Elves
Last updated
Last updated
Elves originated on the many eons ago but left en masse for the realm that would eventually be known as the Splinterlands. Whether they were motivated by politics, survival, opportunity, persecution, or exile remains a subject of debate among historians.
Elves have slender builds, with males weighing slightly more than females. They reach adulthood at around 20 years and can live to be over 750 years old. Their skin tones and eye color vary by race. They have pointed ears, no facial hair, and little body hair. Elves possess the inherent magic and ethereal beauty and grace of but lack their mercurial.
They tend to make their homes in secluded woodlands settlements or majestic, heavily fortified castles. Most are haughty and aloof and disdain contact with outsiders and the hectic pace of their short lifespans, although they often trade with them for ore, raw gemstones, and other minerals, as they also disdain mining.
The races of elves are:
Cinder elves stand between 1.5 to 1.85 meters (4’11” to 6’1”) and weigh 45 to 70 kg (99 to 154 lbs). Instead of hair, flames dance upon their heads. Their skin is ruddy, and their eyes are almost always lit by an internal, fiery red and orange glow. Natural historians surmise these characteristics, which are unique among elves, are a result of crossbreeding with efreet many eons ago.
Almost all cinder elves have an affinity for elemental fire magic, channeling it through their attunement with nature or the magic inherent in their bloodline. They are naturally resistant to heat and able to withstand extreme climates that most cannot survive for long. Subsequently, cinder elves tend to live near magmatic areas in mountainous or badlands regions. The city-state of is composed primarily of cinder elves, while a large population can be found in the as well.
Dark elves range from 1.45 to over 1.85 meters (4.9’ to 6’) in height and weigh 45 to 68 kg (99 to 150 lbs). Their skin can be deep gray, coal black, or muted violet, and their eyes are usually silver, pale blue, or crimson. Their hair is almost universally white, though rare individuals have ashen or silvery hues. Dark elves have adapted to the perpetual darkness of the , where their eyes have evolved to see in complete blackness, and they are highly sensitive to bright light.
Dark elves live in vast underground cities, carved into the stone of caverns and illuminated by bioluminescent fungi and enchanted crystals. Their societies are usually strictly hierarchical, ruled by powerful noble houses, priestesses, or enigmatic councils. They tend to be aloof, calculating, and politically astute, thriving in environments where intrigue and deception are as valuable as steel and spellcraft. Their natural affinity for magic—particularly shadow, illusion, and necromancy—is unparalleled among elves.
High elves range from 1.6 to over 1.9 meters (5’3” to 6’3”) in height and weigh 45 to 75 kg (99 to 165 lbs). Their skin tone is fair to light, and their eyes can be shades of gold, silver, violet, and pale blue. Their hair is usually platinum, golden, or a rich auburn, and it is often intricately styled or adorned with jewelry.
They are known for their unwavering sense of superiority—a belief cultivated by their long lifespans, over which most accumulate an incredible breadth and depth of knowledge. They are shrewd diplomats, carefully selecting their allies and political engagements. However, their preference for isolationism means they rarely intervene in world affairs unless their own interests are at stake. Nevertheless, high elven mages and warriors dedicate centuries to perfecting their crafts, making them formidable indeed, should they choose to act.
Red elves stand between 1.5 and 1.85 meters (4’11” and 6’1”) and weigh 47 to 73 kg (104 to 161 lbs). Their skin can be various shades of red. Their eyes are usually amber, golden, or dark brown, and their hair is dark, often black or deep auburn.
Sea elves range from 1.6 to over 1.8 meters (5.3’ to 5.9’) in height and weigh 40.9 to 71.3 kg (90 to 157 lbs). Their skin can be various shades of blue. Their eyes are usually turquoise, green, violet, or gold. Their hair can be black, red, teal, or deep blue.
Sea elves from coastal settlements and maritime city-states often work as sailors, navigators, and shipwrights, particularly in Alcantari, where maritime trade and shipbuilding play a major role in commerce. Those raised near the sea tend to develop a strong understanding of tides, weather patterns, and ocean navigation, allowing them to traverse dangerous waters with relative ease.
Sea elven culture often includes maritime traditions, competitive regattas, and the crafting of intricate jewelry from pearls and corals. Many take pride in their naval heritage, and sea elf traders, explorers, and privateers are both respected and feared across Praetoria.
Wild elves range from 1.45 to 1.8 meters (4’9” to 5’11”) and weigh 43 to 68 kg (95 to 150 lbs). Their skin is usually tanned or earthen-toned, and their hair is brown or black, though some have sun-bleached highlights. Their eyes are shades of green, hazel, or gold, and their bodies are often adorned with intricate tribal tattoos, marking rites of passage, ancestral ties, or spirituality.
Wild elves live closer to nature than any other elven race, embracing the raw, untamed wilderness rather than vast cities. Their societies are clan-based, with leadership determined by both strength and wisdom. They are reclusive and distrustful of outsiders, and their bonds with the natural world grant them extraordinary tracking, hunting, and survival abilities.
Though some dismiss them as primitives, wild elves are ferociously intelligent, deeply spiritual, and fiercely protective of their lands—willing to fight ruthlessly to defend the natural order.
Most high elves are found in the , with the being the largest high-elven population on Praetoria.
Most red elves live nomadic or semi-nomadic lives, traveling in tight-knit communities that migrate based on resource availability and environmental conditions. They place a strong emphasis on tradition and oral storytelling to preserve their history and beliefs through generations. They are highly protective of their people and their lands, with most red elves inhabiting the mountains and foothills of the Bandarul Range and Daigenloft Mountains in the , while a large population of red elves can also be found in the .
Sea elves are generally omnivorous, with a diet rich in seafood, kelp, and various marine herbs. They are most commonly found along the coasts of the , though some establish isolated enclaves along remote shorelines. The city-state of is predominantly populated by sea elves.