Wood Elves (Glen Elvhen)

The Glen Elvhen (Wood Elves) of the Sunset Confederacy are a clan of Elves who are closely tied with the natural world. While not as reclusive or violent as their Var Elvhen counterparts, they remain wary of outsiders and do not regularly associate with non-elves. They live in close relationship with their woodland homes and practice a settled lifestyle. Wood Elves who travel away from the Isle are well known for their archery, ranging skills, and standoffish attitude.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Wood Elves claim a long history dating back to the misty mysteries of time immemorial. As the rightful guardians of the woodlands of the Sunset Isle, they represent the ancient ancestral ties that the elves hold toward the natural world. They would view themselves as gardeners or protectors, while the more "civilized" elves and foreigners would see them as slightly better cousins of the Var Elvhen.

Shared customary codes and values

The Wood Elves believe that they are the guardians of the wilds of the Sunset Isle. They regard old-growth forests and unspoiled land with great reverence and will attempt to lessen their impact as much as possible. They are protective of their families and hardly accept assistance from outsiders.

Common Etiquette rules

Among themselves, it is customary to lay your bow at your feet and bow deeply, presenting the palm of your hands, when greeting an elder or someone of higher rank than yourself. This signifies the willingness and acceptance of the bower to receive the wisdom of the senior without threat or aggression.

Common Dress code

Typically, Wood Elves dress practically. They wear thick leathers, accentuated with furs and wooden jewelry. Their craftsmanship of natural material is considered world-famous, and a significant amount of their international trade comes from their leatherwork.

Art & Architecture

Glen Elvhen will attempt to incorporate the natural environment into their villages as much as possible. Treehouses built around massive sequoia trees, caves behind waterfalls, and longhouses in open ground are all common ways that they accomplish this integration into nature. Artistic representation tends towards long flowing lines and knots. Natural dyes and pigmentations are used in regards to colouring clothing.

Coming of Age Rites

The Vir'Ellislen or "Blood Writing" is the ritual of tattooing the face of a Glen Elv when they come of age. A mixture of ink, blood, and ochre is used for the ritual. The patterns are deeply personal and often have either religious or personal significance. Sometimes they represent gods, and other times it represents events or values.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Dark hair colours are considered more attractive than fairer ones. Many Glens have dark brown, black, or blue-black hair. Dental hygiene is also an attractive trait to have.

Gender Ideals

Glen Elvhen society is quite egalitarian when compared to continental societies. Both men and women hunt and craft goods. Many women are in positions of leadership in religious and political circles. The only significant realm where genders are split is during pregnancies and at war. This is due to the fact that during pregnancies, women will seclude themselves with midwives for rituals of prayers, hymns, and divinations, and during times of war, most men will go and fight on the front. They fight with confidence, knowing that even if they die, the enemy couldn't beat the women.