Elves

File:Panacea.jpg

## History

Elves are a species which is descended from prolonged interbreeding between daimons and fae in the realms of Alfheim. Interestingly, despite their ethereal heritage, elves are naturally corporeal (but can learn to become incorporeal).

### Subspecies

There are six known subspecies of elves:

* *Ljósálfar* or Light Elves, known for their fair complexion. The Ljósálfar are also known as the "common elf" as they are the most populous elf class due to their reaching reproductive ability sooner than the other elf races. The Ljósálfar are also called "plain elves, but this due to their traditional preference for living on plains and in cities rathen than mountains, forests, or underground dwelings like their various cousins.
* *Dökkálfar* or Dark Elves, known for their ashen skin.
* *Hvítálfar* or Shining Elves, specifically a clan of Hvítálfar from Bjorland known as the Huldufólk or "Hidden People". These elves prefer the cold and come from the arctic regions and mountainous terrain. They are easily identified by their white hair and silver eyes, and are generally among the longest lived classes of elves on average.
* *Myrkálfar* or Wood Elves, whose name is taken from "Myrkviðr" (murky wood), an Alfheim forest considered sacred by these elves. The Myrkálfar have sap-like blood and are much closer related to daimons.
* *Æðríalfar* or High Elves, who are similar to Ljósálfar, but have a higher level of Fae blood than a common light elf due to having noble fae heritage. They also bleed blue blood.
* *Svartálfar* or Swarthy Elves, which some real world scholars confuse with dwarves. These elves often have darker skin, similar to the Dökkálfar or Myrkálfar, but are most known for having coal-black hair and their males being able to produce facial hair, often styled in beards similar to dwarves. Svartálfar live underground in networks of magic fungus that make natural tunnels beneath Jörd or on the surface in mushroom forests. They also have been close trading partners with the dwarves and many of their exiles came to live among the dwarves, leading to Svartálfar neighborhoods in many dwarven under-cities. On Jörd, they became the least encountered type of elf (to surface dwellers) however in the Homelands, they were among the most common.
	+ Elves and Dwarves are capable of inter-breeding, producing a 'dwelf'. While the offspring between human and dwarf will usually have the appearance of a short human, the so-called 'dwelf' are nearly identical to the gnome, being shorter and less broad than their dwarf parent. This seems to suggest that the gnome species may have originated from elf and dwarf mingling along the far reaches of their original realms.
* The *Dritálfar*, known as the Uncommon Elves, are elves who don't possess a clear classification. They are usually elves of mixed heritage or lack the proper numbers to establish a seperate class.
* The *Neutrino* were elves that fled from a world ravaged by the Sheeda, using long lost magic to colonize the planet Neutrino in a vast cosmos known as Dimension X. Many generations later, the Neutrino lost most of their magical ability and adapted to using science and high-tech gadgetry, some do retain hints of their mystical roots.

### Powers and Abilities

* **Elf Physiology:** Elves are descended from prolonged interbreeding between daimons and faeries, natives to various realms of the Void, the Homelands' continent of Europa, most of Jörd, and Earth's Europe.
	+ ***Enhanced Agility:*** Elves have a level of agility, coordination, and general dexterity that exceeds the capability of most humans.
	+ ***Enhanced Balance:*** Elves never lose their balance.
	+ ***Enhanced Hearing:*** Elves have hearing that is much more sensitive than human capabilities.
	+ ***Enhanced Reflexes:*** Elves has reaction time and reflexes that are heightened to levels unattainable by mundane humans.
	+ ***Enhanced Sight:*** Elves have sharp eyes that can make out incredible detail on the horizon.
	+ ***Longevity:*** Depending on their diet, lifestyle, and the ambient essence of their environment, elves can live as little as three centuries or live to attain ages that are easier measured in millenia than years, decades, or centuries.
	+ ***Nightvision:*** Elves have excellent low-light vision.
	+ ***Supernatural Senses:*** Elves see, hear, and interact with unmanifested ephemerals, ghosts, and astral projections.

### Weaknesses

* **Ancient Rules:** Elves are still bound, to some degree, by the ancient laws of the Void which pertain to their ephemeral ancestors.
* **Vulnerability — Pure Adamant:** Most Elves find the touch of pure Adamant painful.
* **Vulnerability — Pure, Unforged Iron:** Some Elves cannot abide the touch of pure iron.

## Trivia and Notes

### Trivia

* The Elves of Alfheim had always favored the Vanir to the Aesir, especially as the Aesir had traditionally favored the crafts of the elves' rivals, the dwarves, and had given them custom.
* Alfheim resides in the tenth Subsidiary Reality, also known as the Jörd.

### Notes

When asked about the nuptials of Panacea and Fusquod's marriage, Roy revealed the following about Nóatún's wedding ceremonies:
* A typical elven wedding has five parts, traditionally done over the course of a year. However, it is custom in Nóatún to do it all on the same week now for convenience.
	+ First is the betrothal feast. Traditionally, this would be done a year before the wedding and would feature the groom (elves have always allowed same-sex marriages so the groom does not have to be male) officially declaring their intent to wed the bride. If this feast is done after the two are engaged, there will be a reenactment of their proposal (whether with the couple playing the part, or with close friends playing the roles - usually with some light-hearted roasting).
	+ The next step will be the dressmaking. Both bride and groom will start to make their own outfits for the ceremony, usually done at different places. Guests and friends are encouraged to come see their progress and/or help them. If the maker is relieved by another, the other must continue until the clothing is finished or relieved by another. It is rude to decline an offer to be relieved. The one making the clothes has free reign on the design and it is custom for the end product to look very quilt-y, with various fabrics and odd knick-knacks incorporated into the design. The only real requirement is the outfits must have a sash.
	+ The third part is the bride's feast where the bride's family gathers to meet the groom and the groom's closest kin and kith.
	+ The next part is the groom's where the bride meets the groom's family. The bride will bring her closest family and friends with her to this.
	+ Finally, the wedding. There is a feast and a short ceremony where the elves remove their betrothal rings and place them on the hands on their mate, becoming wedding rings in the process. Then as soon as the two have had their first kiss as a married couple, the couple retreat to a special area followed by selected guests who have been chosen by groom and bride to be witnesses. Once secluded, the witnesses tear the makeshift clothing off both bride and groom, using their sashes to tie one of their wrists together. The witnesses then are expected to witness the consummation of the wedding. Following that, the bride and groom will then "escape" to their home together. Mischievous friends will often steal the couple's back-up clothing, requiring bride and groom to dash naked to their home - still tied together at the wrist, often while being hazed by guests. Only at the mantle of their new home, are the couple to untie their sashes from their wrist and burn it in the hearth, sanctifying the dwelling as their own.
		- Some time later, the witnesses are expected to present the couple with a tapestry or quilt made from the remnants of their wedding clothing as a way of honoring their marriage.

## Links and References

* List of Elves

1. ↑ Earth-27 101: 'Tis the Season
2. ↑ Dinkley Files - Dwarves
3. ↑ RepCap: Kala
4. ↑ Network Files: Halida
5. ↑ Network Files: Qemara