Vythis Elves

## **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.

## Physical Information

### Distinctions

Runic birthmarks glow red, elongated ears, translucent skin

### Vision

Enhanced Darkvision, Low-light vision, Sunlight sensativity

### 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 themselve 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 sponsers. A child may lose the favor of their guardian in which their "ownership" of the child is relinquished and a sponser 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 traditionals 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