Elf (T'lalokee)
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Across the great intractable sea, there is a place of magic and wonder, where Lux is commonplace, suffusing the soil, waters, and every living creature with its power. This is the land of Calinost or Elaesqua as it is known to the T'lalokee, the native inhabitants of this land who have spent long ages evolving in the Glow of Lux. Not only are the Elves (as they are called by those who came from across the ocean) able to withstand long periods of exposure to the otherwise deadly Glow of Lux, but their people have perfected the craft of forging Arcanum - artifacts of pure magical power made from shaping raw Lux. Yet to the Elves, Lux is not a resource to be exploited, but a sacred element; something of the divine on earth. What remains of their religion and traditions revolve around its veneration and the practice of both artifice and spellcraft as a form of worship.
Very few records of the world that once was survive today, but speculation holds that the Elves originally came to the continent of Athrain on slave ships, captured and taken from their homeland to mine for Lux or ply their sacred crafts, shaping Lux at the command of their masters. Today, a handful of Elven tribes remain, living among the free people of Belhaven and struggling to survive while keeping their ancient traditions alive. Though they live and work and dress just like the locals, Elves often experience a troubling degree of discrimination from the city's more ignorant denizens. Yet the Elves of Belhaven remain undaunted, and quite proud of their heritage. Some isolated Elven neighborhoods still dress in traditional garb and practice the old ways. A handful of small tribes even live outside the safety of the city's walls, surviving much as their people once did in Elaesqua.
Mana and The Elven Belief System |
Against all odds, the Elves of Belhaven remain connected to their roots
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The T'lalokee see themselves as belonging to nature, as part of a greater whole. Rather than masters of the world, the Elves view themselves as its caretakers, with each individual's destiny caught up in a great interconnected web of life where one part affects the whole. Therefore, a person's choices must be made after considering what is best not only for the individual, not even for the entire community, but for the web of life as a whole. T'lalokee call this great web of life Mana, the source of all life and magic. Mana expresses itself tangibly through Lux, which the Elves view as a sacred substance. Indeed, it is Mana that binds every creature to their place in the world, binds all of reality together, and undergirds the forces of destiny which guide a person's path through life. In death, a creature's life-force returns to Mana, just as their bodies return to the dust of the earth, to be cycled anew and reincarnated within the great wheel of life.
While death and reincarnation may be the fate of animals and non-Elves, the religious practices of the T'lalokee center around the veneration of the Ancestral Court, a counsel of departed tribesmen who guide their descendants from the spirit world, protect their faithful family, and plead with the spirits of the land on behalf of the tribe. Before death, an Elf will particpate in certain rituals administered by the tribe's shaman in order to enter into the Ancestral Courts of the spirit world rather than pass on to reincarnation. T'lalokee believe those who fail to particpate in these rituals are lost forever, their spiritual energies reincarnated in the wheel of life. While many have lost faith in these practices, many Elves in Belhaven still worship the Ancestral Courts (though they resemble nothing of the courts left behind in Eleasqua from before the Elves were enslaved) and seek to pass into the embrace of their people after death.
While death and reincarnation may be the fate of animals and non-Elves, the religious practices of the T'lalokee center around the veneration of the Ancestral Court, a counsel of departed tribesmen who guide their descendants from the spirit world, protect their faithful family, and plead with the spirits of the land on behalf of the tribe. Before death, an Elf will particpate in certain rituals administered by the tribe's shaman in order to enter into the Ancestral Courts of the spirit world rather than pass on to reincarnation. T'lalokee believe those who fail to particpate in these rituals are lost forever, their spiritual energies reincarnated in the wheel of life. While many have lost faith in these practices, many Elves in Belhaven still worship the Ancestral Courts (though they resemble nothing of the courts left behind in Eleasqua from before the Elves were enslaved) and seek to pass into the embrace of their people after death.
Naming Trends
Traditionally, T'lalokee culture emphasizes the group rather than the individual. The Elves of Belhaven often have two names - a name which conforms to the paradigms of the Human culture in which they dwell, and a name which conforms to the norms of their own culture. Elven names consist of three parts; the name of the Tribe (given first), the name of the family (given second), and the name of the individual (given last). Aelinaki Rivaden Faen, Vanya Hohen Yarok, or Tirithek Grismum Calvenir, for example. Since non-Elves are generally bad at pronouncing Elven names, Elves will typically use their Human name when dealing with Humans. Among their own people however, Elves usually say their entire name when introducing themselves, reserving the use of their Tribal and family names for formal use and their individual name for informal use among family and close friends.
Lifespan
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Elven legend holds that in Eleasqua, the T'lalokee were ageless and immortal, parting from the world only when they were ready to join the court of the ancestors or killed by accident or the willful act of another. In this age of sorrows, in this land far from their ancestral homes, the T'lalokee remain extremely long-lived. They reach adult maturity at around 80 years of age and maintain their youth and vigor for the next 300 or so years before old age begins to creep in. Elves typically live for over 500 years, though some have managed to endure for 800 at the most.
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Child: Ages 2-13 Youth: Ages 13-80 Adult: 80-300 Elder: 300-500 |
Special Asset: Ex Lumen
Ex Lumen
BASIC
You are immune to the effects of Lux's Glow and have Resistance to Mystic damage.
You are immune to the effects of Lux's Glow and have Resistance to Mystic damage.
ADVANCED
As above, but you have Resistance to another non-Physical damage type of your choice.
As above, but you have Resistance to another non-Physical damage type of your choice.
Heritage
Aelinaki
(ay-uh-lih-nawk-ee)
(ay-uh-lih-nawk-ee)
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The Aelinaki were once the plainspeople of Eleasqua. While some tribes followed the great herds of Tibuk or Meerap from place to place, others settled along the rivers and built great, prosperous cities. One can only speculate as to the fate of these places when the world ended, for the oral history of the Aelinaki has been lost to time, the hardships of their captivity, and the fall of civilization. As a people who cherish the blessings of nature, Aelinaki prefer to spend as much time as possible outdoors. In fact, many Aelinic tribes make their dwelling outside the walls of the city, using keen survival skills to elude Hellbeasts and thrive among the trees. Those who dwell within the city design circular homes and businesses with a large outdoor space at the building's center where residents and business-owners spend a great deal of time curating and caring for their gardens. Aelinic families are large and close-knit, with several generations living under one roof in large, sprawling structures with ten or more rooms.
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Common Male Names: Aleadu, Aras, Audan, Caenua, Delmak, Ete'ir, Feld, Ivelanis, Ko'el, La'cael, Monev, Nokua, Puaniel, Quaras, Solas, Tibuk
Common Female Names: Anastria, Beldra, Bielle, Enthaea, Erarie, Faen, Grenna, Lephia, Naisilla, Peliss, Sameima, Suthah, Trikathris, Vadenia, Zuana
Common Family Surnames: Ah'l, Ananua, Eashu, Heasetlin, Holug, Kihrir, Malika, Ondol, Remith, Rivadin, Rumama, Saro, Sianhan, Sovemion, Tuanni
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FEATURES
Aelinaki characters receive ONE of these Features
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PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
Elirion are tall and slender, moving with natural grace and catlike balance. Like all Elves, they have angular features and long, broad noses that slope from their foreheads at a severe angle and their skin is covered in birthmarks which form intricate geometric patterns. Their sparking, enigmatic eyes are often yellow, amber, brown, or red and their hair ranges in color from black and dark browns to blonde and even shades of green and blue. |
Melquen
(mehl-kwehn)
(mehl-kwehn)
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From the island chains surrounding the far western shores of Eleasqua, the Melquen were once masters of the seas and their expertise at shipcraft and seamanship has been passed on to the descendants of the great "sea elves" who now reside in Belhaven. Though the city itself is landlocked, the Melquen continue to ply their trade as shipwrights and boatmen along the river Bel Abris. Their small riverside communities can be found throughout Arx and Riven. where vaguely remembered fragments of their rich and colorful culture remains intact, passed down through the generations. If their histories are to be believed, Melquen sailors circumnavigated the globe long before the first humans even invented boats. Theirs is a rich oral history of heroes who fought sea-monsters, befriended gods, and conquered the waves, a heritage that has been passed on to those who now call land-locked Belhaven their home.
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Common Male Names: Asanu, Atayak, Bikkaro, Chikappi, Cikapun, Hakumako, Harukoro, Hitasho, Isonashi, Kamuimaru, Kandakoro, Kimun, Kinalabuk, Kinasuto, Koakanno, Kotankar, Mosikara
Common Female Names: Abenaka, Hasina-Ukya, Imekana, Kakulara, Kenas-Unarpea, Kepina, Kimyona, Korra, Muimatsu, Niutani, Peramon, Resu-Noteka, Tanakema, Unapeya, Yukepa
Common Family Surnames: Breaking with Elven tradition, Melquen do not use family surnames, offering instead their individual name (which makes them seem quite warm and friendly by Elven standards - uncomfortably so for most Elves). Tribal life was so close-knit that there was no need for surnames, though in recent centuries some have begun to use family surnames common to Belhaven and its culture.
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FEATURES
Melquen characters receive ONE of these Features
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PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
Melquen are tall, thin, and built for the water. Their skin ranges in hue from greyish-blue to the bright azure of ocean waters and their skin naturally manifests birthmarks in swirling arcane patterns. Their eyes are often shades of blue, purple, or (rarely) green and they adorn themselves in bright clothing, beaded jewelry, and reminders of their heritage as people of the sea. |
Nihmota
(nih-moh-tuh)
(nih-moh-tuh)
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The western hills and mountains of Elaesqua are home to the various Nihmota tribes, who are known for their beautiful craftsmanship and well-ordered cities of stone blending perfectly into the lush landscape of their homeland. There are many Nihmota in Belhaven, who dwell in poor, but vibrant communities within the city. Their culture is martriarchal in nature, organizing around a female chief (a "Hukapei") and a male shaman (a "Vo'koan"). While the mantle of Hukapei is traditionally passed on from mother to daughter through family lineage, the next Vo'koan is chosen by consulting the ancestors before the current Vo'koan dies. Nihmota are known for their craftsmanship, cooking, and music. Even non-Elves make it a point to visit Nihmota communities, especially during their lively festivals. Their veneration of ancestral spirits centers around the creation of Pupua Dolls from the bones of a deceased ancestor, which lures the ancestor's spirit and traps it within the doll. Owning such a macabre item confers the ancestor's (reluctant) blessing to the owner.
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Common Male Names: Amun, Apek, Caprakan, Dakai, Hesaro, Ibu, Ilok, Jaro, Kivak, Lohu, Narak, Qayin, Renan, Tepu, Vepan, Yulan, Zekan
Common Female Names: Amaya, Atika, Atna, Cheya, Chiara, Chiki, Chione, Ilati, Itotia, Nesse, Nocara, Tala, Tekla, Teyla, Xara, Xiana, Xipha
Common Family Surnames: Ahluic, Ahnaki, Anhupo, Chiotan, Hunahpu, Hunaruk, Iburan, Masa, Masira, Nayana, Tekahi, Tohira, Vokalas, Vokuna, Xarahto, Xipatia, Yanthos, Zekuno
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FEATURES
Nihmota characters receive ONE of these Features
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PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
Nihmota are unusually short for Elves, ranging in height from 3 to 4 feet tall at the most. Instead of being tall and lithe, they are broad and stocky, sturdy and resilient. Their skin ranges in color from tan to light olive hues and their eyes are often brown, hazel, green, or grey with hair of black, brown, red, or sandy blonde. |
Tirithek
(tih-ree-tek)
(tih-ree-tek)
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The vast subterranean darkness of Eleasqua was once home to the great Queendoms of the Tirithek, a tribe of "dark elves". While the status of these realms is unknown since the fall of the world, a remnant of the Tirithek have endured, finding rest among the free peoples of the world. Though their preference for darkness sees them residing in windowless manors and sprawling subterranean estates, many Tirithek are quite involved in the social life of the city as their penchant for intrigue deeply entrenches them in the political and financial institutions which make up the bedrock of Belhavian society. Tirithek have a reputation as brilliant, manipulative tacticians and graceful yet savage warriors. Bitter grudges and old rivalries still linger between the Tirithek and many of the city's other Elven tribes, causing tension and civil unrest. Even so, the Tirithek remain aloof and cold, always prepared with new plans and subtleties to achieve their goals.
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Common Male Names: Azar, Balthezor, Calvenir, Drionoth, Esbain, Fordain, Gerath, Illyn, Lamek, Malithir, Nithael, Nym, Velkan, Varius, Xarion,
Common Female Names: Ava, Bealle, Cindra, Dara, Edana, Elistrith, Ezma, Feraluc, Gerdelle, Glimma, Lucreth, Mara, Nyn, Olibet, Zarda
Common Family Surnames: Arachas, Atobel, Balmen, Ches, Calowar, D'windin, Eakyr, Garrow, Grismun, Odwim, Tibor, Ulemek, Vandris, Velta, Zfarin
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FEATURES
Tirithek characters receive ONE of these Features
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PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
Tirithek are built like most other Elves yet are well-suited for their lives in darkness. With hair of shining white or dim gray, their skin ranges in color from dark blue to gray to almost completely black and their eyes shine in bright crimson, purple, or yellow. Their features are sharp and angular and they often dress in dark, ornate clothing. |
Vanya
(Vahn-yah)
(Vahn-yah)
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Descended from the nomadic tree-dwellers of Eleasqua's deepest tropical forests and river valleys, the Vanya of Belhaven are a dark-skinned people whose culture and history has been all but lost to the ravages of time. Once, they were spirit-talkers, a people who lived alongside the Daemons of the forest. The Vanya of today may have lost many of the traditions surrounding this art form, but something in their spirits still resonates with the unseen folk. Ghosts follow them. Ancestors whisper to them. Daemons watch their comings and goings with bemusement. It seems that wherever a Vanya steps, the spirits are not far behind. Often living among other Elves, Vanya make their way through the world not only as merchants and skilled craftsmen, but as fortune tellers, mediums, and performers. Some even join the corps of Rangers, leveraging their natural affinity for navigating the wilderness to hunt wild game, track the movements of Hellbeasts, and search for valuable resources outside the city walls.
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Common Male Names: Althos, Bendrin, Chalnor, Daven, Evaris, Faelan, Garrin, Limdor, Norik, Orlend, Phendrik, Ralshan, Vadosh, Yarok, Yashen
Common Female Names: Amisa, Belisara, Calathia, Derlise, Elandra, Ellyra, Faelene, Faona, Ghiselle, Minara, Noomie, Phihela, Rahara, Shula, Tabisa
Common Family Surnames: Alderstein, Belmo, Carus, Dertoux, Forente, Hohen, Hutting, Krause, Langse, Marzet, Monta, Nichetto, Ricce, Steinvekke, Velcroice. These names are all taken from the families which owned Vanya slaves or cared for Vanya refugees. Traditional Vanya names have all been lost (at least in Belhaven).
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FEATURES
Vanya characters receive ONE of these Features
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PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES
Vanya have dark skin, ranging in various tones from light to dark brown. Their eyes are often amber, yellow, brown, or reddish-orange and the birthmarks of their heritage form arcane patterns which dance across their skin in long, angular patterns. Vanya are distinct among Elves for the deer-like antlers that sprout from their skulls, which some proudly grow as a sign of their heritage while others shave them down to a barely visible nub. |
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Geographically from where?
Traditional values regarding family, gender roles, money & possessions, social structure, religion, law & order Special holidays, traditional foods, music, artwork Greetings, gift-giving, what is polite/impolite |
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Physical Attributes
Hair, eyes, height, weight, distinguishing features |
Language
Name of language; describe its phoenetics |
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Geographically from where?
Traditional values regarding family, gender roles, money & possessions, social structure, religion, law & order Special holidays, traditional foods, music, artwork Greetings, gift-giving, what is polite/impolite |
Common Male Names:
Common Female Names:
Common Family Surnames:
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Physical Attributes
Hair, eyes, height, weight, distinguishing features |
Language
Name of language; describe its phoenetics |
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Geographically from where?
Traditional values regarding family, gender roles, money & possessions, social structure, religion, law & order Special holidays, traditional foods, music, artwork Greetings, gift-giving, what is polite/impolite |
Common Male Names:
Common Female Names:
Common Family Surnames:
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Physical Attributes
Hair, eyes, height, weight, distinguishing features |
Language
Name of language; describe its phoenetics |