Elves
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Elves are long lived, graceful and intelligent humanoids. They are clustered in two main areas, the jungles of Illisiyan, and in the western part of Vondaria. Illisiyan they are ruled by an elven queen and her consort. While in Vondaria, they have their own local government, but are loyal to the Vondarian king. Another type of elf, the feral or wild elf, can be found deep in the high wilds. However, the feral elf is now a separate race and is quite rare outside the northern woods.
Elves are fond of music and art, but are also trained in the arts of war from an early age. It is unwise to think an elf weak.
The elven population is increasing, boosted with the fertility blessings of Corellon.
Appearance:
Elves are similar in height to humans, but often weigh far less. They have keen eyes, which are often almond shaped. Elven eye color is similar in range to human eye color, but they often sport many greys and violets. Their ears are elongated and end in a point. The length of an elf’s ears is somewhat variable, but it is always longer than a human’s. Elves range from fair skinned to tanned, with a few being a warm brown in color.
Elves live much longer than humans and mature at a slower rate. Young elves are similar in appearance to adult elves and many non-elves have difficulty with the distinction. Elves age quite gracefully, only showing their years towards the end of their lives. It has given them the reputation of being ageless.
Many of the younger elves of Illisiyan sport tattoos. These tattoos can be simple lines, or elaborate works of art. Older elves rarely have them.
Love and Relationships:
As long lived creatures who take a full century to mature into adulthood, elves approach the ideas of love and bonds such as marriage differently than humans do. Elves have a variety of words for love, each meaning a different type of affection. There is no stigma in elven culture about having relations with the same gender, or having multiple lovers (providing all of those lovers are on the same page). Elves will take lovers from other races, but these dalliances are generally brief for elves worry about getting too attached to a race who lives for a fraction of their own.
Elves who do marry, do so later in life. Most elves marry into a two person couple, although three person marriages are not uncommon. Occasionally elves form devoted and loving marriage with four elves.
Same-gender couples are often devoted aunts or uncles, if the opportunity presents itself, they will adopt orphaned elves. Half-elves who are raised by elves are often raised by a same-gender couple, if their elven parent is not ready to settle down with the responsibility of raising a child.
History:
Elves are not natives of Nim’thar. They are refugees from the elven continents. They have been on Nim’thar for hundreds of years. Long enough that they have established themselves. The oldest of the elves are survivors of the tragedies that befell the elven homeland. Some younger elves know this truth, but many do not.
Only some human historians have access to records of the elven arrival.
Illisiyan was founded where they first landed with their great ships. They struggled to make a home in the foreign jungle, which was very much different from their temperate homeland. Some left, seeking a more favorable climate.
All elves yearn their homeland. Those who do not know that they are immigrants are filled with a great wanderlust. Those who remember are always thinking of home.
Religion:
Corellon is the chief deity of elves. He has many clerics and many worshippers. Elves build elaborate temples, yet these temples are often worked into nature in such a way that they seem as if they grew there. There are no formal services, for each elf has their own personal connection with Corellon. Corellon is a vast deity who watches over countless worlds. He has never physically intervened in this world. However, to keep the elven people from fading, he has blessed them with a boon of fertility. Some believe this boon has aided in the ability to crossbreed with humans. Its main effect is to make elves more likely to have twins and to be fertile more often.
Names:
Elven names are graceful sounding and often carry great historical meaning, or meaning about the personality of the person so named. Not all elven names carry such weight. Adventuring elves will often pick a more human sounding name to fit in with their comrades. Elves also have a family name. This family name means much more to the older elves than is does for the younger generation, as centuries upon centuries of lore has been lost.
Stats:
Paizo/Pathfinder Standard
Plus: Yearning: An elf finds themself restless unless pursuing a goal. They often find themselves day dreaming about a land they have never seen (or have not seen in hundreds of years). (this has no in game impact, just a fun RP point)