Eldumae

1. The eldumae are an arboreal species that are Foris' version of elves. Their main feature includes their symbiotic relationship with the verdalroot trees - tall waterlogged trees that resemble a merger of eucalyptus, mangrove and red wood. They have nutrient rich liquid filled pods that sprout along their trunks where the eldumae lay their eggs. This results in eldumae having a bark-like growth on their torso known as a breastplate. As eldumae mature, the breastplate hardens and cultural patterns are carved into them, like tattoos or scarification.

There are three races of eldumae (I haven't fully fleshed out their names yet) - depending on what region of Selenae they hail from. One race is from deep within the verdalroot woods - their breastplate is a little more porous but not spongy, and allows them to better use a version of photosynthesis to assist in breathing. Second race live in harsher, drier climates. Their skin is slightly brighter but their breastplate is tough, occasionally sprouting small thorns. The final race live in the murkier swamplands of Selenae and have a mycelial breastplate that is spongy like a fungus.

All eldumae are tall, slender, with black eyes and dark skin with natural yellow markings. They often have shades of auburn and brown hair. Their ears are pointed like other elves but not as pronounced. They also have tails to help them swim and climb. Though not fully aquatic, they are powerful swimmers, due to their home world being largely waterlogged forests or swampland, with occasional dry lands.

2. Speaking of their home world, Selenae is the second moon of Foris. Ignis is tidally locked, Zelver is dark grey and so is barely seen, where as Selenae has a more typical moon orbit around Foris. Selenae itself hosts different flora and fauna. The eldumae build houses in and amongst the their symbiotically connected verdalroot trees. Their cities surround specifically and commemoratively planted Eldrenthir trees (a larger subspecies of verdalroot). Their architecture comprised of intricately woven huts which more resembled grand halls, with stretching castle-like spires.

3. Their societal structure is a combination of tribal kingdoms, like that of early britain - where several kings and queens rule their own lands. However, all eldumae do come under a singular rule of a rotational High King or High Queen, depending on the three seasons on Selenae. When Selenae goes into a new season (Winter, Summer, Spring), the royal families change who becomes the High Monarch. The build up to a new high monarch can be challenging and fraught with political strife, however, once appointed, a high monarch may rule and lead council over the other kings and queens.

4. As previously stated, eldumae have a literal symbiotic relationship with nature. They have a deep understanding of how to use nature to their benefit, without a cost to nature itself. Eldumae are powerful druids and rangers, possessing nature based magic.

5. When the eldumae first went through the rift that linked Selenae with the planet Foris below, the eldumae became part of the Original Kin - the first sentient species that came to inhabit Foris. However their settlements on Foris were quite small and loose, having to return to Selenae to breed due to verdalroot trees struggling to grow to the same health and size on Foris as they did on Selenae. Due to this, the other species often saw them as half in and half out.

However, eldumae made great advisors and rangers. They often sought peaceful solutions but were not to be underestimated. That being said, they famously were the one species that were most heavily targeted during the scorchborne assault, nearly being wiped out altogether: escaping their home moon Selenae.

6. The eldumae have an intriguing beginning and end to their history. They are descendants of an alien species called sylvanae who are true elves and the ancestor species of all elves across the universe. Selenae was hit with a sylvanae ark - an unmanned spacecraft carrying advanced technology and sylvanae genetic material. Designed to seek out early life and genetically modify it with sylvanae DNA, this ark found a primitive salamander-like creature. From this came the eldumae people.

In the middle of their history, the eldumae were almost wiped out when the scorchborne attacked - seeking conquest. While many eldumae perished, some escaped to the surface of Foris.

Before they discovered the remains of the ark and the real origins of their species, much of their myths came from folklore. They believed the waters of Selenae came from the first Eldrenthir tree, hence why they keep a seed from each Eldrenthir tree at the centre of their cities to plant when the previous Eldrenthir perished or a new city is established.

7. Since they live on a moon, they see the planet Foris and the other two moons in their night sky. They don’t consider their homeworld as a moon and only took the moniker of “moon elves” when they joined the original kin.

8. The scorchborne attacks. And later during the time of the Red Most, their numbers were so few that the rich and wealthy would “own” one and show it off as others may show off a tiger or famed statue.

9. Traditions of eldumae include: a coming of age celebration when their breastplate becomes hard enough to chisel in significant runes and designs based on family, tribe or feats of skill or strength. Eldumae art often has aquatic themes ; although they are arboreal, they evolved from aquatic animals and are still very strong swimmers, given that much of the forests they live in are waterlogged.

Their architecture mirrors nature as they use adaptive foliage and flora to grow into or around their homes.

10. in book 2, a prequel, the story follows Merlin Curry: an eldumae bastard prince (half human). The story revolves around the attack of the scorchborne. Merlin survives and becomes a powerful sorcerer.