Wood Elves

Work in Progess for the Wood Elves Race!

## Origins

Born within the forests, the Wood Elves are native to the lands of Eatana. Though to them, it is in a different name. The forests that they have lived in for centures is named Reyhana and is located on the western-coast. There are other Wood Elf sub-races who have left the forest, but it is forbidden to speak of them. While reclusive by nature, the Wood Elves believe that all walks of life are blessed, and have recently made themselves known to the new-found nations in hopes of aiding others.

### Apperance

Most Wood Elves are darker in skin-tone to help them camaflouge amongst the woods. They are tall and strong creatures, making them a formidable opponent in combat. The Elves range from 6'7" to 7'3", and roughly weigh above 230+ lbs on average. Their hair ranges from dark brown to a light red withwhispers of some Damari Elves having hair that turns the same color as the leaves of each season. They are strong and capable beings and their muscles are not always noticeable.

The Elves have long pointy ears, though some can be stubby and short, and have wildly different antlers. Their ears can be as long as 15 inches, and as short as 5 inches. Some have the horns of goats, some the horns of deer, some the horns of moose, and so on and so on. There does not yet seem to be a specific reason behind the horns, but it is a notable feature of theirs. Their eyes are often times deep brown, only some have been spotted with lighter brown eyes. The Wood Elves have high cheekbones, and their nosebridge runs in a straight line from the tip of their nose to the crown of their forehead. They have small fangs and often decorate themselves in jewlery.

## Damarian Wood Elves

The Wood Elves are seperated into two sub-races. The Damarian and Davian Wood Elves, or the Damari and Davi. Damari Elves are Wood Elves who live in the Western half of the Reyhana forest. Damari Elves look almost identical to their sister race, Davi, but have much longer hair or more elegant features. They are considered more 'royal-blooded' in their culture.

### Affinity

Damari's are naturally attuned to the flora of the forests. They find themselves easily excelling with crops and gardens. Damari are almost always at their highest when lounging away in their vast clearings, and are eager to aid any who need to know knowledge of the plant-life around them. Damari's are excellent garderners and are perfect to help you get started with a farm.

### Capital

The Damari live within their city of Itace. A farmers city full of gorgeous lush gardens and high-rising crops.

## Davian Wood Elves

Davian Wood Elves are the sister race of the Damari Wood Elves and live in the Eastern side of the forest. They look almost identical to the Damari Elves but their fangs look sharper and their features are more wild. With the wilder features, Davi are considered to be lower, and often do not assimilate well with much more uptight Damari.

### Affinity

Opposite of the Damari, Davi elves are attuned to the animals of this world. With an easy connection, Davi's are often seen living a life of raising livestock and cattle. Content with smelling of manure, Davi's truly feel the most at home within the stables of their livestock. There is not a specific animal that the Davi are the best at raising, but if you need a trusted cattle-runner, or a trusted farmhand, the Davi Elves are the ones for you.

### Capital

They live within the port-city of Awaki, where they raise different species of all animals and initiate trades for their finest steeds.

## Religion

The Wood Elves worship Guda Hudu, or The Four Gods. The Four Gods are as follows:

The Sun, named Viné, who represents the living body.

The Moon, named Aybek, who represents the mind.

The Earth, named Inanna, who represents the heart.

The Shadows, named Ciaran, who represents the Soul.

Viné is the most commonly worshiped God in the Reyhanna forest. She is believed to be the sun in the sky and is the reason for all life. Her followers are devoted to her soley, and have a peculiar dislike for anyone who dares to worship the Moon.

## Culture

The Wood Elves do not believe in marriage, rather they believe in the binding of two souls. Following a simple ritual beneath a great tree, the two souls of two elves would be bound together for eternity. If one elf passed, the other would lose half their soul and vice versa. Though never truly witnessed, they say if one elf kills their soulbond, the elf would lose almost all of their soul and be a husk of their previous self, sentenced to a life of meaningless wandering. Soulbinding are not common, but they are not rare. Most devoted couples, or houses looking to ally, will opreform this ritual.

Another odd merging of two people is a forging. In order to strike alliances or deals, two elves of their respective house, or race, will create a sword out of the same metal, wood, by the same blacksmith, and at the same forge. This sword is a symbol for their alliance and for the pact that they have made, stating that, if ever in battle, these two sword-bearers can not harm one another at any point in their life. There is no way to break the sword-forging, and it is a life pact. If the two elves ever break this forge, they are required to put an end to their lives or be forever disgraced in their peoples eyes. Due to this, the matter of sword-forging is never truly done and is only ever a tall tale for alliances. Soulbindings are more common if an alliance is in talks.

There is a belief in the Wood Elf culture that the trees of the forest can speak. On the windiest of days, Inanna, the Goddess of the Earth, will spread the rumors or secrets of the lands. Though considered a belief, it is true as many Elves have heard horrible secrets of their families thanks to Inanna's habit for rumors. Any foreigner will also hear whispers of the Forest as Inanna can not tell the difference between the natives and outsiders.

### Common Behaviors

When angered, irritated, or in any sort of negative emotion, a wood elf will chuff. Just like a bull, they will blow air out of their nostrils in quite a harsh manner. Often times, chuffing, or as they call it huffing, is accompanied by a snarl. They'll scrunch up their nose and reveal the tops of their fangs.

### Clothing

The Elves are not promiscous but they do not shy away from wearing revealing clothing. For them, as long as you can feel the air on your skin, and the touch of the grass as you walk, they are happy. Most elves will wear furs of the animals they killed in hunts, and use the bones, or any leftovers, for accessories.

### Slang Terms and the Definitions

"May the Sun bless you." A common greeting for the Wood Elves, praying for the Sun to bless their acquaintance. This is a formal greeting.

"Viné guide your path." A common goodbye to other Wood Elves with the intentions of the Sun Goddess giving fortune and blessing on ones journey. This is a formal goodbye.