Elf

The Elves are both the best loved and the worst loved of the Fey. Graceful, elegant, eloquent and powerful, the elves are to many fey the ideal being. But to many humans they are not to be trusted. The code that binds them and is their greatest strength is also one of their greatest weaknesses. Humans distrust them because of their adherence to this code. They feel that they will willingly betray human allies to save an Elven enemy. However the other races seek out elves for their abilities with magic and their gifted and graceful artworks and finely made crafts, as they have an appreciation for the finer things in life. Elves are sometimes referred to by other Fey species as "older brother/sister/sibling" as a sign of respect.

Aside from the code, Elves lack a concept of good and evil, and it is not uncommon for personal tastes to lead Elves to opposite sides of a conflict. They consider themselves inherently better then everyone else around them. Elves in The Mysts literally served their god Faerie. They have more Faerie blood then any of the other Fey. Elves tend to think much more in the long term than mere humans. They can afford to, because, barring a pointy thing getting involved, they will live a long, long time. Elves live and breathe magic, and their perception of magic is more innate than it is to those who must learn it.

Looking like an Elf
Elves are recognized in Mystfall for their long pointed ears. Because they are usually expected to be elegant, it isn't unusual to see elves dressed in rich fabrics or fancy cloth. However, some elves tend towards a more natural look, using leaf and flower iconography. The holy symbol of Faerie is a butterfly, so some elves pay respect to Faerie by integrating her symbol into their dress.

Elven Names
Elves tend to have at least two names; a long very formal name, and a short commonly used name. In many social situations an elf will first introduce themselves by their formal name and then politely inform whomever they are being introduced to as their common name. Using the short form of an adult elf’s name without being invited may be considered rude.

Elven names tend to be long, and make use of apostrophes. They also can include titles, should the elf in question earn them in their journeys. The first son of an elf is often referred to as the First Glory, where first daughters are First Petal, and gender neutral/variant are First Star. This naming convention can continue for second, third, etc. Example elf names are Lucas First Glory of Gwyndethal, Nimue Ta'Selphie Glyntiel, Lycor'Namor Yeldove.

= Elf Culture =

Birth and Childhood
Elves have generally a very low fertility rate, thus a birth among the elves is always cause for a great celebration. Although extremely rare, births of twins are considered to be a blessing of Faerie on the family, and the twins will be considered to be especially lucky for the rest of their lives.

Regardless of financial means or position in society, an elven family will throw as grand a party as their means will allow, inviting all other elves in the community, as well as any other close non-elven friends, neighbors, business associates etc. etc. etc. Traditionally any attendant elves will always bring rich and varied gifts for the child, and at this same celebration another elven family is chosen who will be parents for the child should anything inadvertent and permanent happen to child’s parents. In elven societies, elves are considered to be children until their early 20’s and are treated as such, rarely allowed to leave the family home, and then never without the presence of an elder.

Elves have much longer life spans than humans or other fey. An average elf, unless prematurely killed, can easily live to a ripe old age of 600-700 years. Aside from the elves’ considerably longer life spans, their physical aging is also quite different. At some point during their lifetime, elves appear to stop physically aging. Only another elf, or an expert on the signs of aging would be able to distinguish the subtle signs that differentiate an elf of one century from an elf of another. An elf would have to be very young in order to appear youthful to the non-elven eye – elves of such a young age are simply not allowed to leave their homes – or alternatively very old, in order to appear so. Two elves that appear to be similar in ages might in reality be centuries apart. An elf that is in his or her mid 500’s might begin to go gray, though it’s not uncommon for elves to gray early, either through a common practice of powerful magic, or through a deeply traumatic experience. By the time they are 600 or so they would appear to be in the early 80’s. Very few elves that live as long as 700 years, manage to avoid senility.

Love and Marriage
Due to their extremely long life spans, elves may spend several decades in elaborate courtship rituals, frequently marrying for feelings of mutual companionship and friendship, rather than passionate love. This is not to say that there are no Elven partnerships based in love, but that elves realize that even the greatest passion wanes over the centuries and the years are more pleasantly passed with someone who can share a pleasant conversation with you. Likewise its not uncommon for elves to be joined in arranged marriages, or marriages of political or social convenience, provided of course, that the prospective spouses agree. It’s not uncommon for Elven couples to spend several centuries apart, pursuing their own hobbies and interests, especially if there are no young children requiring immediate care. This is not to say that there is no mutual affection between the two, or that their ultimate reunions would be anything but warm.

Work and Play
Elven children are never encouraged to play in the mud. Elven children are usually found playing with wooden toys, dolls and stilts and always in the presence of an adult. Due to an Elf’s long lifespan it is not uncommon for an Elf to master multiple trades. Elves tend to lean more toward academic pursuits like scrollmaking and studying lost lores. Elves don’t tend to take up dirtier professions like blacksmithing and mining but aren’t usually shy to hunting and foraging. An Elf will usually be on time with their work or payment for work, but especially when dealing with other elves.

War and Politics
In Elven society there is usually a Council of Elders. This Council will usually handle all disputes involving land, the township’s treasury and taxes, the repair, maintenance and building of roads and public buildings, etc. but only in a predominantly Elven Township. In a non-Elven dominant township, the Council of Elders are usually only responsible for acting as a jury when an Elf is accused of a crime. In many townships a Council will include other Fey and occasionally humans depending on the majority of races in the area. The Council of Elders consists of an odd number of members at all times as to never have a tie vote and is usually led by a chair chosen by popular vote of the members of the Council. The members are voted in by the township and usually keep their post until death. Any member of the Council of Elders can only be removed from their position of their own choice or unanimous vote of the other council members. Any Elf can ask that the council be brought together to discuss a problem or to suggest something for the betterment of the township. If a member of the Council of Elders is accused of a crime the closest neighboring township’s Council of Elders must try the member to avoid any accusations of bias.

The Elven Code
The code is not as some people believe to be a set of laws that all Elves must follow. It is more a general set of morals that each Elf interprets slightly differently. An Elf would not just lie to another if it suits their means. They would find that as soon as they open their mouth to say the lie they would most likely find themselves speechless instead. Due to the code, Elven townships do not war with each other and will always provide and help for their fellow Elves in times of times of drought and war with others. Negotiations are more common in disputes with neighbors and an Elf would never worry about a child’s safety visiting another Elf’s home. Elves who have joined armies or taken alliances with clans or tribes of people tend to become deserters as eventually they find themselves against another Elf.

The Elven Code is a pact with Faerie, innately part of them rather than rules to follow or break. IF a character fails to uphold the Elven Code, they will receive punishments from Faerie's enforcers, the Adjudicators.

The Code:
 * I must protect elves from harm, unless that elf has chosen to take that harm upon themselves and has made their intentions known.
 * I must assist elves who have fallen on hard times.
 * I must never break my word or lie to an elf, a True Fey, or an aspect of Faerie.
 * I should strive for the overall betterment of all Fey in the world.
 * I must be a role model for all Fey, and live elegantly.

Crime and Punishment
Crime against other elves is incredibly rare in Elven Societies, and is more often than not a product of miscommunication. When a crime does occur the victim takes their complaints to the Council of Elders and a trial will be held. Elves tend to prepare for a trial by using magic to try and rid the accused of any altering effects that might alter their testimony. In trial, an Elf’s word is taken as truth when spoken directly to another Elf and Elves are never held accountable when magic or powerful psychics have controlled them. Punishments tend to fit the crime. If an Elf steals they will work back the amount of the item stolen to the victim or a person of the victim’s choosing. Fines are a common punishment and occasionally imprisonment. Elves do not believe in execution or physical injury as punishments. There has been the occasional time that they have used psychics to induce hallucinations as a form of punishment.

Many elves fear what is known as the Arborium, the closest thing elves will ever get to a prison. Because elves cannot physically harm other elves, the worst offences performed by elves are punished with years, or even eternity in the Arborium. Here, elves are transformed using essence magic into trees and tended to in the garden for the extent of their punishment; aware, but unable to move or speak.

Death and Burial
Death, although fairly uncommon in elven societies, does occasionally take place. Because most elves believe that those elves who have chosen to not return from the Lands of the Dead return to dwell alongside Faerie, elven funerals are not sad and morbid affairs. Rather they are stately, elegant occasions that allow friends and family to pay their final respects to their loved ones on this side of the veil. As in birth, it’s not uncommon for rich gifts to be brought to honour the deceased, but in this case the gifts are retained by the family following the funeral pyre.