Elf

Elves are physically somewhat similar to humans, with an upright posture, and 2 arms and 2 legs, each with 5 digits. They are however subtly different, with long, slender limbs and sharp features. They tend to be described as beautiful by other races, and posses a great level of agility and grace. Their fingers are also longer than humans’, which can cause them to look subtly wrong or unnerving to those who have had bad experiences with the fey. Their pointed ears are their most distinctive trait however, and the strongest evidence of their connection to the fey.

Elves follow mammalian reproduction, with a gestation period of 8 months.

Elves age quickly at first, but slow down almost exponentially as they get older. They normally start to crawl at 6 months and walk at around 1 year. They often switch between sleep and trance states with regularity, using the trance more and more as they grow older, and revel in the experiences and memories of their past lives. They leave childhood with their first reflection, the first time a memory from their current life enters their trance, sometime in the second or third decade. Adolescence for an elf lasts until their first century, and marks the gradual shift of their trance from past lives to this one. Once the drawing of the veil is complete an elf is said to be an adult. Elves tend to look no older than a thirty year old human, however after their fourth century they start experiencing memories that are not theirs in their trance. This is called the remembrance or revelation, and marks the closing centuries of the elf’s life, until their death at between 7 centuries and a millennia. When an elf who is still favoured by the seldarine is soon to die, they experience transcendence, cataracts that appear while they trance, in the shape of s downwards pointing crescent moon.

Elves may be less prolific than humans, however a holdover from their primal beginnings remains in their quick adaption to almost any survivable habitat and diet. Within 5 generations elves will often show noticeable minor adaptions to their new climate, and within 50 they might have formed an entirely new sub-race.

Almost all elves are omnivorous, however many of the sub-races are either obligate carnivores who can also eat plant matter, the opposite, or completely obligate omnivores. Many of the forest elves such as wild and wood elves ensure that they only kill an animal if they use its entire body, tanning the hide, eating the meat, and putting other parts of it to various uses. Most elves only preserve plants and not meat, disliking the taste and texture of most preserved meats.

While Eladrin often change their seasons with the world, they are just as likely to change due to their mood, or simply on a whim. Some of the other sub-races also have slight changes in different seasons, however most stay the same throughout the year.

Elves are social, often living in groups of at least 20. Large elven cities are few in number, however they are often larger than any of the surrounding human cities, as they are not limited by many of the same infrastructural concerns.

Sapient

Elves are rarely enslaved or exploited due to their low numbers and wariness.

Elves are characterised by their sharp cheekbones and pointed ears. Coupled with their thin noses this gives their faces a very sharp look.

Elves are found rarely, tending to settle in places secluded from other races, however they can be found in almost every climate and biome

Elves are of human intelligence, however they tend to be much older than their human counterparts, and as such are often more practiced.

The senses of elves are much the same as those of humans, however they have dark vision, and tend to be more observant, however it is unknown whether this is a genetic or social effect.

Elves often have symbiotic relationships with various species of plants in their environment, convincing them to grow into shelters for them in exchange for protection.

Elves are given a child name at birth, choosing an adult name when they declare themselves adults, some time after their first century. In addition all elves have a family name, although orphans may have to choose their own. Elven family names are formed of a pair of words in elven, although those who spend a lot of time with other races often translate them.   Child names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Nacris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall   Adult names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis, Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia   Family names: Amakiir (Gem flower), Amastacia (Star flower), Galanodel (Moon whisper), Holimion (Diamond dew), Ilphekiir (Gem blossom), Liadon (Silver frond), Meliamne (Oaken heel), Naïlo (Night breeze), Siannodel (Moon brook), Xiloscient (gold petal)

The fluidity of elves often extends to gender, with intersex elves being much more common than humans. In addition, roughly a quarter of all elves identify as non-cis genders at some point in their lives, and elves are generally the main producers of gender shifting potions and artefacts, with temporary spells being extremely common.

Surface elves generally speak dialects of elvish, while undercommon is the drow dialect of elvish. Almost all elves also speak common and high elvish, which is what other races think of when they say elvish. High elves and elves who grew up in cities may only speak high elvish.