High Elves

Calycrest, Auria, Onora, Effrica, Lire, Vorgel, Tiria, Rhoswyn, Ifana, Anghard, Amser

Gilmere, Keird, Niall, Caermac, Yuan, Finbar, Raelyn, Kynwyl, Inwas, Aeron, Brycha

Full names are highly conditional to the situation, so a single elf may have their names presented many different ways depending on the situation.

First Names can be prefixed by a title maker. These are typically El for King, Vis for Grand Duke, Dan for Duke, Cif for a Lord/Mayor, and Cav for a Knight.

Beyond the given names, additional "family" or "clan" names are a series of prefixes to first names of ancestors or mentors. These prefixes are in three categories, Descendent prefixes, Ancestor Prefixes, and Mentorship prefixes. There is also a precedence connector vowel (i) used when describing a chain of names. For example: son of Keird who is the son of Yuan would be Sid'Keird I Sid'Yuan. This can also be shortened to just Grandson of Yuan by Bi'Yuan.

Descendent prefixes are: Sid - son of, Fet - Daughter of, Bi - grandchild of, Til - great granchild of, Quil, Ket, Sic and Sep are further numbers of great great grandchildren. Ot is used when the exact number of generations is left unspecified, or the clan name is used, or it is the name of a great Aunt or Uncle instead of a direct line descendent.

Ancestor Prefixes are: Ath - Father of, Hath - Mother of, Sean - Ancestor of.

Mentorship prefixes are: Mag - magical apprentice of, Lei - skill/knowledge apprentice of, Lac - fighting apprentice of, Scoi - Mentor to.

Appended descriptors are also common. These are commonly accolades, locations or events. Many are also used for nicknames.

Example

The elf Onora is a three hundred or so year wizard. She would be known as Onora the Firebrand to friends. Onora Fet'Tiria Ot'Scri to most other elves. This means Onora Daugher of Tiria and of Clan Scri.

When wanting to impress or in formal social settings Onora would go by: Onora Til'Dak'Niall I Sunmere Mag'Effrica Ot'Scri. This would mean Onora great grand daughter of Duke Niall of Sunmere, apprentice of Effrica, of the clan of Scri.

Among mages Onora might go by: Onora Mag'Effrica I Mag'Luan, Harbinger of the white flame, Dancer in the dragon's fire. Here this means Onora apprentice of Effrica who was apprentice of Luan, one of the researchers into white flame spells, who once withstood a dragons fire breath.

Elvish is a farily standardized language using the Sedon syllabary. Dialects in pronunciation, word choice and local slang do exists but most regionalized forms are still intelligable by all who know the language. Most elves can tell what city or region and class another elf is from just by their speech.

Both genders tend to wear the same thing. Long robes for home and festivals, pants/hose and tunics for more active pursuits. Public bathing is often done in loincloths or nude.

Cold and Fermented salads are very common to elvish cuisine. Elves are known for their wines and vinagers. They often tend to large groves of olives they use for oil and salads.

Dried soup balls, salted meat, and Sagenut Bars are common for journies. The soup balls are often made of dehydrated stock and dehydrated vegetables in a solid animal fat for stability and shape. Dried fruits and freshly sourced game are then added to the rehydrated soup for a hearty meal on the road.

They have a longstanding custom of preserving foods. This includes many grains, fermented vegetables and jerkies.

At the age of 30 young elves are given a knife of excellent workmanship by their family and are encouraged to find a mentor. Knives are often fashioned with utility relating to an intended profession or hobby. It could be pen knives for scribes, throwing dagger or hunting knife for warriors, machetes for explorers and more.

While most of these are not strict prohibitions their implmentation causes friction among others at times. Lighting unnecessary fires. Not being clean-shaven. Not being clean and tidy in homes and professions.

The names of the first 17 lords of the elves became the clan names most commonly used today. While other elven cultures deviate from this the clan names are: Doch, Mum, Fair, Free, Coir, Scri, Leic, Teas, Oibi, Dim, Buni, Talon, Sage, Beth, Anne, Delia, and Lasc. Of these Coir, Teas, Dimha, and Delia are considered extinct.

Other notable figures include:

For the body: Thin, athletic, and flexible with symmetrical features and clear skin are the ideal. This applies to both genders.

For the home: High elves prefer complex embroidery on everything, as well as detailed carving in leather, wood and stone.

In architecture: simple but difficult shapes to make are prefered. Curved walls making custom furniture a necessity in any room.

For the mind: multiple disciplines are considered essential. By the age of 50 an elf should have an apprenticeship as well as several different artistic and craftsmanship pursuits.

Long well thought out courtships are fairly standard. See Elven Courtship for more. Over the age of 100, age gap relationships of 100 to 200 years are fairly common.