Brief History
Long thinking themselves the oldest and original race of Ezrahn, the Elves flourished in their forested homes and its surrounding plains. With no competition except the beasts they hunted for food, they used their secure position to develop their art. Poetry, music, and even painting spread amongst the Elven people in the early centuries of their existence. They worshipped the Immortals (primarily Tessahl and her twin children Lunalin/Solahl) and developed a magickal academy.
One day, a Human arrived on the northern outskirts of their kingdom, dirty and covered in skins roughly cut from animals of the plains. The man carried rudimentary weapons, but posed no threat as he collapsed in exhaustion before he even saw the Elves in the trees.
Taking in this man, they healed him. Upon awaking, the man told his saviors of a threat from the North. A violent being, taller than a giant, hulking with muscles, was leading an attack upon the scattered peoples living on the northern plains.
The Elven people were troubled by this revelation as much as they were to find out they were not the only people upon Ezrahn. They prayed to the Immortals, their wizards using their arcane arts to find out what threat these invaders posed to them.
Their answer came in the appearance of a shining figure in armor that constantly shifted in appearance. Weapons appeared and disappeared from his body as if in a shimmering mirage.
“I am Sotestari, The Master of War. Ock’Thul has twisted the Aether to corrupt the race of Orcs. He drives them across the land, destroying the peace of the Green Mother. Join with the Humans. Drive the Orcs back to their own lands.” In a brilliant flash, he was gone.
The Elves turned their attention to preparations for something they had never experienced before, War. More Humans appeared on their borders, fleeing the advancing Orcs and Ock’Thul’s black shadow blade.
Using the cover provided by their forest home, the invasion stalled. Whenever Ock’Thul appeared, his chaotic and fear inspiring visage enraging his chosen people, the shining light would appear again, distracting him and leaving the mortal races to settle the battle between themselves.
The stalemate lasted for years, the Elves and their Human allies refused to leave the advantage of the forests, while the Orcs were unable to gain any ground. Until, seemingly overnight, the Orcs withdrew from the plain, retreating north and making camp beyond where the Elves were willing to venture.
Months passed as neither side engaged the other. Until a rumbling within the ground signaled something new was coming.
Without warning, the ground heaved. Great mountains thrust from the ground, splitting the continent spanning forest of the Elves in two. Short, burly, wide people flowed out of the upthrust earth. They wielded hammers and blades with abandon against the Orc encampments not destroyed in the upheaval.
Seeing new allies, the Elves and Humans charged to the side of these bearded warriors. The Dwarves welcomed the aid warily, trusting the newcomers while they battled together. As the three races worked alongside each other, they began to push back the Orcs.
When Ock’Thul arrived to rally his people, the shining warrior appeared alongside a giant of a Dwarf with a golden forge hammer. Before long, the Orcs broke rank and fled.
The alliance formed by the Elves, Humans, and Dwarves in the heat of battle settled into an uneasy truce as all three races grappled with their newfound awareness of other races.
The Elves sought to reunite their split kingdom, but even with Dwarven help, the mountains proved treacherous for casual travel. In the end, two nations of Elves began their own paths.
The Elves of the northwestern forests of Yelgor kept the traditions of warrior training began at the beginning of the Orcish Invasion. They founded two schools on the coasts of the Sardathican Sea, one dedicated to the priesthood of Lunalin, and one dedicated to the warrior caste of Solahl, the original twin Elven immortals of Moon and Sun.
The Elves of the central region of Ezrahn continued their traditional worship of Tessahl the Green Mother primarily. Solahl and Sotestari also gained quite the following. However, the less aggressive ideals of honorable combat only when necessary taught by Solahl took a firmer hold amongst the Elves, as they saw Sotestari as more violent than needed. Wizards amongst the Elves recognized with respect Woldram as the Father of Magic and Knowledge.
Physical Description
Though generally taller than Humans, Elves tend towards a more slender, lithe appearance, with uniquely pointed ears. Their thin frames hold surprising power and anyone familiar with Elves would not mistake them as weak or frail despite this. Most wear their hair long, sometimes in intricate braids. Their eyes are wider and narrower than Humans, with colors ranging from the more common blues and browns, to rarer purples or even reds. Their skin tones range more depending on the locations, with the Elves of Yelgor tending more towards duskier tones while the Elves of the Sun Forest tend to be paler. Their clothing and sense of fashion depends heavily on their chosen occupation and status, with the elites being more vain about their clothing and trying to set trends.
Society
Elven society spent millennia in peace, developing artistic talents of poetry, song, and painting to high levels. The most talented amongst the Elven people are treated as royalty. Their reverence of the arts is equal to their admiration of skilled archers and soldiers, with many ‘friendly’ competitions held yearly in times of peace. Skilled wizards are also praised for the amount of skill and dedication involved in mastering control over the Aether woken throughout Ezrahn.
Elves posses a great gift for craftsmanship and artistry, especially when working in wood, bone, ivory, or leather. While seen as less, a master of the forge can rise to prominence with his armor and weapon crafting skills. Few elves take up other trades involving the earth, such as carving or pottery, except as necessary for use in everyday tasks.
Relations
As a whole, Elves see the other, shorter lived, races as impulsive and hasty. Individuals have earned the trust and respect of the Elven people, especially the Humans of the northern border kingdoms, who intermarried with the Elven people in the aftermath of the Orcish Invasion. Though this practice has died off in recent centuries, the Elves of the Sun Forest maintain close ties with their northern neighbors due to the distantly shared bloodlines.
The grudging respect between Elves and Dwarves stems from the shattering of Elven belief that they were the original race on Ezrahn. After learning that the Dwarves had been toiling beneath the ground for as long (or longer) than the Elves had roamed the forests of the surface, it shifted their long held ideals of superiority.
Though they hold themselves as above most other races, they have come to respect some aspects of the other races. They would be the first to laud the Dwarven skill at smithing and their tenacity in facing any Orc threats. Halflings are often viewed as wayward children, even when encountered within the borders of their own lands. The strange Beastkin of the Araychay Jungle and Wild Wood, the Dragon Scions, or the rarer Salkier would depend on the individual. Elves became fascinated with Humans from the beginning of their introduction. The Human ability to pack so much life into their shortened lifespan infatuated many Elves. This is evidenced in their mingling of bloodlines along the northern border settlements. Elves struggled at first with the rise of crossbreeds however, but quickly (for Elves) moved past this with regards to their own offspring. They regard Half-Orcs with distrust and suspicion, assuming they possess the worst aspects of their Orcish and Human lineages. Though encounters with the Orcs of the Eastern Clanlands have been few, that race’s departure from the teachings of Ock’Thul have led to a similar attitude as that regarding Half-Orcs, distrustful but not openly hostile.
Alignment and Religion
Elves value kindness and beauty, and can be quite emotional with those they trust and love. Most elves wish all creatures to be safe and happy, but unwilling to sacrifice personal freedom or choice to accomplish such goals. They have devoted orders to Tessahl, Lunalin, and Solahl, with arcane spellcasters or researchers having a healthy respect for Woldram.
Adventurers
Elves who set out on adventures from the comforts of their home due so generally out of a deep curiosity driven wanderlust. Some have sought out ancient knowledge existing outside of Elven society once their singular existence was shattered. Elves make excellent rangers given the nature of their forest homes. Elven wizards are also regaled as some of the best in all of Ezrahn, as they have centuries to master what other races have decades to accomplish. Elven Clerics of Tessahl and Lunalin are some of the most devout and skilled healers in the land. As proponents of the arts, many traveling Elves are Bards, seeking adventures to add to their storytelling repertoire. While not unheard of, their natural dexterity and agility can lead an Elf to pursue the adventure of a traveling swordsman or even rogue.
Pale Elves hail from the shadowed plateau of Ciarnyx.
Long ago, during the generations of wars with the Orcish hordes of Ock’Thul, some elves grew tired of the constant threat and longed for a return to their peaceful lives. They fled from the conflict and settled far to the East in a fertile valley.
A strange voice whispered to the leaders of this settlement, speaking of abandonment by the Immortals , especially Solahl, the Brightstar. These leaders, and the whole settlement, grew to resent the Immortals they worshipped, even abandoning more than lip service to the Green Mother herself.
As the rift between these elves and their previous worship grew, the strange voice whispered of power to crush their enemies – if only they’d abandon the light of the Brightstar. During this time, the Orcs had stumbled upon the underground civilization of Dwarves. When the Forgefather slammed his anvil, raising the Trahaern Mountains and Doreager Peaks, the valley was raised high into the sky.
The Elves cried out in fear as the sun above scorched them. In their turning from Solahl, the Immortal embodiment of the Sun, he did not answer their pleas for mercy. To ease their suffering, the people of the now high plateau cried out to the strange voice for assistance. Their call was answered, but that began their nightmare. Ciarnyx, Lord of Nightmares and Undeath, answered their call. The pleas from the Elves fueled his magic, elevating him to full Low Immortal status. He immediately claimed his new worshippers, shrouding the plateau in shadows. The Elves found themselves in a kingdom of shadows, tormented by the visage of their brethren who died in the Orc Wars.