Light Elves

The Light Elves are a species of Elf native to Novrayth. Elves are humanoid Fae creatures. Light Elves are also known as 'Surface Elves', particularly by the Dark Elves.

\* This page may use Light Elf and Elf interchangeably for simplicity's sake. It should be reiterated that Light Elves are a particular ***species*** of Elf. All Light Elves are Elves, but not all Elves are Light Elves

### Traditional Names

Elven names are practically the same as Fairy names. Traditional Light Elven names are gender-neutral, and are quite melodic and graceful. In Elven society, individuals are typically called by their surname unless with close friends and family.

Elves are one of the few races on Novrayth to utilize true middle names, which usually consist of the first names of one's relatives. Some Light Elves have middle names that span generations back leading to names that (to other races) are comically lengthy. Additionally, some Light Elves may use the preposition 'van' in their names, though its use differs from how it is used in Human names.

Half-Elves may have either Elven-style names, or a name in the style of their other parent's race.

When written out, the name follows the order: Surname, Middle Name 2, Middle Name 1, First Name

#### First Names

Loraynore, Sylfinne, Yesmys, Phyvire, Krisvyre, Ralowarin, Adquinal, Ianzumin, Norsanoral, Yryneiros

#### Surnames

Aeldathra, Lasossviinn, Kindrisal, Esselanthrin, Yolthanthrish, Horiphey, Seiphondrash, Yethiros, Sthyrmyn, Sreirwealen

#### Complete Name Example

Aeberos van Lyxsthyr - Full-Blood Elven Example
Mathieu van Aeberos Lyxsthyr - Half-Elven Example

#### Complete Name Example (Traditionally Written)

Lyxsthyr van Aeberos - Full-Blood Elven Example
Lyxsthyr Aeberos van Mathieu - Half-Elven Example

### Lifespan

Light Elves can live **indefinitely** as long as they are not killed off by another being or disease.

### Physical Description

The Light Elves are extraordinarily elegant and beautiful. They are bipedal humanoids that are tall, slim and lithe with smooth, nearly hairless skin. What many consider the Elves' most notable feature are their long pointed ears. Skin tones are usually pale yellow, pale gold, cream, or barely off-white. Rarely, one's skin tone may be off-white with a tinge of blue or pink rather than grey. The skin of Elves is supernaturally "perfect", rarely forming irregularities (such as birthmarks) and only scarring from the deepest wounds.

Light Elves have soft, silky, shiny hair that they tend to keep long no matter what. Their hair can be any shade of brown, blonde, gold, white, and *very* light shades of grey. They can also have thin streaks of any colour.
Light Elves may have eyes of any colour, but the most colours are light blue, lavender, lilac, aquamarine, and jade.

As stated before, Elves are tall.

### Abilities

* The patron magic of Light Elves is Light and Earth magic
* Light Elves are well-attuned with nature due to their relations to fairies. They can naturally communicate with plants and animals.
	+ They often task small, agile animals such as squirrels and diurnal bats as scouts and lookouts. It is also common for Light Elven guards to ask trees and other large plants if they've noticed anything unusual while on patrol
	+ This ability is strongest with forest-dwelling flora and fauna, but other surface-dwelling things are affected as well. Strangely, the strength of this ability wanes the further an animal lives underground. Light Elves hold no sway over Under-Caverns creatures
* Light Elves are still able access some Fae abilities
	+ On top of being able to commune with plants, Elves are able to make them grow faster. Though a child could easily grow a few common flowers on their own, larger and/or rarer plants require more effort. Some plants can require several Elves working together to speed up its growth
		- Like their flora/fauna communing abilities, the further a plant grows underground, the more difficult it becomes to grow. Light Elves are incapable of growing Under-Caverns plants
		- In addition, fungi that grow outside of the Emarife are significantly harder to grow, and the underground depth at which they are impossible to influence is much higher up than plants
	+ Light Elves are able to incorporate spells into food. Some spells (such as calming spells) are less effective when cast onto a person from the hands for varying reasons, such as the caster has not trained enough, or the recipient is made aware of the spell through verbal announcement or sensing the change of mana flow and resists it, whether intentionally or not. Spell-touched food bypasses these problems, especially the latter as its magical state is difficult to discern unless looking for it, and its power is amplified
		- Such spells are usually calming, such as to help one sleep or to reduce their anxiety
		- Unfortunately, Humans have spread a myth of the Fae using food to keep unsuspecting people trapped in their domain. Of course, such a thing could have happened a few times throughout history, but it is incredibly atypical behaviour
* Light Elves are able to see well in low-light conditions
* Light Elves don't need nearly as much sleep as other races, being able to stay up for days if they wish. They are able to enter a kind of meditative state (known as Sthyrryle in the Elven language) that is nearly as restful as sleeping. They are able to easily pull themselves out of the state if the need arises
	+ Though Light Elves *are* able to remain awake for days on end, they generally prefer to sleep (or sthyrryle) each night
* Light Elves are quick to learn, particularly linguistic skills and magic
* Elves have a strange, otherworldly beauty. With such a charm, they can force non-Elven opponents to stand down through sheer glamour alone. Often an altercation can be avoided entirely
* Light Elves have greater talent for healing. Traditional medicines are potent and effective, and healing spells come more naturally and are more powerful on average
* Although Light Elves can be killed by diseases, they have a higher resistance to them. In fact, Light Elves seem to only ever be killed by diseases that are magical in nature. If a Light Elf happens to contract a non-magical disease, they tend to only experience the non-serious symptoms of it.

* Just as they have inherited their abilities, Elves have inherited some of the weaknesses of Fairies. However, they are far more resistant than Fairies are
	+ Iron is the most notable, though it is not nearly as detrimental to Elves as it is to Fairies
		- Regular iron doesn't pose much of a threat; in large enough quantities and in close enough proximity (typically requiring physical contact), iron may leave an Elf feeling weak and ill
		- The true danger lies in "Cold Iron", iron that has not been smelted. It leaves burns, temporarily weakens one's ability to manipulate mana even after exposure has stopped, and a magnified version of regular iron effects. However, cold iron is incredibly difficult to fashion into anything harmful without turning it into iron
		- If the iron has been made into an alloy, it begins to lose its effectiveness. Even alloys of iron (such as steel) are used by Light Elves because they require long periods of exposure to have any ill effects
		- Iron from food has no effect on Elves (or Fairies); the iron must be in a solid mineral state outside of something's body for it to be harmful

### Origins

⠀⠀⠀⠀Light Elves, like nearly all Elves, are very close relatives of fairies. Fairies are typically referred to as the Faerel by the Light Elves; a word that also translates to Origin. This is because Light Elves are all descended from Fairies due to an event that occurred in the distant past.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Fairies make their homes in the hollow interiors of plants and fungi which they usually grow themselves with their innate ability to manipulate flora. However, because the Fairies make their homes in such living, organic things, their homes are prone to being destroyed by hungry animals. The Fairies held no grudges against their fellow living creatures, but after centuries of what felt like an endless cycle of having to start whole settlements over again because a moose or bear wanted to eat, they began to grow sick and tired of it.
 ⠀⠀⠀⠀Though they were able to grow their towns in only a few days (or hours in some cases), they wouldn't always be able to replace their possessions. Finally, in an act of desperation, a large group of thousands of Fairies reached out to the Goddess Yamitala for help. They sought her out specifically as she was responsible for nearly all life on the continent and they deemed her the best one of the Gods to ask for the solution they wanted.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Yamitala gave the Fairies an option to transform their bodies. The Fairies would lose their wings and lose some amount of their innate abilities, but in turn, they would grow in size and their ability to manipulate Light and Earth mana would drastically increase. Although saddened to hear they would need to sacrifice their ability to fly, there was little dispute and it was swiftly decided that the option they were given would be incredibly worth it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀So, the Goddess used her magic and gave the Fairies their new form. Their bodies attuned to the Light element and they increased dramatically in size, though an unintentional side effect of the metamorphosis made them look much more like Yamitala than she had intended; this group of Fairies became the first generation of Light Elves.

### Society and Traditions

⠀⠀⠀⠀Elven societies pride themselves on formality and professionalism. Children are taught extensive etiquette from a young age, especially those born into nobility and other families of high standing. They always try to look and act their best at any given time, although utmost decorum tends to only be stressed upon those in high positions now. As proper as they may seem to others, Elves tend to be quite casual with their friends and family. Elven families care very deeply for one another and go to great lengths to make each other happy.

⠀⠀⠀⠀The Light Elves of Novrayth are well-known for their incredibly xenophobic tendencies towards the other races. In most settlements, the other species are allowed in, though they are treated with suspicion by default. In fact, no Non-Elf was allowed into Feybourne without an escort following the War for Feyborne until recently. Even now, Humans may not enter the capital city without a guide, and cannot gain residency unless they have a spouse that lives there, or an Elven friend (who must also be a citizen of Feybourne) puts in a reference for them.

⠀⠀⠀⠀The Light Elves are incredibly faithful to their patron Goddess, Yamitala. Every settlement has multiple shrines, temples, and other places of worship dedicated to her. Once long ago, they were said to have banished a large group of Light Elves to the Under-Caverns for showing interest in the Goddess of Dark and Night, Quelith. The largest place of worship dedicated to Yamitala is in Feybourne. It is a massive cathedral which contains one of the Light Elves' most prized treasures; a large statue of Yamitala made of a stone unique to the Giants, and which holds an enormous amount of Life and Light magic within it. This statue is often referred to as the Icon of Yamitala. As revered as she is, becoming a priest or priestess of Yamitala is a difficult task and a burdensome weight to carry. It certainly isn't a duty many are fit for, but those who are able to achieve such a position are celebrated venerably by their folk. A couple of notable clerics are Faedren van Aerilsreir, the head priest of the Feyborne Cathedral who was one of the main contributors to defending the Icon of Yamitala during the War for Feybourne, and Mathieu van Aeberos Lyxsthyr, one of the five who slew the Heart of Chaos.

⠀⠀⠀⠀The Day Festival (called Yami Vahlesthyr in the Elven language) is one of several traditional events in Elven society. The Day Festival is dedicated to Yamitala and all her splendour. The event is held all throughout the week of the Summer Solstice, during which the continent is temporarily stuck in a state of constant day, with the Sun never fully disappearing behind the horizon. Nearly every Elven settlement observes the holiday, though many travel to Feybourne to partake in the festivities. The Day Festival includes colourful Sun-themed banners and other art forms hung up around the city made by citizens, as well as copious amounts of candies, pastries, and other sweet baked goods.

⠀⠀⠀⠀The Origin Festival (Faerel Vahlesthyr) is another festival held in the Spring. It celebrates the days in which the first groups of Light Elves were born when they ascended from Fairies and commemorates the Fairies themselves. Elven settlements are decorated in all manner of colourful, decorated banderole, ribbons, and papel picado- style banners hung between buildings. During the festival, Elves and Fairies exchange gifts such as food, drink, jewelry, and trinkets.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Woodcarving is a traditional art form among the Light Elves. Most artists have a preferred type of wood to use, but there doesn't seem to be any wood that is more popular than another. Artists spend days perfecting their pieces, ensuring every detail is as perfect as it can be. Some artists utilize their control over plants to sprout leaves, branches, and flowers in places to create a "living" artwork of sorts. If a mistake is made, however, it is imperative that an artist does not abandon a project, as doing so would be a disgraceful affront to the living thing that wood came from. A woodcarver may combine resin with shavings and reapply to the sculpture to try again, or some may choose to change the direction of their work entirely. If one cuts too deep or cracks their work, one may fill in the gap with a brightly coloured resin.

### Other

* During the War for Feybourne, Light Elves were in the position of defending their homeland from the invasion of the other people of Novrayth. This war left a lasting negative impact on the Light Elves that has been passed down through generations, leading to a fair amount of the Light Elven population fearing or being suspicious of Non-Elves
* Despite the fact iron in its nutrient form poses no threat to Elves, their bodies do not require it to function. The blood of Light Elves is metallic gold
* In Light Elven society, Elves are considered adults at 25 years old
* Light Elves were the first of the non-Giants to figure out how to forge magic into weapons
* If one is unable to reach a proper place of worship, Light Elves (and other devout followers of Yamitala) tend to pick the most sunlit and plant-filled area they can find
* Light Elves enjoy sunny, warm places with abundant plant-life
	+ Light Elven homes are typically decorated with light, warm colours and many living plants. If built by Light Elven architects, buildings usually have many large windows meant to let the sunlight in.
* Like Fairies, Light Elves love sweet things. In recent years, with their towns finally opening up to Non-Elves, Light Elves are becoming known for fantastic sweets, dessert pastries, and other baked goods
* Though they prefer to use magic for combat, when weapons are used, most individuals tend to use bows, thin-bladed longswords, rapiers, and bo staves. Other dexterous weapons that may be swung or thrust quickly are favourable among them
* Both weapons and armour made by Light Elves are usually made of white gold or silver and are embellished with yellow gold in ornate designs