Species and Races > Elves > Kerian Elves

 Kerian Elves

The Lost Dynasty

The elves of Kerios historically are much like their Ithuanian counterparts, most closely resembling the High Elves of the Moonsilver Dynasty, but also bearing many traits common amongst the other elven nations. However, unlike the elves of Ithuan, the Kerian Elves’ dynasty stood united for centuries under the joint rule of three houses: Houses Glimeye, Leytongue, and Soulspeaker. Their dialect of Elvish is slightly different to High Elvish, and is somewhat closer linguistically to Godspeech.

Native to Lithul and Shil’vikas in central and north-western Kerios, these elves were largely separated from the elves of Ithuan, and thus had far less animosity towards the native dragons that populated the mountainous territories they held dominion over. For millennia, they’d brought offerings of hunted game, and in turn the dragons would serve as unofficial protectors of the elven civilization. However, as the centuries rolled on, the elves began sending fewer and fewer gifts, as it had become unsustainable, and there was pressure from religious leaders both in and outside of the dynasty that were urging the Kerian Elves to focus their worship more around Lith and the Fae, lest they feel the wrath of the chaotic goddess.

The dragons, angered by this decision, and finding that their population had grown past what was sustainable through hunting alone thanks to the elven food, declared war on the Kerian Houses in a conflict known as the War of Beasts. Settlements that were once protected by dragons became decimated by them, and the draconic population fell rapidly. Groups on either side splintered off after decades of conflict, realizing that the two species would kill each other off before long. House Soulspeaker left the dynasty entirely, along with a few Glimeyes and Leytongues, disillusioned and instead forging bonds with the dragons that would remain peaceful. They then went into hiding, never to be heard from by their house names again. The remaining troops on either side withdrew, each too weak to continue with this loss, and now the remaining elves live in a hidden enclave under Falquoi Leytongue, their numbers reduced to mere hundreds. Falquoi has since sworn revenge, and is on a hunt for the last remaining dragons in Kerios so he may exterminate those which caused his people’s near extinction.

Training

Education  

The nature of the Kerian Elves’ predicament has led to far less education, and even a lack of literacy among some of the youngest elves due to a want for books and other texts. Many elves are encouraged to take a less standard approach to their education. Aside from basic physical training, literacy, history, and a few other standard skills like frugality, most of their education usually comes in the form of either apprenticeships to more skilled or older elves, and lessons from universities such as Scathe. Elves believe in living an experience more than studying it to prevent monotony over their long lives.

The difference now is that Kerian Elves focus heavily on practical skills and training, often in grouped classes, which provide them with a wide range of sustainable abilities to help provide for the enclave’s community. Farming, tracking, hunting, combat, and crafting— without nearly as much sophistication as their Ithuanian counterparts— are all taught at a basic level at least under an elder elf who specializes in the profession. These classes often include magical means as well as practical ones for achieving their goals. A few of the more magically inclined of these elves are taken in for extra training by the resident Inksage, Zoja, who trains them in the basics of Inksage magic— especially the ones with a talent for shadow and illusory magics. Overall, though, every elf in the enclave undertakes the responsibility of protecting and providing for their own now that their great civilization has been reduced to a fraction of what it once was.

Combat

The Elves of Kerios’ preferred weapons, as with many parts of their culture, are shaped by their animosity with the dragons. They prefer weapons with a substantial reach. However, their dragon hunters are known for their use of tall, kite shaped shields with a slot along the top to allow them to crouch behind the shield, while using a spear, glaive, or other polearm to stab at the neck, face, or chest of their opponent. This was particularly useful against dragons’ breath weapons.

Due to the terrible loss of life they sustained in the War of Beasts, weapons made of resilient materials such as moonsilver, mythral, dragon bone, or enchanted metals are passed down in families in an attempt to keep the remaining population armed despite their limited resources.

Especially after the war, the fighting style of Kerian Elves has become particularly brutal. Even when using non-traditional weapons for their people, they strike for limbs and joints, essentially debilitating their foe to wound them. Many have also proved willing to withdraw when threatened, preserving their life and their bloodline, while leaving their foe to die of their injuries.

One tradition that they all follow however, is that of a champion or warrior wearing a circlet of dragonsbane upon their brow the day before a battle, and carrying it at their side when they enter combat. This is seen as a sign of strength as well as a sort of ruthlessness, signifying that they will not surrender lightly. In the absence of direct war or even contact with dragons, this has become more ceremonial than practical, yet this is still widely practiced by the remaining elves.

Unlike others of their kind, Kerian Elves have a more personal relationship with conflict thanks to their history than any of the Ithuan Elves. They even strive to design more sophisticated weapons, such as modified crossbow-like weapons that launch harpoons in order to help bring down flying creatures. Their paranoia and pride in regard to battle is as endless as their willpower to push on despite all they’ve lost, and they aren’t shy about it either.

Medicine

Kerian Elves, much like High Elves, place a lot of value on clean, quick, magically based healing and even surgeries. However, out of necessity, they have also become accustomed to alchemic and practical treatments so as not to stretch their magical resources thin. There are only so many sophisticated healers left after the War of Beasts. While these practical healers and alchemists are nowhere near as skilled or resourceful as more experienced humans in southern Kerios, they make do with what they can and use magic as a supplement— or a crutch, depending on who you ask.

Daily Life

As with all elven houses, each of the three Kerian Houses has their own power that can be channeled through tattoos drawn with the sap of the World Tree, which also helped dictate their profession and role in society. The Glimeyes are able to utilize and see through illusory magics, and are well known for their proficiency in stealth. They served as scouts, spies, and advisors, easily able to pick out lies and gather information. House Leytongue has the ability to project their voice farther than normal, and can magically manipulate emotions using their gifts. They served not only as diplomats and traders, but as artists, singers, and actors, as well as powerful combat mages. Finally, Soulspeakers had the uncanny ability to commune with spirits— especially those of their ancestors— and animals, as well as draw borrowed power from them. They served as farmers, rangers, and religious leaders, mainly.

In the aftermath of the war, the Kerian Elves mainly hunt and gather, farming small amounts of vegetables and herbs, rarely trading except to provide for the enclave. A few adventurous elves have since left the enclave in search of aid, or a change of pace. The most notable of them is Zoja Glimeye, who serves not only as the head Inksage of the Order of Shadows, but as the main diplomat between the Sages and the elves. She is often seen training elves in magic and conversing with Falquoi on diplomatic matters.

Government

Currently, in the enclave, those who hold the most power are those who support the community most through their own efforts. Falquoi serves as the head of the enclave, organizing and dividing labor, as well as keeping track of supplies and maintaining diplomatic communications. He also often goes on hunts, seeking out dragons, and has occasionally brought back trophies as proof of his efforts, though be it through raw strength or magical means, nobody can tell. Zoja is his second in command, and while she is rarely present in the enclave itself, she is feared and respected for her prowess in the magical arts, as well as her willingness to teach— however stern she may be during lessons.

From there, they assign a rotating roster of people who are responsible for guarding, farming, hunting, crafting, and gathering for the enclave based on individual needs. Given the population is currently just under a thousand in total, not much else is needed in the way of regulation or governance. The elves trust Falquoi, and many openly share his desire for revenge so they may rebuild their civilization.

Religion & Holidays

Kerian Elves have very few major holidays that they celebrate, both out of fear of discovery and a lack of excess resources to offer for festivities. They do maintain some of the basic practices, however, such as celebrating the equinoxes with offerings to the Fae— though recent years have seen those offerings scattered as if refused.

The Day of Three

The Day of Three is the elven festival that marks the new year, and like their kin, the Kerian Elves celebrate it by telling tales of the gods, once seen as a day of recognition, strengthening their society for the year to come. However, due to their reduced numbers and resources, more simple festivities than those of the other elven dynasties are common, such as making offerings to each of the gods, telling tales and performing dramatic interpretations of the Spirit War over the course of a week or so. Many of the Kerian elves especially make offerings to Lith, asking for her blessing as their patron goddess, though she has rarely— if ever— responded to any of their prayers since the War of Beasts ended.

Evervigil

Evervigil is the celebration of the end of the War of Beasts and a time of mourning and vigil for what was lost. Kerian Elves gather and melt the wax for candles which they make, dipping them in dried herbs and then using them in their windows and along the walls of the Enclave as both symbolic and magical protection from the evils of the world. As they remember and mourn, many of the elves gather to sing soft, slow songs recounting the history of their former dynasty, coming together despite any differences in shared suffering and grief.

Architecture

Kerian Elves utilize subterranean structures in their enclave among the overgrown ruins of their largest— and forgotten— capital city of Roothavell, mixing overgrown, carved marble with wood and cob, as well as magically excavated systems of rooms and hallways that connect to the sprawling caverns beneath Lithul and Shil’vikas. They utilize what they can to make things look sophisticated— weaving roots and smoothing over dirt with cob— but it’s only a fraction of the beauty offered even by Roothavell’s ruins. Still, the gardens and farms amidst the overgrown city do offer the enclave some pride in their work.

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