Elf

Spirit folk who embody life.

Basics

• Taxonomic Order: TheFolk

• Alignment: Aetherial

• Energy: Ashar

• Lifespan: 2,000 years

• Diet: Fruitarian

• Habitat: Deep, secluded forests

Origins

Originally, elves formed from raw lifeforce guided by their goddess, Emelcuil. Later, they were nearly wiped out and resurrected by heroes known as the Last Elves.

Description

Elves are tall, pale-silver-skinned to dark-silver-skinned folk with pointed ears. Their hair is within human variation, and their eyes are always bright colors.

Procreation

Elves reproduce sexually with one another. Reproduction with other species is only possible with supernatural intervention.

Powers

Elves are beings of life. They are long-lived, disease resistant, and capable of coaxing living things in their growth with touch, word, or breath to some small degree. As elves grow and live, the potent ashar within them reacts to their life experiences. Every elf gains a special power after their thousandth year or so that reflects their life experiences. This power is called an ashrae and is always ashar-based.

Major life events can sometimes imbue elves with other powers. Reaching maturity, having a child, bonding with a significant other, caring for a parent, or saving someone's life are all sources of these ashar-based powers, called ashmial. Ashmial powers cap at five.

Elves also gain one of five powers when they reach old age (after 1,500 years): choosing (to take wounds/illnesses for another), argentflame control/making, heal moderate wounds, preserving touch (keeps things young and alive longer), and silverlight aura (protects from mswahat).

Environmental Powers

Elves respond to the living things around them as they grow up. Most elves live in Silverwood, and thus, gain the normal powers listed above, but those who live outside of this area gain very different powers. This is very rare since the other elven nations were transformed, but it is possible.

Weaknesses

Msawhat or pravum will kill them.

Nations

The only remaining elven nation is the Ailaneans.

Culture

The history of the elves of Shem is one of deep pain and loss. Once seen as paragons of life, the ruling elves began to believe that they were superior living beings. This led to their involvement in a series of genocidal wars that later they sought to erase entirely from their history. As time went on, the elves fell out of power and eventually, after centuries, forgot their role in these genocides. However, their actions left them cursed and dying out. A group of heroes called the Last Elves arose to save them, and in the process, save the world. This they saw as their atonement for their past, but in the process all but one elven nation were transformed into entirely new species.

The last elven nation is the Ailanean nation in Silverwood. They are sometimes called ashracelev, or "lives of silver". The last elven nation is a matriarchal society that communes heavily with the forest around them. They live in small communities that are as one with the forests, shaping trees and earth into homes, eating only fruit or fungi that will not kill the plant or fungus, never harming animals or mortals, and sharing all communally.

There is only one community of elves large enough to be called a city, and it is still smaller than most other mortal cities. Almost all elves live in small communal villages within the Silverwood. Every village (and their one city, Ailellian) is ruled by a council of elders chosen by the village from among the eldest among them. Elven villages are matriarchal, so there is no private property or class division. Instead, they share sources of food and water, land and shelter. Anything that is needed to survive is always available if possible to any elf or visitor.

Children are raised by the whole community, with the birthing parent forming a close bond with her children. Motherhood is considered sacred (and is a state any gender may attain, if they are biologically capable of it). Once children are old enough to learn, they begin being taught by the community the basics of life. Formal schooling is available for those who wish to learn something more in depth, but many elves opt not to devote their lives to study. Instead, they commune with nature and learn what they need to serve the community by experience. Elves reach adulthood by the age of 25, though by age of 16 or so, they usually have a great deal of independence. Most elves choose a role within their communities by the age of 18.

Every elven village has a small group of warriors who have vowed to protect the village, the country, or all of elvendom if necessary. These warriors are among the few who will take the life of another, and as such, they perform an intricate ceremony before formally becoming a warrior that pre-emptively atones for any life they take. Elves also have a few hunters in each community; though elves are fruitarian, they sometimes must hunt dangerous predators who threaten their communities. These hunters perform the same ceremony as warriors.

Among every community there is a seedbearer, an elf who is committed to carrying the seeds of every seed-bearing plant the elves use. Seedbearers maintain the sources of nourishment and life for the community, and they can tap into the enormous ashar present in their seeds. They can use this power to help plants grow, heal the sick and wounded, and unleash argentfire. They are extremely judicious in their use of these powers, as they can deplete the seeds. The seedbearers, however, teach the elven vitalists who are the primary healers of the elven nation.

Other important roles in elven communities include the telpetan (silversmiths) who use argentfire to create silver objects that help living things thrive. Horseshoes that strengthen the horses, jewelry that keeps people healthy, etc. There are hempahto, ropemakers who create the ropes vitalists use, and maitar, or artists who create animate statues and paintings. Other common roles in elven communities include weavers, farmers, gatherers, water-keepers, caretakers, and builders.

Elven art is either made with living things (trees reshaped, topiaries, etc.) or with stone (sculptures) or other non-living materials. They avoid paints, for instance, that come from animal parts that require the death of the animal, or dyes that require killing a plant.

Under every triple full moon, the elves hold a festival celebrating the Last Elves (see below). Every first day of spring, they celebrate the renewal of the cycle of life. And in the fall, they, along with many others, honor the darkening days with a harvest feast. They also recognize, because their home is within Lyrilla, Samhain, a night of terrors.

Life and Death

Their reverence for life means that any time they take a life, they must atone in some way. This goes beyond merely being part of their religion; it is embedded in their culture. Every elf raised in their culture will feel compelled to make some kind of atonement, even after washing their hands (thus killing bacteria). Atonement rituals usually involve doing something to encourage new life to form. This can be as simple as leaving a piece of food out for animals to eat or watering a garden plot, or it can be as complicated and long-term as life-long service to the loved ones of a fallen mortal or replanting a forest. An elf who commits murder is forced to atone by the community, thus becoming an atoner, one whose life is forfeit but who lives so that the community may live. They are expected to defend the community against any threat. If one is unrepentant or refuses atonement, they are banished from elvendom.

Every birth in an elven community is cause for celebration. Births are rare among elves, so each one is especially precious. Elves celebrate for three days after a birth, giving the child a name chosen by the community on the third day. The birthing parent grants a name on the first day that only she uses for her child. When an elf reaches maturity, they choose a third name. If they go outside of their community, the name of their village is considered their surname. Every death, on the other hand, is a time of deep mourning. The younger an elf was when they died, the longer the mourning period. If the birthing parent outlived her child, she will often spend a decade in mourning. The whole community mourns for at least a week with every death, putting all but the most necessary work aside. They speak the story of the dead elf's life, share food and comfort, and send word to any elves who knew the fallen elf.

Though many outside of elven communities view abortion as a form of murder, the elven nation does not. Given that many fertilized ova fail to take hold and are released via menses, elves view miscarriage and abortion as part of the cycle of life. Because elven communities provide for all of their people, abortion is less common among them, and when it is necessary, mourning of the lost opportunity for a new elf is not uncommon. But it is not treated as a funereal event. There are, of course, some elves who go against the grain and see it differently, just as there are some elves who commit murder, join other cultures, or simply don't agree with every facet of their upbringing. However, these are rare. Euthanasia, however, is considered taboo among elves, except in the most extreme circumstances. This is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the whole community cares for the sick and injured, and that their supernatural arts reduce the frequency of such conditions that often lead to euthanasia, but many outside of elven communities dislike their attitude toward the practice. When euthanasia is practiced, it must be approved by the elders and all involved (including the elders) go through rituals of atonement.

Last Elves

The Last Elves were the legendary heroes who atoned for the genocides the elves committed on past Shems. These heroes led the transformations of the other elven nations into new forms of life and the healing of the Wound of the World. All elves honor the Last Elves, speaking their stories in special ceremonies, teaching the tales to their children, and acknowledging the pain and horror their ancestors caused in the world.

Every century, all elves gather in Ailellian for a recreation of major events in the stories of the Last Elves, with different elves performing the parts. Being chosen to take part is a high honor, and those who are chosen are celebrities among the elves. The performance, however, is more than theatre. Everyone chosen is granted a portion of ancient, sacred power that is the legacy of the Last Elves. Should the elven nation ever face peril, those chosen would take on the powers of the Last Elves and rise to protect their people.

Most elves do not realize that most of the Last Elves are still alive (though many were transformed), as they removed themselves from elven society. The remaining Last Elves are listed below.

Esoterica

Elves are beings of ashar. All other forms of supernatural power are possible except msawhat or pravum, which kills them. Most commonly, they wield viridian aether, prasinofos, fey energy, spirit energy, tyvka vlast, hasken fure, banaru, aemoa, conflueverant, nzwara murazvo, tmakikan, emotional resonance, poioumenon, livadi, parfum de marais, dream energy, kazaddarean, kiiric yihi, lunar aether, ma'dhahabi, radiance, sonic aether, euphony, hegnh, gebvel, juaih, lhair, dumaqu, ujjval aatma, ambrosia, yahas, iremia, waarheid, soul energy, euphotonia, euphoria, the bright, aifaellam, mijjit, humors, flux, menab'e, kutsegula, flux, poioumenon, and cu'ucuh'ik. Poarta is extremely rare, as are non-pure forms of msawhat.

Religion

Every elven community has a priestess (labeled as such regardless of their gender) who is in communion with Emelcuil, the Goddess who brought life to elves and all living things on Shem. These priestesses are often non-standard genders (in the eyes of outsiders, that is), and they are revered in the community. They are sought out when there is ambiguity in terms of what is justified taking of life, when there is need for a blessing (such as a pregnancy or planting), or in order to call to the Goddess for protection and favor.

The elven religion is deeply embedded in their culture such that even those who do not directly worship the Goddess often live by its tenants of the sanctity of life. Their religion drives their diets (though that is also backed up by their biology - meat does not agree with them and it takes a great deal of acclimation for them to eat it), their work, and their sense of rightness. They do not have a concept of sin or virtue in their faith; they simply believe that life should be protected, encouraged, nurtured, and supported, and anything contrary to that is wrong, even when it is necessary.

Priestesses lead rituals not on any set schedule, but as called for by events. As mentioned above, births and plantings call for blessings. Deaths call for funeral services (elves are given back to the living things around them, buried not in a coffin). They aid healers and vitalists in times of great need, care for the elderly and infants, and act as liaisons to animals, plants, fungi, and other living things that do not traditionally communicate.

Every elf will pray to the Goddess before a meal, before sleep, or in times of need.

Gender

While they recognize genders, these are highly individualistic and generally fluid. Most elves consider themselves women, even if other nations would say they were male. There is no marriage, but long-term romantic/sexual partnerships do occur. They simply do not have widespread cultural ceremonies or recognition, and even when there is such a union, monogamy is not often part of it.

Economy

Elves have a matriarchal, pre-class society that shares all property communally.

Military

Every elven community has warriors for protection, but there is no larger formal military structure.

Language

Elven language is blatantly ripped off of Tolkien.

Trade

Elves trade with fairy countries nearby, providing healing services, silver works, and other products in exchange for various needs they cannot create themselves.

Occupations

• Hempahto - makers of the rope vitalists use to transfer ashar from themselves to others.

• Telpetan - silversmiths who make argent-infused items.

• Maitar - artists who make living paintings

• Daielli - filis who guide elven communities.

• Seedbearer - those who draw ashar from seeds.

• Vitalist - those who transfer lifeforce from themselves to others via ropes in order to heal them.

• Phielin - investigators who explore the mysteries of life on behalf of the ancient elves.

• Ontaril - elders (almost always women) who lead elven communities.

• Nandaro - harpers who perform for elven communities and uplift life.

• Thienara - rangers who bond with the Silverwood.

• Erparma - scholars who study life and are guided by their own ashar.

• Inuîr - those who use ashar to enhance sex

• Ahyaimmo - those who use ashar to alter their bodies to match their genders; often religious leaders among the elves.

• Nuear - teachers who use ashar to guide themselves in teaching their students.

• Siarqil - elves who ride stags.

• Cayaphae - those who tap into their ashar to empower their bodies in combat.

• Ampilin - mounted cupilins.

• Cupilin - archers who draw argentflame around their arrows.

• Lamanserme - those who use ashar to bond with and befriend all animals.

• Druid - silver druids of the Silverwood.

• Cendaopa - one who teaches other elves about their faith.

• Airimo - priestesses of Emelcuil.

• Mencuin - one who studies the Puzzle of Bloods to discover the secrets of life.

• Phayrea - athletes who make their bodies more resilient with ashar.

Outside View

Many around the world remember when elves were their oppressors, and as such, they are hated, feared, stereotyped as arrogant and cruel. In Lyrilla, they are more known for their powers of healing and supporting life, and thus are respected and revered. Others view them as legends, given their isolated culture. In some places, such as Kael'Ras, they are spoken of as abominations.

Notables

Notable Ailaneans include

• Edhnenaia, Elf Manifest

• Milmeril, First of the Cupilins

• Tuigfileg, First of the Seedbearers

The Last Elves

• Daenil Paradaen, Dwonnic Consquent, Fisherman, who dwells in Ailanea and lives alone by a lake

• Endhathef Piquul, Vewelian Consquent, Simon Island Scholar

• Rindacsa Coacolina, Valhonian Consquent, Crone, who dwells alone in Wymmera, away from all other beings

• Vessera Rheesaral, Evernorthern Consequent, Assassin, who dwells among the caoineag as one of their most powerful warriors

• Ardhenial, Arboreal Consquent, Tree-Planter, who dwells in Ailanea and tends the trees

• Sorosophina Idhrenides, Pallanian Consequent, Retired General, who dwells in Ailanea and advises the elders

• Jheshemirath Paladrey, Elder Elven Consequent, Historian, who dwells in Ailanea and advises the elders

• Nodharnin'amanel, Windkeep Elven Consequent, Windrunner, who dwells in Gyrah and lives among the sylphs

• Aleel'aqallah, Iniseli Consequent, Tuth, who lives secretly in Mahad and leads her sect of thieves

• Deyn Amaethon, Stonedelver Consequent, Mercenary, who travels the world fighting for various aetherial forces

• Lyfanaqa, Kesanese Consequent, Healer, who lives beneath the seas and heals those who fight to preserve the waters

• Kanamoi, Blued Elf Consequent, Avenger, who lives amongst the Baleful as a feared warrior

• Quenewek Alhuik, Vesaritan Consequent, Namecaster, who lives in Ailanea and advises the elders

• Sewael, Celestial Elven Consequent, Marshal, who lives in Celeste Isle and advises the elders there

• Elekto, Firestone Elven Consequent, Firebrand, who lives in the Firestones and avoids mortal contact

• Kili'anamakaauhe, Qallurgian Consequent, Hunter, who lives in eastern Palhur and lives as a hunter

• Vanathos, Kyellezhian Consequent, Shipbearer, who drifts through the solar system alone in their ship

• Zabroim Halzallun, Kesaran Consequent, Trickster, who travels the world, causing trouble where they can

• Theona Malpurnen, Psyaran Elven Consequent, Carrier, who dwells in Psyara and communes with the hive mind

Estimated Populations

• Ailaneans: 12,000

• Others: 3,000

Sample Stats

PRO 6
ATH 9
STR 9
AWA 9
WIL 9
PRS 9
STH 8