Elves

> *"Had the Lavajen spared their god perhaps they would now rule this world and all who inhabit it, but now they are cursed to forever pursue that which they abandoned so eagerly."* -- The Writings of the 12th High Abbot
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### Overview

Elves are a race of Jørþejm. In their own tongue, Avasaun, they refer to themselves as the Leivaso. Humans refer to them as Lavajen, and Giants call them the Leabhásha.

### History

While not much is known of what life was like in the realm from which the Elves originate, what is known and said of it is rarely positive. Most elves refer to it as Il/Alqoromala, the Place of Unenlightenment, also translated as the Place of Ignorance. It is often referred to colloquially as Qoromal, which is the elven word for ignorant or ignorance. When the Collision took place, just as the other races' cultures and beliefs were made manifest by the magic of Jørþejm, the Elves also experienced the manifestation of magic in a spiritualized aspect of their practice. Elves, when they arrived in their new realm, were subject to the rule of the Emer Sireu, the Sublime Emer.

An absolute ruler, the Emer Sireu was understood to be a god-king. Worship and sacrifice were offered to him, and in exchange he was expected to care for his subjects, the Elven race. When this race found themselves in Jørþejm, on the other end of the collision, the Emer Sireu, Emer Sireu Talejir Euqorva Ademau found that his power had markedly increased. He had, in his previous realm, been the only Elf with any sort of magical ability, but it was weak, and only afforded him a minor degree of supernatural power. Power which served the primary function of maintaining the attributes and being of the Emer Sireu, traits such as extended life, supernatural charisma and persuasion, great physical strength and speed, and heightened intelligence. In essence, the Emer Sireu embodied that which was believed to be the fully realized potential of the Elven race. Talejir found this magnified to a great degree through the Collision and entrance into Jørþejm, but as time passed in their new home, he became corrupted by his power. In the early years of their life on the Continent, the Emer Sireu was instrumental along with leaders from the other races in the brokering of the Accord, but this reasonable and diplomatic leader did not remain such. He began to exercise a great deal of tyrannical power over the Elves, using his subjects as mere tools for the furtherance of his own interests, interests which were becoming increasingly inexplicable and, to observers from other races, tinged with madness.

In the last years of the first century A.C., there formed a coalition, hidden and secretive, within the higher ranks of Elven society. This was a group of Elven Vizars, politically powerful scholars and advisors to the Emer Sireu, who in secret had been teaching themselves how to use the magic of their new realm. In the name of freeing the Elves, they used their knowledge of magic to kill the Emer Sireu. It is not widely known how this was achieved, but many theories circulate in an effort to explain it. What is known is that, following the death of Emer Sireu Talejir in the year 106 A.C., Elves as a whole began to exhibit traits of the Emer Sireu, but only to the degree that he would have before the Collision. Longer lives, greater intellectual capacity, heightened physical abilities, etc became the new normal for the Elven race. Many among them also found that accessing the magical energy and power of Jørþejm was not as difficult a challenge as it was for those of other races.

The elves now known as the Ilrecino, those who founded and inhabit the Elven city states in the southern Continent, come from a portion of the Elven race who were opposed to the actions of those who deposed the Emer Sireu, believing them to be heretical. It was these Elves who would eventually go on to develop Barseu as it is now known all across the Continent. When the Luveiano, best translated as "the Theocidal", now known as the Alzarauno, overthrew Emer Sireu Talejir, they drove out any who were not in support of his removal. Many who were undecided in the matter were persuaded in favor of the Luveiano when the Vizars who had overthrown him pronounced one of Talejir's sons the Cori Emer Sireu, the Last Sublime Emer. Much persuasion and deception was involved in this final stage of the coup, but its outcome was the thing which is now known by all across the Continent, Sireu Qorolan, the Sublime Reason.

One of the Vizars responsible for the deposition of Emer Sireu Talejir, Vizar Minala, is often seen as one of the parties predominantly responsible for the Shattering. He led the attack on the humans living on Lake Voljâx, establishing the Elven town of Alminala on its shores. The Luveiano, originating from the Elven settlements in the arid northeast, now known as the Aluveia Desert, set out to consolidate power within Elven territory. In the absence of the Emer Sireu, many Elves who wished to continue on their own path without central authority resisted this Luveiano expansion. After centuries of deal making, intercity conflict, and political maneuvering, all of the Elves of Alzarau were united under one state. Fearing the possibility of falling prey to another tyrannical unitary leader, the Vizars of the united Elven regions formed a ruling council. Members of this council were chosen by the Elven nobility, Elves whose families who had held rank and title under the Emer Sireu, but sided with the Vizars when he was overthrown. While officially the rulers of the newly formed Alzarau, taking its name from the Elven word zarvol meaning concord or harmony, many understood that those who truly held power were the Vizars.

Over hundreds of years, the Alzarauno slowly expanded their borders. Much of the territory that initially comprised Alzarau was either settled as a result of the Accord or taken by force in the Shattering. Other territorial expansions have been the result of border conflicts, mainly with Free Cities and Giant Tribes. Many of the less populously settled lands were settled by Alzarauno military forces, then followed by civilians. Smaller settlements of other races have been driven away or absorbed into Alzarau, finding themselves rather less well treated than they believed they would be when they decided to remain and submit to the Elven state. Recently, the Elven political structure has shifted rather drastically, as there is a new member of the ruling council, extraordinarily charismatic and well loved by the Elven populous. He has the military under his control and has declared himself Emer of the Emrian Alzerauno, the Alzerauno Empire. His sights are set on reuniting all Elves, even if that means conquest of those who oppose him. Many fear however, that his true goal is domination of the whole Continent.

**Notable Historical Events**
Parties
 The Death of Queen Facaira | 582 A.C.
 The Signing of the Ilrecinia Treaty | 758 A.C.

### Culture

As is the case with the other races of Jørþejm, the Elves can be subdivided into two main cultural threads. Each has their own internal variety, but the two predominant cultures within the Elven race are consonant with their differing political and religious structures. Alzarauno and Ilrecino Elves differ in many ways from one another, while sharing a common origin and, to a point, history. Deviating paths of cultural development within the Elven race originate with the division over the killing of Emer Sireu Talejir by the Luveiano.

Alzarauno Elves are generally disliked by most of the other races, and they invite this by way of their own view of their neighbors. It is the predominant line of thought in Alzarau, coming from Sireu Xorolan, that the Elves as a race were to some degree or another were collectively divinized by their slaying of the Emer Sireu. Because of this belief, there is a strong sense of superiority present in the mind and culture of Alzarau. Ilrecino are seen as either pitiable and deceived at best, and at worst as willful traitors to their own race. Non-elves are viewed with a great degree of disdain, and many Alzarauno see themselves as benevolent in their conquest of their lessers, granting them the privilege of being ruled by a divinized race. Alzarauno culture places great emphasis on social honor and shame based on the merits of individual Elves. As the advancement and superiority of their race is of prime importance, any who contribute to this in a great way, be it through scholastic excellence, political savvy, martial prowess, or artistic creation, are afforded great honor in their society. Any who fail to contribute or actively hinder the continued elevation of Alzarau are shamed and outcast, often to the point that they leave Alzarau to live elsewhere. Art, music, and literature are incredibly important to the Alzarauno, particularly spoken and musical poetry. The Alzarauno refuse to use instruments in their musical composition, as they largely believe that it dilutes the beauty and power of the voice. Alzarauno harmonic poetry is revered by many on the Continent, by both elves and non-elves alike, as the most beautiful music there is. Calligraphy is also an important art form in the culture, being used to turn poetry into visual artwork.

Ilrecino Elves, while still very proud of their own culture and way of life, are much more ambivalent to the ways of the other races around them. In their cities, there are minority populations of other races, mostly humans with some giants scattered throughout, who can continue to hold on to their own practices to a limited degree. Ilrecino opinions of the "Ilcaro", as they are called in the south, are fairly unified in their opposition to Alzarauno politics and culture. Much more philosophical and abstract in their thinking and art, the Ilrecino are often seen as being idealistic and unpractical. A nickname given to them by humans but adopted by all of the races of the Continent are the "mizkazør", and literally translated it means high-minded ones, but in colloquial use its a light insult that would best be understood as "those with their heads in the clouds". Much time is spent in Ilrecino society in social gatherings and public spaces where people, men particularly, spend hours sipping wine and musing about art, magical theory, and religion. Ilrecino women gather in their own places and spend a great deal more time creating things and writing things than do the men. Ilrecino culture separates the roles of men and women to a great degree, resulting in social norms such as nearly all artists in Ilrecino culture being women. It is understood that the female Ilrecino Elf is the peak of beauty in the natural world, and as a result it is believed that what is beautiful begets beauty, and what is not cannot. It is often said by those in Ilrecino culture that "An dolu v'an heiru Ilrecino, l'ana rina v'an veura", or "Man is the mind of Ilrecinia, but woman is the heart." Ilrecino cities are known for their white marble and limestone architecture, and where the Alzarauno wear colorful silks and heavier, more ornate materials, the Ilrecino prefer light linens and a fabric they call cileula, whose creation is a closely guarded secret and varies slightly from city to city.