Elves

The Elves of the Stolen Expanse are beings of grace, longevity, and arcane attunement—descendants of the first mortals to walk beneath the stars and listen to the music of the world’s shaping. Born when magic was young and the gods still walked among mortals, the elves remember more than most civilizations can record. They are not only people, but living echoes of the First Light, keepers of beauty, order, and secrets older than kingdoms.

To be elven is to see time as a canvas—not a line. To move like wind through forest and fire alike. And to bear both joy and sorrow with the quiet strength of things that endure.

Appearance and Presence

Elves are tall and lithe, their forms reflecting a balance between nature and magic. Their features are finely sculpted—high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, long limbs—and their ears are gracefully tapered. Their eyes gleam like starlit pools, and their voices are like silver strings plucked in the hush of dusk. They move with an effortless elegance, as if untouched by the weight of the world, yet their gaze often betrays the centuries they carry.

An elf’s presence is not loud—it is felt, like the rustle of ancient leaves or the breath of twilight.

Society and Culture

Elven society is ancient, deliberate, and steeped in tradition. They do not rush to act, for they understand that true change takes time. They value art, arcana, and the preservation of knowledge above all else, and their cities—woven into forest canopies or hidden within crystal groves—are masterpieces of harmony between spellwork and nature.

The elven homeland is the Valasian Empire, a magocratic nation in the southeastern reaches of Levial, ruled not by monarchs, but by a high council of elder mages and seers. Though united in governance, elven society is split into three great lineages:

High Elves – The ruling caste of scholars, spellcasters, and arcane savants. They build cities of glass and light, and prize order, lineage, and refinement.

Wood Elves – Nomadic and reclusive, they dwell in the deep forests and ancient glades. They revere the wild balance, serving as druids, rangers, and mystics.

Drow (Dark Elves) – Exiles of the Underdark, shaped by shadow and silence. They once delved too deep into forbidden magics, and now walk paths of redemption, secrecy, or rebellion beneath the mountains.

Each lineage is distinct in culture and role, but all share the sacred memory of their divine birth.