Elf

### Eye Color(s)

Emerald, copper, bronze, silver, gold, and purple, plus variations of human eyes.

### Distinctions

Pointed ears
Glowing eyes
Slender and tall physiology

### Average Height

5'7" - 6'7"

Elves are ethereal people who wander the lands of Auldenon with otherworldly grace and allure. They're called to places of beauty, often retreating to lands of great architecture and grand cities with dazzling skylines or the mystical forests that emanate unexplainable music and magic. Elves are highly hedonistic; they adore art, music, magic, food, poetry and creature comforts; but such optimistic vanities often distracts others from the stern side of elves that perceives the world on a broader scale of time and refuses to waiver over threat or obstacle.

## Description

Elves maintain a reputation for timeless beauty and elegantly cut features. If the elements shape humans, Elves are cut from the fabrics in between. They are often taller and thinner than humans, possessing otherworldly qualities such as luminous eyes, pointed ears, or iridescent skin. Elves’ natural skin tones encompass a wider range than their human counterparts, including colors such as copper, bronze, silver, or lavender. Their hair and eyes are much the same; colors such as emerald, silver, gold, or lilac are not uncommon.

Elves often find themselves in curious situations, long battles, and life-altering events throughout their long lives. Elderly elves often have tattoos and body modifications that tell the story of their lives. Though many younger generations have abandoned the narrative intent of body modification, they still partake in the custom, often decorating their ears with piercings or receiving magically-infused tattoos or scarification.

## Personality

Elves are known to possess an insatiable wanderlust, and since they are so long-lived, they are free to enjoy centuries of exploration and pursue ever greater education. By contrast, some may see elves as flighty, drawn to passing passions and moved quickly to intense emotion. As they age, they often develop a broad perspective of events that may trouble shorter-lived races and offer up an aloof or unfazed demeanor in the face of trouble. Despite their generally whimsical nature, elves trust in diplomacy, are slow to make friends, and rarely shy away from calculated vengeance should the need arise.

## Abilities

Elves cannot be charmed by magic thanks to their fae ancestry, giving them an edge on certain illusions or befriending cantrips that their ancestors would have once used for pranks. Due to generations of living underground, the elves earned low-light vision and high dexterity, allowing them to maneuver through the dark forests and shrouded underworld expanses.

Their lithe limbs and height are not conducive to muscle bearing and growth, so elves tend to lack physical strength and don't take to extreme climates particularly well. Elves are also vulnerable to poisons which their metabolization can explain, but many fae have claimed a folktale that it was their trick or punishment they bestowed upon the elves.

## Society

Elves are a long-lived race of humanoids who've taken up diverse societies and governments that have evolved many times over. Elven predecessors were partial to their lordships and sought to keep their favoured hierarchal structures as they developed their first nations. Still, as time passed, the physical distance between each elven sect dissolved the single mindset and allowed for disparate governing bodies to arise.

Today, some elven governments still play predominant roles on Auldenon, wielding ancient authority and presiding over historical nations, while others are lost and overtaken by contemporary powers. In many places, elven society and human society are ultimately blended and have little distinction between one or the other. Meanwhile, other nations such as Alanach and Sumarfold still see elven sovereignty as a norm.

## History

Long ago, elves were people of the underworld. Initially dwelling in deep city caverns and underground forests, their ancestors often warned against the world above. This thought persisted until one day, a small expedition of elves decided to venture toward the surface in spite of their elders' warnings. Exiting the large ancient caves of Leastrune, the first surface-dwelling elves split off into small clans and traversed the continent until they found secluded landscapes to their liking. There they settled, growing accustomed to their new environment and living in harmony with nature as they always had.