Elves

A Sheorenth Elven Dream-weaver.

The peculiar thing about Kanturas' Elves is that they stop aging at 25 years old. They are not completely immortal however; while they don't age, they can still die by accident or battle. At 25 they are considered mature and every Elven culture celebrates this in a different way. Nowadays all but the Zylvaran Elves are a rare sight on Kanturas.

Appearance

All Elves are taller than average, between 6'0" (1.83m) and 6'6" (2.0m) tall. They have pointy ears and are more slender than for example humans.

Personality

Elves tend to be more serious than the mortal races of Kanturas. Some older Elves downright look down on the mortal races. This is especially true for the Zansur and Mornori Elves, who can be xenophobic.

Elven Races

Zylvaran Elves

Zylvaran Elves are pale-skinned. They all have lighter hair colors, such as blond, white, gray and sometimes platinum. Zylvaran Elven eyes' irises are usually green or blue. Zylvaran Elves are the adventurers, traders, diplomats and minstrels of the Elven world. They are found all over Kanturas and have founded several colonies. When Zylvaran Elves turn 25, they decide on a non-Elven city and go to live there for 3 years, before returning to their place of birth.

Faevaran Elves

Faevaran Elf in the forest.

The Faevaran Elves love forests, they only leave their forest to defend their lands or for trade with other Elves. Faevaran Elves are brown or black-skinned. They all have darker hair colors, such as black, brown and sometimes burgundy red. Their eyes' irises are usually brown or dark green. When Faevaran Elves turn 25 they join the Faevaran military for at least 25 years.

Sheorenth Elves

Sheorenth Elves are pale-skinned. They all have darker hair colors, such as black, brown and sometimes burgundy red. Their eyes' irises are usually green or blue. When a Sheorenth Elf turns 25 years old, they get their first tattoo, usually on their right upper arm, and in the years that follow they get additional tattoos until every part of the body is covered, except for the head. The last tattoo, usually covering the neck, gets put on on their 1000th birthday. Each design is unique and is gleaned from drinking the tea of the hallucinogenic Wisdom Caapi plant. This is done in a ritual which leads to a shared vision between tattooist and tattoo recipient.

Mandaru Elves

Mandaru Elves have a deep rich ebony skin color and the darkest black hair. They have yellow, green or light brown eyes. When Mandaru Elves turn 25 they start their training to become the protectors of Syndra's Cradle.

Zansur Elves

Zansur Elves, or Wild Elves, are pale-skinned. They all have dark hair colors, such as black (never brown) and sometimes dark gray. Their pointy ears are slightly longer than the ears of their other Elven cousins. The Zansur live in tribes of between 3 and 5 families. They live brutal lives and while the population is healthy, there are no Minnanien (First-born) Zansur left.

Mornori Elves

Mornori Elves, or Dark Elves, are various shades of blue-skinned. They all have lighter hair colors, such as white, platinum and silver. Their eyes' irises are usually silver-colored. When Mornori Elves turn 25 they go out into the sunlight for the first time for a ritual called the Sacrament of the Sun.

Minnanien

Hybrid Mandaru/Zylvaran Female Elven Dream-weaver.

The Minnanien awoke at Syndra's Cradle. It is named Syndra's Cradle because it is where the Goddess Syndra (Elven Demi-deity) created the Elves in her own image. The Elves awoke after Syndra begged Elu (Omnipotent Deity) to give her creations the spark of life that Elu had given to all animals. Elves that were created in this manner are called the Minnanien, the First-born.

Half-Elves

Elves can have children with the other races of Kanturas. These offspring are called Half-Elves. When Half-Elves turn 25 they can choose to become fully Elven or remain mortal. The oldest mortal Half-Elf still lived till 753 years old. The Half-Elves that choose to become fully Elven do so in a prayer to Syndra, followed by a ritual called the Dual Spirit Rite.

The Repose

If old Elves become weary of life they can choose to do the Repose or die of sorrow. The Repose is a period of hibernation, usually a century or more, during which the Elf in question gets rejuvenated in body and mind. When Elves are hurt grievously, they can also do the Repose.