Tisseri

Driven from Thovan by the giants of Tuongraunimozg, the feudal Tisseri elves crossed the North Sea and invaded western Icecrown, which had been abandoned by the dragons during the decline of the empire. In Icecrown the Tisseri king, Aidan the Bright, died defeating the maruthar god-queen, Esira. Through ancient rituals, the Tisseri managed to resurrect Aidan. However he came back not as the mortal elf he had been, but as a maruthar empowered with unquenchable light.   Their nation, known as the Tisseri Kingdom or Tisserian, built great cities and monuments and unlocked many ancient secrets of magic. They held the other races of Icecrown as their thralls and developed a landed gentry class. This empire is no more, having crumbled in the Year of Dark Sun. Now only one city remains, Kata Siperean, hidden away at the feet of the Crags of Alerikas. The city, and the surrounding estates, are ruled by Empress Kireana, who dreams of returning her nation to its former glory.   Although there are exceptions, Tisseri tend to look down on other races, seeing them as servants with delusions of grandeur. Within the Oras they are known as High Elves, although outside the archipelago this epithet is reserved for the Neruan.   Tisseri are tall and have straight, blond hair and blue eyes.   All Tisseri are considered gentry from birth (unless born to an exile). The Tisseri gentry starts with the court rank of Noble, which all Tisseri inherit regardless of parentage. Those who wish to rise to a higher rank must gain favor with the court. By gaining favor they can ascend to the ranks of Squire, Knight, Baron, Count, and finally Duke. The racism of the self-styled High Elves means that no non-Tisseri will ever be eligible to join the gentry. The best a non-High Elf could hope for is to become Soroskesi, or “unbound”, meaning that they are free to live and operate in Tisserian as though they were High Elves without rank. To be granted such an honor comes only after having done great service to the Tisseri court, however.