Elves

Aspects

History

Ancient elves were known for their spiritual connection to nature and primordial gods. This fascination with the idea that they could commune with spirits that resided in the very ecosystems of Blimnor led to widespread colonization by small groups of elves, who each formed a unique cultural connection with their locale, resulting in a variety of elf sub-races including high elves, wood elves, sand elves, snow elves, and sea elves. Describing the various cultures would require far too much speculation, however suffice it to say that they were almost all known for their wisdom, grace, beauty, and their strong affinity with nature and religion.

The history of elves after the Exodus is a tragic one. Their spiritual connection with nature and the world of Blimnor convinced them that the rapid global industrialization of the world would have catastrophic effects on the wellbeing of the planet. When the Worldstorm started, each race had their own strategy for survival, but Elves alone believed that remaining on Blimnor, they could restore it to paradise.

While many elves took to the stars with the other races, their population has remained in a dangerous minority, and lack any sense of culture or history. They are often bitter and aloof, or otherwise strange and superstitious. The lucky few who find work as botanists, astro-navigators, or spiritualists can find happiness, but many more succumb to strange mental illnesses that seem born of isolation in the void of space.

Fashion

Elves lack any universal fashion, however the more culturally-nostalgic may prefer certain aesthetics. In terms of hair, elven hair is naturally thin and straight, and grows very long, so elaborate braids are common. Elves rarely go bald even in their old age, but their hair does grow white, and it is not uncommon for elves to dye their hair white prematurely. Younger generations have come to prefer gnome and halfling fashions such as undercuts, crew cuts, bobs, or even shaving their scalp entirely. Elves cannot grow facial hair. Elf ears grow longer with age, and in order to prevent them getting in the way, elves may tie their ears behind their head, or else get piercings with clasps. Tattoos of organic patterns or ornate filigree are common as well. Clothing tends to be of soft organic materials such as silk, velvet, and leather, and is generally loose and comfortable. When not in a uniform or performing a hazardous task, elves prefer to go barefoot. A recent fashion is for elves to choose a particular strip of fabric, normally a colorful pattern or gradient, and to wear it as a scarf, bandanna, or ascot, and should they lose their sight, it becomes a symbolic blindfold.

Names and Gender

Traditional elven names have largely vanished. The lack of stable elf families and communities makes it unlikely for a surname to have any significance. Consequently, most elves only go by a single name, although they seem to prefer names that have a soft, elegant, and organic sound. Examples include Trionna, Delathine, and Fouleh. Elves view gender as fluid and expressive, and changing with their mood, age, or interests. Additionally, as their population has declined, they have become far more likely to explore alternative identities and sexualities. While this makes it difficult for acquaintances to know how to properly address an elf, it is largely a non-issue as elves are rarely concerned with any perception of gender, being far more concerned with how others pronounce their name.

Language

The Elven language is considered a dead language. There are very few people who can translate more than a few words of the language, and those who can are mostly historians. The majority of its vocabulary and grammar has been lost to disuse. In addition, elven language was considered a powerful and cursed language by ancient Blimnorians, due to its association with ancient catastrophes. Some words or phrases are mixed into the Exodian language, but linguists claim that these idioms are hardly enough to reconstruct the language, particularly since their grammar is difficult to learn when compared to other ancient languages.

Elf Eyes

Elven eyes are capable of seeing light beyond the normal visible spectrum. This can be useful for a variety of reasons including the ability to notice harmful radiation, spot movement behind thin walls, and even point out substances that others would need scanning equipment to find. Elves even value visual art differently, being capable of seeing colors that other species cannot. However, for reasons medicine still hasn't identified, elves tend to go blind quite early in their life. Nearly 65% of elves go blind before they turn 40, and onset can occur as early as young adulthood. While cybernetic replacements are capable of giving an elf their eyesight back completely, most elves are raised to be reluctant to undergo invasive surgery, particularly one that removes a part of their body. As a result, it is common to see an elf wearing a blindfold, and escorted by some sort of assistant.

Elf Music

Sadly, the lack of stable elf communities resulted in the loss of a majority of their cultural music. The few examples notably are beautiful, mostly choral or a capella, with unrecognizable words or phonemes. Occasionally, the voice is accompaniment of flutes, string instruments, or improvised instruments such as fingernails on a wicker basket. Melodies are often said to be "haunting", "sorrowful", and "alien".