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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5252481" data-attributes="member: 92511">Races: ElvesElves  ShïStaliiri: The first race of elves created in the dawn of the world by the elder gods are the ShïStaliiri, “Blood of the Stars”. These elves are found almost exclusively in the larger of the two great elvin realms of the same name. The borders of the realm of ShïStaliir have been closed to the outside world since before the Godswar. The history of the “Star elves,” as they are sometimes called by outsiders, is a long and colorful one but for the remembered history of Men, the ShïStaliiri have been ominous silent neighbors. Rare are the number of humans who can claim to have seen one of the Star elves.  What little is known about ShïStaliiri life has been learned from the Mïralôstae, whose own society is based/descended from ShïStaliir. The ShïStaliiri society is broken into a fairly formal caste system of Houses called Eres’kas. These are groupings of a family or families that share some vocational interest or traditional role within the society. From the fabled ancient city of Avanthar, the Staliiri elves are ruled by the Lord and Lady of Eres’ka Staliir Häl, “House of the Radiant (or “Bright” or “Shining”) Stars”, who claim decent from Drythantaliir, greatest lord of elves from the ages before Men.   ShïStaliiri elves are tall and regal. They are described as being of radiant beauty with large slanted almond shaped eyes and chiseled angular features. They can be as tall as most humans, often growing to 6 feet, but more slender in their build. Their hair ranges most commonly from medium blond and pale gold to silver white, but may also be red/coppery. Dark hair colors are rare among the ShïStaliiri. Eyes are vibrant shades of violet, turquoise, and all shades of blues and greens, often with complimentary metallic flecks of gold or silver.            Mïralôstae: The most commonly encountered of the elvin races are the Mïralôstae, “The Watchers of the Moon,” are also the holders of the second great elvin realm, Mïralôsta. In the days of the Scourge Wars, the leader of Eres’ka Mïral, the House of the Moon, separated from the Star elvin nation, against the wishes of their king, to help battle the darkness of the demon godson, Aishapra. As the story goes, the lady Nirastrelyn led her people from the wooded halls of ShïStaliir to fight for the good of Orea. After several dark years of war and roaming they settled in the great wood at the end of the river D’Evand and began to build the now great nation of Mïralôsta.  The elves of Mïralôsta trade regularly with outside nations, including Daenfrii, Resahd, the Embrars, even as far as Brightmoon and the Freeland city of Hawkview, though they are selective of whom they allow to enter their realm. They are particularly good at the making of wines and jewelry. Their leatherwork and fabrics are also highly prized.  Physically, the Mïralôstae are similar to their ShïStaliiri cousins. Features are beautiful and angular. Hair is straight or slightly wavy and generally worn long, to mid-back is common for males, longer for females. Hair color includes the pale golds and silvers of the ShïStaliiri with the addition of darker blonds, and light browns with some redheads.  Ebon black hair is not uncommon and generally denotes lineage of House Hunter and House Tracker (both of which joined the House of the Moon in what is known as “The Partng”. Eye color is also the same as those found in ShïStaliir. The Mïralôstae are marginally shorter than the ShïStaliiri ranging from 5 to 6 feet, but tend to be more muscular than their Western cousins, though not as broad or bulky as humans are capable of becoming.       ShïCynallae: According to elvin mythology, in the dawn of the world, there was a battle between the Elder gods Antas and Karos. Each was wounded by the other and from the blood that was spilt, elves were born. The ShïStaliiri rose from the blood of Antas, god of light. The dark elves, the ShïDaeiri, rose from the blood of Karos, the evil god of demons and fire. From the blood that mingled before it hit the earth were born the ShïCynallae, the Blood of the Clouds (or “Clouded Blood”).  This race of elves is viewed with disdain by the ShïStaliiri and has a dubious reputation with the Mïralôstae. They are, in reality, simply concerned with their own personal freedom and peaceful coexistence with the secluded natural surroundings they chose to inhabit. They live in small groups that can be found scattered throughout Orea in isolated valleys and out of the way natural settings. They are also sometimes found alone, wandering the realms seeking to experience as much of the glorious world created by the gods as possible. They are thought to be among the greatest harpers in the Hundred Realms.  ShïCynallae elves are as tall, sometimes taller than the Mïralôstae, often rising above 6 feet. Their hair is generally medium blond through medium brown. Hazel and green eyes are most common, but shades of grey or blue are not uncommon. Generally, their coloring is contrasting, the darker the hair, the lighter the eyes, and vice versa.        Kantiiri: Considered to be one of the lesser elvish races, the Kantiiri, or elves “of the wild,” are looked down upon by the ShïStaliiri and Mïralôstae for their “uncivilized” ways. In actuality, the Kantiiri have a very structured tribal society and rich set of beliefs and customs. They are very reclusive by nature making their homes deep within old forests. Though some communities of Kantiiri are known, the best known of these is in the forest  of Ef’Thriel in the Freelands, they are very cautious of outsiders, more often opting to keep themselves hidden. In most regions that purport to have an “elf wood” no elves have ever been seen. A Kantiiri who doesn’t wish to be found in their home wood is almost impossible to find. Even so, from time to time a Kantiiri youth will be struck with wanderlust or sent on a quest for the good of the tribe and roam the Hundred realms beyond their leafy home. They also will trade for metal weapons and objects. This is usually done with someone that shares their woodland home. The Kantiiri do not possess or desire knowledge of mining or smithing. Kantiiri tribes that do not have someone nearby to trade with for metal, simply do not use it crafting more than effective weaponry from wood, stone, and bone.  Part of the perception of Kantiiri as “lesser” elves is that they are simply shorter. Most Kantiiri do not grow above 5 feet, often closer to 4 and a half. Also, the Kantiiri are four fingered (three fingers and a thumb) like the stout races. This led the ShïStaliiri to the sickening belief that the Kantiiri were born from a union between a ShïStaliiri and a dwarf (or gnome or halfling.) Their hair coloring is all over the map, all shades of blond, light through dark brown, red, amber, auburn, even the occasional oddball silver-top. Their eyes are equally unspecific, various shades of blue and brown are common, hazel and green also. A Kantiiri with violet eyes is rare and believed to possess innate magical talent. Depending on the tribe, violet eyes may also be viewed as a curse or bad omen. Another trait attributed to them being “lesser elves” is that they are not as long lived as their “civilized” cousins, rarely living over 500.     ShïDaeïri: From the spilt ichor of the Demon god, Karos the Chaosbringer, rose the ShïDaeïri, the elves of the Blood of Shadow (or “Darkness”). For many years the Elves of the Stars battled with the Elves of the Shadow until finally the great hero Drythantalir drove them and their demon queen, Djarthoon, forever from the lands of light, beyond the depths of the dwarves, into the pits of the underearth. Through powerful magics he sealed the Giras Thor, the greatest of dwarven craft, in the deep of Naradun. And so the ShïDaeïri would never again walk the realms of Orea. So it was written and so it had been for countless ages of elves and men.  In recent years, rumors have come up from the depths of the world, from the deep mining dwarves and adventurers who sunk too far in their search for treasures. Rumors that say the ShïDaeïri not only still exist, but have increased in number and power and, if possible, evil. They rule great cities in the darkest corners and fiery pits of the underearth. There have even been tales of dark elves in the realms beneath the sky, under cover of night.  By legend and recent report, their appearance has not changed. They stand as tall as the Mïralôstae, between 5 and 6 feet.  Their skin is the darkest charcoal, their hair purest white. Stories tell of them having eyes of deep amethyst that shine with the blackest inner fire. By all accounts there is no deviation from these traits.  [FONT=&quot]The reality is that the ShïDaeïri have increased over the millennia, in numbers and power and rule over great expanses of the Underworld with cruel iron fists. [/FONT]</blockquote>

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