Elf

Elves are a plant-like race (more accurately a genus) that can be found on both of the continents of E2, Thylia and Tirnanoch. Known elven subgeni are the wood elves, sea elves and snow elves.

History
The elves are remnants of the planet-wide organism of Elo, given individual minds by an unknown source, believed by some to be the Creator, who wished for them to become the guardians of life, while some posit that the mind is corruption caused by Hii. On Elo, the elves reigned as borderline gods, ruling over the younger sentient lifeforms. After settling on E2, the race would notice a significant diminishing of power, caused by the planet's artificial nature. The elves were left to their own devices during the Theilic Age, on behest of elven goddess Ilma. Their citizenship and role in the Teiliwaani Empire are nebulous; while their holdings in Askriga and the Whispering Forest fall under Imperial jurisdiction, Imperial officials tend to leave elven settlements alone.

Appearance
The wood elves are the most common elven subgenus. They resemble fantastic gnarled trees with two legs, two hands, but without mammalian facial anatomy. Their heads are often adorned by a crown of leafless branches. The sea elves are much the same, but formed from colorful coral. They are aquatic, but have no trouble breathing on land if they for some strange reason end up there. The snow elves are seen only in arctic climates. They are white, crystalline beings which resemble the other subgeni but are more geometrical in design. The snow elves are even more isolationist than sea elves, though this is partially enforced by their biology: while they do not outright melt in warmer climates thanks to their special biochemistry, they suffer crippling illness. Due to their physique, elves are rather sturdy yet clumsy, sometimes having trouble manipulating fine objects. They are intrinsically potent in magic, but their social graces are lacking due to their alien minds. Additionally, wood and snow elves are vulnerable to fire.

Culture
The wood elves are concentrated around the World Trees: Ask in Askriga and Mielikki in the Wilderlands. There is also a thriving elven community in the Whispering Forest of the Pearl District of Teiliwaan. The World Trees are the leaders of elvenkind. They are attended by a Circle of ancient elves who, who mediate between the Trees and the people. In theory, the Whispering Forest elves serve Ask as well. Wilderland elves are much more feral than their northern cousins. Their culture emulates pack animals more than Imperial society. Nevertheless, they are still as intelligent as any elf.

Sea elves live in the Coral Kingdoms located in the southeastern ocean. The area around the World Tree Yachim is called the Southern Coral Kingdoms, which is separated from Northern Coral Kingdoms by a huge trench simply called the Abyss. The Southern Coral Kingdom is naturally governed by the World Tree, though instead of a Circle, Yachim is surrounded by an enormous sentient growth called the Mnemnocoral, an amalgam of ancient elves which serve as a repository for the collective memories of the elven race. The northern kingdoms are much smaller. Any high-standing elf that gets mandate from Yachim can set up a kingdom north of the Abyss. As such, these are rather chaotic lands, constantly expanding, and in conflict with Cezva and aquatic Noise monstrosities.

The snow elves keep to themselves. They seem to recognize no World Tree, instead revering the North and South Poles. Learning the details of their culture is difficult, since their language is based on silence instead of sounds, and thus is completely incomprehensible.

The elves are divided into two great philosophical parties, the separating factor being their stance on the Dilemma of Life. The Primitivists oppose evolved life as impure and blasphemous, seeking to return E2 into its primitive state where all life was one harmonious organism. The Conservatists think all life is equally important. Most Thylian elves are at least publicly Conservatists, and the World Tree Mielikki is a staunch Conservatist. The most notorious Primitivists belong into an organization called Genocide Wood, which is rumored to have a headquarters in the otherwise peaceful Whispering Forest.

Some elves take their interest in other sentient races to the level that they attempt to integrate into Imperial societies, possibly by adopting an Imperial trade, religion, and a gender identity. These cultural immigrants are considered eccentric at best by traditional elves.

Elves are the only Thylian race that is native to Tirnanoch as well.

Life cycle
Elves are sexless and have no concept of sexuality. Elves are born without gender identity, though that concept is not unknown to their race: the World Trees are divided into male and female, and some elves decide to adopt one after a lifelong personal contemplation, though elven scholars would be quick to point out that the elven gender bears next to no resemblance to the human concept (though some elves adopt human genders in order to integrate better into the Imperial society.)

Elves are conceived from pollinated seeds. Female World Trees and elves born from male World Trees are able to produce a seed, which must then be pollinated by an elf born from a female World Tree or a male Tree (typically respectively). The seeds are then grown in the Germination Chambers, the largest of which are located in the vicinity of a World Tree or in other elven communities. Isolated elven wizards are known to build their own Chambers, though the  secret of making one is tightly hidden from non-elves. Snow elf reproduction is a complete mystery. Elven children are quite analogous to those of other races: weaker and mentally undeveloped. They are raised communally, recognizing no “parents”.

Elven “marriage” is another poor cultural translation. Some elves bond over another elf in a way that transcends the elven racial feeling of unity. The resulting union is non-romantic, non-sexual, and non-familial, and most closely resembles the concept of soul mates.

Religion
Although many facets of elven life are quite ritualistic, the elvenkind worship no beings. The World Trees are more like eternal leaders and other gods are considered frauds. Ilma is treated as just a historical leader. The Imperial elves usually recognize Imperial faith as well.

Relations
Sacredbloods are young and pompous, and as such, elves tend to react to them in general with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. All in all, their coexistence is a formal but peaceful one, as both races see each other as less important as they think. In Pearl District, both races have tried to close the race gap and form communities where both are respected, only to be continuously thwarted by the Genocide Wood.

Duagar and elves of Askriga are traditionally in good terms, despite vast cultural differences pertaining to their views of religion and gender. Conservatist elves see duagar as useful allies and trade partners. Communication between the two races is usually mediated by duagan druids.

The Coral Kingdoms and Cezva are in constant dispute and distrust over marine travel routes. In general, though, humans are seen by Conservatist elves as harmless and sympathetic.

The dao are rarely seen in elven areas and vice versa, though many elves would find a fire dao unnerving at the very least.

Highlings are hated by even many Conservatist elves. Their origin is thought to be particularly unnatural, though at least part of this hatred may stem from some ancient elven racial phobia of aerial threats.

Automachae are an enigma to the elves. Due to their natural life energy perception showing Automachae as inanimate, elves tend to abhor them, and most elves still do not recognize their sentience. Whenever elves do get over their prejudice, they find quickly a lot of common ground with the machine race.

The Grigori are sometimes allied with the Primitivists, who try to influence them into further conlict with sentient life. The Fallen are seen as just another race among others, with no ill will from elves.

Hiispawn are another race that is seen as “too artificial”. For the elves, they embody the worst and most irritating traits of the evolved life, and thus are met with disgust.

Changelings, being closer to elves than most races, often have easier time when socializing with the elvenkind. Some changelings have even found a home in elven lands, where they are treated with respect, but never as equal to elves.

Werebeasts are the traditional enemy of the elves, who believe that their existence is a greater transgression than any other lifeform. Add the usual violent and outcast nature of the werebeasts, and you will not find many elves with any sort of respect towards them. The Whispering Forest has been cleansed of werefox influence by the combined efforts of elves and the Imperial hunters.

Reactions to the fey vary depending on the continent. While Thylian elves (who rarely see any fey except for the changelings) generally accept them, Tirnanochian elves consider them dangerous subelves, “the Addled Ones”. This stems from the fact that elves seem to be immune to Seelie and Unseelie influence, and thus regard the chaotic and ideology-driven fey culture with apprehension. The elves consider the fabled couplings of elves and the fey taboo and unnatural.