Wild Elves
The oldest subgroup, or "tribe", of Elves, known in the Old Tongue as "Hioden". Although the principle actors in the Everwar, today they are a small minority in the Ehranian Empire and regarded as somewhat backward by their kin. Of all Elves, they are the closest to wild nature and least inclined to interfere with the landscape. They also have a greater affinity for animals than other tribes, including the willingness to harvest food and resources from them.
They live in distinct large family groups called clans usually containing between 1-4 hundred members, from which their official family names are taken.
Transformation: Meliad
The eldest and most powerful are known as Meliads, a type of Nymph. It is common for each clan to have two or three such, who serve as leaders in hunts and migration, and general advisors, but seldom adopt direct rule. Distinguished by their eyes, which take on the properties of various animals, they have an unparalleled awareness of the world around them, easily able to sense the activity of birds, beasts, and insects within their vicinity, and can even drive the actions of such creatures at will.Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Arrinden, Murla, Ruan, Oror, Rassan
Masculine names
A'Hradlar, Arrad, Caras, Andal, Maralc
Unisex names
Hiode, Hythen, Issin, Uldun, Ocun
Family names
Deniouen, Oruhowe, Aliheya, Namaharayem, Colotonum, Acaharinen, Samatanan, Shokurohim, Orundem, Aussunt
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Each clan is named for a particular species of animal, and some depiction of such is used as a clan sigil. Initially there were a handful of such clans, of which the best known are the Deer, Owl, Wolf, Rabbit, Eagle, and Bear clans. In time, the number of clans grew massively, the creatures to which they identified became more specific. Today there are 89 official clans, but many more who diverge from these, being variations on the older namesakes.
Shared customary codes and values
Wild Elves in particular consider themselves the stewards of animals, with numerous clans exhaustively tracking the movements of birds and beasts throughout their lands, ensuring their populations are stable and healthy, attempting to foresee and prevent any disasters that might befall them. The animals are their primary resource, as they hunt whatever numbers they deem sustainable, but keeping livestock is anathema to them, considered cruel and unnatural. In particular, animal-based themes crop up in their songs, stories, and manner of speaking.
Average technological level
They have the least observed technology of any Elves, as they eschew comfort in search of closer connections with nature.
Art & Architecture
Historical Wild Elf abodes were made from animal skins stretched over frames of harvested wood. However, because both of these ingredients are considered highly distasteful by wider Elven society, they now mostly live in arboreal dwellings made by Wood Elves. Nevertheless, those on long excursions from their homes will still occasionally build small huts in the traditional style, being careful to remove all signs of such when they are done.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Many Wild Elves keep individual 'bond animals', essentially pets, who they adopt in late adolescence or early adulthood and foster as if a member of their own family. The bond can become exceedingly strong, to the point of the two forming a magical connection by which they may aid one another. This is by no means a universal activity, and depends on finding an abandoned young creature that can be adopted, a circumstance which Elves take great efforts to prevent, but it is encouraged and seen as a sign of great personal strength.
Coming of Age Rites
When a youth is ready to prove their adulthood, they undertake a vision quest, which entails going alone into the wilds and awaiting instructions from a spirit guide. The nature of these instructions vary, the most common being to either hunt or aid a specific creature nearby. Success will yield a reward that the person brings back to the clan as proof, and will then display either in their home or on their person, as preferred.
The quest is preceded by a ritual overseen by a local Meliad or priest of Hradlar. It's believed by many outsiders that these officiators also use magic to manipulate the events of the quest, but Elves refuse to address such claims.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Each clan maintains a communal burial mound, into which all members are interred in a ceremony overseen by the head of the clan and the local priest or Meliad. Sometimes a smaller, separate mound is kept for those of great prominence.
Common Myths and Legends
Wild Elves tell many stories of their patron god, Hradlar, most of which are instructive in the ways of various animal species, telling of their origins, their behaviors, their predators, their reproduction cycle, and so on.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Wild Elves are the only tribe who appreciate the use of animal parts as personal accessories, particularly favoring antlers, teeth, and small bones as trinkets. They also wear hides and fur, as well as fabric made from processed hair, including wool. All of these are considered distasteful or outright abominable by other tribes, and some are banned in major Elven cities.
Nicknames (least to most pejorative): Primal Elves, firstblood, woodhearts, oldkin, beastkin
Height: 1.2-1.6m (4'-5'4")
Skin colors: Moderate to dark brown
Hair colors: Medium to dark brown
Eye colors: Gray or black
Lifespan (Average/Maximum): 560/780
Height: 1.2-1.6m (4'-5'4")
Skin colors: Moderate to dark brown
Hair colors: Medium to dark brown
Eye colors: Gray or black
Lifespan (Average/Maximum): 560/780
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