[Species] Elves

Life expectancy: ca. 300 years

Appearance:
Elves look similar to humans. They are taller, about 1.90m to 2,10m high and have usually a very slim physique. Their skintones range from very pale and almost white to dark brown. Most elves have brown, wood like skin. Their hair can be blond, brown or black, more rarely red or green. Both men and women grow their hair long. Other than the hair on their head as well as their eyebrows, elves do not grow hair on their body. They can not grow beards and have no hair on their legs, arms or chests. As they age, their hair often turns grey or white.
Their eyes are mostly brown or green, but can also be grey, yellow or more rarely red or blue.  
One of the most noticeable traits of elves are their long, pointy ears.
Elves tend to get fat, when they don’t have enough exercised or have an unbalanced diet, altough not as fast as humans do. It is very frowned upon to be fat and also very unhealthy for elves.

Language:
Elves speak their own language. It is similar to the old tounge and also emphases politness, propriety and gesture. The language sounds clear and harmonical and is very melodic.
In their own languages, elves call themeselves Vilënja.
If you need more words, you can ask the support.
The old speech is learnt as language of magic very early on by most elves. Many elves learn the common tounge, especially in areas where they have close relationsships witkh other races.

Information:
Elves live in close touch with nature and in harmony with their surrounding. By humans they are often called „savages“, since they often live in forrests or mountains and adjust to their environment instead of adjusting it to them.
Their bodies are strong and agile, which makes them excellent warriors and hunters. Their weapons are delicate, but strong and often strengthend with natural or magical powers like poison or spells. Most of their weapons are made from light metal, wood, ivory, stone, bones and teeth.
Especially their wooden weapons, like crossbows, bows and arrows are sought after and it is hard to find any better weapons of that kind.
Also sought after are the elven clothe. Elves make fabric that is very light and delicate but also resilient and strong. It protects from coldness as well as heat and other external forces.

Elves belong to the element of earth and mainly live in the kingdoms of earth, though smaller groups can be found in other regions as well. They were created by Erka, the goddess of earth about 15’000 years ago. The legend says, that they were formed out of trees.
The calender of the elves writes the year 8’604 and begins with the death of Elaïrija ar’Éstra, a legendary elf that united the diffrent tribes of elves after a long war. She sacrificed herself and is venerated by all elves.

Elves mainly life in forrests, steppes, valleys, at coasts, mountains and swamps. They live in harmony with nature and create beautiful buildings from their surrounding. Their architecture is passing fluently into the environment and houses and streets often look like they have grown naturally from trees or hills.
There are 3 diffrent elvish tribes, that have their own traditions and rules. Common meadowelves are not mixed with darkelves or forrestelves and there are often conflicts between those diffrent tribes.
There are diffrent kingdoms of elves which are usually ruled by a king or a queen as well as a council of elected members. In most regions men and women are equal.
Children come of age when they are 34 years old. By that time they often already learnt a profession. Most prestigous are mages and scholars, but also bards, priests and healers.
A pregnancy lasts 14 months. For royals and aristocarats it is common to marry for political reasons, but the common people usually marry out of love. Like all formal rituals wedding follow strict rules. Ceremony, dance, food, everything follows the tradition. Though to outsiders this might not be obvious and like most celebrations, weddings seem wild and chaotic with loud music, dances, loads of alcohol and food. Bride and groom get gifts from their guest, mostly flowers or other beautiful plants, but also jewellery or useful things.
Education is very important to elves. Children go to school from an early age and learn about history, nature studies, language, music, art and mathematics, but also traditions and behaviors of the elves.

Skills:

Speed +2
Dexterity +2

Physical skill +2
Physical skill +1
Diplomacy / Rhetoric +1

Magical skill +3

Special ability:

Amazones are a group of women. They live away from other humans mostly in woods, desserts and islands. They are tall, about 1.80m to 2.00m, beautiful with dark skin and dark hair. They are stronger and faster than normal humans and have a very strong connection with nature.
Amazones live in tribes, that are ruled by one leader. They all train in martial arts from an early age and are excelent warriors, though they are not violent people and only use their weapons to protect themselves or others. They are also talented hunters and have a great knowledge of plants, animals, astrology and medicine.
They often have good connections to nymphs and elfs. They are very religious and their most important gods are Erka, the godess of earth, Maya, the godess of magic, Arawn, the godess of hunting, Rhiannon, the godess of fertility and Asa, the god of medicine.
All amazones are female. The keep away from all men and only use them to breed. Often amazones, who want to be mothers will leave their tribe to find a partner and return home as soon as they are pregnant. Though their are many rumors of secret rituals that allow the amazones to have children while staying virgins and be mothers without ever having touched a man, they themselves only laugh about these ridicoulus claims, since virginity or purity is nothing they worship or see as something achievable.

Skills:

Volition +2
Intelligence +2

Herbalism +2
Anatomy + 2
Potions +2
Distant-combat weapons +1

Special ability: