Wood Elves

## Basic Information

### Anatomy

Wood Elves are the most humanlike of the elven races. Aside from their pointed ears and lithe forms, they resemble humans with light skin, either with dark or red hair, and green or brown eyes.

### Ecology and Habitats

Wood Elves call the lush woods of Claedwen home. Wood Elves are natural hunters, and are most at home in the trees or grass of meadows, or in areas where there is an abundance of nature in general. While it is not uncommon to see Wood Elves living within city walls, many find themselves more at home in the wilds and rural areas of the world.

## Additional Information

### Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Like other elven races, Wood Elves have heightened senses compared to humans.

## Civilization and Culture

### Naming Traditions

**Male:** Caern, Freadan, Glear **Female:** Tirwe, Gladwyn, Cernona

### Beauty Ideals

Wood Elves prefer slim, athletic builds. They also value bronzed skin, and having a large portion of the body covered in traditional tattoos is a sign of great accomplishment and may be considered attractive.

### Courtship Ideals

Arranged marriage is not very common among the Wood Elves, but it does occur, especially between noble families. The practice of consulting druids to find the right partner occurs in Wood Elven society like it does among Wild Elves, but it is usually more conservative families who participate in this. Many Elves take their partner on a hunt as a common courtship ritual.

### Relationship Ideals

Wood Elves believe that both partner's happiness is most important in a relationship. Relationships with non-elves are typically accepted, although a relationship between a Wood Elf and Jorn may draw persecution due to the racial tension between these peoples. Prostitution, while not socially acceptable, is legal. Incest is illegal. Most "deviant" relationships are accepted, except among more traditional families.

### Major Language Groups and Dialects

Talevan (Wood Elven), Tusali (Snow Elven), Common

### Common Etiquette Rules

Wood Elves are held to be generally kind to most people, with the exception of Jorns, for whom they hold a mutual racist sentiment. They are an amicable people known for their generosity. While respectful, they have little use for the formalities practiced by many other cultures in social interaction. The Wood Elves also do not typically drink, as they are known for not being able to hold their liquor.

### Culture and Cultural Heritage

Wood Elven culture is descended from the same culture practiced by the Wild Elves. Like the Wild Elves, they greatly value the natural world, and some of their cities are not built, but grown from trees and plants. However, unlike the Wild Elves, they do not shun more modern technology and lifestyles. Most large settlements within Claedwen are made from conventional materials like stone and wood. Their architectural style is somewhat similar to that of the Snow Elves, with elegant archways and larger buildings taking the form of spiraling towers.

### Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

The Wood Elves have a custom of tattooing their life's accomplishments in artistic symbols on their bodies. An elf with many accomplishments may be covered from head to toe in a webwork of tattoos. To outsiders, these symbols may seem meaningless, but many wood elves know how to read this unique language. They also have burial practices similar to that of the Wild Elves, in which the deceased is buried and a sapling is planted over the grave as a marker, so that the body can nourish the new life. Wood Elven graveyards take the form of forests rather than a plot of stones.

### Common Myths and Legends

The Wood Elves follow the Deretil Pantheon, but also revere the spirits of the land. They have temples in devotion to their gods, but have no strict organization within the faith.

### Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Out of the Elven races, Wood Elves overall have the best relations with foreign peoples. They are well accepted among both humans, as they generally live among them, and elves, with whom they share kinship. The main nation with which they have conflict is Rokara, as the borders between their two nations have never been well defined, and has led to a great deal of conflict throughout the years. Today, their is a certain degree of racist sentiment between the two peoples.

Genetic Descendants
* Dark Elves
* Wild Elves

Origin/Ancestry
Elven
Lifespan
120 years
Average Height
5'5"-6'
Average Physique
Due to fast metabolism, many Wood Elves are on the thinner side.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Fair skin, often adorned with a webwork of tattoos.

## Magic Culture

Most forms of magic are respected by Wood Elves. The most prevalent magic users are druids, clerics, and magic-wielding rangers. Sorcerers are also common, as are bards. Wizards are fairly common, but the magical academia in Claedwen is not very established, and so most prospective wizards travel to nearby Sutherland or Sapphria for their schooling. Wood Elven paladins often swear oaths to the protection of nature, and may wield druidic or clerical magics. Warlocks, while not illegal, are generally frowned upon and may be persecuted, especially in more rural areas. Necromance is illegal.