Elvenkind

Elvenkind

"Vessels of mortal flesh, bound by the aspect of Order."

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In the telling of the dream that Illumination lived in its early lives as man, there came the search for a mentor, the search for an adversary. In order to view the reflection of man, there must have been another with which it may be reflected. Contrary to the very beliefs of the elf, it was mankind that came first yet elvenkind that was perfected. For in the beauty of man’s vulgarity, there emanated a force to fill the gap; the aspect of Order. Thus the will of the divine was made manifest by the generation of three races, governed by the unseen structures of the world that formed them. 

Of that which lay within the hearts of men, being the heart of God, there were three constants in this burgeoning world out of whom sprang the three races of Elf. The wheel of the stellar sky spins eternal and nothing is as sure as sunrise and sunset. The breath of nature inhales the winter, exhales the spring, and nothing is as sure as seasons. The cloy of fear strikes in the darkness and the heart quakes before the witty tiger, nothing is as sure as predation.

Solar Elves
Governed by the aspect of stellar order, it is the purity of the cycles of that heavenly nature which stands in the heart of all Solar Elves. Pale of skin and light of hair, these elves are often of great refinement and high intellect. Living in the lowland coasts of the Westcontre, great city-state societies have been formed around these aristocratic and usually honor-bound oligarchs. Typically standing five and a half to six and a half feet, these elves are physically weaker and lighter than humans. Their cities, carved into the cliffs of Westcontre, rise like monuments to the sky. Towers of polished stone gleam in the sunlight, their walls etched with constellations and celestial maps. The greatest of these is Solyndar, the capital of their people, where the Council of Oracles interprets the movements of the heavens and codifies them into laws that govern every aspect of Solar Elf life. The Oracles, chosen for their wisdom and clarity of vision, are not rulers in the mortal sense but stewards of the harmony between the heavens and the earth.

The Solar Elves are master navigators, both of the seas and the stars. Their golden ships, slender and swift, traverse the waters of Westcontre, carrying goods, lore, and their teachings to distant lands. Their fascination with heavenly cycles has made them astrologers of great renown, sought by kings and scholars alike for their ability to predict events by the alignment of stars and planets.

Yet, their devotion to law and order has not been without consequence. The rigidity of their codes, unyielding as the orbits of the stars they revere, has sometimes led to strife among themselves and with others. Neighboring peoples often see the Solar Elves as haughty and inflexible, and their insistence on order has, at times, bred resentment.

Despite this, the Solar Elves endure as a people of profound purpose and vision. They view their lives as part of a greater cycle, one that transcends the fleeting concerns of mortal existence. In Westcontre, as the tides rise and fall beneath the eternal gaze of the stars, the Solar Elves continue their vigil, guardians of law and harmony, forever seeking to align their world with the celestial design.

Forest Elves
Governed by the aspect of natural order, it is the regularity and carnality of the earthly cycles which stand within the heart of all Forest Elves. Usually tan or dark of skin and tawny or brown of hair, these elves are often of physical prowess and great wisdom. Living in the deep interior forests of the Westcontre, small warrior tribes were oft the mode of forest elf culture. Typically standing five to six feet, these elves are on par with humans in terms of physical strength and weight. 

Within the verdant heart of Westcontre lies an ancient and boundless woodland, where light filters through the dense canopy in shifting hues of green and gold. It is here, among the whispering trees and murmuring brooks, that the Forest Elves make their home. Known to themselves as the Yrdn, they are a reclusive yet harmonious people, whose lives are devoted to the stewardship of the natural world and the reverence of its spirits.

Their villages are marvels of subtlety and ingenuity, built high among the treetops and seamlessly integrated into the forest. Bridges of woven vines connect their dwellings, and their halls are carved from living wood, shaped through magic and care rather than tools. This harmony extends to their way of life, as they take from the forest only what is needed and give back through rituals of renewal.

The Yrdn are led not by kings or councils but by the Druids, spiritual guides who commune with the spirits of the land. The Druids interpret the will of the forest, passing down wisdom and guidance that has been honed through millennia. Their laws are unwritten but deeply ingrained, passed from generation to generation in songs and stories. Above all, the Yrdn hold sacred the balance between life and death, growth and decay, viewing themselves as guardians of this eternal cycle.

Though the Forest Elves are largely insular, their wisdom and the rare beauty of their craft occasionally draw outsiders to their borders. These visitors are treated with cautious hospitality, but those who seek to exploit the forest or its spirits find no mercy. The Yrdn are skilled in both diplomacy and warfare, wielding bows of enchanted wood and magic that draws upon the strength of the forest itself.

Through countless generations, the Forest Elves have remained steadfast in their purpose. Even as the world beyond their woods grows louder and more chaotic, they continue their quiet guardianship, their lives intertwined with the pulse of the ancient forest. To the Yrdn, the trees are not merely witnesses to their history—they are their history, their kin, and their sacred charge.

Deep Elves
Governed by the aspect of predatory order, it is the surety of natural cruelty and predation which stands within the heart of all Deep Elves. Usually gray or coal of skin and monochrome of hair, these elves possess fierce individuality and craftiness. Their society exists solely by nature of competitive cooperation - not so unlike a pack of wild dogs or opportunistic tribe of apes yet with much fiercer intellect. Living in the high mountains of the Westcontre, isolated bandit kingdoms usually formed around societies of Deep Elf. Standing typically four to five and a half feet, these elves are slightly weaker than humans but on par in bone density.

In the shadowed peaks and labyrinthine caverns of Westcontre’s high mountains dwell the Deep Elves, a cunning and resourceful people who have made their home in the earth’s bones. Known among themselves as the Morvanni, they are a society shaped by the harsh isolation of their environment and driven by a dual obsession with industry and cunning survival.

Over time, the Morvanni’s mastery of industry became their defining trait. They built sprawling underground cities, illuminated by glowing crystals and heated by volcanic vents. Great forges roared in the depths, where metals were melted and shaped into weapons, armor, and intricate mechanical devices. The Morvanni were architects of ingenuity, blending alchemy and engineering to create wonders that awed even their surface-dwelling kin.

This duality—craftsmen of unparalleled skill and opportunistic raiders—has long defined the Deep Elves’ relationship with the world. While they maintain trade with other peoples, selling their wares in exchange for goods they cannot produce, their reputation as bandits often undermines alliances. Among themselves, they view these contradictions as necessary parts of existence, bound by a ruthless code of pragmatism and loyalty to their kin.

Morvanni society is governed by a hierarchy of guilds, each devoted to a particular craft or endeavor. The Guild of Artifice, the Guild of Blades, and the Shadowed Guild of the Path—dedicated to banditry—are the most prominent.