes place, if they decide no the child remains an apprentice of the clan until the next time they are tested.

**The Naming** - this tradition can occur after a warrior completes the Shulking or after an apprentice proves their abilities in some other way, be it in a battle or some other way. The naming occurs on the night of when the child has proved their abilities is takes place before the whole of the clan, the chief of the clan describes the warriors deeds then recites this with their hand on the warriors shoulder: "Do you, a child of the (insert clan name) vow to put the clan before yourself, to protect the clan even at the cost of your life, and serve the clan until your final breath.", the warrior then bows their head and answers, "I (insert name) vow to put the clan before myself, to protect the clan even at the cost of my life, and serve the clan until my final breath." the warrior is then marked by the clan's shaman in the pattern representing them (ex. bear = strong, wolf = intelligent, owl = wise, etc.) and the Chief gives them their given name (ex. Kahji the brave, Olpo the silent, Ivera the slayer of dragons, etc.)

**Clan's Greetings** - once every 7 months the 5 main clans gather outside the city of Cymai, other clans are encouraged to join however, during this time the clans share information, food, drink, and activities; this event is also the place many Daiso will meet their partners with whomever in the relationship that has the lower standing changing tribe.

**The Golden Hunt/The Preparation** (Ipo, Inge, and Liuus)- occurring at summers end when the air begins to crispen the clans hunters are sent in the forest where they spend the entire day hunting with each allowed 5 small critters and 1 large. At sunset, the clan gathers at the Bonfire where the elder cooks of the clan prepare the feast in celebration of the changing seasons. The next day the clan begin their trek to their winter forest, with their bellies full, they needn't stop to hunt until they get to their destination with most surviving the trip off of dried meats, berries, and nuts.

### Daiso Deities

**Kerean** - god of the hunt, beasts, and archery

**Claavia** - goddess of maturity, parenthood, birth, and agriculture

**Coren** - god of agility, speed, and dexterity