Elves

Elves are a race that was once common, but has dwindled in modern times. Elves are nowadays generally confined to the Crystal, Light, Mana, Merge and Alter dimensions, and even where they are found in any significant number they tend to be reclusive in the extreme, unwilling to involve themselves in Web affairs. Many speculate that this is because the larger part of Elven culture refuses to accept that a Human-dominated Web has thoroughly outgrown them.

Common Physiology

Each Dimension's breed of Elf has traits that distinguish it from the rest of Elfkind, but the race as a whole has several traits in common.

The most immediately noticeable physical characteristic of Elves are their fine facial features and pointed (sometimes long) ears. These ears are also incredibly sensitive; Elves have some of the best senses of hearing of any sapient race known in the Web. Their other senses tend to operate at above-human levels as well: in particular, Elves have a form of natural nightvision that aids them in nighttime hunting.

Elves also tend to be highly magially attuned, across the board. Most Elves have some talent for spellcasting, in whatever capacity (either as full-blown sorcerers or as part-time parlor magicians), and even if they don't they tend to be aware of the mana around them at all times. In this way, Elves are often able to detect innately magical creatures in their presence (such as Banelings or Espers), even if they are disguised.

Perhaps related to their close tie with magic and the magical, Elves are extremely long-lived. The oldest tend to live for around 300 years, though individual exceptions (who have used magic to unnaturally extend their lives) seem to be easy to find.

As primarily sylvan people, most Elves have an affinity for nature and natural animals. Some Elves learn to communicate with creatures of the forest, and can "speak" with trees and other plants. This connection to their natural environment has historically given Elves a superlative tactical advantage when defending their cities against incursion, as the Elves' intelligence and scouting is conducted by the very land itself.

Elven Races

Alter Elves

The Alterian Elven population hails from the world of Alter-Mana, in the Kingdom of Diorre. Diorre lies due East of the witch kingdom of Altena, and there has been much cultural exchange between Diorre and Altena over the years (so much so that many Altenans share Elven blood).

As much as any Elven nation, Diorre keeps to itself and rarely do envoys venture outside its borders. Out of pure desire to be left alone, the Elves of Diorre submitted to becoming part of the Forthenan Dominion, by proxy of becoming a province of larger Altena.

Crystal Elves

Elves in Crystal are found (when they are found at all) in the region of Toroia. They used to be very common within the Kingdom of Toroia, but began disappearing with the close of the Hivan War. None are quite sure where they have gone, but fewer and fewer traces of them are to be found in the Toroian Woods.

Far more numerous (and unlikely to suddenly disappear) are the Dark Elves of Crystal. They dwell deep beneath the surface, in the Upper Underground, in caverns that are filled with a persistent magnetic radiation that exponentially multiplies the practical weight of virtually all metals save Adamantium. The Drow (as the Dark Elves call themselves) openly worship Dark Gods (in particular the spider queen Sindrai'el and her Dark Elven pantheon), and are the historic enemies of both the Toroians and the Dwarven Kingdom.

Light Elves

Elves in the Light Dimension have not been especially common since the Great War. Like the Elves in Crystal, they have simply seemed to vanish. At first many left their homes in Ticondera as refugees, but in recent years they have just seemed to pick up en masse and head elsewhere.

The few that remain make up the populations of Ticonderan immigrant communities in Hyland and Polias.

Mana Elves

The Elves of Mana are also known as "Sprites" (the name "Elf" is actually almost never used natively by people in Mana when referring to this race). Sprites are actually increasing in population, and becoming more active, defying the trend being set by other Elven races elsewhere. This is likely at least partially due to local Tasnican influence, as the Tasnicans are currently in possession of traditional Sprite land holdings in the Upperland Forest (which makes Sprites Tasnican by default).

Merge Elves

Elves in the Merge Dimension are found in Western Surgate, in the forests of the Muah region. They have been a part of the Kingdom of Surgate for as long as it has been in existence, and enjoy nominal self-rule under a samurai aristocracy.

Elven Interfertility

Elves are interfertile with humans, and can produce with human mates half-elven offspring. In older times, half-elves could expect to have a hard time trying to forge an identity between two cultures that didn't seem to fully embrace their mixed heritage, but modern times are far more cosmopolitan on the whole and, especially in mixed-race nations like Tasnica, such individuals can easily find acceptance.

It should be noted that there persists a rumor that Hylians are in some way related to true Elves. This is hotly (and often violently) disputed by Hylians, who insist to their dying breath that they are a distinct and pure species.

Prominent Elves

• Salynae XXIII, Empress of Ticondera during the Great War, and one of the Dark Gods.
• Ambika Everhate, First Matron of Zhanduril
• Archbishop Charlotte IV, the Archbishop of Wendel and leading authority in the Alterian Elementalist church, a Half-Elf.
• Angela DeMere, Witch-Queen of Altena; Human of mixed Elven descent.
• Nopen Feanthas, a Mana Summoner working for Earthblade Mercenaries