The Elves

The Elves are a slim, elegant race native to Ecumene, making their home in the temperate, forested lands of Northern Oriens. As one of the Intelligent Races, they have achieved a high level of technology, intelligence, and society that not many other species have, and have used this power to build some of the greatest Empires the world has ever seen, although this has lent itself to the Elven race long being known for their overconfidence and arrogance. They are one of the world's many Humanoid races, being genetically close to Humans, Dwarves, and Gnomes.   As a Humanoid race, the Elves belong to the genus Homo, and are therefore Great Apes, but the Elven race is unique for displaying many qualities that are more in line with Gibbons and even Simians. This is perhaps best seen in their skeletal structure. Starting with their head, the Elven skull is much longer than it is wide and exhibits a very prominent jawline. Among Humanoids of vaguely comparable size (Humans and Dwarves), the Elves are also notable for having somewhat disproportionally large eyes: their pupils alone have the same diameter as a Human eye (that of 1 inch). Due to these large eyes, the Elves are able to fit many more photoreceptors in their pupils (which are also quite densely packed, allowing for great detail at a great distance), therefore allowing them to see clearly practically all the way to the horizon, whereas the vision of other races drops off slowly until that point. This also results in Elves being able to see better than Humans in low-light conditions, but due to their lack of any specific adaptations to help with these conditions, it is not too great a difference. As a final note on the Elven face, their nose is unique among Humanoids for being slim, sloping downwards evenly, and keeping fairly close to the head as opposed to the fatter, more protruding noses of the other Humanoids.   Their heightened senses do not end at their incredible vision, though. Perhaps the most immediately notable trait of an Elf is their sharp and backward pointed ears which are on average eight inches long. Due to the pointedness of their ears and a generally heightened sense of hearing, Elves are able to triangulate the source of a sound quite easily. Furthermore, again due to the very exaggerated pointedness of their ears, Elves hear in a higher-pitched frequency range: 55 Hz to 33 kHz. One should keep in mind that Elves do not necessarily have better hearing than any race, no. It is just that they are better able to discern the origin of the sounds they do hear, and their higher-pitched frequency range is more or less a quirk. As the thermoregulation capabilities of an Elf are quite mediocre, their large ears are also a boon in this regard, for they can be flushed with blood when it is hot out, helping the body cool. The oft-mentioned exaggerated pointedness of the Elven ear has a final use. They are far more adept at sensing moving air behind the Elf than a rounded ear would be, and due to this, they can alert an Elf to sudden movement behind them.   Back on to the Elven skeleton, as stated before, it is much more similar in theme and function to those found amongst Lesser Apes (as well as Monkeys in smaller part) than it is to the race's fellow Great Apes. Most notably, this means that the Elven race has incredibly lanky limbs; their arms in particular are quite long, going down to their upper thighs. These arms are incredibly flexible due to their wrist being something similar to a ball-and-socket joint, which allows it to move more similar to a knuckle or even a shoulder than a wrist. While hardly useful anymore, this means that Elves can climb surfaces and swing from branches with great ease, but the general dexterity and general acrobatic ability this ball-and-socket wrist has given them is no doubt useful all the same. Interestingly, the Elven race also exhibits prehensile feet (due to the presence of an opposable big toe), and while they are not as good at grasping as their hands, the race has kept this function and can use their feet as though they were hands quite easily.   The interesting biology of an Elf does not end at their bones. While, thus far, the Elven form seems perhaps perfect, they are just as biologically flawed as other races. By nature, Elves cannot produce adipose tissue nearly as efficiently as other races, meaning that, while they will always stay lean, they will need to eat much more calorically rich foods much more often in order to maintain their body. This is especially dangerous for ill, grievously injured Elves or Elves living in times of famine, for their bodies only have a small reserve of fat to burn off before they begin to starve. They can, however, gain muscle mass, though said muscle mass is very lean due to the Elves lacking the ability to produce fat with any real efficiency. Elves are also more susceptible to injury than other races due to the lack of cushioning fat, meaning that, even though they are incredibly agile, they still need to be incredibly careful. This is only compounded due to the relative thinness of their bones. While they are slightly better sprinters than Men, Elves have much worse stamina.   Elves are known far and wide for the thickness and softness of their head hair: head hair that grows with incredible speed. Even if an Elf shaves their head in its entirety, hair will be flowing back over their shoulders in two or three months, although male Elves are unable to grow any facial hair beyond a small mustache. While their head hair can grow in shades of blonde, auburn, and light brown, the body hair of both genders of Elf grows without color. An Elf's skin is always a pale white, the race completely unable to tan but fully able to burn in harsh sunlight. Elven eyes, a highly important facet of their culture, come in blue, grey, green, and brown.   More so than any other Humanoid race, the Elves are quite androgynous, both genders having similar facial features and being of similar height. As stated before, though, Elfmen can grow slight mustaches and, of course, Elfmaids have (small) mammalian breasts. As members of the Intelligent Races, Elves can feel attraction to all of the other races, and can actually have children with Humans, with the children of the pair coming out as a crippled Halfbreed.

Elvenkind has a legendarily slow growth rate, but when one takes into consideration how ancient an Elf can get without hindrance, it is hardly surprising. Elves exhibit Humanoid genitalia, though that really goes without saying.   The gestation period of an Elven baby is about a year, and after they are born, an Elf is considered an infant, until almost three years of age. They are afterward a toddler until they become six years old, and are considered a child until they turn 20. Elven adolescence ends at 31 years of age when they begin a long period of adulthood. Once an Elf reaches the age of 130, they are considered a senior citizen, with their hair beginning to turn white and slight wrinkles appearing on their skin.

The Elven race is known far and wide for its food, with many of the best chefs in history hailing from Sylvania, competing with Nereid cuisine for the spot of "the finest". The traditional Elven method of preparing meat is to have it braised, with the poor of the era often adding meat and vegetables into a pot roast. Pork is the most commonly consumed variety of meat, but poultry and unicorn steak is cooked in no negligible amount. If it is not being roasted, Elven butchers will often fix meat into a sausage for easy consumption and to not waste any part of an animal. Said sausages are often paired with mustard that varies from moderate to spicy. Other meats have spices such as parsley, thyme, laurel, chives, black pepper, juniper berries, nutmeg, and caraway. Elves are also great lovers of bread, with a roll or noodle of some sort almost always being served alongside the main dish. Spätzle noodles are the most common, and rye or wheat bread is always kept in stock. While loaves are the most common form of delivery, rolls are often served alongside sausages and bakers will often offer pretzels, a favorite of the race. Dough may also be fixed into dumplings filled with meat and more savory vegetables. While foreigners know Elven cuisine best for its sausages and pretzels, meat is expensive, especially for the peasantry, so vegetables and fruits are very common. Carrots, cauliflower, turnips, potatoes, spinach, peas, beans, onions, asparagus, and broccoli are often tossed into a pot roast or stew alongside braised meat. Fruits such as apples, pears, strawberries, and cherries are also fairly common.   As for beverages, water, tea, and unicorn milk are very common, obviously, but like all Intelligent Races, Elves are partial to a bit of alcohol. They cannot have anything too heavy due to their natural thinness, so cider is the most common alcoholic drink in the Elven lands. Lighter beers and wines are fairly common as well, but most Elven peasants have at least one glass of hard cider a day.   Despite their natural litheness, Elves still need to eat thrice a day to keep up their body, with Elven meals being very high in calories so that they can properly maintain their bodies. Frühstück (Breakfast) is the first meal of the day and is taken in the morning. It is usually made up of bread with butter and jam or honey, cold meats, cheese, and bacon. Next comes Mittagessen (Lunch). During this age, it is the largest meal of the day, often being made up of a large cut of meat, vegetables, and some bread. The last meal of the day is Abendbrot (Dinner) and is held in the late afternoon or evening. It, like Frühstück, is a smaller meal, commonly consisting of bread, cheese, sausage, and fruit if it can be afforded.

Even before the foundation of the very first Sylvan Empire under Isebrand I von Greifklaue, the race has operated upon a strictly regimented caste system. It is distinct in that your caste is decided upon your eye color, an ancient Pagan practice that has carried over into the modern age. In the times before the birth of the Gods, the Elven race worshipped Fairies, and it was believed that these Fairies would gift eye colors to people as something akin to a Zodiac sign. After the existence of Fairies was debunked, Vallo, a perhaps mythological Elven hero, reorganized the Elven religion with the Caste System at its heart, declaring that eye colors were not mere signs of personality or vague destiny, but signs of what one’s worldly purpose was. Nowadays, due to its age and how integral it is to Elven society, the Caste System is accepted by most as the way things simply are, though as the Sylvan Empire industrializes and modernizes, this ancient System has begun to buckle and strain.   At the very top of this four-and-a-half-tiered pyramid is the Ritter Caste. These blue-eyed Elves are the warrior aristocracy of Sylvania, having ultimate power over Elvendom since the fall of Karantania. While a united Caste, the Ritters fall into various subdivisions depending on their place in the Imperial and noble hierarchy. At the very top, of course, is the Kaiser who rules over the entirety of Sylvania and wields a great deal of power. Under them are the various Kings of Elvendom, who have quite a bit of power within their own realms, but are ultimately sworn to the Kaiser. Under the Kings are several other nobles, who rule over Duchies, Counties, and Baronies and are not only sworn to their King, but also to the Kaiser. While said Kings and the Kaiser are primarily concerned with the running of their state, the lesser nobility, no matter how much land their title grants them, are primarily concerned with overseeing said land. However, for any number of reasons, Ritters can become landless and therefore wealthless. The Ritters also tend to fancy themselves as great warriors, so for almost all of Sylvania’s history, the upper echelons of military command have been reserved for their Caste. 5% of all Elves are Ritters.   Below the Ritters are the Gothar. A "Gothi" was an ancient Elven term for a Pagan, and then Trinitist, priest, with Gothar being its plural form. While the modern term for a Commonalist Monk in Elven is "Mönch", the caste in which they belong is still known as the Gothar caste, and an individual Gothar is still called a Gothi (as not all Gothar are Monks, though all Monks are Gothar). These grey-eyed Elves are the scholars, bureaucrats, and priests of Elvendom. While the Common Faith proclaims that all should be able to become Monks, the Elves have gone around this by saying that, amongst the Elves, having grey eyes is a sign of having a Jeweled soul. Throughout history, the Ritters and Gothar have had very close relations, the Gothar serving the Ritters and the Ritters giving them wide privileges because of it. Of course, many become vaunted holy men, but the fields of bureuacratic administration, medicine, both the enforcement and administration of law, and education are theirs by birthright. Due to this, it is a necessity that they be allowed into high education, given total freedom of movement, and treated well by the Ritters. As it stands, the Gothar and the Ritters are continuing their close relationship out of necessity, as the Gothar cannot exist without the privileges their lords have given them, and the Ritters cannot exist with their governments. A little over 12% of all Elves belong to this Caste.   At the very bottom of the formal Caste System are the Thralls. These hazel-eyed Elves only fulfill one role: and that is of serf. Thrall families are, through ancient contracts, tied to a specific plot of land within a Ritter’s holdings. It is their duty to not only work this land in the name of their lord, but also to give him a large percentage of their harvests to be sold (as Thralls are not permitted to sell crops outside of their own lord’s holdings), pay taxes to the Ritter (with it being the Ritter’s choice as to what taxes are collected for what), and do work as the Ritter commands. This extra work is usually that of building various things across a Ritter’s property, but a lucky few may be invited to tend to their home. If a Thrall refuses to work the fields, pay their taxes, or do the work their Ritter commands of them, they can be criminally prosecuted. Thralls are not legally allowed to leave their lord’s holdings unless given specific permission by their lord or if they are briefly emancipated by the Kaiser for military service. As all able-bodied Thralls are conscripted into the Sylvan Army, they must be able to leave their land for at least a little while, and so the Kaiser has the authority to temporarily “free” a Thrall from his land bonds before giving them back to their lord after their military service is done, although there is nothing stopping a Thrall from staying in the military forever (though they will not get promoted past a certain point). In return for their labor on the Ritter’s land, a Thrall is able to keep a portion of their harvest, though again, they are unable to sell it anywhere meaningful. Also, Ritters are obliged to pay each individual, adult Thrall a “fair” wage for their labor, they cannot abuse or sell Thralls (though they can sell the land they are bound to), and the personal property of a Thrall cannot be invaded or taken by their lord (unless it is in the form of a tax). While the bonded workers of the Ritters, most Thralls are literate and many even have mechanized tools, and while most do not have too much downtime, they can be pretty worldly. The Sylvan government tries to keep a very tight leash on what the Thralls do and think, with this resulting in many Thralls who firmly believe that their Ritter is simply better than them, although others yearn to be free. Either way, Thralls very often hate the Hanseatics, those rich freemen who do not need to do real labor. Thralls make up close to 45% of the total Elven population.   While not often included within the official Caste System, there is a fifth Elven Caste. This is that of the Untouchables. These are the Elves who are born with a physical disability or who are a Half-Elf. Those with non-Elven parentage are seen as freaks of nature, and those who are born crippled are seen as being cursed by the Gods for some great sin in a past life. Those who are born blind or without eyes are seen as uniquely cursed. Either way, they do not deserve to be within civil society and tend to work as gravediggers, street sweepers, or sanitation workers. As a rule, Untouchables are physically segregated from society as a whole, forced to live on the outskirts of cities or in the wilderness somewhat near to a village. Though this is not law, as the Untouchables are not a legally recognized Caste, no Elf wants to be the neighbor of a Cursed One.

König: King
Herzog: Duke
Reichsgraf: Count
Reichsfreiherr: Baron

For millennia now, the Elven race has practiced total gender equality. It is not known how exactly it started, but almost every race on the continent of Oriens practices or once practiced either near or total gender equality. Anthropologists believe it may just have been a twist of fate that continuously grew throughout the continent, but never went beyond the Serento Mountains. Whatever the cause may be, archeological findings have shown that gender equality in some sort has been practiced in the region since Pre-History. This is no different now, and all Elven institutions, be they in the workforce, the Armed Forces, or the government, show no discrimination between Elfman and Elfmaid. Barriers and traditions pertaining to gender that is commonplace in other societies are seen as barbaric in Sylvania, and husband and wife are on equal ground. Married couples will own everything within the house in common and share all the work as such. In rural areas, it is commonplace for a husband and wife to switch on and off, with one doing the fieldwork of the day while the other does the housework, only to switch the next day. In the cities, couples will own the family business in common, allowing housework to be done easily. Even for those who work in factories, housework is not really an issue, as one Elf using magic can do the work of over 100 real-life workers.   The Elven view of gender (or lack thereof) translates directly to their view of homosexuality and transgenderism. The predominant denominations of Commonalism within Sylvania do not explicitly decry sex between individuals of the same gender, and indeed, the Book of Life does not make any statements about it. While it is still a bit taboo, especially among the lower classes, the nobility of Elvendom has more or less embraced bisexuality. To continue the lineage of the house and the caste, nobles will of course marry those of the opposite sex, but there is no small number of nobles that engage in fornication and/or adultery with Elves of the same sex as them. Generally speaking, it is considered improper to be the one being penetrated, as that is a sign of submission, but even so, there are a great many of these "backdoor clubs" located behind the closed doors of the various noble courts. Likewise, marriage between Elves of the same sex is forbidden. After the War Of Two Empires, more and more Elves would embrace this lifestyle, and it has become very fashionable in the cities of Sylvania. Transgenderism, however, is quite taboo even within homosexual clubs. To consider oneself a gender other than the one an Elf was born with is seen as heresy, as it was the Gods who put your soul into this vessel, and if they desired you to be a woman in this life, they would have made you one.

Arranged marriages among all Elven castes are still alive and well, and while dowries are long dead, parents are still expected to make sure that their child marries a "proper" suitor. Of course, an Elf cannot marry outside of their caste, and relations between two Elves of different castes are criminal. Be this as it may, though, sex before marriage is not looked down upon within Commonalist society, though marriage is still an important event for many Elves. The ever persisting vanity of Elven society is apparent in the marriage ceremony, as to declare your intent to marry someone, you must buy them a resplendent necklace, as well as a matching one for yourself.   The ceremony itself is usually held in a quiet area of undisturbed woodland. The families of those getting married will enter the area first and form a semi-circle, and soon after, the bride and groom will enter the area, one holding a shovel and the other a flower. The two will walk hand-in-hand to the center of the semi-circle, where they will whisper their vows to one another before working together to plant the flower as a sign of the new life that will blossom with their union. After this quiet ceremony, those in attendance will go back to the home of the couple for games and food.

Sylvania is one of the most advanced nations on Ecumene, and despite their antiquated system of governance, none can deny their technological capabilities. It was an Elf who discovered the raw power that steam holds, and since then Elven society has been shaken to the core by this, try as the nobility will to keep a firm grip on political power and economic power. The Sylvan Empire has more railways and major cities than anywhere else in the world, and due to this (as well as its massive land area), the Kaiserreich has the best economy in the world.

Elves speak a language known as "Elven" which is in essence real-life German. This language uses an alphabetical system of writing known as "Runic", which utilizes 40 letters to form words and phrases, with the letters themselves looking quite like those used in the real-life Deseret Alphabet.

Elven society is one of strict hierarchy, civility, and tradition. This goes so far as to have your greeting to your fellow Elves be dependent on their social status in relation to yours. When greeting an Elf of equal or lower status to yourself, it is considered proper to hail them by raising your hand up parallel to your body, as if you were swearing on a book. To greet someone of a higher, but non-noble caste, one must clasp their hands together in a prayer-like position while giving a slight bow directed towards the Elf you are greeting. However, when an Elf is greeting a noble, they must perform a kowtow, no matter if they are inside or outside.   Elven society is obsessed with appearances and cleanliness, and even the poorest of the poor make an effort to look clean. Elves will bathe, at the very least, every other day, and even before the emergence of germ theory, Elves would wash their hands regularly. While bathing is usually done at home, public bathhouses can be found in every city of the Empire. With the emergence of popularized steam power, new "steam bathhouses" (powered by steam engines) would become popular social spots for upper to middle caste Elves. In addition, Elves of every gender will often apply make-up or perfume to themselves in an effort to look cleaner, while also making a visible effort to have clean-looking clothes, no matter their caste or occupation. Elven nobles are especially known to drown themselves in perfume. It is considered bad form to be in public or at an event without fresh clothes or smelling poorly, so most Elves will change out of their work clothes as soon as they get home, as fashion slip-ups can give birth to years of gossip whispered behind an Elf's back.

There is no real divide in men's and women's fashion, as there is no real divide between men and women. Lower caste Elves of every gender can be found wearing simple, but elegant, clothing that allows them to do their jobs easily. As such, Thralls and Hanseatics alike can be found wearing simple or checkered linen or cotton shirts with turnover colors, often colored white, green, red, grey, or tan. Thralls tend to wear durable leather breeches known as "lederhosen", notable for their suspenders. These have fallen out of fashion in more urban areas, though, where the Elves there have adopted more fashionable cotton or woolen trousers. As for shoes, boots and haferlschuh are commonplace.   The Elven nobility takes fashion much, much more seriously. Unlike the more "casual" clothing worn by the elite of the other races, Elven nobles (and others of means) still dress very stuffily. Embroidered, ruffled shirts (paired with a brightly colored justacorps and a pair of breeches, though no waistcoat) and trousers are commonplace, often with jewels and beads sewn into the fabric. On normal days, they will also wear square heeled shoes. During meetings of the court and such, many Elven nobles can be found dressed in olive-colored military uniform (similar in style, but not color, to those used in Prussia), as a great many nobles follow a career in the Reichswehr. Something many foreigners will find odd is that Elves of both sexes will often wear dresses during more casual Imperial functions, such as dances or parties. Elven dresses are symbols of decadence if there ever were any, with some of the most expensive having entire art pieces embroidered into the fabric. However, they do not tend to be too wide, nor are corsets too common. Elven nobles also tend to wear white gloves while at dinners, parties, and other high-class events.   As you know, Elven hair grows exceptionally thick and long, so it is a fool's errand to cut it short, as it will just grow back within a week. As such, Elves of both sexes will wear their hair either down to their shoulders at the shortest or down to their mid-back at the longest. It is often tied into intricate braids or loops, or in the case of those who worry about their hair interfering with their work, a joora (a top knot style used by real-life Sikhs).

Houses And Architecture
Most Thralls live in simple houses made out of a stone base topped with logs and timber frames. These look incredibly similar to traditional farmhouses found in the real-life region of Upper Lusatia, with a hallway running through the mid-section of the house, splitting the ground floor between a living and working area. The living area is usually on the east side of the house, and the working area (which is made of a more solid construction and which often is used as a storeroom or workshop) is in the west. The cities, however, are usually made up of half-timbered houses, quite like those you would find in real-life Germany and the Low Countries.   Speaking of Elven cities, they are quite a sight to behold. In accordance with the Commonalist tradition of harmony with nature, it is government mandated policy that all large cities and settlements must integrate forests into their cityscape. Almost every major city in the realm, from Niederstetten to Strand, has massive forest park enclaves within the cities and hedges lining the streets. These massive forests (many of which are well over 2,000 acres) dominate the skyline of many a city and often have game living with them. It is not at all uncommon to see some hunters making a trip into the legendarily giant Sylstadt forest parks early in the morning, or to see deer walking the street during the twilight hours.   Music And Art
Elven artists have long been lauded for their skill, with the Sylvan Empire producing many of the best painters the world has ever been blessed with. However, where the Elves excel is music, with Elven composers being in high demand in almost every civilized court, such as the famed Luther Bathe-Haven. While classical music coming from the Sylvan realm is very influential, Elven "volksmusik" cannot be ignored. These songs of the common folk utilize simple harmonies, major key melodies, and heavy variation between regions. Traditional and popular instruments in the Elven lands include wooden flutes, violins, hurdy-gurdies, harmonicas, accordions, lutes, zithers, organs, tubas, and brass horns. While neither the rural nor noble classes of Elvendom have much love for the genre, the Elves of Sylvania's cities cannot get enough of jazz.   Sports And Games
Rugby is by far the most popular sport in Sylvania, with it being commonly played by nobles and commoners alike. However, the nobility maintains a firm tradition of competitive archery, due in large part to the incredible sight of the Elven race. Noble families will often pass down an expertly crafted family bow for this purpose, an artifact that is protected with pride. Among the peasantry, aside from the aforementioned sport of rugby, sports such as handball and (come winter) bandy are very common.   Funerary Traditions
Upon the death of an Elf, their body is brought to a crematorium and incinerated after everyone who desires to has taken a last look at the body and says whatever they need to say. During the incineration, the Elf is draped in white rags as a symbol of purification. Afterward, their ashes are to be gathered up and sprinkled around a nearby forest as a sign of respect to the Gods, as well as to express hope that their deceased family member has found their Eternal Peace.   Philosophy
It is no secret that the Elven race is a deeply vain and arrogant one. Ever since the first Empire of Isebrand and his progeny, the Elves have seen all others as lessers. Really, it is not hard to see why. Elves live longer, are more agile, and have better senses than any mere Human or Dwarf, and their states have been some of the most powerful on Ecumene. They were also the first ones to stand up to Trinitist domination of the known world, and flaunt this proudly. To an Elf, every other race is measured by how they match up the master race. Of course, all are inferior, and those that consider themselves the equals of the great Elven race must be taught respect. This line of thinking has sponsored devout respect of authority within the Sylvan Empires, as if the Elves are the best, their leaders must be the best the world has to offer.

Offensive Slurs And Insults
Slurs for the Elves include "Knife-Ears", "Krauts", "Ladyboys", "Flowerfolk" and "Tree Fuckers".   Elves often refer to other races as "Mayflies" or "Mudgrubs".   Cultural Taboos
The worst thing one can do to an Elf is to insult them to their face. Elven culture is incredibly proper and polite, and while gossip behind another Elf's back is commonplace, actually saying something in their presence is an invitation to start a fight. As well, if you do not properly greet an Elf of higher status, you will be required to pay a fine, and will likely be seen in a bad light by your peers. As stated before, the Elven race also highly values hygiene, so not keeping yourself clean is incredibly taboo.

Horses are not native to the lands North of the Serento Mountains, and as such, the Elven race has adopted Orienal Giant Elks as their preferred mode of transportation. The widely honored Sylvan Cavalry will often attach bells and other bits of clanging metal to the antlers of their male Elk, an image ingrained in the popular consciousness of Elven society.   As stated before, the Elves believe themselves to be the master race, and as of current, they are not wrong. Any real threat to Sylvania's economic and military power is simply non-existent, and due to this, the Kaiserreich simply does not care about most other races providing they trade with Sylvania and don't get any fancy ideas. The Elves are also more than willing to flex their supposed superiority within their country, which is "sadly" multi-racial. At the mere mention of the Dryads, any Elf worth their salt will fly into a rant about how they are a no-good race of thieves and free-loaders corrupting the otherwise pure Elven state.