Elves

Elves are a race of beings who are not indigenous to Ylos, having originated from the Fey Wyld.

 Description

Tall, lithe, and beautiful, with an unearthly grace that belies the race's longevity, elves are arguable the oldest and most cultured humanoid race; a fact which they often remind their uncouth youngers.

Elves are universally tall, ranging between five and a half and six and a half feet in height.

Traditionally, elves do not cut their hair, but instead wear it in long, decorated braids. As such, young elves often sport the wild or exotic hairstyles of other races as a form of rebellion against their stodgy elders. The elders, to their credit, feign exasperation while keenly remembering when they did the same acts of performative defiance.

The eyes are wide and beautiful, the colors vibrant natural shades of blues, greens, and autumnal browns, and are set beneath sharp, arching eyebrows that jut slightly out from the side of the skull.

Elves achieve physical maturity between age fifty and ninety, with most undergoing their people's trials and naming ceremonies by the time they reach one hundred and twenty. Elves age incredibly slowly in appearance, with venerable elders appearing no older than a human of forty, but perceptive individuals can see the age in the precise, perfected movements of ancient elves, hear it in the wisdom and melancholy of their voices, or feel the weight of years behind their eyes. Most elves live between seven and eight hundred years, but is not unheard of for an elf to live to see their thousandth birthday.

## History

Elven culture is long and storied, and they love to talk about it.

However,

The conflicts between the nations were so vicious that even now, five thousand years after

## Culture

### Religion

Elves primarily worship of the Shasa, or the Three Goddesses, Vaella, Sof, and Nyrn, though it is not uncommon to see elves in cults of Caz, Cazemiria, or Bitris.

### Society

Elves are a highly structured society, with their power divided evenly among four nations with a collective form of rotating government based on the notion of a tetrarchy, or rule of four. The **Elven Tetrarchy**, as it is known, is a council of sovereign majesties, whose chief position rotates with the season.

Pressently, the Tetrarchs are:

* The Tetarach of Spring: Jhiris of Nea Xiriko
* The Tetarach of Summer: Eh'lidor Tal'Dinaris
* The Tetarach of Autumn: Althea Liadon
* The Tetarach of Winter: Nimhlewe Yharuden

While the elven races often share physical characteristics, it is not at all unheard of for a Drow to be raised by High Elves, or vice versa, and within elf society such a person would be regarded as belonging to the nation to which they identify. However, once this choice is made, it is quite difficult, and often taboo, to change one's mind.

## The Races of Elves

**The Light Elves**, also known as the High Elves or Alsfar, are creatures of ageless beauty.

The Alsfar are physically peerless and possess flawless completions and hair, though their coloration can vary across similar a spectrum to humans.

The *Alsfar* believe that they embody the virtues and history of the ancient elves. Because of this, they hold the pursuit of personal perfection as the most admirable goal. Despite being the most stationary of the elven nations, the alsfar often feel uncomfortable living among the shorter lived races.

Their ruling season is **summer** and they primarily focus on worship of the goddess **Vaella**.

**The Dark Elves**, also known as the Dokkal, or Drow, are a race of elves that exist in the dark places of the world, with most dwelling underground or in badlands.

Drow have ashen complexions which range from white to deep purple and hair that ranges from white to black, but rarely shades in between.

While not evil, Drow hold that they are the heirs of the will that drove the elves to survive and conquer Ylos. Their society encourages domination through intelligence, wit, and force of personality. Martial strength is respected, but the nothing is given greater respect than a person's will. The Drow tend to disregard members of other species who do not exemplify the same mastery of self or force of personality.

Their ruling season is **winter**, and they primarily focus on worship of the goddess Nyrn.

**The Sea Elves**, also known as the Triton, and dwell near or beneath the oceans in huge cities encased in magical bubbles. The Tritons have the capacity to breathe underwater and on land, and appear to have the ability to withstand a certain degree of pressure from deep diving.

Most Triton have blue or green tinged skin and hair, though colorful variations ranging from gold to red are not unheard of.

The Triton believe that they are descended from the greatest minds and explorers of the ancient elves. As such, they believe that it is their responsibility to act as learn and amass knowledge for the benefit of all Ylos, while avoiding direct involvement with others when at all possible. It is for this reason that Trition cities are built underwater where they may focus on study and experimentation without the intrusion of the political influences of the surface world. Of all of the races of elves, the Triton are the most awkward around other races, but often present as quite charming due to their innate (and often overwhelming) curiosity.

Their ruling season is **spring**, and they primarily focus on worship of Sof.

**The Wood Elves**, known as the Wild Elves or Silvane, are a nomadic race of hunters who roam the wilds of Ylos and possess a strong marital bent.

The Silvane usually have tanned or brown skin and woody hair that ranges from dark blonde to black.

The Silvane believe that they carry forward the ancient traditions of the elves and seek to live pure, simple lives. Traditionally, Wood Elves are a nomadic race that maintain multiple homes across vast territories, moving between summer and winter cities as their hunts dictate. Of all of the races of elves, they are the most comfortable mixing with other races.

Their ruling season is **autumn**, and they primarily focus worship on Sof.

## Notable Elves

* The Rightwing Family, Alsfar
* The Talas'vanath Family, Silvane
* The Daen'vora Family, Silvane
* Duchess Filzira Dinaeir, Drow