High Elves

*"Wizards are very common among the high elves, both men and women find the practice suits their talents. Some consider the high elves to be the most intelligent peoples in Arborea. While the dwarves craft the most powerful magic items, the high elves practice the most powerful arcane arts. -Lauchlan Nobleheart of the Frostshield Archive from his book Realms of Convergence*

## **Appearance**

High elves commonly have a golden brown skin tone. They are known for their amber or jade eyes. They tend to have white hair and very long ears. They are less powerfully built and shorter than their cousins the Wood Elves. High Elves are considered a beautiful people.

## **Culture and customs**

High Elven culture centers around magic and the wizards who practice it. All High Elves are gifted magically, and most desire a position within the Croth Mam Wizard Towers. Intelligence is the most valued trait among the High Elves and anyone lacking an education is considered unfortunate. A number of crafts are valued other than wizardry however, a number of great smiths who use their magic in their creations originate from Croth Mam.

### **Governance**

The most powerful and knowledgeable wizards make up the Croth Mam Council. What system of voting or ordinance they have is mysterious to outsiders.

### **Faith**

Cemtrix is the focus of High Elf worship. Through Her it is believed the talent of wizardry can be deepened and knowledge of the arcane expanded.

### **Economy**

Croth Mam is the largest producer of alchemical potions and magic scrolls. It is the center of arcane understanding and research in Convergence. While knowledge of this sort is not a bulk good the masses are eager to buy it is an extremely expensive and sought after resource by magic users and really anyone wealthy enough to purchase these benefits.

### **Language**

Elven is the naive tongue for High Elves of course and Aquan is spoken by many due to the proximity to The Blue Forest and the huge fresh water lakes of Croth Mam.

### **Culinary customs**

Croth Mam is perhaps the greatest culinary culture in the world. Their Wood Elf neighbors are often awe struck by the range of flavors and aromas available. Fresh water fish is a popular staple, cooked with fresh herbs and vegetables. The farms of Croth Mam are nothing like those of the Kingdom, a diverse number of plants are grown in close proximity and generally near a light number of trees. While this is less industrious a method than the Kingdom it is said to produce better food, and to be kinder to the forest the High Elves worship as the home of their ancestor's spirits.

High Elves prefer dishes that are not overly sweet or spicy, with the intent of highlighting the food's quality and freshness, and the dish's complex harmony.

### **Structures**

Many say Croth Mam's buildings are the most beautiful in the world. Before the Great War even started it was a glorious, magically constructed place with heavy Feywild influence, hidden away from the world. It, like most things, was destroyed in the war, but has been rebuilt by the high elf geomancers. It exists as a perfect balance between civilization and nature having many trees, plants, pools, and natural rock integrated into its planning without the discomforts of life in the wilderness.

The High Elves enjoy wonderful views, clear warm pools, and irrigated water ways through the city provide clean, beautiful streams channeled in brilliant white stone.

### **Settlements**

Croth Mam is both a massive lake, region, and city. The city is of course only a tiny portion of that region, on that lake, numbering around ~20,000 people. It is the home of the Croth Mam Wizard Towers and the Grand Temple of Cemtrix. A religious and arcane center of the world, Croth Mam is truly unique.

### **Marriage, sexual relations, and childbirth**

High Elf culture holds that one should consider the children to be produced in a parring. Regardless of attraction or other compatibilities men and women are encouraged to mate with the most accomplished wizard they can find. This very... pragmatic approach to child bearing does seem to produce more and more gifted individuals, but also creates a number of jealous, unhappy, and frustrated men as all women seem to want the same man. Many High Elf men are leaving Croth Mam for communities that will appreciate them and have women available for marriage and starting a family. And many are happy to welcome wizards of even modest gifts into their family, though few have the luxury of Croth Mam.

Otherwise the sex of a High Elf is insignificant next to the power of their wizardry.

### **Death**

High Elves often have beautiful, heartbreaking funeral ceremonies full of music, poetry and tears. The honored dead is carried out of the city into the forest to be laid near a heart tree so that they may join their ancestors in the spiritual collective of the Forests of Return.

### **Military**

While the High Elves are certainly not known for their martial prowess it is utter ignorance to underestimate their wizard's abilities to incinerate entire armies in a moment. And while the wizards have an almost god like reputation the finesse fighting style of their soldiers and scouts is more than deadly. Some combine magic and martial ability to devastating effects.

### **Other beliefs and superstitions**

Having a precise understanding of the supernatural means there is little room for superstition among the High Elves. None the less the mind clings to unobtainable certainty in the face of fear. Many believe it is unlucky to practice magic under a full moon. Some worry that their magic will be wild, call forth evil creatures, or even sterilize their magic forever.