Aelf

Ælf

An Ælf Fighter with Sword and Bow

Strain	Ælf
Substrains	Brimælf, Dunælf, Friggælf, Wodælf, Wyrmælf
Patron Deity	Woden
Eyesight	Farsight, Lowlight
Lifespan	160 years
Language	Common, Ælfen
Climate	Moderate
Terrain	Forests
Height	4′7″‒5′5″ (140‒170 cm)
Weight	82‒152 lb (37‒68.9 kg)
Skin Color	Variable
Hair Color	Variable
Eye Color	Variable
Build	Slender
Distinctions	Comely, Agile

Legend dictates that the first Ælfes were created by Woden the All-Father. They were placed in the woods to create progeny and expand their race. As their numbers grew, so did their taste for the aesthetic. For the Ælfes, beauty became the central goal to all culture. The ability to breed was dictated by the likelihood of attractive offspring. Those deemed unattractive soon found themselves unable to find a mate.

Because of the strict breeding rules dictated by Ælfen society, eventually rifts grew between them. These rifts only grew to eventually create variants of Ælfes. The first and most notable rift was that between light and dark skin. Those who believed the dark-skinned aesthetic to be superior were shunned by the light-skinned Ælfes and vice-versa.

Further, among the light skinned elves a rift engendered itself between those who believed that nature produced the highest of all aesthetics, while their rivals insisted that art, particularly Ælfen art was the highest of all aesthetics. These groups eventually formed themselves into what can only be described as sub-races, though their genetics are near identical.

Ælfen Variants

Brimælf

The Brimælfes (pronounced Brim-alf) live undersea, primarily off the coast of Ælfgarad. They prefer to stay beneath the waves and as a result have little to do with their Ælfen siblings ashore.

Dunælf

The Dunælf (pronounced Done-alf) grew distant from their Ælfen cousins again because of an aesthetic. The Dunælf preferred darker features in skin tone and over many years, bred accordingly, going so far as to banish children born with skin considered too fair. In other matters of the aesthetic, the Dunælf are closer to their Friggælf cousins, believing that true beauty is in artistic endeavor. This is where the two cultures differ however in that Dunælf art is somewhat terrifying to all but those who have learned to appreciate it.

Friggælf

The Friggælf (pronounced Frig-alf) is the predominant race and culture in the country of Ælfgarad. They were once intermixed with their Wodælf and Dunælf cousins until rifts in their sense of the aesthetic came to the forefront of their culture and politics. The Friggælfes believe that the only true aesthetic is found in art, which should be sought and praised above all things.

Friggælfes create the most beautiful and amazing architecture on Otan, the most beautiful ships and vehicles and the most beautiful clothing and garments, rivalling that of even the Sigis Empire. Eschewing their Wodælf cousins, they left Ælfwode and moved west to create the new country of Ælfgarad, where they could practice their artistic endeavors (many of which involved the cutting of trees) in peace.

Wodælf

The Wodælf (pronounced Woah-dalf) are, not surprisingly, the preeminent race and culture found in Ælfwode. They were, most believe, the only variety of Ælf to exist. Their love for Woden and his creation extended to the forests and nature in which they lived. A common Wodælf saying is, "Nothing can be more beautiful than a tree."

While this is very possibly true, as trees do possess a powerful aesthetic, a time came when not all [Ælf]]es agreed. Friendly disagreements became heated arguments, which grew into political upheaval and even in some cases, war. The Wodælfes eventually bade their art-loving cousins to leave the forests of Ælfwode and put an end to these powerful disagreements. The new tribes dedicated themselves to Frigg and the arts, moving west to find peace.

With their political troubles behind them, the Wodælfes have enjoyed a long peace. They are happy to trade with their human neighbors and have only had one occasion to spar with their Grendel neighbors, during the war. The Grendel soon learned the power of the Ælfen bow and steered clear of Ælfwode during the entirety of that war.

Wyrmælf

The Wyrmælf (pronounced Verm-alf) are distant relatives of the Aydahar and by extension, dragons. The Ælfen predilection toward the aesthetic, however, caused them to carefully manage their genetic lines. This enabled them to both preserve their draconic origins and maintain their Ælfen aesthetic.

The first of the Wyrmælfes, as legend has it, moved as far from the source of the dragons as possible to prevent further accidental contamination. Thus they avoided such traits as claws, scales, horns or fluked tails such as one might find on an Aydahar or Ungir. They do retain much from their draconic ancestors, particularly the draconic blood which make many of the Wyrmælf natural spellcasters. They will also have unusual skin colorings for an Ælf, mimicking the color whatever variety of dragon is in their bloodline. This black, white, red, green or even metallic colors like silver and gold are possible for the Wyrmælf.

The Wyrmælfes are far too few in number to control any country. Adventuring Wyrmælfes can be found nearly anywhere, but the settled variety are most commonly found in Ælfgarad.

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Half-Ælf

The Half-Ælf are half... wait for it... Ælf.

Ælfen Territories

Ælfwode Home of the Wood Wodælfes.

Ælfgarad Home of the Friggælfes and most of the Dunælfes.

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