Elves

**Elves** are a race of long-lived humanoids who hailed from Aellinia. Created by Ioryx as a blend between ancient humans and the fey, elves are unified by a whimsical nature that prioritises individual freedom and expression and their characteristic long ear, slender body and beautiful features. Scattered loosely across Perion, the only organised presence of elves remain on Aellinia where two states exist in a generally loose and decentralised form.

## Subraces

### High Elves

The **High Elves** generally constitute the organised, urban and social elements of elven society. The vast majority of those who reside within any of the major cities are high elves. These elves are the progenitors for what is generally considered to be 'elven culture', with a propensity for the mastery of not only arcane magic but also all forms of mundane skills. Their organised societal makeup often leads them to look down upon other elves who may lack developed organisational knowledge.

#### Sun Elves

The Sun Elves, nominally referred to as the Gold Elves, are the high-urban ethnic population of the High Elves. They are generally associated with the elite of society, stereotypically being depicted as upright, arrogant and prideful; looking down on not only other races but oftentimes other elves. In the current ethnic makeup of Aellinia, sun elves are mostly located within Aellinel, Alrinath and Runaarthoum although many are also spread out across the isles.

#### Moon Elves

The Moon Elves, nominally referred to as the Silver Elves, are the cosmopolitan ethnic population of the High Elves. They are considered to be far less xenophobic and oftentimes prove very tolerant of other races. The Perionese elves are largely descended from the Moon Elves among other subraces. This also means that moon elves mostly constitute the ethnic makeup of Nhimract and the elven portion of Sinfras.

### Middle Elves

The Middle Elves are the subraces of elves that have rejected organised societal developments and have since honoured the traditional way of life that their ancestors have practiced for generations; tribal, decentralised and free. Their traditions and knowledge are often passed through by word rather than written texts as is the case with High Elves. They are known for their love of festivities and particularly whimsical natures.

#### Wood Elves

The Wood Elves are the most populous and common of the Middle Elves. As their name suggests, they typically inhabit the woodlands where their scavenger lifestyle is given the environment to prosper. They are also known to occassionally set up villages as safe havens, though they are not typically inhabited permanently and are rather left for whomever requires its use. They dwell mostly within Ephemia Forest where they represent the rural population of the **Kingdom of Elves** though A smaller group of Wood Elves are also present in Ellin Forest.

#### Meadow Elves

A newly classified subspecies of Middle Elves, the Meadow Elves are the product of the intermingling of Wood Elves and Moon Elves from the expansion eastwards of Nhimract. They are a rural but organised group of elves who reside in permanent villages scattered across the Central Plains. While some argue whether or not they should be classified as High Elves rather than Middle Elves, their disdain of authority and societal organisation are undoubtedly within the definition, the difference being that they are a settle people.

### Low Elves

The Low Elves refer to any subraces of elves, primarily the Drow, who have decided to inhabit the Underdark rather than the ancestral homelands of the elves. They are known - and often disdained - for their violent outlook on life and cutthroat societal norms.