Sun Elves
A subgroups of Elves who make up most of the Ehranian Empire's administrators and bureaucrats. One of the larger subgroups, they are the most common targets of social or political upheaval.
Transformation: Hesperides
The oldest and wisest of their kind sometimes become a kind of Nymph known as a Hesperid. Recognizable by the gentle light emitting from their bodies, they have powers of insight and telepathic communication.Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Alaneril, Iriduran, Tinushal, Asanai, Lelitani
Masculine names
Caladel, Alarac, Malatand, Silerin, Uric
Unisex names
Arrehan'an, Eressan, Elessin, Selesar, Alacar
Family names
Oloressi'elarin'adar, Aladar'amindal, Eledilendin'urusil, Orocoros'undin, Adal'dalacar'emendin, Rassha'turisen'eldal, Alacar'elta'melatenieldin, Adal'malaseldin'iras, Aran'alel'ildassar, Tinari'eldeliar
Culture
Shared customary codes and values
Sun Elves are dedicated to the ideas of justice and order, both on a personal and social level. They tend to fall into a broad worldview, neglecting the needs and rights of individuals in favor of "the greater good". They seek political power as a means of enforcing their concept of a perfect society, and many individuals have cloaked their personal ambitions within this social drive.
Common Etiquette rules
Formal to a fault, they strictly adhere to codes of behavior in all public contexts, and often in private as well. Names and titles are carefully observed, and all forms of address and communication are formed with relative status in mind.
Common Dress code
Almost universally they wear a specific cut of robe, which in principle is meant to indicate membership in government service. Even those who are not part of the government wear garments that are similar but with distinct differences that an outsider may not be able to distinguish. As always, the materials and colors used indicate one's exact position and status.
Art & Architecture
Cities in Ehrania are built by Wood Elves, but designed by Sun Elves, who also claim the most prominent locations for their housing. Their habitations are less communal than those of other tribes, focused more on specific families, and each family may have many different homes throughout the empire run by different branches and their leaders. Beyond these, the cities also have many public thoroughfares and parks, and public offices and workplaces, all made from arranged and meticulously grown trees.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Sun Elves believe that a child must be born in daylight or their life will be cursed. A stormy day is considered an especially bad omen. Midwives are known to use medical and magical methods to delay a birth in order to ensure it takes place during day, but there are limits to how far this can safely be taken. Regardless of the exact time of birth, a newborn is sanctified and named in a sunbeam at the earliest possible opportunity, and given an item, usually a string of beads, that bears their name. As they age, their name will be extended, reflecting their actions and social status, and the beads will be changed accordingly. The string itself is typically referred to as one's "name".
Coming of Age Rites
When a Sun Elf has reached an acceptable age and been deemed suitably mature by their kin and superiors, they are given a new name. This supplants the name given at birth and becomes the individual's new first name, and the change in name, and the item that bears it, is a symbolic act that indicates entry into adulthood. As such, the change in the physical object is made in a ceremony that is witnessed by the new adult's peers, and is also seen as one of their first great opportunities to practice networking.
Funerary and Memorial customs
A Sun Elf wears their namesake item visibly on their person at all times. When they die, it is retrieved by any means possible if the body is not available for recovery. In either case, the name is featured (ideally alongside the body) in a public funeral, after which the name is removed and placed in the keeping of the family, who maintain special memorial areas where such names are prominently displayed, especially those of great honor and fame.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Beyond all other tribes, Sun Elves are willing to wear synthetic materials, feeling that this symbolizes their mastery over nature. Garments are often made of silk, velvet, and rayon, intricately designed, accented with gemstones and flowers, both real and artificial. Sun Elves show their obsession with status by their clothing, valuing complexity, originality, and rarity of materials. The results are often horrendously impractical, and this also enhances their status.
Courtship Ideals
Courtship among Sun Elves is highly regimented, following a strict regimen of formal procedures, and is often instigated and primarily managed by the couple's parents or other familial authorities. Most relationships are arranged by extended families. Though it's not uncommon for an individual to start a relationship on their own initiative, they will be hard-pressed to keep their relatives from meddling, and few would make serious efforts to do so, as they often see marriage as a political or financial move.
Nicknames (least to most pejorative): Dawn-striders, Sun-children, light-kin, sparkling ones, sun-lovers, goldheads, shiners
Height: 1.6-2m (5'2"-6'6")
Skin colors: Pale to light brown, often with golden olive sheen
Hair colors: Any shade of blond
Eye colors: Yellow or orange
Lifespan (Average/Maximum): 1200/1850
Skin colors: Pale to light brown, often with golden olive sheen
Hair colors: Any shade of blond
Eye colors: Yellow or orange
Lifespan (Average/Maximum): 1200/1850
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