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Author: Harken
Date Added: 8/7/09
Last Modified: 8/7/09
The Five Elves
Elves are one of the five common races of Aedolyn and command two of the nine seats of power. Long ago the only elves that populated Aedolyn were the earthly low elves in the ancient Sauvale Forest, and, from there, sects branched off forming the five types that reside in Aedolyn today...
The Urúdï (Low Elves)Lands
(Illycia/Nâvirfëll/Sauvale/Mirodo/Turúva) The low elves, or the Urúdï, are said to be the original elves of Aedolyn. They are the most ancient and the most associated with the forest itself, some even call them barbaric or feral. Legend has it that the Urúdï were the first elves to grace Aedolyn way before the Days of Aratar, and over time, sects would break off and distance themselves with the nomadic ways of the Urúdï; thus how the other four types of elves were formed. And now, today, the Urúdï still exist but keep to the undertones of society not taking part much in politics, but, as everything in Aedolyn, they couldn’t escape the wars. The Urúdï can be found in every forest of Aedolyn where other elves exist, even the Turúva Forest. Among themselves they are the Urúdï, but society knows them as the low elves. The low elves who have ventured into civilization can be found in Taldëon and Eysswë, but it is rare to find a low elf in Illúvëa since they are strongly resented by the high elves who refuse to accept the fact that they were once the Urúdï.
Physical Features
Lifespan: 800 Years
Height: 5’6” – 6’02”
Weight: 115 – 150 lbs
Hair: Shades of Brown
Eyes: Dark
Build: Fit and Thin
Skin: Darker tan and even Green, Tattooed
Traits
The Urúdï are very close with the forest. They actually are disconnected from all civilization and live in tribes that travel in the canopy. Their appearance itself seems simply like an extension of the forest, with tangled hair and dark skin; their clothes are rather primitive and most of the time they are covered in dirt of leaves. When it comes to magic, low elves have adopted it into their culture and society. Most of them dabble in the elemental sphere but some also concentrate in the ritual sphere.
Relations
Low elves seem to have been push aside by all other elves and are basically an extension of the animal life in all forests except Turúva where they are the only elves. Low elves seem to only get along well with wood elves since they are basically their closest relatives.
History
(See ‘lands’ section above.)
Arvands (High Elves)Lands
(Nâvirfëll/Illycia) The noble high elves have resided in Nâvirfëll for as long as anyone can remember. Back in the Days of Aratar, the forest was called the L’iorma Woodland after the majestic river that scales the entire forest. Nâvirfëll, as that time, was only the region to the immediate south of Angardia (the Angard Mountains). When the Nine graced Aedolyn, Avandor chose the regal high elves to be his people while encompassing all elves at the same time. His seat of power was in the pure city of Illúvëa instead of the more populous city of Eluréd and the forest was renamed the Kingdom of Nâvirfëll. Inevitably, however, other elves began to trickle into the capital thus tainting the purity of Illúvëa. From then on there was tension, especially after the unlocking of the Sharrum Gate. The Elf Civil war was all about the pure division of high and all other elves. War raged on for years until in the Fourth Age, the Tree of Forgiveness was planted and relations were mended. From then on, the Kingdom of Nâvirfëll was much of cohesive and peaceful despite the wars raging around it. In the end, Nâvirfëll could not avoid the fate of Aedolyn and it too was destroyed. The Nâvirfëll region of the north was flooded by the orcs of Kval’tar and cursed with the undead. Today, in the Sixth Age, the undead rule Illúvëa and Nâvirfëll (although they have successfully been kept out of the Illycia Darkwood). Many of the noble high elves who were caught in the rages of the Fifth Age have been resurrected as undead and still dwell in Nâvirfëll today.
Physical Features
Lifespan: 500 Years
Height: 5’11” – 6’6”
Weight: 135 – 175 lbs
Hair: White, Grey, Blonde, or Light Brown
Eyes: Light Green or Blue (Blue eyes is the sign of a High Elf)
Build: Tall and Thin
Skin: Pale
Traits
High elves are the most noble of all races in Aedolyn. They value their purity over everything else, thus developing a heavy arrogance and a bad reputation among other races in Aedolyn. Of all the deities, the high elves are the most loyal of all the races to theirs, Avandor. The high elves have an affinity with magic and it is a center point of their society since during the Third Age they were the only elves of Nâvirfëll who could use it while the others were at a disadvantage. They tend to focus more on the Spiritual Sphere but many veer down other paths, especially recently (the Sixth Age) many high elves have been dabbling more in the darker spheres of magic.
Relations
Because Avandor’s death was a result of a battle between Avandor and Durin, the high elves have extreme resentment toward the Bäran and the tension will be felt for as long as the high elves exist.
History
(See ‘lands’ section above.)
Imínyen/Illyar/Tiutalí (Wood Elves)Lands
(Mirodo/Nâvirfëll/Illycia/Sauvale) The southern Sauvale Forest was where the first wood elves emerged. Their increasing number was only rivaled by the high elves of Nâvirfëll; fortunately, the wood elves, although less pure, were much more numerous. They quickly spread through the forests of Aedolyn, populating Sauvale and southern L’iorma. As the Second Age dawned and the forest of Mirodo was formed, the wood elves were the first to populate it and soon Tólsimir, the Quiet graced the woodland as their sovereign. Throughout the ages, the wood elves suffered greatly from the premature departure of Tólsimir to the burning of and creation of Illycia Darkwood. As time went on, however, wood elves were integrated into politics under the banner of Nâvirfëll and the Free Peoples of Aedolyn. Despite the death of the realm at the end of the Fifth Age, the wood elves could forever remain safe under the Veil of Mirodo.
Physical Features
Lifespan: 400 Years
Height: 5’6” – 6’00”
Weight: 115 – 150 lbs
Hair: Shades of Brown
Eyes: Green or Brown
Build: Thin and Muscular
Skin: Tan
Traits
Wood elves are adept with the elemental sphere of magic and are among the most skilled when it comes to the elements of earth and wood. They have a distinct forest look to them, not at feral as the low elves and more so than the high elves. Their dress and composure suggest that they embrace the woods as the low elves do and at the same time promote civilization as the high elves do. Essentially, wood elves are a nice mix of the two.
Relations
Wood elves and low elves live in a seamless environment but they both clash with high elves over issues of purity etc. Wood elves are the most neutral of all the elves and tend to fall along the entire alignment spectrum despite the fact that they fought for the Free Peoples of Aedolyn during the Fifth Age. They are known for the Veil of Mirodo and its complete disregard for good or evil, instead it judges visitors on the basis of friend or foe, much like the personalities of many wood elves.
History
(See ‘lands’ section above.)
Calacyr/Vynala (Dark Elves)Lands
(Bavkür/Galstrom) (Bavkür/Galstrom) Their homeland used to be Calacyria until it was swallowed into the sea after the First Age, then they separated themselves from their fellow elves and moved north to built a new home in the northwest corner of Aedolyn, Morimaltë. Today, Morimaltë has a sinister reputation and its population is almost completely made up of dark elves. Morimaltë, an almost completely subterranean city, is probably one of the least diverse places in Aedolyn (up there with the lands of the blood elves). The dark elves have always been ruled by the Bavkür Alliance but have also always maintained a significant amount of sovereignty. They were a great asset to Malkur and losing them would lead to the fall of his Black Army; so, they got away with a lot of questionable actions. Today, in the Sixth Age, dark elves are widespread and are at a constant simmering war with the blood elves across the sea. Continuous raids and battles are slowly killing both societies.
Physical Features
Lifespan: 350 Years
Height: 5’8” – 6’2”
Weight: 125 – 180 lbs
Hair: Black, White, Grey
Eyes: Dark Brown, Black
Build: Muscular, Tall
Skin: Shades of Black
Traits
The typical dark elf is quiet, fierce, and independent. They are skilled fighters and adept magic users, but they tend to mix the two and end up with a nice well-rounded skill set. As a race, they are feared by reputation but are still a mystery. Their independent nature encourages them to leave Morimaltë and travel to all corners of Aedolyn as mercenaries, rogues, assassins, or merchants.
Note: Out of respect to the preexisting concept of Drow, we humbly refrain from the term. Various other settings have made use of the Drow with their particular matriarchal, spidery culture, and we wish to avoid any confusion. As such, our Dark Elves, or Calacyrians, should not be referred to as Drow, despite racial similarities. This is a formality to prevent any future confusion.
Relations
In ancient documents and among academia, dark elves are referred to as Calacyrs; among locals and in the common tongue, they are dark elves; and in their native language, they are the Vynala. Dark elves straddle many worlds: they are members of the Bavkür Alliance and are also grouped under elves. At one point in the Third Age, Avandor claimed jurisdiction over all elves, but, in the eyes of the dark elves, this claim had no weight and they simply ignored it. Malkur, on the other hand, was highly respected but, at the same time, not trusted. Essentially, dark elves viewed themselves as having no master. At the end of the Fifth Age, a bloody war between dark elves and blood elves erupted and it continues on to today. Relations between dark elves and all other elves are mixed, but the general consensus is that they are their enemies since they fought against each other in the Fifth Age.
History
(See lands’ section above.)
Alyaií (Blood Elves/Sun Elves)Lands
(Sauvale) Blood elves come from northern Sauvale which is covered in snow almost half of the year, but when it isn't it is gorgeous. This area seems to experience extended autumns and springs thus holding the title for one of the most beautiful areas in Aedolyn. Blood elves have always been a mysterious group of elves, always small. Like the wood elves, the blood elves first emerged from the low elves in Sauvale during the Days of Aratar. They were isolated for the entirety of Aedolyn’s history until the Fifth Age when they emerged from the north and fought under the banner of the Free Peoples of Aedolyn. They all live, or have lived, in Selinyetillë. This city is an ancient city and it plays a major role in the life of every individual blood elf. They must have grown up there and have learned blood elven traditions and culture; otherwise, they are not considered a blood elf, but an exile. They are a tightly knit group and cherish their traditions.
Physical Features
Lifespan: 500 Years
Height: 5’8” – 6’2”
Weight: 125 – 175 lbs
Hair: Blonde, Golden
Eyes: Red, Brown
Build: Tall, Thin
Skin: Pale
Traits
The most dominate trait among blood elves is the one in which they get their name. Blood elves practice bloodletting, a branch of Ritual Magic where one uses their own blood to cast spells, and they are masters at it. They get their other name, Sun Elf, because of their golden appearance. In the Alyaií dialect (language of the blood elves) they are called the Alyaií. Other than bloodletting, blood elves are all skilled on the sea as well as in the mountains.
Relations
Being isolated for several thousand years pushed them and their society out of recollection. They have always been part of the Telgin Republic and have always had an ambassador to its senate but never brought too much attention to themselves or started any trouble. Due to their societal disconnection from the Telgin Republic, they weren’t hit heavily by Calill’s murder like the rest of their nation. It wasn’t until the end of the Fifth Age that the blood elves entered the political scene in Aedolyn and they did so with a bang. They fought for the Free Peoples of Aedolyn and are still fighting today in the Sixth Age. The blood elves and the dark elves are trapped in a constant state of war which is constantly going back and forth. Ravaging raids and destructive sieges make up their fighting styles and after several hundred years of this, both societies are beginning to feel its toll.
History
(See ‘lands’ section above.)
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