Personality and Physical Appearance
Eternal Life and the Lyrandel
Elves mature slowly and do not die of old age. Their lives are marked by ten major milestones, shaped by cycles of wakefulness and a sacred period of hibernation called the Slumber of Renewal.
At the center of their longevity is the Lyrandel, a unique organ near the heart that stores mana and preserves the Elf's Grace. As long as the Lyrandel remains whole and uncorrupted, an Elf’s life is effectively eternal. However, if their Grace is severed from the Lyrandel—through damage, corruption, or divine punishment—the Elf becomes mortal.
Elves do not typically count years the way mortals do. Time, to them, is a cycle—not a line.
Stages of an Elf's Life
The Awakening
- Common Equivalent: Birth
- Milestone: The newborn Elf’s Lyrandel first pulses, initiating their bond to the Valar. Celebrated with a blessing ritual.
First Rite (Around Age 20)
- Common Equivalent: First Words
- Milestone: First conscious channeling of magic through the Lyrandel. Families celebrate the Elf’s unique affinity.
The Bonding (Around Age 50)
- Common Equivalent: First Friendships
- Milestone: Formation of meaningful bonds outside family. Often when lifelong pairs are formed.
The Gleaning (Around Age 100)
- Common Equivalent: Early Education
- Milestone: Exploration of disciplines—arts, combat, magic—to learn how their Lyrandel resonates with different paths.
The First Dream (Around Age 150)
- Common Equivalent: Coming of Age
- Milestone: The first prophetic dream from Seraphiel. Elders guide its interpretation.
The Weaving (Around Age 200)
- Common Equivalent: Choosing a Career
- Milestone: Public declaration of life path (Order, patron Vala, profession). Considered a full adult.
The First Reflection (Age 300–500)
- Common Equivalent: Major Life Transition
- Milestone: Physical and spiritual renewal. Often coincides with deep bonding or communal responsibility.
The Second Reflection (Around Age 800)
- Common Equivalent: Midlife Reflection
- Milestone: Reassessment of life’s purpose. Often leads to a new role or insight.
The Mantle of Wisdom (Over 1000 Years)
- Common Equivalent: Elder Status
- Milestone: Recognized as an elder and keeper of lore. Channels ancient magic more easily.
The First Slumber (Subrace Dependent)
- Common Equivalent: Retirement
- Milestone: First entry into the Slumber of Renewal—a hibernation where the Elf communes with the Valar and the natural world.
Subrace Profiles
Wood Elves
Wood Elves are spirited wanderers, deeply bound to nature. Agile, curious, and unpredictable, they serve as the scouts, hunters, and druids of Elvenkind. They revere every stream and glade as sacred.
- Skin: Bronze to umber, with bark-like striations or freckling
- Eyes: Green, amber, or chestnut
- Hair: Brown, red, or green, often adorned with feathers or beads
- Build: Slender, short, agile
- Traits: Adaptive, lively, stealthy, traditional, loyal
High Elves
High Elves are contemplative and arcane, the scholars and loremasters of the race. Their appearance is luminous and refined, with precise movements and formal demeanor.
- Skin: Pale to porcelain
- Eyes: Sapphire, amethyst, violet
- Hair: Silver, white, gold, or black
- Build: Lean, tall, elegant
- Traits: Formal, brilliant, exacting, emotionally deep
Hill Elves
Hill Elves are the durable backbone of Elvenkind. Grounded and tradition-bound, they value craft, kinship, and perseverance.
- Skin: Tan to bronze
- Eyes: Amber, hazel, or russet
- Hair: Chestnut, auburn, dark gold
- Build: Broad, muscular, tall
- Traits: Stoic, loyal, practical, proud, strong
Elven Wake Cycles
| Type | Wake Cycle | Slumber Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| High Elf | 2400 years | 70 years |
| Wood Elf | 1800 years | 50 years |
| Hill Elf | 1200 years | 30 years |
The Slumber of Renewal
The Slumber of Renewal is a sacred hibernation taught by Seraphiel during the Age of Chaos. Elves retreat into the earth for magical and spiritual restoration. During this time, latent mana sustains the Valar, especially those without clans.
High Elves theorize that, in time, the cycles may result in a permanent resonance with the divine—an end to the need for Slumber altogether.
Elves prepare for the Slumber with rituals and offerings. It is a communal event and a sign of deepening wisdom.
Not From Arandor?
See: Elven Settlements
Staff Notes
- Elves are matrilineal: race is inherited from the mother
- There are no half-elves: offspring are fully one race or another
- All Elf characters must have completed the Weaving
- Visual appearance can be customized to match subrace
- Elves are matrilineal: the union of a High Elf female and a Hill Elf male will result in a High Elf child.
- A Wood Elf child with a Hill Elf father may inherit a larger build or taller stature than a typical Wood Elf.
- Female Elves who reproduce with other races produce either a full Elf or full non-Elf. There are no half-Elves.
- Male Elves who reproduce with non-Elves never produce Elven children.
- Ninvere Lanreci, the Elder Queen of Arandor, is the oldest living Elf.
- All Elf characters must have reached the milestone known as \"The Weaving\" before entering play.
