Elven

## Anatomy & Morphology

The elves are very simpler to humans and would be difficult to pick out in a crowd. however, there are a few distinct features, their skin was much paler than the average human the northern colds of their homeland having almost bleached the pigment. This on its own would not seem unusual but they also have some other more obvious differences. Primarily their ears are very pointed of which most hide with a hat or long hair, also their eyes are slightly larger than normal and their iris' are also bigger giving them a very anime look and are often considered by humans to be quite beautiful. Their faces are longer also and often of the heart shaped variety. they are also on average taller than human though not so much they stand out.

## Perception & Sensory / Extrasensory Capabilities

Elves can see very well in the dark, though can not see colour in such conditions. They have slightly better hearing than a human and can distinguish different sounds from other sounds much more clearly. For example they would be able to pick out the sound of a trumpet in a brass band. They also have a very acute sense for magic, often being able to pick out the kind of magic used no matter how small the trace is.

## Genetics & Reproduction

Elves breed like any other mammal with longer time frames than a human, with around 12 months of pregnancy. Because of their long life they are fertile only once every few years, though this can be an issue for family planning the elves have the patience of a saint.

## Growth Rate & Stages

Elves live much much longer than most other races, once some would have called them ageless. However, with the decline in magic their life spans have shortened, leaving them with an expected age of around 400. Though they age much slower, they are childen for much the same amount of time as a human, physically maturing around 20, however, they are not considered to be mentally mature until their 50s, those older treating them much as they would treat an older teenager.

## Dietary Needs & Habits

Elves are omnivores, not that they like to admit it. All elves are at least vegetarian, many are vegan.

## Brief History

Originally the elves were hunter-gatherers in their northern homelands. Living and traveling among the forests following the paths of the animals they hunted. This way of life was a simple one and for the most part they were a happy people. When eventually they met other people of other races, the idea of trading and shearing with others became so popular and wanted, that many abandoned their simple livelihoods and began to build settlements to make this idea more viable.

The elves were also very close to the natural magics of their forest home and a few of their number were powerful druids, with the help of these masters of magic the elves began to grow their cities out of the very forest it's self. Trees would shape themselves into homes, shops and any other building they needed, plants and flowers became tables, beds, and other furniture, as well as decorations and even lights. The elven cities would shine brightly in the night, a glowing beacon to others, the cities inspiring awe and wonder to any newcomer to the elven lands.

However, this age of prosperity and growth did not last long. With the accepting of outsiders there was also trouble with the greed of the human mind and the elves began to find things going missing. The last straw was when one of the grand glowing diamonds that were revered as part of the main religion, one of light, was stolen. The great gem was never recovered and the elves shut off the cities to the outsiders, only the most trusted were continued to be permitted inside and only then if a citizen would vouch for them.

With the cities shut off, magics were woven so that they were also hidden, making any attempt of others to steal their treasures all but impossible. Only a few were showed the ways in and even those were watched closely, the elves becomeing more and more closed off from the outside world. There would be a few who left the cities as they became filled with wanderlust but for the most part knowledge of the elves faded into myth and legend even before the rise of technology.

This state of affairs lasted for many centuries, but change was eventually forced upon the elves as the magics of the world began to fade. Knowing that without the magics their hidden cities would become visible they had to break their self imposed isolation. Plans were put into operation where by their entire race bled from the great cities into the rest of the world. Over time the forest cities emptied and the elves hid among the human population.

## Current World Standing

The elves number around a billion and they live almost entirely as any human would. They keep their children educated of their past and often encourage them to follow their instincts in all matters especially in terms of carriear paths and what they want to do with their lives. Throughout the modern histories most if not all the great artist and writers have been elves as their closeness to the ways of the world and nature have allowed them to be in tune with what magic is left. This has meant that they have been able to create masterworks by weaving the lingering threads of magic into their creations.

There is a small sect of elves who traveled into the mountains rather than fading into the human world like their brethren. Of these few there were the strongest of the druids and within the mountains they found a giant crystal formation which they poured as much power into as they could over the remainder of their lives. This great storage of magic is all that remains of the legendary days of power and has allowed for a small outpost the size of a large village to be kept hidden from the rest of the world. All elves know of this small place of safety and strength, and will, at least once in their lives, make their way in pilgrimage to visit the small piece of the great old cities, finding themselves inexplicably drawn to the last source of magic.