Elves of Castrovel (~Elaura~)

Generally taller than humans, elves possess a graceful, slender physique that is accentuated by their long, pointed ears. It is a mistake, however, to consider them weak or feeble, as the thin limbs of an elf can contain surprising power. Their eyes are wide and almond-shaped, and filled with large, vibrantly colored pupils. The coloration of elves as a whole varies wildly, and is much more diverse than that of human populations. However, as their coloration often matches their surroundings, the elves of a single community may appear quite similar. Forest-dwelling elves often have variations of green, brown, and tan in their hair, eye, and even skin tones.   While elven clothing often plays off the beauty of the natural world, those elves who live in cities tend to bedeck themselves in the latest fashions. Where city-dwelling elves encounter other urbanites, the elves are often fashion trendsetters.

Elves are considered adults when they reach 220 Castrovellian years (110 years)

Omnivorous - with a preference for cooked food.

Many elves feel a bond with nature and strive to live in harmony with the natural world. They have an innate gift for craftsmanship and artistry, especially when working in wood, bone, ivory, or leather. They also have an appreciation for the written word, magic, and painstaking research. Their naturally keen minds and senses, combined with their inborn patience, make them particularly suited to wizardry.   On the continent of Sovyrian, Elven communities are often highly structured, both in layout and social class, with these norms reinforced by tradition that hearken back over ten thousand years. Settlements further away from the capital El may become less so. An artistocratic class of nobles governs most of society, which culminates in the Everward Court, the effective ruling body in El.   On Asana, on the southern shore facing the Sea of Teeth and the Stormshield Shore upon the Western Sea, Elven communities are more clanlike, and rank often set by age. The clan's leader is often the oldest living member.   In the city of Qabarat, Elves organize by Houses, of which the eldest member serves as Lord or Lady.

On Sovyrian, Elves have domesticated Elk for transportation, burden, and milk production. They also train giant raptors capable of carrying a rider.

The Continent of Sovyrian; Southern Coast and Stormshield Shore on the Continent of Asana; Qabarat

IQ 120

Elves have nightvision and see exceptionally well in the dark.

In Qabarat, the Eldest Moot, consisting of the Elflords and Elfladies from each House, meets to set policy for uniquely Elven matters within the city's Elf-farthing. Its members also have seating within the Hall of Matrons.

Tall, slim, graceful. Like Lashunta Damaya, any comparison or resemblance to flowers are trees is highly positive.

Elves are fairly androgynous by Lashunta standards, to the point where many Lashunta have hardship telling male from female

Elves invented the definition of romance on Castrovel, even among Lashunta. Elves take the full spectrum of polyamorous complexity that Lashunta practice, and then complicate it further, according to age, social status, and a myriad of traditions.

Elves venerate romantic relationship, though with little emphasis on having children.

Most Elves has little use for advanced metalwork, alchemy, or glasswork. They rely upon their closely cultivated symbiosis with their homelands and Elven Magic (Lashunta: ~Raelauri~) for more advanced needs. The city of El and Elf-Farthing in Qabarat resemble Iadara on Kyonin as epitome's of architecture blended with nature.   Elves created and built out the Aiudara gate network that crosses Castrovel, and also Golarion. The Sovyrian Gate, jointly located in El, Sovyrian on Castrovel, and in Iadara, Kyonin on Golarion, is the principal path of communication and traffic between these two worlds, which is controlled exclusively by the Elves.

Sovyrian Elvish is closely related to Kyonin Aiudeen, since most Aiudeen emigrated from Sovyrian as part of the return.

Some Elves will wear masks when they must meet with a foe, rival, or other personal whose presence makes them uncomfortable. The mask is intended to absorb any ritual pollution stemming from contact.

Draped gossamer gowns and skirts

Elves on Castrovel are (or are descended from) those who chose to remain when the Winter Council sent forth the call to organize the Return to Kyonin. As such, they tend to take an isolationist stance regarding relations with their Golarion cousins. With the loss of population and the return of many Asana colonists to Sovyrian, they have developed an inward tendency to ignore happenings in other parts of Castrovel as well.

The Elven Gods are the principal pantheon for Elves on Castrovel. Many Lashunta in Qabarat also venerate them. (Lashunta versions of their names appear below)

• Alseta (~Ausetae~): Also known as the Welcomer, Alseta is a goddess of doorways, thresholds, and transitions that is strongly associated with the Aiudara network.
• Calistria (~Kalistrye~): The goddess of lust and revenge is held in especially high regard by elves, who often identify with her moods and changeable nature.
• Cernunnos (~Kerunos~): Cernunnos presents himself as a muscular elf with dull fur clothes that bear drawings of birds in flight or leaping animals.
• Desna (~Deznae~): is worshiped chiefly as the goddess of luck and music, and the protector of wanderers. Her portfolio of stars is less of a concern, due to the ever-present cloudcover.
• Findeladlara (~Findelazhyare~): The Guiding Hand is a god of art that is particularly interested in its preservation.
• Ketephys (~Ketefas~): A god of hunting, Ketephys is most often portrayed in the company of his dog Meycho and his hawk Falling Star. 
• Yuelral (~Yuiral~): A goddess of crafting, Yuelral the Wise is the only elven goddess to openly encourage her worship by half-elves.

Although many Lashunta believe that Elindrae is an Elven God, few Elves worship the goddess of the moon.   Like on Golarion, Elves on Castrovel Elves believe in the Brightness. They believe that their current life is but one in a series, and that upon death they are reincarnated as another creature. Their ultimate goal is to be reborn as a natural creature of the wild. In pursuit of this they believe that they must find or follow the Brightness, signs and portents which lead them to live a life leading them to their higher destiny.   Most elves prefer to be buried in natural surroundings, such as being mummified in a bog, or interred in a still forest beneath a small sapling. Because death among the elves is such a long-expected if inevitable event, others prefer to elevate their death by being laid to rest in a stone tomb where others can remember them for all eternity.

Elves have been known on Castrovel since before Earthfall. The city of El is older than any Elven settlement on Golarion. The oldest Lashunta legends, from the Age of the Warrior-Queens, speak of Elves encountered as wizards and tricksters.   With the flight of Elves from Golarion right before Earthfall, the Elven population on the continent of Sovyrian burgeoned disruptively. Thus they began to colonize Asana and other places. Candares (now a Lashunta city) was originally an Elven colony, as were Jabask and Ofu-Laubu, which is why aiudara elfgates now stand there today. Elven enchroachment into the Shattersea and the foundation of Qabarat initiated the ~Reielari~ - the Elfwars, a series of conflicts as Lashunta and Elves competed for territory. The Elves of Qabarat eventually reached peace through an alliance with the Sage-Queens.   Along with Lashunta, Elves colonized the southern continent of Marastra, and so came into conflict with the Formians when that species invaded. Hostilities against the Formians created the Lashunta-Elf alliance, which still stands today. The loss of the Colonies and influx of Elven refugees back to Sovyrian caused signficant social disruptions and created discontent within the populations.   Additional disruption grew out of the Winter Council's call to recolonize Kyonin on Golarion, creating conflict with the Summer Council, who wished to focus on Castrovellian interests. The Return to Kyonin and population drain caused many outflung Elven colonies to collapse, with those Elves who did not immigrate to Kyonin returning to Sovyrian. Many Elves on Sovyrian resent Kyonin for abandoning Castrovel. Some also resent the Lashunta, who have overtaken such formerly Elven settlements as Ofu-Laubu, Jabask, and Candares.   Only Qabarat has maintained a stable Elven population, though Lashunta now outnumber Elves as that city has grown.

The Elves of Sovyrian have a long-standing alliance with the Lashunta cities, though at times it has grown strained. With the return to Golarion and the abandonment of many Elven colonies on Asana, some Elves have resented sharing control of Castrovel's aiudara gates with Lashunta, which they see as a threat to their magical supremacy.   Elves will have nothing to do with Formians. They remember the loss of the Colonies' even more vividly than the Lashunta of Valmaeana, and lost more people and cities.   The Elves of Sovyrian have been seeking a way to deal with a recent threat to their presumed exclusive dominance of their island-continent. The town of Nerundel has been invaded by gnomes, who apparently found their way through a planar portal from the First World.   Each winter, Sovyrian is invaded by ravening Aurovaks who migrate over the southern strait from the polar ice cap. Many elfknights and nobles occupy themselves with fending off this threat, which disappears when the weather warms.