Elves

A High Elven rogue.

**Elves** are a graceful, elegant race found across much of Eukitia and the Far East. During the First and Second Eras, elves would occasionally band together and form strong, independent nations, however in the extreme diversity of the Third Era there are relatively few states with a mostly elven population. Throughout their history, elves have proven to be extremely pious yet self-driven individuals.

## Description

Elves are a slender, tall people of almost otherworldly grace. They are somewhat similar in appearance to humans, were it not for their height, thin builds, and notably pointy ears. Most elves have long hair, regardless of their gender, typically being blonde or brown in color. They give off an air of grace and wonder about them in their strides, appearing regal and dexterous in everything they do. During the Second Era, elves were capable of living to greatly long, near-immortal lifespans, sometimes in excess of five hundred years; however, due to the events of the Draconic Cataclysm, the First Brood stripped their lifespans to an average age of 100, little longer than most other races.

## Society

### Homelands

Elves originated from a place they call Annon-in-dram (roughly meaning "gate of walls" in Elvish), however there are many conflicting tales of *where* exactly this is. To the elves of Inverhond, for example, Annon-in-dram was a city in the heavens where they were cast from for their sins. However, to the elves of Thorland, Annon-in-dram was a great forest that surrounded a single innocent blossom, from which the first elves protected. Even further to complicate the beliefs of their origins, the elves of the Far East believe that Annon-in-dram (to them, called *Manomachi*), was an ancient city built by the first elves. Due to this, understanding the exact origins of the elves has proven difficult for many a scholar.

### Subraces

The elves are known to be *extremely* adaptable to their surrounding environment, perhaps due to their genetics. As a result, elves are known for their numerous subraces. These subraces only differ slightly from one another in most cases, however there are some extreme outliers, such as the shadar-kai. While most subraces of elves are able to be proven to be part of the elvish bloodline, it is hypothesized that some races appear far different from elves are perhaps actually subraces of them - the most notable scholarly examples of this include hobgoblins and orcs. A list of the major subraces of elves is as follows;

* **High Elves**, or *Gulakri* ("those of sorcery"), are the most magically proficient of the elven subraces. Notable for their concentration in Inverhond and the Holy See, and for their slightly taller build than other elves, as well as resilience to frost, the high elves are named for their preferance for high-altitude environments.
	+ **Maldoaravan Elves**, or *Parkri* ("those of learning"), are a derivative of the High Elves who came to settle in and found the Maldoaravan Commonwealth. While not distinct genetically from High Elves, many Maldoaravan Elves consider themselves to be seperate from the High Elves, due to distance and cultural differences.
* **Wood Elves**, or *Alakri* ("those who rush"), are the elves native to the realms of Thorland. They are typically shorter than other elves and have darker skin tones. The wood elves are notable for their unnatural proficiency in archery, their reverance of nature, and above all, their love for the thrill of the hunt.
* **Mist Elves**, or *Lorakri* ("those of fog") or *Kiri*, are those elves native to the lands of the Far East. Of fairly average height and build, they may appear similar to humans at first glance, if not for their pointed ears. The mist elves are famed for their calm, soul-searching demeanor and search for answers in everything in order to reach inner peace.
* **Desert Elves**, or *Lithakri* ("those of ash") are elves native to the deserts of Thynosia. More mercantile and adventerous than other elves, the desert elves are known for their shrewd business tactics and love of travel and exploration. They are also far more social than other elves, the first to begin interacting with other races in the First Era.
* **Jade Elves**, or *Jaakiri* ("those of jade") or *Kiri-gi*, are a subspecies of the mist elves of the Far East. The jade elves are extremely isolationist, living in solitary kingdoms high within mountains and producing the highest-quality jade art.
* **Dark Elves**, or *Shadarkiri* ("those of night") are a group of shadar-kai that escaped the Underdark in the Second Era. Since, they have settled and become accustomed to the Ombre Stoneplains, a region suffused in magical darkness due to the Draconic Cataclysm, founding the once-nation and now Malkenian-occupied territory of Courbeilliers.

### Craftsmanship

Elven craftsmanship is known across the realms to be extremely fine. All of their objects - whether they be for day-to-day use or objects of worship - are crafted in beautiful, elegant style that few other races can replicate. The goods often are quite fragile, incorporating white ceramics and gold. While far more common during the Second Era, when elves had empires of their own, in the diversity and advancement of the Third Era, this craftmanship has seen a dip in its production - typically kept for nobility. However, elven-made goods of high quality are still often given as gifts during diplomatic meetings, and treasured by those who recieve them.

### Gender and Sexuality

Compared to most other races, elves have a different view of gender and sexuality. Rather than assign genders at birth based on sexual characteristics, elves consider all other individuals of their race to be neutral of gender, regardless of their primary and secondary sexual characteristics. This is true of every elven subrace, regardless of their distance from one another. There is no gendered pronouns in the elven language, only the neuter pronoun, *ya.* While many elves dress androgynous in nature, others may prefer to lean into a specific direction, either dressing more masculine or feminine. While elven culture does not dictate clothing (or truly any characteristics) to be gendered, many elves will take on different pronouns in Common based on their preferred style of presentation, as it assists them in manuevering wider multiracial society.

## Combat

In combat, elves are known for their grace and elegance, as well as strict, regimented combat styles. Despite this, they are often extremely brutal and violent in their execution of opponents. Elves are best known for their unique array of weaponry they prefer, such as elegant glaives and longbows. Elven archers are some of the best in Rosenwelt. The elven thinblade is one of the most iconinc elven weapons, used to deadly efficiency by their assassins, capable of slipping beneath the cracks of even the toughest armor. In the militaries of elves, it is considered taboo to say "farewell" to a soldier in his last battle; instead, it is decorum to say "encore."