High Elves/Cyrill Elvhen

Cyrill elvhen language is often treated as the "standard" dialect by the other nations. This is not inaccurate but not the complete truth either. The cyrill dialect is certainly the most widely known, but this is more due to the high elves willingness to travel far afield and away from the homeland. The flowing and poetic pronunciations are pleasing to hear and other elves will learn the dialect or suppress their own accent when dealing with outsiders.

High elves are seen by other elves and other nations as an unrestrained and fickle race, prone to flights of fancy and short attention spans. This stems more from a misunderstanding of cultural norms than any real truth. High elves are actually very skilled politicians and diplomats who use their "flighty" nature as a mask to cover their many-layered schemes. They have maintained a position of great influence over the island which is not lost on the other clans. The confederacy capital was founded on a high elvhen city and, while considered neutral ground, high elves maintain a high population and influence over the city.   Cyrill elves are also known for attempting to influence the cultural growth of other races. The Nevarrans absorbed a number of high elvhen cultural traits and were first taught arcane magic by them. Some over the ages have criticized this, but the high elves pay little attention to their remarks, much to the consternation of the other races.

While in comfortable cities, the high elves tend to dress in long robes with layers of cloth. While traveling, they incorporate furs into the collars and sleeves. This is similar in appearance to the long togas of the Nevarrans. The Neverrans actually took the style from the elves and incorporated more humans traits. To a culture with few gender roles, they have little understanding of gendered clothing and, as such, tend to dress rather homogeneously. That said, they have remarkable diversity in patterns, colours, prints, and styles among individuals. Most cyrill tailors will refuse to make generic clothing for customers, insisting that every item they make be tailored to the customer.

High elvhen art tends towards wide arches, floral motifs, and airy or ethereal design philosophies. They enjoy high ceilings and intricate patterns molded by magic.

Among the nobility of the cyrill, there is often an expectation of greatness and achievement thrust upon the young. To accomplish this, young nobles are often charged with a pilgrimage. These years-long quests can take many different forms with varying levels of difficulty depending on the status of the youth.    For example, a minor noble may be charged with traveling across the Sunset Isle to establish a new trade contract, while a middle rank will spend a few years in the Dwarven Reach or Pax Neverra as a courtier. The highest of nobles are often charged with grand quests of travelling across the continent to study the mysterious elvhen ruins which dot the far reaches, or act as an emissary to political leaders.   What is most interesting is that while a pilgrimage is expected, success is not. Some believe that the journey is the reward, while others believe that those who send the youths have forgotten what they sent them to accomplish in the first place.

High elves prefer long hair with long bangs. They will use braids to style their hair or will accessorize with tiaras. They also enjoy androgynous looking people—those who don't look particularly feminine or masculine. They tend to find fairer hair colours to be more desirable and. Typically, high elves with blonde (of all shades), light brown, and light copper hair are most common. They also find longer elven ears to be a sign of higher breeding. This is sometimes mockingly referred to as "rabbit chasing".

High elves are far more unique in relation to gender expression. Culturally, the high elves do not have "gender" as continentals would understand it. They acknowledge sexual differences, but they do not have gendered roles for society. As such, any trade and vocation is available to anyone who is capable of the work. They are also far more comfortable with clothing, jewelry, behaviours, and expressions which other cultures would deem as aberrant or excessive, such as men wearing jewelry or women cutting their hair short. Therefore, cyrill elves have little issues with gender roles and, in fact, find the concept hard to understand. This has lead to many rumours of elven promiscuity among continentals. The high elves do little to dissuade these rumours though.

The cyrill are in many ways a romantic race. They are fond of playing long games of courtship and intrigue when expressing interest in a romantic partner. Love Letters, courtly dances, questing on behalf of, and the occasional grand gesture, are all on the table for the high elves of any gender.

The high elves will claim to marry for love, attempting to give the illusion to outsiders that the elves are not nearly as flighty as they are. Unfortunately, this is one of their few poor ruses. In truth, the high elves marry almost exclusively for political gain. Noble alliances, trade deals, magical heirs; any reason for advancement is a reason for marriage. There is little expectation to remain faithful to their spouse and many will take multiple lovers. Indeed, it is a rare sight to see a true monogamous couple, for that is a love that the bards would write songs of for ages.