High Elf

The **High Elves**, the **Eldest Race**, or the **Calaquendi** as they call themselves, were one of the most ancient and powerful mortal civilisations within Gaia. Hailing from a mighty mist-shrouded island-continent located within the centre of the Great Ocean, the High Elves of Thassilon were a proud and mighty nation of masterful warriors, peerless mages and lords of the sky and sea. They were an ancient race with powerful armies and even grander magic, building a grand and all-mighty civilisation who was so large that it was stated to be *"An empire in which the sun never sets.*"

Yet their noble and compassionate nature, which was once one of the Elves greatest and most noble character was soon replaced by a great sense of pride and hubris in their own vanity and superiority. In their blind arrogance, the High Elves were facing the twilight years of their existence, their cities no longer bustling with vibrancy and life as they used to be but now serve as a gloomy reminder of their ultimate, impending demise. It culminated in Starfall

The time of the High Elves has passed, now considered extinct to the world. All that remains of the High Elves were ancient ruins and decaying winds of magic that live on.

## Biology

"*We, the Calaquendi, are a noble people, our long and proud history stretching back to a time when the gods walked with our lords of virtue. Living in our fair kingdom of Thassilon, we are far removed from the petty squabbles of the lesser races. Here, we are able to practice our magic and our arts, perfecting for no reason than the sheer joy of it.*"
— **Recounted by High-Researcher Ulmner Moroe**
The High Elves of Thassilon— the Calaquendi as they name themsewere — were not the only race of Elves to walk the world. They were however the first. It is true that all other elves were derived from the High Elves by one means or another, this does not nurture trust between the cousins however as even when the High Elves were at the height of their power, they had low opinions on their darker kin. Regardless of this, these two were the only Elves that held such a long-life — some say immortal. Physically, they were tall and slender, with a dexterous grace and otherwordly aspect that no other race can aspire to match. Such traits were however not shared by the three races.

### Physiology

"*We are a tall and slender people, slight of build and graceful of movement. Our armies, too, move with fluid grace as do our warship and steed. All that we touch is elegant and finely crafted for we are a long lived people who refuse to surrond ourselfs with ugliness and discord.*"
— **Recounted by High-Researcher Ulmner Moroe**

All Elves are fair to behold and of them all the High Elves were the most beautiful. High Elves were pale-skinned with refined, aesthetically beautiful features and hair as clean and fine as flax. High Elves were tall and proud in their bearing, indeed it was not uncommon for an Elf to stand a whole head taller than even the more monsterous races. They have a lean build, which has led to the common misconception that Elves were weak or fragile. In fact, the opposite was true, for Elves were surprisingly strong, so much so that they were able to compete against giants in feats of strength.

For the High Elves, long hair is a symbol of strength, power and nobility -- the clearest token of a real warrior. Just as the Dwarfs find great significance in their beards, so too do the High Elves hold their hair in high esteem. Because of this, locks of hair were also important talismans for the Elves. This ancient custom stems from the fact ones potential in magic was dictated by the colour of their hair, those who have always been depicted with long flowing bright hair, were said to be future heroes and leaders. Whilst the darker the hair, it was said they were but simple common folk. Most High Elves decorate their hair with combs made of silver or gold, and embellished with bright gems. Each jewel has a different meaning, and reflects the Elf's role in his family, his rank in battle, or can even be a token of favour granted by a betrothed.

High-Elves were long-lived, some say immortal, and less vulnerable to disease than humans. In truth, high-elves have a lifespan of around five thousand years (though few ever reach that age). Every movement that an Elf makes was graceful and controlled, their minds were quick and clever with an intensity and depth of insight which makes them seem fey and strange to other races. High Elves convey meaning into the slightest gesture, perceiving a wealth of information in the slightest nod of a head, or narrowing of eyes. Although they were a noble people the High Elves can be cold and haughty, unreasoning in the view of other races. The differences between male and female high-elves was far more prominent than in other races, where as males embolden masculinity in its form. The females could be said to embody fertility, often shorter than the males with far more shapely frames.

The High Elves were also some of the most magically attuned species within the world, their developed knowledge and powers over magic and sorcery going far beyond the accomplishments of any other mortal race. They were amongst the first to study magic and remain the greatest mortal masters of it in the known world. Through magic the High Elves developed technology that outshined anything else, allowing them to construct great flying machines and tools to even defy the walls of the world itself, reaching into the stars themselves.

### Psychology

   "*During our long lives, we are able to perfect many skills and our people are renowned for our highly skilled artisans, fine craftsmen, the beauty of our art and the melodious grace of our songs. All in all, we are a race that loves beauty and treasures skill, but our days are not all spent in idle pursuit.*"
— **Recounted by High-Researcher Ulmner Moroe**
To most outsiders, the High Elves could be describe in many different ways; subtle, elegant, graceful, cunning but perhaps above all, arrogant. Elven minds were subtle and clever, possessing an intensity and depth of insight that lies far beyond the ability of other creatures — a single word or gesture, however small, conveys a wealth of information to an attentive Elf. It was said, of the High Elves in particular, that their minds were their finest weapons. This was certainly true, but they were dangerous weapons indeed, and can require a lifetime to safely master. Unless he knows discipline, a High Elf's interests can quickly become obsessions — and set his feet on a path that will ultimately see his soul delivered to sin.

Due to this, Thassilon's society was tightly structured, rigidly bound by convention and precedent, ritual and ceremony. For a High Elf to behave out of keeping with tradition was considered a truly shameful matter, able to break the power of a family overnight if proven before the Lords of Virtue, later known as the Runelords. Thus, its mere implication was one of the chief gambits in Thassilon's interminable politics. On the battlefield, it is the combined alacrity of mind and body that makes each Elf so deadly an opponent. His mind was keen enough to read an opponent's intent in the slightest shift of stance, and his body swift enough to deliver a lethal counterblow a heartbeat thereafter. There was no weapon nor form of fighting an Elf cannot master and, even untrained, his skills were formidable. Once properly tutored in his chosen way of war an Elf soldier was lethal grace given form, able to out-match a champion of lesser blood blow for blow.

Yet it is perhaps the arrogance and pride of the High Elves which can be considered their most defining trait. Almost every High Elf, from the humblest lowborn to the most esteem Lord, will always reserve a bit of self-satisfaction in his own superiority, especially to what the High Elves consider the "lesser races" of the world. This arrogance was in many ways the corrupted heart of High Elven society. Though they may not be afflicted with physical mutations as do those of Mankind, Chaos has nonetheless seeped itself into the heart and soul of the Elven races.

## Government

"*The noble families have led our people through times of peace and conflict for thousands of years. They pride themselves on their deep sense of honour and mastery of both the arts of diplomacy and war, taught to them from a young age. In times of conflict they demonstrate this prowess through their flexibility, perfectly capable of fighting with unmatched skill in the thick of the melee, or commanding our armies from a distance, directing the flow of battle as need dictates.* "
— **Recounted by Marcellus Saito, High-General of Karzoug**
Thassilon

## Religion

"*For the past eight thousand years, I have recounted the tales of spirits and gods to both new faces and old. The lords of Thassilon would have you believe that magic is the only law in our Empire but it is the gods who we answer to in the end.”* "
— **Priestess Martara**
The Elven Pantheon

### Elven Afterlife

the **Black Pit**, was the Elven equivalent of the Underworld

## Language

All Elves speak a single racial tongue called Eltharin, but the language have since splintered into Hen Llinge in modern times, Eltharin is considered the true language of Thassilon.

## Military

"*For five thousand years we have defended our shores from all who would conquer us. Even in our darkest hour, when our own kin rose up and betrayed us, we fought with such determination and martial skill that they were vanquished. But before you do this, you must understand how to command your army. To conduct its many diverse parts into a symphony of destruction. To weave the potent sorceries of your battle mages with the rain of deadly shafts from our archers. To form an impregnable line of spears from which the armoured might of your cavalry can leap to smash the foe. And if you learn all these things, then and only then, will you be worthy of Thassilon's light.* "
— **Recounted by High-General Marcellus Saito**
The High Elves' existence is one of eternal battle, fought with a courage and skill that only they possess.