Eventide Elves

Eventide elves have the largest variety of family names of any elf species. While sun elves and moon elves' family names relate back to the sun and moon respectively, eventide elves' family names can be either, both, or neither depending on what in the sky that family connects most to. Some examples include Sehrlex, Stellune, Realaa, Sulaa, and Lumiin.

A polite greeting or farewell often contains one of the following:

Unlike sun elves and moon elves, eventide elves don't primarily worship any one deity, instead focusing on whomever is most relevant at the moment. Another interesting thing of note is the focus placed on light and brightness. The darkness that the eventide elves experienced during the Undoing has stuck strongly with them and has much influence on them. This is best seen in what is almost a pathological need to connect with others and be in the light.

Once a year, in the middle of winter, the sun goes dark for a full day. The sun sets the day before but the moon does not come. The moon and sun do not rise or set until the dawn the day after, leaving the world submerged in darkness. In the present time, eventide elves dread this day. In the time leading up to it, candles, wood, torches, anything that will burn is collected and hoarded. No trade happens the day before, the day of, or the day after Day's Night. Most eventide elves will stay inside, keeping light burning the full 36 hours to stave off the dark. Some are working to shift this day to be one of community, warmth, and light, but the fear of the dark has a death grip on their culture.

In ancient times, this time of darkness was known as the Day of Rest, and no creature would work on this day in honor of the Ancient Sun, Ancient Moon and Ancient Terra who rested after the creation of all things. In preparation much work would be done leading up to it so everyone would have enough food, water, and fire.

When eventide elves are born, they are bathed in light so that warmth and blessings will follow them wherever they go. However, if an eventide elf is born on Day's Night, it is considered a terrible omen or even a curse from the divine. To be born without light is akin to being born without a soul to the more extreme. Most would still avoid such a child like they carried a plague. Those unlucky enough to be born on such a lightless day often leave and go to live somewhere where those beliefs aren't held.

When an eventide elf dies, their body is openly burned on a funeral pyre so their spirit may ascend to the sky where it is lit up all the time. It is considered to be a very bad omen or even a divine punishment for someone to die on Night's Day as it seen as depriving them of the light.