Wood Elves

Azari’cerr (Wood Elves)
Nicknames	"Savages" "Wild ones" "Watchers of the Forest"
Spoken Languages	Azari Linguae (lost elven language) The common tongue
Average Height	160- 175cm (5’2’’ - 5’8’’ ft)
Average Weight	70 - 75 kg (154 - 165 lbs)
Homeland	Myln Abor
Capital	Mitrona

Introduction

They are the watchers of the wood, the gale that howls through the canopies. Under the appearing green solace of the forest, they swiftly sneak under leaves and branches, bringing the deadliest strikes to prey and enemies alike;

They are the fury of the wild. With green blood running through their veins, they have senses as keen as that of a snake, speed as swift as leopards and strength as robust as bears;

As changeable as weather, as merciless as nature itself. They are the Azari’cerr, vengeful and untamed Azari of terrifying power. To any who enter their lands unbidden, a miserable fate awaits them the moment they set foot in the forest.

The frails and the cowards, be careful; for that the Azari’cerr will greet them with neither respect nor mercy. Guided by the law of the jungle, and fueled by belligerence, the ‘cerrs believe only the fittest of all shall survive.

Are you one of them? One either find out, or die trying.

Appearance

The Azari’cerr people, known as wood elves to most around Eden. The Azari folk are known to be the tallest race. They are the smallest of the Azari, being from 174cm-200cm (male). Females are a bit shorter than the men on average being from 166cm-190cm. This makes the race stand out more from its counterparts being the dark elves and high elves.

Most wood elves live inside the forest where their capital is, Myln Abor, a harsh environment so the clothing that the elves would usually be seen in would be very light clothing with colors being mostly what is found in the forest, like green, brown and occasionally yellow. This is to keep them camouflage from predators or even other races that wish harm against these people. The material that would be seen the most would be leather and natural fibers found around the forest. Females would usually wear loose fitted skirts, wrap around sarongs and large fitted shirts, though as always there is diversity among these cultural people.

Wood elves are extremely distinguishable from the other races of Eden due to their copper colored skin with their brown, green, amber or rarely seen amethyst purple eyes. These are what set the azari’cerr apart from all others. Their hair colours would range from black to brown being most common, though lighter colors such as silver have been seen, but it is believed that being born with these rare traits means Karesh has decided to test you. These unnatural colors make u stand out to predators and there surviving in becomes even harder. Thus seeing a adult with these traits usually mean they are very good at surviving and therefore others have a natural respect for them.

Another part of the wood elves is their war paint, it is a natural thing for the wood elves to have paint on their bodies and face. Being all different colors from paint made from the flowers and plants around their home. These markings could have meanings, most elves when put paint on their bodies give it a meaning like some examples would be, symbols for families, show love to their God and for significant lovers. However its mostly used to show that one is willing to go to war, for their nation.

Languages

Elves generally speak the common tongue. This language, through its extreme popularity, has been adopted and normalized in Elven culture. Like their cousins in Aerial, the Azari’cerr use a combination of common tongue and the ancient elven language.  

Although being a mostly forgotten one, with scholars rediscovering snippets of the ancient elven language, elven communities have begun to incorporate vocabularies of the language into daily occasions..

Below is a list of frequently used ancient elven words that found their way into common speech:

Greetings:

Vale -  Hello/Greetings

Vale’tar - Farewell

Fílo(s) - Friend(s)

Races:

Azari    - Elf

Azari’cill    - High elf/pure elf

Azari’cerr    - Wood elf/wild elf

Azari’lunn    - Dark elf/Moon elf

Azari’soll    -    Fire Elf/Sun Elf

Dur’arum(s)    - Denur

Vari(s)    - Human(s)

Ghesiri(s)    - Faulskins(s)

De’nevir    -    Tiefling

Titles:

Bessi’inn    -     Blessed one

Scin    -      (Young) Student

Scini  -  (Older) Student

Scinar  - Priest

Scinari  - Priestess

Scinar(i)’cilus    - High Priest(ess)

Ar’mágoi    - Mage/Magic user/Spellcaster

Ar’mágoi’cilus  - Arch-Mage/Magic user/Spellcaster

Visera    - Minister

Nobicilus  - Noble

Khari’cerr - The wild Father/Chieftain

Therri’cerr  - Sentinel of the Wilderness

Tricilus - Chief

Bessi’inn - Blessed one

Kal'cellenni - Spiritwalker

“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 person.

Culture

Structure of Elven society

The azari’cerr, the people inside the forest, are a deadly foe to be on the enemy side of their techniques with a bow and dagger mixed with their great maneuverability, makes them the most voracious predator among the trees. This is known by the foreign people, but inside the community they are cultural folk that can share a number of stories and wisdom about their capital, Myln Abor. A peaceful race as long as you don’t disrespect them or their God. They would often be seen sitting around a campfire sharing stories and food among all other azari’cerr. They are marvelous people with the gentle personality to go along with it, fine artwork and music as well. The instruments the wood elves usually have are lutes and harps playing breathtaking melodies. This is understood to help calm the forest and tame the beasts to lessen the attacks. Even if these myths were not correct, it would not stop them from enjoying the music being sent into a sense of peace free from life’s worries and problems.

In Wood elf culture, another significant thing about the way they live is that when they become close to mental maturity, they would be brought into a trial of survival. This would be done to pick out the weak from the strong and to ensure that no resources are wasted on weaklings. The trial would be specific for each region, but in the capital of Myln Abor would be that the youngling’s would be left out in the forest far from the major city and told that they cannot return for 2 months. The skills they need to know for this trial would be that they need to know how to hunt, stay out of danger and survive this cruel place. At the end of the trial, the initiate would need to find their own way back to their home, where an excellent festival would be held to congratulate them on what they have achieved. They would also be granted the marking of the wood elf, which is a wolf's head that would be painted anywhere of their choosing.

Romance and Marriage

The wood elves are quite affectionate towards each other, because of their past and the location of their capital they are quite remote and to themselves so they are quite close to one another. Romance with the azari’cerr is something that is celebrated and is sought by the majority. They love being loving towards each other, showing love where they can. They want to expand as a race and do so they need to create heirs and to do so they need to find a companion to have children. Marriage is proclaimed by all inside the village and a glorious festival takes place where the two that are being brought together, pledging their future to each other, are anointed by the priest. Divorce is something that is extremely unusual and is looked down upon by anyone who even considers of tearing the commitment performed by both that are wedded.

Life and Reproduction

The wood elves, like any other Azari, are gifted with long life. A year for the elves would be 5 human years. But this does not mean that they could not pass away from any other cause. Living inside the famous forest would bring many deaths for the azari’cerr. Which is a sorrowful time, of course, but the wood elves viewed death as the highest loss, being gifted with such a long life and to cut that time short, made the wood elves become more determined and stronger so that they would not succumb to this impending death and to live as long as they could. Reproduction for the wood elves is the same as high elves being. Female Elves are only fertile one week per Elven year and only become fertile around their 25th. This is ill luck for most because their desire is to grow bigger. Giving birth to mighty warriors is what they wish for, to strive as a race inside Eden.

Death and Funerals:

As said, death with the Azari’cerr is the utmost greatest loss that can occur, being a waste of such a long life that has been gifted by their god. Funerals inside the wood elf community are such a tight group that funerals usually include every elf that knew the dead. A day or two was set in their honor, where everyone would go to the burial place and say their words. Bringing gifts and flowers to illuminate the burial site. Ceremonies would be held where all could show up and say words, a place where they would all be brought together to help them through their mourning.

History

Origins:

The origins of the Azari are mostly unknown. It is mostly believed that the Elven race was gifted with life by the gods of the Elven Pantheon. The elven race has its roots in the Valley of Dragon, which is also known as Arda.

This era when the elven race first flourished is known as the Age of Enlightenment. It was during this time that the Gods of the Pantheon walked among their children. It is believed that the four elven gods each decided to create their own children, leading to the different elven races in Eden today. The Father, Kharash, created the Azari’cerr; he gifted his children strength, courage and skills of shouldering the responsibilities of a family. The Mother, Aerièlle, gifted her children – the Azari’cerr – wisdom along with the ways of being the most enlightened and pure being on Eden and the knowledge on how to wield the sacred blessings of Eden in the form of magical powers. The daughter, Aestaena, created the Azari’soll. She gifted her children fertility, love and the need to procreate. And at last there was the Son, Fineall, who created the Azari’lunn and gifted his children many challenges in life.

During this age, the Azari’cerr roamed the continent with Kharash. Creating and observing nature as it should be, untouched by civilization. Kharash trained the Azari’cerr to protect the untouched nature from filth and to live in harmony with nature.

The Age of Fallen Spires:

The four elven races lived in concord during the Age of Enlightenment. This peace, however, was soon proven to be a false front. The Azari’cill, believing that they are the purest and wisest of all races, soon turned radical towards their dark-skinned kin. The cills were certain that the Azari’lunn were impure creatures who know nothing but anger, jealousy, perversion and lust.

Carrying such biases, the Azari’cill declared war on the Azari’lunn, whereas the two other elven races – the Azari’cerr and the soll – both decided to distance themselves from the war. Yet the war had been equally cruel on all elves alike. Although the Azari’cerr never wanted to or did actively pick sides at first, many cerrs were taken by the Azari’lunn forces who were in need of labor forces in supporting the on-going warfare. The kidnapping of those who went astray from the bigger group were frequent given that the Azari’cerr were generally considered the most physically able among all elven races.

Such exploitation had angered many cerrs. With the resentment growing within them and the need to protect themselves still persisting, a decision was made: the Azari’cerr would combine forces with the cills in defeating the Azari’lunn.

This decision was soon proven to be the table turner of the elven civil war. With the Azari’cerr joining the side of the cills, the Azari’lunn were overwhelmed. The war soon ended with determining victory of the Azari’cill and Azari’cerr, with the defeated lunns forced to leave the Valley of Dragon in escaping the fate of being hunted down.

Yet Although the war was won, it didn’t come without cost. In addition to the Azari’lunn’s defeat, their god Fineall also took the conflict to the heavens to fight the other gods by himself. As such, as the direct result of Fineall’s announcing of war, the other Gods of the Pantheon left Eden, leaving their children a war-ravaged kingdom and grievances of many years’ standing.

Rebuilding Civilization:

Fortunately, the Azari’cerr were left with a legacy from their beloved creator. The elven civil war deeply troubled Kharash who, being considered as the fatherly figure among the Gods of the Pantheon, could not bear standing aside while his children shed blood fighting with their own. In protecting his children, Kharash used his divine powers and cultivated a magical forest that would form Myln Abor today.

In addition to the vibrant sanctuary, Kharash also tutored his children and bestowed them with knowledge of herbs and animals along with the arts of dominating nature. Admittedly, Kharash was generous with his wisdom; but he is also a strict mentor who values inherited gifts of strength or intelligence.

Because of so, Kharash decided to take a group of pupils for every generation of cerrs. Only about five elves would be selected, each having varying skills and gifts but are equally promising and eager to learn. This group was taught the secrets that nature hides for the others. Among them were usually the best alchemists, druids, herbalists and survivalists. It was their task to guard the sacred forest and the purity of nature from trespassing outsiders.

It is known that Fyrr, Meredith, Umphraid, x, y, were the group of pupils during the Age of the Fallen Spires. Kharash, having witnessed the many quarrels that ravaged the elven kingdom, had changed his attitude and shifted to a much more offensive style of his tutoring in preparing his children amidst the war. It is also during this time when he taught this specific group of young elves how to lead and rule in case of his absence. Unfortunately, such knowledge eventually came into use.

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Due to the departure of Kharash, their training had not been completed at the moment. But responsibilities awaited and they had no choice but to step up. As Kharash departed, he blessed this last group of pupils and their bloodline with the ability to connect to the magical forest, making them able to perform rituals in communicating with nature and growing the forest.

With the departure of Kharash at the end of the elven civil war, the Azari’cerr were left alone. They’re short in numbers, tormented by fear and traumatized by violence. The legacy left by Kharash was proven to be useful as the majority of Azari’cerr ventured into the magical forest with the guidance of Kharash’s last group of pupils, yet life within the forest was only more challenging.

The forest is a dangerous place. With rampant beasts preying on the weak and the young, and deadly herbs poisoning those who were lucky enough to survive the animals, the cerrs were once again desperate. In the middle of their hopelessness, the blessed pupils made a collaborative decision which was soon proven to be life-changing in the history of the Azari’cerr. Their God Kharash made it this way because he cared for his children and did not want them to become lazy and weak. These constant challenges and obstacles would keep the Azari’cerr alert and have their fighting well polished so they can always be ready for war.

The blessed pupils ventured into the woods in search of a sign. They traveled in the forest for weeks, surviving, surveying, battling against and making friends with the forest they live in. Most importantly, they were actively searching for an answer or guidance that would aid them and their race in their despair.

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Eventually, with wounds and bug bites on their exhausted limbs, the group reached a lake in the forest. They spent the night resting near this secret pond, but the pupils soon found out that their real challenge was yet to come.

Fyrr was the first to be dared. He was approached by a flying monkey. The curious little creature stared at the exhausted young elf before suddenly vanishing in the thick darkness of the night and leaving him nothing but a trail of smoke. Fyrr inhaled the smoke and was almost immediately overwhelmed by a terrifying sense of chaos. Screamings, mutilated bodies, bloodstained soil – all these ghastly images flashed through Fyrr’s visions, attacking the young elf with a sense of fear so strong that it almost stopped his heart.

Yet in his terror, Fyrr recalled Kharash’s guidance and began trying to dominate his emotions. But as he gradually calmed down and the chaos turned into peacefulness, a new feeling of strength suddenly rushed through his body, empowering him with courage and fueling his exhausted limbs with vigor.

Meredith was the second to face her challenge. She was the oldest of them all and therefore the more calm and matured. But just as she was about to bathe her blister-covering feet in the pond, her attention was caught by a leaf swaying in the wind. Meredith watched as the fragile leaf battled with the breeze but still couldn’t evade the destiny of flailing into the pond. When the leaf finally touched the water, Meredith was struck by an engulfing sense of melancholy and desperation. She was reminded of the grim and uncertain future of her people, how they were abandoned by their creator and left in this treacherous forest to struggle.

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Meredith’s melancholy was so prevailing that it deprived the once-calm and confident elf of her self-control. Without even realizing that tears were running down her cheeks, Meredith stood up and pressed her dagger against her own throat. The edge of the weapon bit into her skin, but the sharp sting of pain snapped the female elf out of her mental breakdown. Shaking her head in disbelief of her own actions, Meredith bowed down and picked up the leaf she was staring at. The elf was awestruck to discover that a colorful butterfly was clinging to the leaf stalk, and that the flailing leaf, although having met its inevitable death before landing in the pond, actually served as the hope of life.

This was taken as a sign from the forest that there is much to be learned about this place and life itself. After the pupils had encountered these creatures they began to create the nation of Mitronna to give them the time they need to learn all that is around them.