Sweardaelf
| Type | Humanoid |
|---|---|
| Subtype | Sweardælf |
| Patron Deity | Woden |
| Vision | Darkvision |
| Diet | Omnivorous |
| Lifespan | 300-500 years |
| Language | Common, Sweardælfen |
| Terrain | Any |
| Height | 3′0″‒4′0″ (90‒120 cm) |
| Weight | 40‒45 lb (18‒20 kg) |
| Skin Color | Variable |
| Hair Color | Variable |
| Eye Color | Variable |
| Distinctions | Small, keen mind, bright personality, magically gifted, can turn invisible |
The Sweardælf (pronounced Sware-dalf) are a diminutive race who live mainly in the southwestern Kingdom of Kiskentay. Their societal and social mores differ little from their larger human counterparts, though they do economize on materials in that they can make most things much more inexpensively than humans, because they can make them half sized.
Sweardælf Variants[edit]
The Sweardaelf have adapted into variants of themselves based on a combination of culture, tradition and ethics. The Borgainælf are the most culturally entrenched with their philosophy and culture setting the groundwork for Sweardælf society. The other varieties of Sweardælf are largely those who have traditionally shunned the mainstream philosophy and large populations in general to live their lives on their own terms. The Scraefælf are the most visibly differentiated because of a genetic predisposition toward albinism.
Borgainælf[edit]
The Borgainælf (pronounced Bor-gan-alf) like to bargain. More specifically, they like to borrow things. More specifically than that, they like to borrow things without first asking permission as to whether that thing may be borrowed. This genetic leftover in their character certainly must stem back to their hunter-gatherer days, where things were gathered without a specific need or purpose. They were gathered for some possible need in the future.
The "borrower" Sweardælfes can be found in great numbers in any of the cities in the country of Kiskentay. They are naturally suited toward thieving professions, which would make for an untenable society save one thing. It is considered beneath a Borgainælf's dignity to "borrow" something which has already been "borrowed". In this way, a Borgainælf who would ostensibly appear rich to anyone else, would maintain that his belongings were all "borrowed".
While it's possible for rare individuals in the Borgainælf culture to have no interest in borrowing, some take such a great interest as to feel the need to flee Kiskentay altogether in order to borrow things from other lands. These Borgainælfes often turn to a life at sea, where new ports provide new opportunities for borrowing.
Fyrthælf[edit]
The Fyrthælf (pronounced Firth-alf) are a jungle and forest-loving variety of the Sweardælf. They are gregarious, but keep their tribes to limited numbers and will banish or exile those who do not fit in well enough. The banished will go on to establish new tribes, which will go on to accept others who are banished. This regular mixing of tribes helps to maintain a community among all tribes of the Kiskentay forests.
The Fyrthælf are masters of their domain, producing a great many rangers and druids in their tribes. In rare cases, a Fyrthælf will seek adventure beyond the confines of the forest. As adventurers, however, Fyrthælf suffer greatly from homesickness, seeking their tribes, their traditional foods and songs and gatherings. A Fyrthælf outside of Kiskentay will never experience more joy than to encounter another Fyrthælf.
In the forest, the Fyrthælf come with a nearly inbred knowledge of the native plants and animals. They know what can be eaten, what is poisonous and what will attack. When travelling the Kiskentay forests, even a Fyrthælf child might make a better guide than a trained ranger from another part of Otan.
Geardælf[edit]
The Geardælf (pronounced gar-dalf) are the garden variety Sweardælfes who have a genius for agriculture. The Geardælf can make anything grow from a seed and they can make that seed grow larger and more fruitful than anyone else on Otan. They organize themselves into gardening communities, which can range from the area around a single dwelling to vast sections of land.
These gardening communities thrive on variety and they compete openly with one another to produce the most delicious and the largest varieties of nearly any food or flower bearing plant that will take hold in Kiskentay soil. More valuable than gold, Geardælfes prize seeds or cutting that will help them produce plants of incredible size, intoxicating fragrances, alchemical superiority or superior flavor.
The Geardælf, by dint of their culture, naturally produce more than their share of druidic and alchemical prodigies. Geardælfes are rarely eager for adventuring, but when they do, expect them to be taking seeds and cuttings of everything they come across in their travels. Adventurers have been known to become quite wealthy after returning home with new plants and seeds to introduce to their gardens and gardening communities.
Scraefælf[edit]
The Scraefælf (pronounced Skray-falf) are the most uncommon of the Sweardælfes. Rarely seen on Otan's surface, the Scraefælfes prefer to live underground and have done so since before the Great Erasure. Their most dramatic feature is albinisim, which occurs in every race and variant, but is present in all but the very rarest of Scraefælf.
They uniformly possess white unpigmented skin with often visible veins and arteries. Their hair color, regardless of where the hair originates, is white. Their eye color can be white or pink and in rare cases, grey. While they have no trouble seeing in sunlight, after some time to acclimate to the brightness, they do not enjoy being in the sun. Their skin burns easily and any Sweardælf above ground for more than a few moments will be found wearing thick dark clothing, a head covering and eye protection.
Scraefælf society, would be considered by human standards, more "normal" than any of the other Sweardælfes. They build communities. They welcome outsiders (those who can handle living underground). The do not have the covetous natures of their Borgainælf cousins from above ground. Neither do they share the desire to hoard of their fellow tunnellers, the Ungir. They do not even fetishize the fruits (minerals) of Otan, though they do by nature of their lifestyle, often come into the possession of rare gems and minerals.
As adventurers, Scraefælf who venture out from their underground homes are inclined toward the martial classes. For their size they have incredible upper body strength. They prove more than a little deadly to foes who underestimate them due to their diminutive size. Most classes, but mages in particular of Scraefælf origin will possess certain advantages when dealing with the earth elemental magic.
Half-Sweardælf[edit]
The Half-Sweardælf is a half human, half Sweardælf mix that may be first generation, or a multiple generational Half-Sweardælf. The offspring of two Half-Sweardælfes is naturally going to be another Half-Sweardælf, though the ratio of human to Sweardælf can end up being guesswork as generations progress.
Half-Sweardælfes may possess the cultural and genetic attributes of any of the other variety of Sweardælf though they will typically stand as much as a foot or so taller than their "pureblooded" cousins. Other than being taller they may fully possess that variant's physical features and societal mores.
The logistics of being a Half-Sweardælf in Kiskentay is a problem. Homes, furniture, mounts, clothing or any consumer good sold in Kiskentay markets are going to be too small to be enjoyed by Half-Sweardælfes. Because of this, and despite being welcome, many Half-Sweardælfes will exile themselves to the Free States where they are often mistaken for short humans or Ælfes (depending on how pointy their ears remain. As a result of this migration, Half-Sweardælf have huge communities in every city in the Free States.
Sweardælf Countries[edit]
The Kingdom of Kiskentay is the hereditary home of the Sweardælfes.
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