Elves

Elves are a race of beings who are not indigenous to Ylos, having originated from the Fey Wild.

 Description

Tall, lithe, and beautiful, with an unearthly grace that belies the race's longevity, elves are arguable the oldest and most cultured humanoid race; a fact which they often remind their uncouth youngers.

Elves are universally tall, ranging between five and a half and six and a half feet in height.

Traditionally, elves do not cut their hair, but instead wear it in long, decorated braids. As such, young elves often sport the wild or exotic hairstyles of other races as a form of rebellion against their stodgy elders. The elders, to their credit, feign exasperation while keenly remembering when they did the same acts of performative defiance.

The eyes are wide and beautiful, the colors vibrant natural shades of blues, greens, and autumnal browns, and are set beneath sharp, arching eyebrows that jut slightly out from the side of the skull.

Elves achieve physical maturity between age fifty and ninety, with most undergoing their people's trials and naming ceremonies by the time they reach one hundred and twenty. Elves age incredibly slowly in appearance, with venerable elders appearing no older than a human of forty, but perceptive individuals can see the age in the precise, perfected movements of ancient elves, hear it in the wisdom and melancholy of their voices, or feel the weight of years behind their eyes. Most elves live between seven and eight hundred years, but is not unheard of for an elf to live to see their thousandth birthday.

## History

[Kelly will fill this in more later]

Elven culture is long and storied, and they love to talk about it.

### Arrival on Ylos

The elves were fashioned in the image of the Traelion, god of starlight and secrets, who created from stardust nigh-eternal beings of light and darkness. They ruled the ever-shifting lands of the Fey Wild for thousands of years, but their god hungered for the secrets found in the material plane. He set his children on a grand crusade: to conquest the prime realm and bend it to his will so that it could be drained of every secret, drop of magic, and bit of value, and added to his glory.

What followed were hundreds of years of subtle machinations that devolved into total war.. The elves crossed into the material world through their massive siege engines known as the Moon Towers—city-sized spires that bored between the dimensions like gigantic drills. Their conquest swept across Ylos, encountering little resistance from the native people of Ylos. Their victory would have been assured had they not encountered the free dwarven nations, who had only recently escaped the hold of the Coldheart Dwarves. The elves were fought to a standstill by an alliance between the dwarves, dragonborn of Draconia, and a hodgepodge of other races. The dwarves and elves, with their low birthrates, would have fought each other to extinction without the intervention of a halfling diplomat named Yazira Underbeam, who convinced them into a tense truce. The two races have held an enmity toward each other ever since.

### Modern Days

However,

The conflicts between the nations were so vicious that even now, five thousand years after the formation of the Tetrarchy, prejudices can still arise.

## Culture

### Religion

Elves primarily worship of the Shasa, or the Three Goddesses, Vaella, Sof, and Nyrn, though it is not uncommon to see elves in cults of Caz, Cazemiria, or Bitris.

### Society

Elves are a highly structured society, with their power divided evenly among four nations with a collective form of rotating government based on the notion of a tetrarchy, or rule of four. The **Elven Tetrarchy**, as it is known, is a council of sovereign majesties, whose chief position rotates with the season.

The last council of Tetrarchs were:

* The Tetarach of Spring: Jhiris of Nea Xiriko
* The Tetarach of Summer: Eh'lidor Tal'Dinaris
* The Tetarach of Autumn: Althea Liadon
* The Tetarach of Winter: Nimhlewe Yharuden

However, this council met its end in an attack by the Great Red Wyrm, Garlyeon, which has since become known as the Night of Fire. The whole of the council and all assembled elves were incinerated by the dragon in the Star Chamber of Aesabek. Following the Night of Fire, the head of the elven security forces, an Alsfara named Telthaen Mirakael enacted an ancient right and claimed the role of Ar'dus, or First Among the People. With this dictatorial role, Mirakael could lead a united elven nation and safeguard it against future attacks. Though this role was designed to be temporary, the Ar'dus' reign continues to this day.

While the elven races often share physical characteristics, it is not at all unheard of for a Drow to be raised by High Elves, or vice versa, and within elf society such a person would be regarded as belonging to the nation to which they identify. However, once this choice is made, it is quite difficult, and often taboo, to change one's mind.

## The Elven Clans

**The Light Elves**, also known as the High Elves or Alsfara, are creatures of ageless beauty. Their value is ***Harmony At Any Cost.***

The Alsfara are physically peerless and possess flawless completions and hair, though their coloration can vary across similar a spectrum to humans. During the invasion of Ylos, the Alsfara claim that they were the elf god **Traelion's** chosen generals and strategists. However, others have speculated that a fifth, forgotten clan of elves served this role, and that the Alsfara were merely their lieutenants and heralds. Regardless, the Alsfara grew arrogant from their position of safety and authority and focused their energies on the creation of a grand empire across Ylos. In the pursuit of this, they conquered numerous peoples, including the orcs, and even bound dragons to their service through the creation of **control brands**—marks that allowed a spellcaster to control the mind and body of anyone who bore such a mark.

The *Alsfara* believe that they embody the virtues and history of the ancient elves. Because of this, they hold the pursuit of personal perfection as the most admirable goal. Despite being the most stationary of the elven nations, the Alsfara often feel uncomfortable living among the shorter lived races.

Their ruling season is **summer** and they primarily focus on worship of the goddess **Vaella**.

**The Dark Elves**, also known as the Dokkala, or Drow, are a race of elves that exist in the dark places of the world, with most dwelling underground or in badlands. Their value is ***Freedom Through Submission.***

During the initial invasion of Ylos, the Drow were charged with the conquest of the Underdark. However, they almost immediately came into contact with the duergar, demons, and mind flayers. Unable to call for reinforcements or escape due to the the strange properties of the Underdark of Ylos, they instead adapted their strategies. When the war against the dwarves raged aboveground, the drow avoided the conflict altogether and were seen as traitors by the Alsfara. The two clans became bitter enemies until the formation of the Tetrarchy.

Drow have ashen complexions which range from white to deep purple and hair that ranges from white to black, but rarely shades in between.

While not evil, Drow would not have survived without brutal and deadly cunning. Their society encourages domination through intelligence, wit, and force of personality. Martial strength is respected, but nothing is given greater respect than a person's will. The Drow tend to disregard members of other species who do not exemplify the same mastery of self or force of personality.

Their ruling season is **winter**, and they primarily focus on worship of the goddess **Nyrn**.

**The Sea Elves**, also known as the Triton, and dwell near or beneath the oceans in huge cities encased in magical bubbles. The Tritons have the capacity to breathe underwater and on land, and appear to have the ability to withstand a certain degree of pressure from deep diving. Their value is ***Dominion of the Deep.***

Most Triton have blue or green tinged skin and hair, though colorful variations ranging from gold to red are not unheard of.

The Triton believe that they are descended from the greatest minds and explorers of the ancient elves. As such, they believe that it is their responsibility to act as learn and amass knowledge for the benefit of all Ylos, while avoiding direct involvement with others when at all possible. It is for this reason that Trition cities are built underwater where they may focus on study and experimentation without the intrusion of the political influences of the surface world. Of all of the races of elves, the Triton are the most awkward around other races, but often present as quite charming due to their innate (and often overwhelming) curiosity.

Their ruling season is **spring**, and they primarily focus on worship of **Sof**.

**The Wood Elves**, known as the Wild Elves or Silvane, are a nomadic race of hunters who roam the wilds of Ylos and possess a strong marital bent. Their value is ***Balance in the Wild Places.***

The Silvane usually have tanned or brown skin and woody hair that ranges from dark blonde to black.

The Silvane believe that they carry forward the ancient traditions of the elves and seek to live pure, simple lives. Traditionally, Wood Elves are a nomadic race that maintain multiple homes across vast territories, moving between summer and winter cities as their hunts dictate. Of all of the races of elves, they are the most comfortable mixing with other races.

Their ruling season is **autumn**, and they primarily focus worship on **Sof**.

## Notable Elves

* The Rightwing Family, Alsfara
* The Talas'vanath Family, Silvane
* The Daen'vora Family, Silvane
* Duchess Filzira Dinaeir, Drow