Elves
Elves came to Aeldaria a thousand years ago from a place few now know of and even fewer speak of. Wise, regal and detached from the world of Man they know that they had to nurture man to the path to enlightenment and to raise him up from the primitive beast that he once was. Many elves think that this was a grave error and an act of folly.
They are arguably the highest of the Higher Races being the most sophisticated and civilized culture to grace the lands.
Sadly for them their day seems to have passed and those that remain are haunted by their once world spanning glory and grandeur. Now they live and rule on isolated islands and forests or in great fortresses like Radiant Melthurian. The old High Senate is in name only and now each elf land rules itself.
In the Higher Wars an ungrateful and duplicitous Man rose up to bite the hand that had both fed and groomed it. Those that survived hid or adapted. Those that fought won many a battle but never enough to check the hordes of Man. Still today Elves are impressively skilled in the arts of magic and possess, as a race, great knowledge.
Many that deal with Man are of good heart and bearing if at times aloof and condescending. Still Elves are admired by many humans though really understood by the common man. Humans are rarely, if ever, given the same respect by Elves who find human attempted usage of their tongue, at best amusing.
Physiology
There are several different subraces of elves which are all believed to have developed from a common ancestor. The most common are wood elves, snow elves, wild (feral) elves and the mysterious and feared Drow.
The High or Pure Elf is that most common and dominant type of Elf in Aeldaria from which other elves are said to have developed or devolved.
High Elves are on average taller than humans, with an average height of 5’ 10”, but of noticeably more slender and graceful physique. Males are slightly more muscular than females and on average 2 inches taller. On average males weigh 140 lbs and females 125 lbs. Neither sex grows facial or body hair.
Their features are more angular with well defined cheek bones, almond shaped eyes and, of course, longer and pointed ears. They are of clear and fair complexion with hair in a wide range of colours. Eyes tend to be striking and range in colour from blue, green, hazel brown to lilac. Humans tend to find them quite handsome and beautiful.
They do not sleep as most other creatures do, instead falling into a four-hour restful trance. Consequently, elves are unaffected by sleep-inducing spells and effects, and are able to remain active far longer than other races.
Elves also do not age as other creatures; their physical appearances remain constant from achieving physical maturity to death though they do grow physically weaker and mentally stronger with age.
Culturally
Elves speak their own language which is sophisticated, highly expressive and complex in nature taking years to fully grasp the nuances and rhythm of the tongue. There are several derivative dialects spoken by the isolated Elves of Aeldaria.There is a simpler version referred to a petty-Elven, by true Elves, which is spoken by many of the aspiring and educated humans of Aeldaria. This was the language of the Kaegorian Empire and is the medium for reason and knowledge. Even today many a ruler’s court uses it as a ceremonial tongue. For many humans ‘fluency’ in Elven is seen as the sign of a good cultured education.
Elves have a reputation for being very well presented with the highest standards of personal grooming and clothing.
Given their longevity it is understandable that they will Elves tend to be detached and aloof from the affairs of common man. This detachment is often seen by some as introversion, xenophobia or simple rudeness by other races.
Elven Realms