Elves

The Elves are creatures of the Blades of Light and Shadow series.

History
Once the greatest empire in the world, the elven civilization spanned Morella and beyond with Elves living in peace and prosperity for a millennium. Elevated to greatness by their magic and as a society that was built upon it, it was, however, also magic which led to its downfall: a pursuit of even greater power and the subsequent opening of a doorway to the Realm of Shadows. The Shadow Court used their most powerful relic - the Onyx Shards - to open this portal through which the Dreadlord's armies passed.

Henceforth, in the 875th year of the Skywarren Dynasty, the Great War began. Valen -the Golden City- fell instantly as the civilization was unprepared. They had no armies and retired their battlemages. By the time they gathered an opposition, half the continent had fallen, hundreds of thousands were killed, and centuries of art, knowledge, and culture had been destroyed. It took two elves - the general Xaius and the battlemage Ellara - to turn the tide. They rallied the remaining cities to fight the Court to a standstill.

According to the ballad 'How the Light Lasted' by Valanthos the Silver-Tongued, when it was clear that Valen was going to fall to the Shadow Court, the elves sent the city's children out through a secret tunnel. For one hundred days and nights, the children followed the path illuminated by a Priestess of Light. She gave up all her food and water to the children and let the power of the Light burn through her until they made it to Undermount, where she died on the doorstep, having seen the children to safety at last.

A century later the elves were nearly wiped out. Afterwards, for four hundred years, the survivors - the inhabitants of the great sanctuary of Undermount - shut themselves away, refusing any and all contact with the outside world. Nowadays elves have, even if somewhat reluctantly, reopened their gates. As a result, Undermount is suspended in an odd political space: while existing within the borders of Morella, it operates as an autonomous city-state that humans have no jurisdiction over.

Lifespan and Characteristics
Standing at an average height of just over six feet tall, elves are taller than humans. They also have longer life spans, living up to three hundred years on average. While reaching maturity at about 50, they maintain their looks up until old age. A magical affinity, to some degree at least, is present in all elves. Thus, elven children are sorted into magical schools from an early age to hone their talents, ranging from Green Naturalist to Purple Illusionists to Black Battlemages.

Appearance
Elves have pointy ears and various skin colors, such as black, white and blue.

Politics
"History tends to repeat. The elves of the empire were so preoccupied in their insular society and power struggles, they failed to see the real danger."

- Tyril to Your Party

Elven political structure is famously complicated, a byzantine always-changing web of alliances, feuds, and schemes that is often viewed as impenetrable by outsiders. Though the members are not necessarily biologically related, the 50 houses dividing Elven society may loosely be understood as 'families'. The houses' leaders themselves come together in a conclave known as the Venesterium where they decide on matters of elven society, although members of higher status will have their votes count more and the highest ranked house, known as the House Ascendant, even holds the power to definitely break all ties.

Ancestry
Each Great House claims ancestry from a single, mythical founder dating back to a time before the Great War. House Starfury traces its lineage to a woman said to be the daughter of the North Star itself. She charged House Starfury with always protecting the secrets of magic, as it was too powerful for everyday use. House Duskraven's founder was a spymaster for the Golden City, searching out its enemies with huge flocks of ravens that served as his eyes and ears. His descendants have always believed that information is the most powerful weapon.

Undermount
"When does the truth ever matter in Undermount, once a rumor takes hold?"

- Adrina to Tyril

Barring a handful of exiles and outcasts, the five hundred or so elves left alive after the Great War all reside within the northern city of Undermount. There, an exceedingly complex hierarchy exists among the elven houses. With an always-changing ladder of rank and wealth, and social competition being an integral part of society, many elves spend their entire lives working to advance the standing of their house. They have a Council of Houses, a Council of Vinters and a Council of Manners.

Locations
Poets call Undermount the City of a Hundred Thousand Alleys.
 * The Grand Library
 * The Undermount Celestial Winery
 * Catacombs
 * House Starfury Ancestral Crypt
 * Shrine of the Eldest

Romantic Customs
Elven culture separates the concepts of Kilvali (Emotional compatibility) and Dinvali (Sexual attraction), considering the two to stem from different parts of the self. Marriage is always political in nature, arranged carefully by the houses to improve status. Whereas it is believed that partners must share great Kilvali and operate as one soul within a marriage, Dinvali is deemed unnecessary. Since marriage only asks for emotional loyalty and sexuality is seen as entirely detached from that, most elves are not sexually monogamous, maintaining multiple sexual partners instead. There are exceptions to this, partners that share both Kilvali and Dinvali, however, these cases are exceptionally rare and oftentimes controversial.

Marriage
Marriage is a solemn and political affair, and rarely romantic. Alliances are proposed by House Heads, then consented by both parties. The two elves undergo a series or trials together, involving a month of isolation together, a journey to Undermount's depths, and an intimate knowledge of each other's lines. Less than a third of proposed couples complete the trials successfully.

All marriages happen on the same day, the Lunar Solstice. It is an elaborate whole-day ceremony, followed by a three-day period of celebration.

Religion
"Swear on the Old Gods and the new. On Annalis and Nithrax, on Calper and Varlan. On Nifara and Vaelor, and Ittar and Bakshi. On Ellara and Xaius and Midys. And the Mother of Grey in the stars above. Drah'alla nar toreth... Vendar na'tolleh."

- Threep and Voxper

The elves believe that in the beginning, there was only land and Light. Magic flowed free and wild, and there were no sentient beings on the earth. However, the Light grew lonely and restless and so it made flesh and bone and created the elves. Therefore, the elves believe that they are magic made flesh. Thus the elven funeral saying: from the Light we came, to the Light we return.

The elves worship what is known as the Shared Pantheon, six Old Gods from the ancient era, and six New Gods, great elves that were elevated to Godhood after giving their life to win the Great War. Religion plays a prominent role in everyday life, as elves typically begin and end the day with a meditation known as Erinza, fifteen minutes of silent communion with the Gods. Elves also believe that their ancestors live on in Elhalas, the land of the Gods, and that it is possible, although only under special circumstances, to communicate with those spirits. Accomplishing that is considered the highest honor.

In Undermount, they believe when a worthy elf passes away, their soul is scrawled across the stars. There are Lantris, a legendary archer who fended off ancient invaders; Arbisson the Judge, whose constellation is shaped like a set of scales, and on Arbisson's day, elves settle old debts or ask forgiveness from them. Among the stars is also Caelyp, the Reveler, a kind and generous man whose parties lasted weeks; his parties were for young and old, rich and poor, high houses and low; and he defied many customs about social structure.

Nifara is the Mother, the giver of life and creator of laws. She is a stern but kind goddess, nurturing life into creation but will also punish those who take it.

Ittar and Bakshi are the Lovers, two souls that form one God. They represent love, passion, and connection. Honoring them is a sacred duty of all elves.

Combat
Elven combat heavily relies on magic, with forms like Ball of Flame and Lance of Ash. When elves use weapons, they are magically infused and used in conjuction with their magic.

Pets
Having lost the voxpers to humans, most elves do not adopt pets, seeing it as beneath them. However, many of the lesser houses have welcomed glowing fruit bats into their estates.

Powers and Abilities

 * Immortality / Longevity: According to the lore tablets, the Elves can live up to 300 years.
 * Magic: According to the lore tablets, all elves possess some degree of magical affinity.
 * Incredible senses: According to the lore tablets, elves also possess incredible senses, capable of seeing the tiniest drop of a dew on a blade of grass or hearing a whisper two rooms away.

Other Elves

 * Your Character (Blades of Light and Shadow) of House NightBloom (Species: Determinant)
 * Duchess Xenia (Status: Determinant)
 * Baron Vostrasz
 * Terran Starfury †
 * House Sunstrider
 * House Stonewater
 * House Sunscryer
 * House Rosecoven (Status: Unknown)
 * House Steelsorrow (Status: Unknown)
 * House Goldbearer (Status: Unknown)
 * House Frostcrow (Status: Unknown)
 * House Sandblossom (Status: Unknown)

Trivia

 * During the Choices Book Club for May 5, 2020, PB confirmed that elves don't track age the same way humans do, but that Tyril is the elven equivalent of 25 human years old.