Elves

## Sotika Elves

Sotika elves are generally pale skinned and light haired. The men are most often thick boned, barrel chested and being of similar height to a human. This sometimes give them a squat appearance but this physique is optimal for metal working and carpentry, two crafts that the Sotika are renowned in. The women are mostly taller than the men and possessing an elegant, long-limbed form. This makes them gifted dancers and performers as well as deadly combatants.

They were originally tribal inhabitants of the region around the Hunter's Eye Lake approximately -500AF but over the centuries they began a gradual southern migration. Following the events of the Widow Valley War the Sotika began to slowly gravitate toward the human cities, Massalia in particular, excelling in scholarship and business. In 220AF human discontent with an ailing economy and endemic warfare led to a wave of pogroms against the elves in Massalia. Fearing for their lives the entire Sotika population either fled or were forcibly deported across the Niveron River into the lands of Phrygia. Upon hearing of the plight of the elves, King Theron of Phrygia offers them lands, citizenship, and protection. 50,000 refugees were escorted to lands on the eastern fork of the Niveron to settle the sparsley populated region. The city of Kaarina was founded and within a generation grew into a prosperous city almost entirely inhabited by elves. The lords of Kaarina swear their undying fealty to the kings of Phrygia for giving them a home and treating them fairly. In return they are governed as a semi-autonomous duchy.

The Sotika elves have given up much of their ancestral traditions and instead have adopted the customs of the Dohrans. This makes them more accepted by their human countrymen but they are generally despised by other "wild" elves. The Sotika raise regiments of highly skilled and motivated warriors, shrewd diplomats, and gifted scholars. Later during the Warring States Era a regiment of Sotika elves would be the first to storm over the walls of Massalia, avenging the crime committed against their ancestors.

## Seafolk

Also known as the Seafarers or Sea Elves depending on the location. They are a nomadic tribe of elves who sail from port to port and living most of their lives at sea on ships, floating cities, and islands. While nominally they are sworn to the crown of Akara, in actuality they are independent and have been known to flout the law by engaging in piracy and the occasional raiding party. However their ships are the fastest in Akara and are the only vessels capable of sailing the high seas of the Darkwave Expanse in relative safety.

They are considered borderline "wild" by civilized people. Like other elves they are mostly light haired but have darker eyes and red or brown skin tones. Men and women are of similar heights, being somewhat taller and leaner than the average human. Most Seafolk can speak the common tongue though they prefer their own language which is known as Ahuatal. It is vastly different to languages and dialects spoken by other elf tribes and it is unknown where they originally came from. They engage in a number of unusual customs such as ritual scarification and body tattooing, most notably tattooing of the face upon reaching maturity.

## Lunari Elves

Lunari elves are distant ancestors of the Sotika who remained settled in the forests around the Hunter's Eye. They are semi-nomadic, living on the plains south of Vidutina in the summers where their herds of moonstrider elk breed and feast on the plentiful grasses. In the winter they journey south into the thick forests between Iron Forge and Masalia where they use their tribal magic singing to construct whole villages in the treetops while their elk herds are contained in immense pens. They use a unique magic in which they sing to the spirits of nature in their ancient language which then change plant life to the singer's wishes. This ability is unique to to the Lunari due to an ancient pact made with a powerful nature deity eons before in which the Lunari gave up their long lifespan in exchange for the power to bend the spirits of nature to their will.

## Pagonian Elves

They reside in the chilled lands beyond the northern Jadestone Mountains and are very rarely seen in human lands. They are believed to be myths by the simpler folk. Of all the elf tribes known to humans, the Pagonian or Frost Elves are the wildest and most secretive. They have maintained their magical connection to the world to such an extent that their bodies have become impervious to the cold. Hunters and merchant caravans traveling through the mountain passes in winter have reported seeing the elves walking naked through fierce blizzards, their feet not even lifting prints in the waist deep snow.

It is believed that there ethereal people keep to themselves except under extremely rare circumstances. They are content to pursue their mastery of the mystic arts without the interruption of outsiders.