Atlan

The Elven Genocide of Zero Year has rippled throughout the ages, its effects never quite settling down. While the Ivirians were able to flee to the Feywild and the Virithians slipped away into the Sel Ath Tel'adar, all the elves living amongst the Autumnwood, Tarrastov Woodland, and Ven Pass were helpless to fight back against the tide of Draican soldiers. Millions of elven lives were laid low, not even given the pity of a funeral pyre. For centuries, the lands of Virithia, Iviria, and Cremmevia were nothing more than a mass grave for a grand civilization, full of ghost cities, scattered bodies, and artifacts lost to time. The refugees spread across the world, starting their own kingdoms far removed from elven glory. One group landed in Seamount, allying with the human king there and eventually founding Remnant, the only half elven kingdom in history. More travelled beyond the Girdellan Peaks, becoming the Ledian Empire under Deja the Firebird and battling Zima and her Frigid Legion. One small group headed north into Tarrastov, at the foot of the Voletarian Mountains, and founded a small drinking hall along a major trade road they called the Atlan Hall, named for the late King Atlas'iethar. It was here they settled themselves, Virithian and Ivirian and Ledian together. They started a new life in honor of the lost millions, promising one day to return and reclaim their homeland.   It was here that General Halamir Qildor arrived. After the genocide, he slipped away with his best soldiers to begin planting the seeds for the Elven Reclamation, reaching out to the secret Elven Enclaves around the world. His most important message, however, was one he took directly to the heart of Draica. He met with the Insurgent Xarkanas, one of the Sunfire Legionairres who chose not to ascend to godhood with the new Stormlord. He intended to claim the throne from Overlord Arxik, the current leader of Draica, and wanted to coordinate with the Elven Reclamation so they too could bring peace back to their home. After 400 years, Halamir was prepared to begin his war.   Elven population growth is quite slow when compared to Tieflings, but luckily the half elves of Remnant were happy to lend their army to the cause. A force of Ledian Pyromancers led by Firelord Jandar I arrived by ship, and the city of Ancalen teleported from the Feywild back into the Autumnwood, along with the Ivirian armies. The Virithian militia marched down from Sel Ath Tel'adar to block the escape of the Draican armies who were attempting to settle the Elven Kingdom, boxing them between 3 different heavily armed militaries. As they began the long and arduous process of purifying their land of Draican corruption, Xarkanas and his forces sacked Yen'lenora and declared themselves friends to Cremmevia. Within the decade, General Halamir and Emperor Xarkanas had finally ended the long war between their people and established a lasting friendship between the two kingdoms. While the Virithian armies returned to Ilien Theylas and the Ivirian armies to Ancalen, many of the Ledian, Remnant, and Atlan warriors wanted nothing more than to stay here, in the land of their forefathers. These elves became known as Atlan Elves, named after the small drinking hall that grew into the city at the center of the Elven Reclamation, and they founded the Kingdom of Cremmevia, a home to all elves, no matter their bloodlines.  

Warrior Culture

General Halamir was no high mage, no holy priest, he was a soldier who dedicated his swordarm to bettering his land. This example has been followed ever since, and the people of Cremmevia have become well known for their martial prowess. The best of these warriors are known as Leafmen, the elite soldiers of Kyanthor named for the leaf-like shape of their blades. They were the first elves to develop true elven heavy armor out of mithril, the first to implement the double-edged blade into their equipment, and the first to begin melding their swordsmanship with magic successfully, on a large scale. The Eldritch Knights of the Age of Swords are practicing the ancient skills of Atlan Knight-Enchanters, the Sarion'ilathon of the Second Age. Rather than medals or pins, Atlan warriors instead get magical markings placed upon their face, almost like tattoos. Each individual line indicates a certain act of valor or honorable deed, with experienced veterans having intricate patters weave across a majority of their faces. They can be mostly hidden from view at will, though they are always faintly visible across the face of those gifted them.  

Aesthetically Unique

  Other than their pointed ears and softer facial features, Atlan Elves vary the most from ancient elven aesthetics out of all their cousins. Ancient art depicts elves with long, intricately styled hair and beautiful adornments, while the average Atlan is likely to have simply shaved their head recently. Short hair is the safest in battle, and is thus the go-to style for every day Atlans. The only times you're likely to meet an Atlan elf with long hair is when they're assigned to working with other elven kingdoms, or when they're in the year leading up to their wedding. One of the few ancient elven traditions that remained after the genocide was elven wedding ceremonies, in which the local priest to Halani Celanil twists the two partners hair into one braid.