Elf

This entry is for the Madrian variants of the humanoid species. They are in many ways similar to other examples of their species found on various worlds and in fiction.

They began existence as purely fey beings and have retained certain aspects of this even among those that have become mortal. They are essentially immortal and do not die of old age, though most choose to leave to the Fey Realm after several hundred years. Like all living things they are tied to nature's biorhythms, but more so than other mortals. As such large-scale pollution or blight in a region will quickly affect the behavior and physiology of any endemic elvish population. Sleep, as other races think of it, is not needed by elves. Elves assume a form of meditative trance in order to rest. This state is very much like normal sleep except the elf maintains much more awareness of its surroundings and needs about half as much as humans or dwarves normally do.

Common physiological traits of elves most prominently included pointed ears, upturned mono-lid eyes and heart shaped jawline structures. Elves stay rather slim and long in their features, this is especially noticeable in fingers and toes. Hip structure tends narrower than humans. Breasts and muscles also tend smaller. True elves do not exhibit body hair except in pubic regions and arm pits. Elves mature much slower than other races, an elf of 110 years of age being equivalent to a 15-year-old human. This metabolic rate means they generally require slightly less calories than another mammal of their size and may be a contributing factor in their odd sleep behavior. Average height among most elves is generally between 5'5" to 6' in height.

Culturally elves have many similarities regardless of house. All tend to wear their hair long, dress in well-crafted clothing of fine materials and have some reverence for nature. The lives of elves are very much influenced by their long lifespans. Members of the species are well aware of their immortality and take time whenever they please. Because of this, anything crafted are almost always of finer quality simply through time and devotion to meticulous effort. Passions run high for those of a fey nature, however. Elves can be prone to sudden whims that change their course entirely. Dropping everything and starting on something else entirely. They also have sudden outbursts of emotion at times and the strength of their passions overwhelm them.

Elves as race came into being during Creation. A bit from the myth of their creation follows ;

*"Madrian was so affected by the beauty of her children and their love of creation that tears formed in her eyes. Looking upon their works she was filled with joy and the tears fell from her cheeks into the grass. From these tears sprang up blossoms a various hues and shapes. Quickly they bloomed and as they did lithe figures dropped from the petals and raced about the Goddess's feet dazzled by the natural beauty all about them.'*

The elves that formed from the various flowers settled into Houses, each of which claimed guardianship over different parts of the mortal plane.

**Sidhe**

Said to have formed from bluebells, they consider themselves the highest of the elven houses. Because of this they are also referred to as high elves. The physiological differences between sidhe and elves of other houses is quite noticeable, besides their prominent eyebrows they have seasonal coloration. Their ties to the natural cycles cause their skin to shift from snow white in winter to an almond tan in the summer. Similarly, their hair changes color mimicking the leaves of deciduous trees, with floral coloration streaked in during spring and turning snow white in winter. However, the elf's eyes do not change. Instead, they remain whatever gemlike color they were born with year-round. During the Reign of White Castle most of the sidhe left the prime material plane to go to the Fey Realm.

**Drow**

According to myth the drow came from moonflowers and found the beauty in dark places of the world. They are sometimes called dark elves. Drow skin is black, shades of grey, or rarely shades of blue to violet. Their hair is white, or ash colored, and they have red or violet eyes. Legends say that in the Age of Myth their natural skin color was shades of blue and their hair was vivid red. The same tales say that individuals from this time hide away to await the redemption of their house. After the War of Houses the drow felt abandoned by their kin and the gods, they turned towards other forces to fill this void. Consequently, most drow worship demons and strange elder gods.

**Huldre**

Artic starflowers were the blossoms the huldre are said to come from. Because of their love of deep forests, they are also called wood elves. The huldre have pale skin tones but their time spent outdoors means they are almost always tan. Hair is in shades of brown, green and red with eye colors being in similar colors. In the deep wilds wood elf tribes live in symbiosis with an unusual form of plant life with is implanted onto a child at birth. This plant grows to cover the elf's skin and hair making them appear green with patches of greys and browns mixed in lending to a natural camouflage. Some huldre have long tails similar to a cow's, this trait is hereditary and never appears alongside plant symbiosis.

**Ryujin**

Ryujin elves were believed to have sprung forth from chrysanthemum blossoms. Skin is pale, while both eyes and hair come in a full rainbow of vivid colors. Their hair grows especially wild, including thick eyebrows and sideburns despite their elvish heritage. Ryujin family lines have deep ties to totem magic and often develop physical traits associated with it. This is not restricted to mammalian features, some families with insect totems for example will develop antennae or even wings.

**Ezen**

According to myth the Ezen came from a flower called physochlaina physaloides by alchemists. Nicknamed snow elves, they found themselves attracted to the beauty of the high desert and mountains of the east. Their skin is extremely pale, and hair is in shades of white. Eye color is almost exclusively ranges from blue to grey. The ezen are among the most reclusive house and fiercely territorial. Most humans their share their region consider them spirits of the wind and rocks. They are known for their mounted warriors and storm shamans.

*See Also :* the War of Houses

*See Also :* Sluagh