High Elves

Azari'cill (High Elves)
Pronunciation	Azaa-rie sill
Classification	Elf
Nicknames	Anypsóste (The Exalted) Azari’Lefká (White Elves)
Languages	Common, Azari Linguae
Average Height	1.87m - 2.20m (6’2" - 7’3")
Average Weight	75kg to 90kg (165lbs - 198lbs)
Maximum Age	~450 Years Old
Stat Bonuses	+0 Strength +0 Defense +0 Agility +4 Intelligence

Introduction

As the Azari’cill call themselves, the Scions of Illumination invoke this name because their existence reflects the pinnacle of civilization under the Mother’s watchful gaze.

These luminous beings have blood that glimmers by magical properties. The glittering spires of the Azari cities stand like beacons in the lands where skill and enlightenment saturate the very air. The Azari’cill absorbed so much of this innate potential that when at war, it is said that the phalanxes of the Azari warhosts glow with robust power. An assault by an Azari’cill army is swift and carried out with flawless precision. The enemy is met with a forest of blades and a tidal wave of arcane wrath.

This claim of mastery also carries a deadly arrogance. The Azari'cill come in glory, but they hail from a broken land, their elegant spires toppled and their statuary crumbled into the dust of a dead empire. The stories tell that it was the scourge of Fineall that ravaged the lands of silver; it was unavoidable. The age of the fallen spires has turned the empire of enlightenment into a spell-haunted ruin.

Ever since the Time of Reinvention, the Azari’cill have managed to make peace with the lands they call home.

“High Elves? Yes, I have seen them from afar once when I made my way over the spine, wandering through their crystal cities. At first, I thought I was seeing ghosts! I saw them moving and they seemed… not normal. It was like a blur of puppets that were moved by an expert puppeteer, so coordinated! Never do they move unless they really have to. Very interesting folk for certain.” - Catraca Goldnail, Halfling merchant from Mapledale

Character Creation

Appearance

The High Elves, or Azari’cill as they like to call themselves, are tall, fair-skinned people that mainly reside on the eastern plains of Eden commonly known as Arda or The Glade of Dragons. The average High Elven male can grow up to an average of 2 meters tall. Females tend to be a little shorter, coming in at an average of 1,85 meters. They have blonde or silver hair, yet none of them can grow any facial hair. The Azari’cill commonly has blue or green eyes. Some recorded cases speak of High Elves having silver eyes, however, those are extremely rare cases, in which the ‘cill individual is seen as personally blessed by the Mother, the ‘cill’s patron Goddess. The most distinguishing feature of an Elf is a pair of long ears with a pointed tip. Elven ears can grow up to an average of 15 centimeters.

The Azari live significantly longer than the other races on Eden. Understanding the aging of the Azari can be complicated because they work with two calendars. The official one in most Azari

An example of a High Elf Woman.

nations is known as the Stargazer Calendar and is based on the position of Eseron in the great void towards the sun. An Azari year counts four seasons and ends when Eseron has come full circle around the sun. Besides this elven calendar, the Azari use something known as the Imperial, or common calendar. This calendar developed in the ancient Attian Empire is these days used around the continent and is built to better reflect the lifespan of most other intelligent races and creatures. This calendar runs significantly quicker at four years per single Elven year. The Imperial calendar uses the changing of the seasons as the start of a new year. Making it so that seasons in the Imperial calendar system last for the entire year.

While the Azari’cill do count in common years, it is not unheard of to hear a particularly conservative Azari’cill still using Elven years and refusing to recognize the imperial system as a valid alternative. The most common place to find active usage of the Elven Calendar is the academic scene. Most Elves prefer to use common years for more mundane things like counting their age or to refer to calendar years. Elves reach adulthood at 72 common years and can live up to 400-450 common years. The Azari'cill keep their youthful appearance for most of their lives, only starting to show visible aging when they reach the age of 350.

For the Azari race, all can begin having children at age 100. However, because of the elven year, they can only birth once every four seasons.

A guide to typical High Elven Skin Colors.

Language

Elves generally speak the common tongue. This language, through its extreme popularity, has been adopted and normalized in Elven culture. A dialect has sprung up in Aerial from a combination of Ancient Elvish and the common tongue. The ancient elven language is a mostly forgotten one. Scholars in Luminion are trying to rediscover their ancient language and bring it back to the vocabulary of the Elves. “Cilus” is a word without a specified meaning. When someone bears a title with the word “Cilus” in it, it is generally seen as a high-ranking individual.

Often used ancient elven words that found their way into common speech:

Azari Linguae: Quick Guide
Greetings		Races		Titles
Elvish	Common	Elvish	Common	Elvish	Common
Vale	Hello/Greetings	Azari	Elf	Therri’cill	Guardian of Purity/King
Vale’tar	Farewell	Azari’cill	High Elf/Pure Elf	Aeri’cill	Mother of Purity/Queen
Fílo(s)	Friend(s)	Azari’cerr	Wood Elf/Wild Elf	Pricecilus	Prince
		Azari’lunn	Dark Elf/Moon Elf	Pricecili	Princess
		Azari’soll	Fire Elf/Sun Elf	Nobicilus	Noble
		Dur’arum	Denur	Visera	Minister
		Vari(s)	Human(s)	Ar’mágoi	Arch-Mage/Spellcaster
		Ghesiri(s)	Faulskins(s)	mágoi	Mage/Spellcaster
		De’nevir	Tiefling	Scinar(i)’cilus	High Priest(ess)
				Scinari	Priestess
				Scinar	Priest
				Scini	(Older) Student
				Scin	(Young) Student
				Bessi’inn	Blessed one
				Medi’cilus	Doctor/Medic

Naming Schemes

Elven names, particularly the ones of High Elves are a complex almost unpronounceable mash of sounds to outsiders. Yet do not be fooled by the seeming lack of any structure to Elf names, for they are incredibly valuable to an elven family and mostly of all of massive political importance. Elven family names are all written in the ancient Elven tongue, the Azari Linguae, a mostly unused language lost to time but kept alive by Elves of the Glade in order to keep some semblance of their glorious past alive. It has many different dialects and relies on more than simple syllables to convey meaning.

Elven surnames are the most important part of an elven name, for not only is it a distinguishable trait that comes with a certain amount of prestige, but it is also used as a way to reward Elves of great renown by granting them the right to form a branch of a greater family. For surnames hold only as much value as the power it grants them and adoptions and the forming of new families and branches are common to wash away stains from traitorous names or to profit from the prestige of a greater name. To any High Elf, the greatest punishment is to bring shame to their surname because of the damage it can do to the greater branch. Examples of High Elven family names are; Zaithrall (main branch) and Zaithrec, (granted branch). High Elven families are thus more than a bloodline connection but above all a political tool. Age and deeds contribute the most to the status of a family name and its value in Elven politics.

Examples of High Elven surnames: Zaithrall, Aey’flir, Eidrith, Illysar, Aedaere, Celephin’nel, Araloth, Vithalion’dir.

High Elven forenames just like surnames are written in Azari Linguae. They hold far less prestige and are nothing more than what a forename means to most other peoples. High Elven names are very sleek and elegant in the way they are written and spoken, emitting a sort of radiance from them that can only be comprehended and understood by the Elves who more than earned the prestige.

Examples of High Elven forenames: Aeden, Aldir’tor, Avellorisas, Arathalle, Baruidl, Circya, Cirlia, Deralac, Eldarain, Erethond, Fynenar, Galag, Ilona, Korhian, Maeron, Tetheris, Tharhindrel, Tilly, Veraunn, Zaathos, Zubaran.

Cultures

Nations and cultures in which the High Elven race is present sorted by dominance.

	The Enlightened Kingdom of Luminion	The Scions of Illumination, as the Azari’cill call themselves, invoke this name because their existence reflects the pinnacle of civilization under the Mother’s wing. These luminous beings have blood that glimmers by magical properties. The glittering spires of the Azari cities stand like beacons in the lands where skill and enlightenment saturate the very air. The Azari’cill absorbed so much of this innate potential that when at war, it is said that the phalanxes of the Azari warhosts glow with robust power. An assault by an Azari’cill army is swift and carried out with flawless precision. The enemy is met with a forest of blades and barrages of elemental wrath. This claim of mastery also carries a deadly arrogance. The Azari come in glory, but they hail from a broken land, their elegant spires toppled and their statuary crumbled into the dust of a dead empire. The stories tell that it was the scourge of Fineall that ravaged the lands of silver; it was unavoidable. The age of the fallen spires has turned the empire of enlightenment into a spell-haunted ruin. Ever since the Time of Reinvention, the Azari’cill have managed to make peace with the lands they call home.
	The Woodland Realm of Mitrona	Even the bravest of warriors have learned to fear the vast tracts of woodland that can be found throughout the realms of Eden. Surrounded by trees, it is all too easy to get disoriented and lost, but there is a more primal dread at work. In the forest, no one can ever be sure what is lurking just out of sight. Sounds are muffled, yet noises seem to come from everywhere – the snapping of twigs, a sinister rustling of leaves, and the creaking of the wind-stirred canopy above. Nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. Nothing to hear you besides the elemental wrath of the Azari’cerr. These people are highly-skilled elves with centuries of experience in their home environment, the forest. Once an outsider enters Myln Arbor - The mystical forest most of these people call home - it is unlikely he will leave in one piece.
	The Hadrian Empire	The Hadrian Empire, often referred to as simply ‘the Empire’, is the far-stretching country west of Eden’s Spine. A land inhabited mainly by the dutiful folk that are the Attian humans, one can see the many fields that cover the landscape being toiled by its hard-working citizens. Its cities are often bustling with life, places where trade, commerce, and politics take the main stage. The Hadrian way of life is deeply rooted in tradition and is often relatively simple, mainly because of this the Hadrians are known for their versatility and perseverance through hardship. The civil wars that have plagued the country in the past have left their scars, yet it seems Hadrians always find their way back, dedicating such feats to their deity; Alder. Within the Empire, the political and the martial often go hand in hand, with a large focus on retaining order and stability through military force. Within the Empire, it is not uncommon to see commoners rise through the ranks, oftentimes talented men and women are recognised and get the chance to prove themselves useful to their nation in places such as the army or civil offices. A land full of chance, and one of recognition, with its Kaiser at the helm.

World View

	On Attians...	Slightly Negative “Simple-minded people, yet numerous. I must admit that their development is noteworthy for such an underdeveloped species, yet it does not excuse their elitist stance on continental affairs. Chosen people of the Gods, don’t make me laugh. Let them wither away in their cities. They much rather kill each other than seek out true enlightenment.” Miradrin Sindarin, Scholar from Luminion
	On Hinterlanders…	Slightly Negative “Barbaric people for certain, yet useful tools when the need arises. After a lifetime of being toyed with by their Attian kin and mind-twisting voidal influences, it is rather easy to bend them to our will, yet they cannot be relied upon. They are far too chaotic for anything more than a proxy force or band of mercenaries.” Liandra Syldarin, Aesti’Solilunn from Aerial
	On the Khadan…	Negative “I pity them sometimes I will not lie. These poor simple creatures have been enslaved by their ‘lunn masters. Yet they are a victim of their own stupidity for following these fallen Azari like their deities after their so-called earth-shaper Gods left this world, thinking that these new greater beings are their replacements. A pity, they cannot be allowed to live now that the ‘lunn stain is upon them.” Anaryll Zaldiran, Sailor from Illumnia
	On Wood Elves…	Neutral “They are our bredren, yes. And they have been of great use during the wars of ages past. But it does not warrant their newfound excess and obsession with all things coming from that Golden tree of theirs. I think that them straying from the path of our holy Mother has put them on a long painful journey to self-destruction, and when that time comes, we will not be there to save their damned souls.” Aphazel Baldasir, guardsman of the Tyr’es Alari
	On Dark Elves…	Very Negative “Those rats, I am glad they were driven to the deserts by our forefathers. Though sadly they were not exterminated, I had the unfortunate experience of running into one in the Hadrian Empire the other day, the sight of it was revolting, it almost made me throw up. I pray to the Mother every day to strike them down and cleanse this world of their sickening presence.” Cylas Levelathar, Diplomat to the Hadrian Empire
	On Denur…	Neutral “I personally have not seen many. They mostly hold up in the west from what I have heard, yet their sins still stain the glade to this day. Dar-Azur will never be forgotten. I hope they find inner peace and restore their mountain Empire to its former glory. I much rather deal with them than Faulskins who infest their tunnels more and more.” Azriel Lindarel, Phoenicium worker from Aerial
	On Halflings…	Friendly “Oh the Halflings… funny people they are. Truly. Did you hear they once almost brought the Hadrian Kingdom to its knees? They are a cunning people that have proven themselves exceptionally useful, especially when you want something done without a trace, or a trace of your choosing.” Edelia Dalarin, [redacted] from Aestarius
	On Orcs…	Very Negative “I once saw some Orcs join a tournament outside Luminion. Their brutality was unmatched just like their lack of any sort of intelligence. Not that they were welcome, but after they practically stormed the field we figured it would be a nice sport to kill them publicly. I enjoy hunting these brutes, yet I would much rather have them stay down south where they belong. They cause too much trouble when they are on one of these quest marches for their green flame.” Arhalien Halirus, Knight of Luminion
	On Goblins…	Very Negative “What can I say about these creatures? I once heard they milk each other and serve that to their Orcish overlords, that should speak for itself. Absolutely insane. May they never set foot in the glade again.” Inrion Kerinar, Bartender from Illumnia
	On Tieflings…	Friendly “They are a mysterious people for certain. I do not fully trust them, but their connection to the arcane must at least mean that they are blessed in some way. They make for excellent tutors for our children. If only they did not try to breed like rabbits. The population of them is getting a little out of hand within the glade… Yet nothing to be concerned of… as of now.” Laurum Tirim, Scholar from the Luminion College of Magic.

Character Traits

Upon creation of a High Elf character, you can pick two of the following traits for your character to reflect their background.

Racial Traits - High Elves
Arcane initiate	Players with this trait know the "Flame Arrow" spell without needing to be a spellcaster
Nightseer	Players with this trait get the night vision effect when entering dark spaces and during the night.
Dragon Blooded	Players with this trait know the "Breath of the Dragon" spell without needing to be a spellcaster
Phalanx	Players with this trait may use the action "form Phalanx" in combat. When they do, they provide a +1 to defensive rolls for everyone and themself within 1 block of them until their next
Swift learner	Players with this trait require one less lesson/rp session per magic level before they may do their next bonding trial. Players can reset their grimoire once every half a month instead of once per month.
Knowledgeable	Players with this trait get two extra lvl 1 spell slots and one extra lvl 2 spell slot.