Culturally, all Elves have a deep respect for knowledge. Very few elves of any culture disdain knowledge; the pursuit of knowledge of whatever kind, is part of their very being.

The largest separation for elves from humanity is the way they interpret Oaths. Part of an elf’s personality is dictated by the Oaths he has taken and how well he honors them. The same mystical make-up that grants them their Forest gifts also powers the punishment of Oathbreaking. Usually, the oathbreaker is marked by the skin on his face changing color and strange patterns appearing. All elves will be uncomfortable around oathbreakers, but each tends to deal differently with the cursed one, as their character would dictate.

Special Rules

No elven character may join the Kelet. In addition, any elf who breaks a solemn oathbond will be visibly marked. Any character so marked will be shunned by his fellows and distrusted by much of society.

Required Makeup

Elven Cultural Variations

Andrynn

The Elves of Andrynn tend to be intermixed with human culture so completely as to be nearly unrecognizable as a unique race. This is not to say that they do not have their own culture, they do. Their cultural center is located in North Western Andrynn. They, like most races, flock to their own and have developed their own place in Andrynn society. But, the elves of Andrynn have mingled with humanity so much for such a long time, that all of them have some amount of human blood running through their family. It is not uncommon for an Elf of Andrynn to be married to a human instead of another elf. This is looked on as taboo by only the most bigoted or hard-headed humans and elves.

The Elves of Andrynn are the most gregarious and adventurous of all the elves. This might be due to their open-minded views of the world. Many Elves of Andrynn spend a decade or two traveling for the sole purpose of having new experiences and meeting new people. Elves of Andrynn prize practical experience rather than scholarly study as the best means of gaining, and preserving, knowledge.

Culturally, they don’t have a “specialty” as do other elves. Elves of Andrynn are as likely to be warriors as they are to be wizards or pure scholars. These elves encourage others of their kind to try and learn new things. While they respect excellence in a field, they also respect those whose knowledge, both book-learned and personally experienced, is wide reaching and diverse. Elves of Andrynn are a hard people to generalize, as they are as diverse and individual as humans are generally regarded to be.

Dechaine

The Elves of Dechaine tend to view the other races, especially humans, as children that need to be tended and educated with the wisdom of countless centuries of Elven Tradition. The bloodlines of these elves are the purest in the known world and they take great pride in their pedigree.

The cultural center of the Elves of Dechaine is located in the Verrion Forest in southern Dechaine. Once their forest was a kingdom unto itself. Then for many centuries it was a principality of Dechaine. The Prince of the elves governed his people by the centuries old laws they had always followed, but he also paid allegiance to King Henri of Dechaine. When these negotiations were first made, so long ago, there was a great deal of resentment about the long-lived elves being governed by humans. Time has showed this to be a beneficial arrangement for a while, and most abided by it willingly. The elves were allowed their own pursuits within their forest so long as they did not violate the laws of Dechaine and stepped forth when the King needed their aid. During the recent wars in Brythenia, however, the Verrion once more became an independent nation, though they are attempting to maintain close ties to their former liege country.

Elves throughout the world date their origins to the Verrion Forest. Most will travel there at some point in their life for here is where their history is kept. The schools within the Verrion Forest maintain the legends and songs from all eras of elven history. Few elves born in Dechaine ever wish to leave their wooded haven for long. The Brahir order of magic is also centered in the Verrion Forest. For as long as any can recall, the royal line of elves have been members of the Brahir. Their magical gift for guidance is seen as one of the reasons they have always been such wise rulers.

Salceny

Like the Elves of Dechaine, these elves have pride in who they are and what they do. Though not as traditional as the Dechaine elves, the Elves of Salceny take pride in their craft. The spirit of these elves can be seen in the craft or trade they ply. Everything they do will be done passionately and this passion usually shows in the beauty of the endeavor. With all of this, the Elves of Salceny still may seem subdued in their ways, by onlookers of other races. The Passion of these elves is personal and not readily shared with strangers.

The cultural center of these elves is located in Eastern Salceny. This is also the headquarters of the International Guild of Shipwrights and Sailors. Not surprisingly, the Elves of Salceny are the founders of this guild. While membership in this guild is not exclusive, and a member of any race can join, provided they meet the approval of an apprentice’s would-be master, this guild is predominantly peopled by elves. The Shipwright Guildmaster is regarded as the Prince of the Salcenian elves.

Gondal

These elves are widely considered to be the most warlike of all the elves. Their cultural center is located throughout Gondal, for they roam the steppes in tribes, just like the other races of this country. For the most part, the elves isolate themselves from the other tribes when on the steppes, but some elves have been found within predominantly human tribes as well. Within the bustling markets of Khangai, the elves blend with the other races. They know that to initiate large scale combat within the Khan’s city is foolish. Even when they battle other tribes upon the steppes, they follow the Khan’s code and they owe their final allegiance to the Khan.

Gondal Elves are very likely to go off adventuring for the sheer enjoyment of it. Culturally, they value family and strength more than anything. Gondal Elves, by and large, aren’t wizards, although they don’t disdain or fear those of their kind possessing these talents. Those Gondal Elves with magical ability are most often drawn to the Order of Knowledge or the Nokutai Naran.

The Gondal Elves, have taken the struggle to an art form. Many Gondal Elves, by trade and tradition, are extremely competent warriors, possessing knowledge of many different weapons and fighting styles. Gondal Elves are considered some of the finest warriors in all the kingdoms. Most of the innovations in personal combat, tactics, and strategy, have originated in Gondal and by the hand of an elf.