Elf

**Elves** are a plant-like race (more accurately a genus) that can be found on both of the continents of E2, Thylia and Tirnanoch. Known elven subgeni are the **wood elves**, **sea elves** and **snow elves.**

### History

The elves are
remnants of the planet-wide organism of Elo, given individual minds by
an unknown source, believed by some to be the Creator, who wished for them to become the guardians of life, while some posit that the mind is corruption caused by Hii. On Elo, the elves reigned as borderline gods, ruling over the younger sentient lifeforms. After settling on E2, the race would notice a significant diminishing of power, caused by the planet's artificial nature. The elves were left to their own devices during the Theilic Age, on behest of elven goddess Ilma. Their citizenship and role in the Teiliwaani Empire are nebulous; while their holdings in Askriga and the Whispering Forest fall under Imperial jurisdiction, Imperial officials tend to leave elven settlements alone.

### Appearance

The wood elves are the most common elven subgenus. They resemble fantastic
gnarled trees with two legs, two hands, but without mammalian facial anatomy.
Their heads are often adorned by a crown of leafless branches. The sea elves are much the same, but formed from colorful coral. They are
aquatic, but have no trouble breathing on land if they for some strange reason
end up there. The
snow elves are seen only in arctic climates. They are white, crystalline beings
which resemble the other subgeni but are more geometrical in design. The snow
elves are even more isolationist than sea elves, though this is partially
enforced by their biology: while they do not outright melt in warmer climates
thanks to their special biochemistry, they suffer crippling illness. Due
to their physique, elves are rather sturdy yet clumsy, sometimes having trouble
manipulating fine objects. They are intrinsically potent in magic, but their
social graces are lacking due to their alien minds. Additionally, wood and snow
elves are vulnerable to fire.

### Culture

The wood elves are concentrated around the World Trees: Ask in Askriga and Mielikki
in the Wilderlands. There is also a thriving elven community in the Whispering
Forest of the Pearl District of Teiliwaan. The
World Trees are the leaders of elvenkind. They are attended by a Circle of
ancient elves who, who mediate between the Trees and the people. In theory, the
Whispering Forest elves serve Ask as well. Wilderland
elves are much more feral than their northern cousins. Their culture emulates
pack animals more than Imperial society. Nevertheless, they are still as
intelligent as any elf.

Sea elves live in the Coral Kingdoms located in the southeastern ocean. The area
around the World Tree Yachim is called the Southern Coral Kingdoms, which is
separated from Northern Coral Kingdoms by a huge trench simply called the
Abyss. The
Southern Coral Kingdom is naturally governed by the World Tree, though instead
of a Circle, Yachim is surrounded by an enormous sentient growth called the
Mnemnocoral, an amalgam of ancient elves which serve as a repository for the
collective memories of the elven race. The
northern kingdoms are much smaller. Any high-standing elf that gets mandate
from Yachim can set up a kingdom north of the Abyss. As such, these are rather
chaotic lands, constantly expanding, and in conflict with Cezva and aquatic
Noise monstrosities.

The
snow elves keep to themselves. They seem to recognize no World Tree, instead
revering the North and South Poles. Learning the details of their culture is
difficult, since their language is based on silence instead of sounds, and thus
is completely incomprehensible.

The
elves are divided into two great philosophical parties, the separating factor being their stance on the Dilemma of Life. The Primitivists oppose
evolved life as impure and blasphemous, seeking to return E2 into its primitive
state where all life was one harmonious organism. The Conservatists think all
life is equally important. Most Thylian elves are at least publicly
Conservatists, and the World Tree Mielikki is a staunch Conservatist. The most
notorious Primitivists belong into an organization called Genocide Wood, which
is rumored to have a headquarters in the otherwise peaceful Whispering Forest.

Some
elves take their interest in other sentient races to the level that they
attempt to integrate into Imperial societies, possibly by adopting an Imperial
trade, religion, and a gender identity. These cultural immigrants are considered eccentric at best by
traditional elves.

Elves
are the only Thylian race that is native to Tirnanoch as well.

#### Life cycle

Elves
are sexless and have no concept of sexuality. Elves are born without gender
identity, though that concept is not unknown to their race: the World Trees are
divided into male and female, and some elves decide to adopt one after a
lifelong personal contemplation, though elven scholars would be quick to point
out that the elven gender bears next to no resemblance to the human concept
(though some elves adopt human genders in order to integrate better into the
Imperial society.)

Elves
are conceived from pollinated seeds. Female World Trees and elves born from
male World Trees are able to produce a seed, which must then be pollinated by
an elf born from a female World Tree or a male Tree (typically respectively).
The
seeds are then grown in the Germination Chambers, the largest of which are
located in the vicinity of a World Tree or in other elven communities. Isolated
elven wizards are known to build their own Chambers, though the  secret of making one is tightly hidden from
non-elves. Snow elf reproduction is a complete mystery. Elven
children are quite analogous to those of other races: weaker and mentally
undeveloped. They are raised communally, recognizing no “parents”.

Elven
“marriage” is another poor cultural translation. Some elves bond over another
elf in a way that transcends the elven racial feeling of unity. The resulting
union is non-romantic, non-sexual, and non-familial, and most closely resembles
the concept of soul mates.

#### Religion

Although
many facets of elven life are quite ritualistic, the elvenkind worship no
beings. The World Trees are more like eternal leaders and other gods are
considered frauds. Ilma is treated as just a historical leader. The
Imperial elves usually recognize Imperial faith as well.

### Relations

Sacredbloods are young and pompous, and as such, elves tend to react to them in general with
a mixture of annoyance and amusement. All in all, their coexistence is a formal
but peaceful one, as both races see each other as less important as they think.
In Pearl District, both races have tried to close the race gap and form
communities where both are respected, only to be continuously thwarted by the
Genocide Wood.

Duagar and elves of Askriga are traditionally in good terms, despite vast cultural
differences pertaining to their views of religion and gender. Conservatist elves see duagar as useful allies and trade partners. Communication between the two races is usually mediated by duagan druids.

The Coral Kingdoms and Cezva are in constant
dispute and distrust over marine travel routes. In general, though, humans are seen by
Conservatist elves as harmless and sympathetic.

The dao are rarely seen in elven areas and vice versa, though many elves would find a fire dao unnerving at the very least.

Highlings
are hated by even many Conservatist elves. Their origin is thought to be
particularly unnatural, though at least part of this hatred may stem from some
ancient elven racial phobia of aerial threats.

Automachae are an enigma to the elves. Due to their natural life energy perception showing
Automachae as inanimate, elves tend to abhor them, and most elves still do not
recognize their sentience. Whenever elves do get over their prejudice, they
find quickly a lot of common ground with the machine race.

The
Grigori are sometimes allied with the Primitivists, who try to influence them
into further conlict with sentient life. The Fallen are seen as just another
race among others, with no ill will from elves.

Hiispawn
are another race that is seen as “too artificial”. For the elves, they embody
the worst and most irritating traits of the evolved life, and thus are met with
disgust.

Changelings,
being closer to elves than most races, often have easier time when socializing
with the elvenkind. Some changelings have even found a home in elven lands,
where they are treated with respect, but never as equal to elves.

Werebeasts
are the traditional enemy of the elves, who believe that their existence is a
greater transgression than any other lifeform. Add the usual violent and
outcast nature of the werebeasts, and you will not find many elves with any
sort of respect towards them. The Whispering Forest has been cleansed of
werefox influence by the combined efforts of elves and the Imperial hunters.

Reactions
to the fey vary depending on the continent. While Thylian elves (who rarely see
any fey except for the changelings) generally accept them, Tirnanochian elves
consider them dangerous subelves, “the Addled Ones”. This stems from the fact
that elves seem to be immune to Seelie and Unseelie influence, and thus regard
the chaotic and ideology-driven fey culture with apprehension. The elves
consider the fabled couplings of elves and the fey taboo and unnatural.