Wood Elves

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**The Wood Elves** are race of forest-dwelling, long-lived, artistic, and typically peaceful folk. Their race's history dates back to a time long before the rise of humanity. In the Age of Dragons they spread across the world using a system of advanced magical portals known as the Litho-Gates. Elves can be found in almost every corner of the world, and are widely accepted due to their peaceful nature.

## Physical Traits

Wood Elves typically stand slightly taller than a Human but shorter than a High Elf, and have a more slight frame with a more muscular structure than their High Elf cousins. Their skin tends to run darker than that of high elves though this varies person to person. Their ears are pointed and are much longer than a human's ear, however they tend to be slightly shorter than a high elf's ear and tend to have a slight notch to their cartilage which makes their ears distinct.

## Ecology

   Wood Elves in particular, although similar to their high elf cousins, live in more tree styled housing compared to typical housing structures.

Their communities are smaller and could be considered almost tribe like, however not as extreme as Orcs as they tend to simply call small colonies or towns their "Clans." Many years ago the development of the land led to the separation of these Clans. Each Clan is ruled by a leader usually political in some way, and the members of a Clan claim descent from a common ancestor.

The Wood Elves have struck peaceful relations with nearly all of their neighbors, however they tend to be more closed off compared to their High Elf counterparts. They tend to tolerate Humans, wary of Dwarves due to their tendency to clear-cut forests for forge-fuel, and friendly with the Beast-Races due to their connection with nature.

The Elves are a very long lived race, it is not uncommon for community elders to be five or more centuries old.

### Language

Although all Wood Elves speak elven as commonly as a high elf those in the community from time to time use what some considered a slightly dead language of Cainnt, speech of the ancestors. Though it is in decline, many efforts to keep the Cainnt language alive is practiced within the Clans, excluding those outside the Wood Elves.

## History

Wood Elves also have very distinct practices that cause other races to call them Clan-like as they have traditions for members of their society to have trials that prove themselves to their community, either it be a tradition to do many trials or one determined based on a person's demeanor it depends on the village and those in their community per colony for this to be a relaxed or extremely important process. Once a wood elf is of age they are given this trial or trials and, if successfully completed, they receive a tattoo on their body showing to those around them what trial they had completed. The tattoo is never the same per elf or even in placement, however based on the simplicity and subject matter per trial the symbolism is usually understood buy those in the community. An example would be if an elf had a trial of fire they would receive a fire like symbol somewhere on their body to signify the completion.

This race has a tendency to take the responsibility to caring for nature to more of an extreme compared to their High Elf cousins. Their name, "wood" comes not only from being simply different than their other elven cousins but that they also believe that they were born from the trees originally and they are decedents of that of ancient dryads of some kind. Thus their affinity to the natural habitation that surrounds them comes not only from a sense of duty from ancestry but also love.

The Elves, especially the **Wood Elves** almost entirely venerate the Deity Eden, and were the first to teach Humans of her worship. The first Human Druids came from these teachings.

## Trials

The Trials are held all over Aedron wherever Wood Elves seek fit to hold them per significance of each trial and are a private event per person. Throughout the year: they vary in size and differ in the range of risks they offer. Each Clan decides how physically and emotionally demanding each of these trials are within their own so it is considered unique per group on what specifically takes place in each trial. However, not every person in a clan is expected to partake in each trial nor even to take part in any as it is a sign of growth for each individual and they are expected to request these trials for themselves. Though it would be remise to mention that it is highly pressured for Clanmates, especially for younger members of the Clans, to take part in the trials.

#### Trial of the Water Spirits

This Trial consists either of having a timed event where those who are trialed either need to swim to either based of distance or to get a specific item for the Clan that is either hidden underwater or simply a resource needed. This trial is to put more strain on the body, having to work with currents and understanding the waves allows the being on trial to understand the ebb and flow of waters to earn respect.

The tattoo earned from this trial usually involves wave imagery of some kind.

#### Trial of the Fire Lions

This Trial can consist of walking through hot coals, or simply staring into a fire, making sure it keeps lit an entire night. This of course is a simple example as some Clans choose to make this one simple or dangerous based on their traditions. The Trial of Fire Lions is to show Clanmates to respect the elements from gentle to dangerous and understand what it gives to the people along with what it could take away.

The tattoo earned from this trial usually involves swirling flame imagery.

#### Trial of the Willowed Winds

The Trial for the winds is a very debated one. Some Clans choose to have their mates climb high up areas either trees or mountains to finish this trial. Others choose to have the Clanmate run for a long distance on a day where the wind is pushing against them. In either case this one seems to have more abstract meaning compared to some of the other trials. The Trial of Winds is meant to teach Clanmates to work together alongside each other by learning how to work with the wind.

The tattoo earned from this trial tends to be several lines going in the same direction that swirl at one end.

#### Trial of the Earthen Brothers

The Earthen trial usually consists of varying events. Some Clans choose to have their mates plant a vast amount of plant life, whilst others choose to make their members learn how to give and take from the earth and make it most of a survival trial that could last a couple days. This Trial is to show that the earth can not simply always give to you but rather you have to put the work into the relationship as well.

This tattoo tends to be more angled and either layered squares or triangles. This one is debatably a more abstract visual compared to the other trials tattoos so this one is considered to have the most visual variation per Clan.

#### Trial of the Lightning Storm

This trial is not taken often as it is based on the happenstance of a lightning storm to appear in the area where the Clan calls home. However this involves the being on trial to partake in being stormed upon through the entirety of the storm. This trial is also considered dangerous as the Clanmate is usually requested to go out to an open field to participate in the trial. This Trial is to show that even though nature gives blessings you need to respect the power it holds to live with it harmoniously.

The tattoo for the Storm is usually a zig-zag pattern and uniquely it tends to be put on the spine of members who successfully partake in it. It is believed that the symbol was proof that they were connected from sky to earth just as lightning was.

#### Trial of the Freezing Song

The Trial tends to take place in winter or in colder areas where the Clan brings several people to observe the ones who choose to take on this trial. This involves those who participate to either learn how to survive in the cold for a couple of days without aid or to withstand freezing water for a specific amount of time for the trial is based on the preference of those overseeing the trial. This one, similar to the Lightning Storm Trial, is not often chosen. The Trial of Freezing Song is taken to show that our bodies when united with even the coldest temperatures is made to withstand. Proving the people are stronger along side even this side of nature.

The tattoo of Freezing usually has varying visuals of V like shapes that are multiple or lines that make up a star like pattern to invoke snowflake imagery. It is recommended to have the body return to the proper heat temperature before giving the Clanmate the tattoo.

#### Trial of the Midnight Moon

This trial is usually taken from dusk to dawn either being under a new moon or just a sliver in the sky and asking the Clanmate to survive the night on their own without going to sleep. This trial is usually agreed to be the most similar within the Clans. This trial is to test the Clanmate's ability's to trust the night sky even at it's darkest as it will lead you to where you need to go.

This tattoo normally tends to look like a crescent moon, however some clans make this more extravagant based on their preference.

#### Trial of the Blistering Sun

The trial of the Sun is taken on a hot, usually Summer, day or even in some cases the clan member is taken to a desert like region and requested to withstand the hot sun whilst meditating for a specific amount of time to test their ability to understand the connection between their body and the sun that sustains all.

The tattoo for this trial usually looks like a circle with swirling lines on the outside, similar to the Trial of the Midnight Moon's tattoo, it becomes more detailed or simple based on the preference of the clan.

## Notable Wood Elves

* Aelrie Bal'ana
* Alsark Ho'RinDesh
* Ferrith Dar'lun
* Kyrenic
* Reduvii

## Behind the Scenes

Wood Elves are an Ancient Race in the World of Aedron, related to but distinct from both High Elves and Dark Elves.

### Combat

Wood Elves tend to favor ranged combat due to their inherent racial dexterity, and their enjoyment of hunting.