Theme - Elves

[Vardaen]

What follows is the generally accepted theme of the Elves, both Elohim and Thelonite and any other.

---

The Elohim

The Elohim are a collection of various hidden and secret druidic havens spread across Patria. Unlike their Thelonite cousins they do not have a single nation or unified leadership. Each haven has its own leaders and traditions, but generally share similar ideals and practices.

The government of the Elohim is a mix of direct democracy and theocracy. To make decisions, the members of an Elohim community gather in assemblies, where the debate and vote on matters. Some times there are sharp disagreements they can't resolve, but usually they prefer to work by consensus in these assemblies, instead of a majority simply defeating a minority. The assemblies are overseen and facilitated by the Elders of the community, the wisest, most experienced of the Elohim. These are primarily (though not exclusively) senior clerics or druids. They also play the role of magistrates in settling disputes within a community.

The Elohim as a whole are a loose confederacy, with each community electing delegates (usually from among the community's Elders) to make any decisions that need to be made by the Elohim as a whole.

The Elohim have a great deal of respect for their Elders, showing them a certain amount of deference. They also, however, value individual freedom and this deference is never mindless. The Elohim feel free to question their Elders when they are unconvinced of the wisdom of their suggestions. Often times what earns an Elder the most respect is encouraging just such questioning.

The physical lay-out of an Elohim community is stereotypically elf-like--their buildings are elegantly integrated into the surrounding landscape, often in the upper stories of trees, though not exclusively so. As the larger world grows more threatening, these communities are becoming more fortified, both physically and magically.

The Elohim place a great deal of value on learning and the arts. In regard to the latter, they try to imbue all the material aspects of their society--buildings, clothes, armor and weapons, etc.--with a certain elegance when they make them. Real world East Asian-style arts--calligraphy, brush-painting, tea ceremonies--are very much central to the Elohim. They also tend to favor elaborate full-body tattoos as a form of adornment and artistic expression.

[Vardaen]

Images of Elohim Havens

Haven Images

On the Elven language:

The Elohim and Thelonite speak different dialects of the same language. It has been the Thelonite who have taught Elvish to other races--the Elohim have refused to do so, because non-elves can't master some of the more subtle nuances of its pronunciation and the Elohim find the sound of a non-elf pronouncing Elven grating to their ears.

They have never entirely forgiven their Thelonite cousins for teaching the tongue to non-elves. (Which is not to suggest that there's seem resulting deep-seated grudge. It's more the sort of thing that makes the Elohim roll their eyes and shake their heads when speaking of the Thelonites.) Since all Elohim names mean something, as a consequence, when they speak to non-elves, they translate those names, rather than speaking them in Elvish. ("Elohim" translates as "The Children of Wisdom" or simply "The Wise People." Non-elves picked up the term Elohim from the Thelonite, and perverted it to Elf.) To the Elohim, the Thelonite dialect sounds slightly vulgar and debased. To the Thelonite, the Elohim dialect sounds slightly archaic, formal and stilted. The two are both easily mutually intelligible, but it's not hard to tell which dialect someone is speaking either. Most non-elves learn the Thelonite dialect because of the Elohim's refusal to teach Elvish to outsiders.

Examples of Elohim Naming:
Allareia-Nosaki-na'Tirris Arrasul-Elassyrin-el'Tirion: Relcutant Follower of Dreams of the Dancers in the Glade Clan

Quorris-na'Tiraglass-Nastul: Haven of the Nine Water Falls

Quorris-na'Ellellen-Locrier: Haven of the Graceful Oaks

Seylin-na'Hos-Kirriel: Holy Order of the Watchful Sword

Elven is one of those languages where the adjective follows the noun, so "allareia" means "follower," "nosaki" reluctant; "hos" means sword, "kirriel" watchful.

"Na'" means "of," "el'" means "in."

"Quorris" means "haven."

"Arrasul" indicates a Clan name--I guess it could be interpreted as "of the Clan of."

[Vardaen]

On Elven Religion:

With the fall of Bhall and the death of the Elven Creator Sucellus the elven religous structure is in a great upheval. Elves have an extremely long life and as such are slow to react to change as quickly as the shorter lived sepcies on Patria. The death of Sucellus only a decade ago is still having far reaching ramifications for the religous leaders of the Elohim and the Thelonites. Many of the highest level Clerics of Sucellus found themselves suddenly stripped of their powers when the god was slain by Mulcarn. This magical and spirital backlash has taken years to overcome, and many of them clerics of the elves have not even finished their mourning of the loss of Sucellus. Those clerics who were solely devoted to Sucellus have turned to druidic paths to try and keep the nature spirit of Sucellus alive, and have managed, to some degree, to be successfull. However nature is greatly outof balance, and with the growing power of the God of Winter Mulcarn it is proving to be a daunting challange for most.

However not all of the Elohim were narrowly minded in their worship, a rare bit of possitive influence taken from their cousins of the Thelonites who worship a pantheon of good an neutral aligned gods. Particullarly favored gods are Danalin the Thoughtful, Sirona the Wise, and Nantosuelta the Faithful (in her capacity as the good-aligned goddesss of magic), as well as those that represent the various elemental compass points. The clerics who worshiped the pantheon felt a great loss at Bhall's fall and courption, but were able to adjust eventually, and as such have recovered, at least partially, at the death of Sucellus. As conditions on Patria have continued to grow worse and with Frostlings making raids on Elohim lands, a warrior order follower Lugus the Everwatchful and Junil the Righteous has arisen. These devotees to the pantheon often are able to draw prayers and spells from the various gods of it, and not simply draw from one single set of domains.

A new sect has taken up a task to keep the memory of Sucellus the Broken and Bhall the Fallen alive, in hopes that one day the two gods will be restored to their rightfull place. Many of these elves are either now druids or simply have no magical abilities and work as monks and sages.

[Vardaen]

Elohim Tattooes

Among the Elohim a traditon has been passed on for centuries, its founding and purpose now lost to the ancients of history. Most Elohim are covered in elegant and mystical tatooes that cover some part of the body, and in many cases include the face (but not always). These tattooes can be read like a histroy book by those with the proper skill (Knowledge: Noblity, History). Each line and curve of an Elohim's tattoo represents an ancestor, a historical event, or a organization fealty in the elf's life or ancestor's life. Needless to say these tattooes can become very complex as a Elohim grows and adds to them.

A rare movement among young Elohim has just begun since the death of Sucellus. Many of those born just before or during the year of Sucellus death have refused to recieve their first tattooes (which are generally applies after the first decade of life). Others stranger still have spoken of having their tattooes removed to honor the lost of the god who created the elves.

How the tattooes are made, and if they contain any magical power is a closely guarded secret.