Elves

*"We are Eliroth's chosen children, her favourite children; destined to rule over this slice of reality and eventually all of the cosmos."*

—High Magistrate Eluir

Elves, or Elvanés, are one of the oldest mortal races of Karothoz. They are known for their unparalleled natural affinity for magic, and incredible skill with both bow and blade.

For centuries they have called the territory of Leavenwood their home, and have mostly avoided meddling in the affairs of other races.

The majority of the elves follow the teachings of the goddess Eliroth, who they claim created the mortal plain of Karothoz to serve as their home. Additionally, they believe in "Malun'Thel", or First Right: the idea that the entirety of Karothoz is theirs by divine law, and all the other races should eventually come to serve them.

### **Origins**

Little is known about the true origins of the elves. They claim that after the goddess Eliroth defeated Galacron, she created them to aid her in the ordering of the cosmos. However, Eliroth was so amazed by the absolute perfection of her children that she decided to forge a slice of reality to serve as their homeland. In addition, she conceived of a pantheon of divine beings to help ensure that the new realm would remain balanced.

Most of the other races of Karothoz do not believe that the elves were created by the goddess Eliroth, and little historical records of their people exist beyond what is contained within the Library of Quil’Ladan.

It is certain, however, that they are an ancient race, even though they are not as old as the dwarves. Most historians agree their inception took place sometime after the first dwarven legends.

### **Appearance and Traits**

Elves are tall and lithe creatures. The height of male elves commonly exceeds seven feet, and she-elves do not fall far behind their counterparts. Despite their imposing stature, they are thin when compared to the other races: they lack much musculature or body fat. However, elves still manage to maintain a gracefulness in their movements which lends them an ethereal quality many other mortal races find alluring. Additionally, they are considered by many to be beautiful. They often have smooth skin, high cheekbones, large eyes, and angular faces.

Elves are incredibly agile and have quick reflexes, making them excellent hunters and swordsmen. In fact, they are responsible for the invention of the Ralacron fighting style, which famously makes use of double-bladed swords. No other mortal races have been able to master this style, or the use of elvish double-blades. But they are also masters of the arcane: their natural affinity for magic is unparalleled, and many of history's greatest mages have been elves.

Thousands of years ago elves were once immortal, but ever since the Riel'Than, or Great Loss, their lifespans have shortened to around 450 years. However, mysteriously, some elves retained their immortality, becoming known as the Aldoneth, or the Eternal. The Aldoneth are generally viewed favorably in elvish society, and are believed to be blessed by Eliroth.

Elves who are not blessed with immortality tend to live for around 450 years, reaching adulthood at 80 years old, with their hair turning silver at around 400 years of age. Although elves do not show other signs of aging such as wrinkles or decreased physical and mental capabilities, they still have limited lifespans. Silver hair is a sign that an elf has entered the last stage of their life, and could die any day. Most elves who die of old-age do so in their sleep, not showing any particular signs of weakness beforehand.

### **Variations**

Although united as a race, elves do possess different physical attributes depending on which regions they hail from. Three distinct variations of elves are widely recognized, though many elves lie outside of these groups or are somewhere in between.

#### High Elves

Named thus due to their supposed superiority and ancient heritage, high elves comprise the majority of the populations of Aalenith, Cyandiel, and Thenore. They are believed to be the first elves to come into being, and primarily responsible for the defeat of the Satyrian Empire. High elves tend to be taller than all other variations, though this trait is hardly universal. Golden eyes and blonde hair are particularly common among high elves, representing the highest ideal of elvish beauty.

#### Wood Elves

Wood elves are a minority in most of the elvish dominions, and as such are usually treated with disrespect from their high elf counterparts. They share many similarities with high elves, though they are somewhat shorter than their cousins. Wood elves tend to have far darker skin than all other kinds of elves, with many possessing tawny to ebony skin.

#### Grey Elves

The dominant variation in Farilon and Llothiel, the grey elves are regarded with suspicion by all other elves, regardless of heritage. They emerged from the heartland of the old Satyrian Empire after its downfall, being the most abused and selectively bred slaves. They are the most distinguished from their elvish counterparts due to their striking grey skin, which many see as a bad omen. Additionally, grey elves tend to have black hair, making them appear somewhat similar to swamp elves.