Valeskan Elves: Origins, Culture, Biology, Q&A
Oct 20, 2015 19:45:21 GMT -8
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Post by Lιттle Ƭree (Cedar Ashland) on Oct 20, 2015 19:45:21 GMT -8
Disclaimer: The vast majority of this is not mandatory to know; there are hundreds of elven settlements with major differences. What is described here is "Mainstream" for Elven culture and society for the Valeskan world.
Elves
Origin and Abilities: Elves are considered one of the most elegant and refined of races, gifted with natural grace and sharp wits. Highly intelligent, these humanoids often conquer whatever challenges lay ahead of them. Gifted with heightened hearing and excellent vision, Elves are considered one of the top ranged hunters in the world of Koeth, second to only the Garou and the Orcs. Elves are also somewhat commonly skilled in the arts of the arcane, most often taking up summoning or joining the Esoteric Arrows due to their flexibility and dexterity making them perfect for the order.
The origin of elven kin is a tale that differs from elf to elf. However, the most common story is from Faludron. It is believed that Sariel, Arymar and the rest of the Seldarine decided to form a creature that reflected their image. They gathered young oak branches from the deep forests, smooth white marble from the south, rays of sunlight and two sapphires. From these items, they formed the first elf maiden, whose name was Faye. She was a lovely sight to behold, and beloved of the gods who crafted her. She spent years learning from her creators, having a deeply hungry mind and becoming a warden of the woods she was born in. As she reached adulthood, the gods left her to tend to the woods, having full faith in the young maiden.
As time progressed, she became a skilled huntress, only taking what she needed from her homelands... however as the years past, she drew lonely. She then went to the grove where she had been born and prayed to her beloved creators to make another one like her so that way she could spend her days with someone, the forest was grand but having no one to share it's beauty and splendor... well it was enough to make one draw mad.
The gods heard her prays and conducted a meeting of sorts, discussing what to do. Aymar spoke that it was not just to leave her like so, and Sariel agreed. The other gods chattered among themselves and finally came to an agreement. A day passed and Faye heard no word, yet she still remained devoted to her task. A week then... and then a month... Still, she stood strong against her growing loneliness, spending more times with her animal companions. Time kept pressing onwards and she forgot her prayers, drawing into herself... three months time after she prayed, she wandered the woods with her beloved ocelot named Elle.
It was a normal day, she was doing her walks to ensure everything was in order... when she heard an unfamiliar rustling. Without a thought, she drew her bow and notched an arrow, taking aim at the bush. A flash of tanned skin and red hair, a creature she had never seen before! She yelled out in her tongue of animal and plant, demanded to know what it was. And then she realized... it was like her, well sort of. Long red hair that fell upon his back, and green eyes, pointed ears... but the body was different than her own. She lowered her weapon, confused. The other was standing and protecting himself with a staff made of a branch of a tree, but as she lowered her weapon... he responded, able to speak her tongue, asking if she was Faye.
Oddly, a strange feeling crept over the she-elf and she said that she was and asked who he was. And then, he smiled and said his name was Nithren, and that the gods had sent him here. After some coaxing and finally allowing him to follow her, the two became inseparable and their children the first elves.
Appearance: Elves are humanoid creatures, commonly tall and slender with elongated pointed ears. Hair color, eye color, skin color and more can vary upon the subrace of elf, for there are many classifications of elven kind. This is due to the elven need to separate themselves, priding themselves on their physical differences and embracing them. Also it may be because elves have adapted in a variety of different ways to their surroundings and can look different from each other. It has gone so far that some subtypes of elf, like the Drow, consider themselves a completely different race despite their similarities to surface elves and vice versa. For information on Drow, please see this post. The following is general information about surface-dwelling elves.
Culture & Religion: Elven culture is most commonly group-oriented though elves place an importance on self-improvement and personal success. Though dependent on the subrace of elf, what is important may vary. Some elves value training their physical prowess or hunting, others the learning of fine arts and crafts and yet others value gathering knowledge and spellcasting. What is known and does not change from subrace to subtype is that elves often find themselves enamored with beauty, whether that be a finely crafted sword or the face of a fair maiden, to the way the blood stains the ground in the battle field or the way ink slides off the quill as they write. And that they must devote their life to locating this beauty and following their passions is common.
Despite how aloof and cold elves can seem towards themselves and others, elves are quite social creatures though often xenophobic of non-elves. They do posses a deep curiosity however which can negate their fears and leads them to wander from their homelands. They also respect and value those who display feats of skill, what that exact feat is can vary from elf to elf.
As for devotion, elves commonly worship two gods and the Seldarine:
Sariel: The elven goddess of the sun, magic, wisdom, and knowledge. Often seen carrying tome in one hand and a flaming orb of light in the other, this robed elven woman with flowing blonde hair and a sun circlet upon her head is known in common tongue as ‘the Lightbringer’ and in elven as ‘tel Aure'Sanganar’. She is worshiped in all even cultures, except for the drow. A handful of scholars believe that Sariel and Ayn are one in the same, but if you ask an elf and a human they will most likely disagree. Sariel’s holy places are often bookmakers, magicians and others of intellect collide though Fauldron is considered her holy land, being where she was believed to have created elven kind. Common offerings for Sariel are: paper, books, mana, crystals, quills, sun dials, sunstones.
Aymar: The elven god of justice, truth, the moon and fighters. Depicted as a scarred moon elf with fair skin, covered in mithril this god is known as the 'All Seeing'. Aymar is more often worshiped in high elven society despite his markings and by some moon elves. He is considered the righter of wrongs, the protector of family and the one who will aid the innocent when they have no voice. Those who are of the lawful good alignment and elven enjoy worshiping him, following his respective laws and traditions. His holy places are training grounds, battle fields where justice was served, and tournament halls. It is common for elves to use the phrase, "You must strike, like Aymar's blade, true and pure, to smith your troubles." As for offerings: swords, mithril, silver, moonstones, clear crystals, training in his name.
Seldarine: This is a wide pantheon of gods and goddesses, for elves are commonly polytheistic, worshiping many gods/goddesses. Aymar and Sariel are apart of this pantheon. Many gods and goddesses who are light-hearted and good are within this group though there are gods and goddesses of neutral alignment or darker thoughts such as Shevarash, the hater of drow.
For more information about the Seldarine see this.
Please note: The provided link is to be used for religion/worship reasons, stated events that have occurred in Forgotten Realms history did not happen here. You are welcome to use them as myths and stories, but not as hard fact.
Society and Military: Elven society is commonly formal compared to the other races, despite frequently living within the deep forests and other 'untamed' lands. Elves form a court system and caste system within their lands because elves have an important hierarchical structure that hails on the patriarchal side with an 'Aran' or king, though the thought of queens, known in elvish as 'Tari', reigning is not a foreign concept to some elves. There may or may not also be a council structure as well within the society. This council called a 'Quel'dorei' aids to the creation of laws, handling of criminals to the land and other important tasks within the elven society. There are a few elven societies in which there is no singular ruling head or royal line, rather a council of elders who uphold all major leadership responsibilities. These societies are frequently more tribal in nature, and far smaller to allow this responsibility to be handled by a group.
Elves are skilled warriors, favoring ranged weapons such as: longbows, shortbows, crossbows, throwing knives, etc. Though they are also fine mages, for some elves are naturally born with the 'kiss of Sariel' and blessed with a knack for magic. There are elven warriors as well, but they are not bulking brutes like the orcs, rather having slender lean muscle using weapons that aid to their natural dexterity, speed and grace. Elven warriors are called in the common tongue 'whirling blades' or 'flying daggers' because of their preference for weapons that can be used quickly and be dodged with easily.
Military wise, there are elven armies in the more established elven lands. They however commonly act to protect their own land holdings rather than seek out others to take over, but elves claiming land as their own is not rare. There have been great elven wars like 'The Fall of Beywen' and '' because of the common elven belief that are a superior race by either a combination of their physical prowess, divine right and/or mental superiority. Whatever the reasoning is elves frequently believe that they know what is 'best' for an area verse other races, which causes conflict. Paired with the common elven wanderlust, elves can be a threat to other's lands.
Elves
Origin and Abilities: Elves are considered one of the most elegant and refined of races, gifted with natural grace and sharp wits. Highly intelligent, these humanoids often conquer whatever challenges lay ahead of them. Gifted with heightened hearing and excellent vision, Elves are considered one of the top ranged hunters in the world of Koeth, second to only the Garou and the Orcs. Elves are also somewhat commonly skilled in the arts of the arcane, most often taking up summoning or joining the Esoteric Arrows due to their flexibility and dexterity making them perfect for the order.
The origin of elven kin is a tale that differs from elf to elf. However, the most common story is from Faludron. It is believed that Sariel, Arymar and the rest of the Seldarine decided to form a creature that reflected their image. They gathered young oak branches from the deep forests, smooth white marble from the south, rays of sunlight and two sapphires. From these items, they formed the first elf maiden, whose name was Faye. She was a lovely sight to behold, and beloved of the gods who crafted her. She spent years learning from her creators, having a deeply hungry mind and becoming a warden of the woods she was born in. As she reached adulthood, the gods left her to tend to the woods, having full faith in the young maiden.
As time progressed, she became a skilled huntress, only taking what she needed from her homelands... however as the years past, she drew lonely. She then went to the grove where she had been born and prayed to her beloved creators to make another one like her so that way she could spend her days with someone, the forest was grand but having no one to share it's beauty and splendor... well it was enough to make one draw mad.
The gods heard her prays and conducted a meeting of sorts, discussing what to do. Aymar spoke that it was not just to leave her like so, and Sariel agreed. The other gods chattered among themselves and finally came to an agreement. A day passed and Faye heard no word, yet she still remained devoted to her task. A week then... and then a month... Still, she stood strong against her growing loneliness, spending more times with her animal companions. Time kept pressing onwards and she forgot her prayers, drawing into herself... three months time after she prayed, she wandered the woods with her beloved ocelot named Elle.
It was a normal day, she was doing her walks to ensure everything was in order... when she heard an unfamiliar rustling. Without a thought, she drew her bow and notched an arrow, taking aim at the bush. A flash of tanned skin and red hair, a creature she had never seen before! She yelled out in her tongue of animal and plant, demanded to know what it was. And then she realized... it was like her, well sort of. Long red hair that fell upon his back, and green eyes, pointed ears... but the body was different than her own. She lowered her weapon, confused. The other was standing and protecting himself with a staff made of a branch of a tree, but as she lowered her weapon... he responded, able to speak her tongue, asking if she was Faye.
Oddly, a strange feeling crept over the she-elf and she said that she was and asked who he was. And then, he smiled and said his name was Nithren, and that the gods had sent him here. After some coaxing and finally allowing him to follow her, the two became inseparable and their children the first elves.
Appearance: Elves are humanoid creatures, commonly tall and slender with elongated pointed ears. Hair color, eye color, skin color and more can vary upon the subrace of elf, for there are many classifications of elven kind. This is due to the elven need to separate themselves, priding themselves on their physical differences and embracing them. Also it may be because elves have adapted in a variety of different ways to their surroundings and can look different from each other. It has gone so far that some subtypes of elf, like the Drow, consider themselves a completely different race despite their similarities to surface elves and vice versa. For information on Drow, please see this post. The following is general information about surface-dwelling elves.
- Amaniel or Blessed Elves: These winged elves are the one rarest subtype of elf next to Avariel and Fey'ri. Blood of a divine being is in their lineage and they are known for their peace keeping ways and purity. They are gifted with vibrant, glowing eyes, feathered wings, pale coloration and hair colors that fall on the lighter side. Amaniel and Avariel are similar in appearance. However due to the blessings and innate magical abilities that Amaniel have, they are quite different. Another important distinction between Amaniel and Avariel is that Amaniel commonly find themselves perusing a life of scholarly thought or belonging to a divine order rather than their ever-wandering cousins. Amaniel are similar to the human Aasimar and may find a kinship with their fellow light-following brothers and sisters.
- Avariel or Wandering Elves: Similar to Amaniel, Avariel are also winged elves. However, there is a major difference between Amaniel and Avariel. Avariel are not 'blessed', meaning they do not have the abilities nor the glowing coloration of Amaniel. Avariel are commonly more tanned than Amaniel, due to the fact that they are nearly constantly outside and have a preference for wide open spaces. Their wings can come in a variety of shades and color patterns, but all are feathered. Avariel are commonly nomadic, moving from place to place and exploring the world living in peace with nature and the creatures within it.
- Avarta'ri or the Forsaken: This is not a subrace but rather, a type of elf. Forsaken Elves are elves that were born of out of elven society, that have deal with a decent sum of tragedy due to their long-life spans and develop a solemn personality from this. They often shy away from others of their kind, preferring to be with races that live as long as they do, like Fae-Kin. Other elves view these 'Forsaken' as Elves who are not truly cultured in their ways and aren't real elves, while Forsaken simply disassociate with their kind on a whole. Forsaken Elves can be found anywhere in the world, more so in larger cities where they can observe and watch from the shadows. Their physical appearance is that of the common elf, though there is the occasional Forsaken Elf that is of the other subraces. Not all elves who are born outside of elven society are Forsaken, but they may change into such over time.
- 'Common' Elves: Your average elf, those pointy long eared folk. These are elves that do not consider themselves a specif subtype of elf, simply that they are 'elven'. These elves have from pale to tanned skin and hair that can be any natural shade for an elf which is the lightest of blondes to the darkest of blacks. They do not have exotic or strange coloring, like teal colored hair or have extra appendages like Amaniel or Fey'ri have. They lack scales like the Shaeri or the ability to change into a wolf like the Lythari.
- Calaiel or High Elves / Sun Elves: When one thinks of an elf, the more frequent image is that of a high elf. Skin tones that run on light to the golden side and hair that are shades of blonde or reddish tones with blue to green eye colors. These elves are known for their guarded nature and aloofness, but also their magical might. It is most common to find a sun elf or high elf garbed in the latest fashions or finest silks, their taste's decadent. They are called sun elves due to their golden tones, but also called high elves due to their personality and preference for high mountain ranges.
- Fey'ri: The opposite of the Amaniel. Instead of blood of a holy divine flowing through their veins, the Fey'ri have unholy blood of a demon in their linage which taints them. Fey'ri, if you ever see their real form, are commonly bat-like winged elves with clawed appendages, sharp teeth or other monstrous parts. They posses innate magical abilities but instead of light, they control the dark. Fey'ri are dangerous beings most often, harbingers of chaos, death and destruction. Thus why they have been hunted to near extinction. Their true form's coloration can fall on the darker side of color spectrum having hair colors that range from deep red to obsidian black with skintones that can be the purest of sickly white to ebony. Fey'ri are similar to the human Tiefling and may find a kinship with their fellow demon-blooded brothers and sisters.
- Ithiliel or Moon Elves: When upon the road and heading to a city, this is the most typical elf you shall meet. Moon elves skin tones range from pale white to grayish silver to blue tones. Their hair can be any shade of the white-black spectrum, though there are blonde and blue or violet haired moon elves. They are the most friendly of the elves that you can meet and often are clad with a moon pendant of Sehanine upon their body or wearing markings that relate to the goddess.
- Lythari: Lythari are the most reclusive of the elves. Good-aligned and capable of changing into lupine form, they are true lycanthropes. In wolf form, Lythari are beautiful, with pale grey or silver fur and intelligent blue or brown eyes. It is for this wolven beauty that they have come to be known as Silver Shadows by the Tauriel who claim the forests Lythari love. Unlike other well known shifter races, Lythari hold an impression of friendly companionability, not ferocious danger. In the rare moments they choose to take their elven form, their beauty becomes otherworldly, even for elves. Tall and pale skinned, with light blue or green eyes and silver hair, they dress in furs and hides and decorate themselves with feathers, bone jewelry, and paints, wearing a fashion more ancient than the oldest Tauriel tribes.
- Merkaiel or Wild Elves: Tribal and fierce, these elves are far from their refined brothers and sisters. Wild elves commonly have darker skin tones, eye and hair colors and are found roaming where ever their hearts desire. Commonly clad in leathers and hide while wearing gifts from nature such as feathers, wooden jewelery and bones, these elves live a physically demanding life style. Because of this, wild elves are more likely the most muscular of elves that you can see. They live off the land, and are commonly hostile to other groups. These elves often go head to head with other nomadic tribal races such as orcs or fae.
- Shaeri or Aquatic Elves: An odd subspecies, Aquatic Elves upon first glance appear to be Mer-Folk than elf. These elves are vibrantly or darkly scaled with webbed appendages and a second clear lid over their eyes to help them see under the water. They do not have tails like mer, rather using their webbed fingers and toes to give them their extra speed. Aquatic elves commonly live in shallow to mid-range water, no deeper than 100 meters because the effort upon their bodies is far too much for them to swim and stay down there. Shaeri can be found commonly near bodies of water, for they require a splashing of this liquid upon their scaled skin in order to keep themselves from drying out.
- Tauriel or Wood Elves: Defenders of the woods, these are the elves which commonly inhabit them. Known for their tracking, archery and talents with the earth, wood elves are in the middle ground of elves. They are not as free-loving and wild as the Merkaiel or as refined as the Calaiel, they are a mixture. They are often garbed in leather armor or hide but may change depending on what they are doing, and what their rank is. They are protective of nature, not enjoying destroying the blessed earth for no reason and taking offense when someone harms nature for no reason. Their coloration falls on the darker end, having dirty blonde to chestnut brown hair though red-hair is common with wood elves too. Their skin tone is mid-range for an elf, being from a light olive to a deeply tanned brown. Eye colors are brown, hazel, green and blue.
Culture & Religion: Elven culture is most commonly group-oriented though elves place an importance on self-improvement and personal success. Though dependent on the subrace of elf, what is important may vary. Some elves value training their physical prowess or hunting, others the learning of fine arts and crafts and yet others value gathering knowledge and spellcasting. What is known and does not change from subrace to subtype is that elves often find themselves enamored with beauty, whether that be a finely crafted sword or the face of a fair maiden, to the way the blood stains the ground in the battle field or the way ink slides off the quill as they write. And that they must devote their life to locating this beauty and following their passions is common.
Despite how aloof and cold elves can seem towards themselves and others, elves are quite social creatures though often xenophobic of non-elves. They do posses a deep curiosity however which can negate their fears and leads them to wander from their homelands. They also respect and value those who display feats of skill, what that exact feat is can vary from elf to elf.
As for devotion, elves commonly worship two gods and the Seldarine:
Sariel: The elven goddess of the sun, magic, wisdom, and knowledge. Often seen carrying tome in one hand and a flaming orb of light in the other, this robed elven woman with flowing blonde hair and a sun circlet upon her head is known in common tongue as ‘the Lightbringer’ and in elven as ‘tel Aure'Sanganar’. She is worshiped in all even cultures, except for the drow. A handful of scholars believe that Sariel and Ayn are one in the same, but if you ask an elf and a human they will most likely disagree. Sariel’s holy places are often bookmakers, magicians and others of intellect collide though Fauldron is considered her holy land, being where she was believed to have created elven kind. Common offerings for Sariel are: paper, books, mana, crystals, quills, sun dials, sunstones.
Aymar: The elven god of justice, truth, the moon and fighters. Depicted as a scarred moon elf with fair skin, covered in mithril this god is known as the 'All Seeing'. Aymar is more often worshiped in high elven society despite his markings and by some moon elves. He is considered the righter of wrongs, the protector of family and the one who will aid the innocent when they have no voice. Those who are of the lawful good alignment and elven enjoy worshiping him, following his respective laws and traditions. His holy places are training grounds, battle fields where justice was served, and tournament halls. It is common for elves to use the phrase, "You must strike, like Aymar's blade, true and pure, to smith your troubles." As for offerings: swords, mithril, silver, moonstones, clear crystals, training in his name.
Seldarine: This is a wide pantheon of gods and goddesses, for elves are commonly polytheistic, worshiping many gods/goddesses. Aymar and Sariel are apart of this pantheon. Many gods and goddesses who are light-hearted and good are within this group though there are gods and goddesses of neutral alignment or darker thoughts such as Shevarash, the hater of drow.
For more information about the Seldarine see this.
Please note: The provided link is to be used for religion/worship reasons, stated events that have occurred in Forgotten Realms history did not happen here. You are welcome to use them as myths and stories, but not as hard fact.
Society and Military: Elven society is commonly formal compared to the other races, despite frequently living within the deep forests and other 'untamed' lands. Elves form a court system and caste system within their lands because elves have an important hierarchical structure that hails on the patriarchal side with an 'Aran' or king, though the thought of queens, known in elvish as 'Tari', reigning is not a foreign concept to some elves. There may or may not also be a council structure as well within the society. This council called a 'Quel'dorei' aids to the creation of laws, handling of criminals to the land and other important tasks within the elven society. There are a few elven societies in which there is no singular ruling head or royal line, rather a council of elders who uphold all major leadership responsibilities. These societies are frequently more tribal in nature, and far smaller to allow this responsibility to be handled by a group.
Elves are skilled warriors, favoring ranged weapons such as: longbows, shortbows, crossbows, throwing knives, etc. Though they are also fine mages, for some elves are naturally born with the 'kiss of Sariel' and blessed with a knack for magic. There are elven warriors as well, but they are not bulking brutes like the orcs, rather having slender lean muscle using weapons that aid to their natural dexterity, speed and grace. Elven warriors are called in the common tongue 'whirling blades' or 'flying daggers' because of their preference for weapons that can be used quickly and be dodged with easily.
Military wise, there are elven armies in the more established elven lands. They however commonly act to protect their own land holdings rather than seek out others to take over, but elves claiming land as their own is not rare. There have been great elven wars like 'The Fall of Beywen' and '' because of the common elven belief that are a superior race by either a combination of their physical prowess, divine right and/or mental superiority. Whatever the reasoning is elves frequently believe that they know what is 'best' for an area verse other races, which causes conflict. Paired with the common elven wanderlust, elves can be a threat to other's lands.
