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Of all the so-called "civilized" races of Dremlin, none have a more elusive reputation than the leaf-eared Elven people. They are by far the most magically inclined of those races, and possess the strongest ties to the forests from whence they came. Frail but adaptable, Elves have, as a whole, had the presence of mind to stay out of the affairs of the rest of the world unless worldly matters directly concerned them. They were rewarded for this mentality when their homeland, Arborthost, was mostly spared the nigh-apocalyptic carnage that was The War of Redemption, while the other races' cultures crumbled into ruin and took centuries to re-build.
Some common stereotypes attributed to Elves concern their reserved natures (or arrogance, as their critics would say), their fine craftsmanship (the mithril of Arborthost is legendary), and their magical talents (many who mistrust or shun magic also shun the Elven people). This article examines these stereotypes and, perhaps more importantly, reveals to the outsider what it is to be an Elf, so that they might be better understood.
Description
Physical Description
Elves are generally tall, lithe, slender and graceful people. They have fair skin, like their Wild Elf kin, and are distinguished at a glance from humans by their pointed ears.
Elves have extraordinarily long lives. They can generally expect to live anywhere from 1500-2500 years, and are gifted with youthful bodies for most of those centuries. They pay for their long, youthful lives with an exceedingly long childhood. Many humans will have been born, grown old and died in the time it takes an elf to reach physical maturity. Where most humans start puberty at 12 and are physically mature at 16, an Elf does not begin puberty until the age of 25, and does not reach physical maturity until the age of 70. While this does not concern Elves who grow up in communities of their own kind, as they do in Arborthost, Elves who grow up among shorter-lived races often feel alienated from their faster-growing peers.
Most Elves are frail in constitution, due to a naturally smaller amount of muscle mass and relative lack of harshness in their homeland. Even Elven warriors are more wiry than muscular, and can take fewer hits to their bodies than a human who had received identical martial training and exercise would be able to.
Clothing and Jewelry
Elves prefer clothing that is both well-made and practical. Everyday wear tends to consist of tunics, pants and cloaks suitable to the time of year for both sexes. They prefer earth tones such as browns and greens so as to blend in with the forest more completely. These garments may have subtle adornments to enhance their beauty. Elven craftspersons tend to prefer small brooches or buttons resembling leaves or other aspects of nature.
For more formal occasions, Elves wear their finest garments of silk, satin, and velvet. Many colours are used in Elven formal wear, but blue, green, white and gold are favourites. Embroidered patterns depicting aspects of the Elf's House are often incorporated into formal wear. The finest clothing may utilize mithril thread in its construction, though most clothing of this calibre is reserved for members of The Elven Noble Houses. Elven officials and nobility always wear something to denote their role in society.
Grooming
Because their bodies must last a long time, Elves like to keep themselves impeccably groomed. An elf's morning grooming ritual is usually a lengthy affair that varies according to the personal preferences of the elf in question. In general, most elves like to keep their teeth clean and their hair well-combed and free of debris, although some elves do like to use tastefully decorative adornments in their hair if they choose to keep it long.
Most elves bathe on a frequent and regular basis. They usually bathe alone, although it is not entirely unheard of for Elves to bathe together if both parties consent to it. Adults will bathe children until they are old enough to safely do it themselves.
Psychology
The Long View
Because they live such incredibly long lives while still maintaining some perception on the passage of time, Elves tend to think in the long-term. This affects the way they undertake projects, plan journeys, and interact with others.
Projects and journeys are planned with a lot of forethought and care. An Elf would rather take extra time to ensure that a project is completed efficiently the first time rather than having to start again because an obvious factor was not considered beforehand.
This same value affects how Elves socialize with others. Though they tend to be cordial and respectful towards other people, they usually make friends and enemies very slowly, which has led many other races to deem them stuffy, stand-offish and arrogant. That said, Elves remember favours and personal slights for a very long time. One who has deeply insulted an Elf may well earn that Elf's enmity for decades or centuries, while one who has helped an Elf when he or she was in need may establish a very long, healthy association with said Elf, which may later lead to friendship.
Non-Specialization
Elves rarely hire services out unless time is of the essence (which is rarely the case for this long-lived race, particularly for those who reside in Arborthost). Rather, if an elf needs something, he or she will learn how to make or acquire it themselves. For instance, it is far more commonplace for an elf to spend fifty years learning how to build a house to his or her specifications rather than purchasing a pre-existing dwelling or paying someone to build one for him. This self-reliance is one of the main reasons why Arborthost rarely trades with other realms.
By this same token, Elves usually do not spend their entire lives focusing on one pursuit or area of knowledge as members of many other races do. An elf might spend 50-100 years mastering one type of knowledge, such as mastery of the bow, arcane magic, or a craft, but then he will shift his focus to some other area and begin working on that for the next century or so.
A common exception to this rule lies in those skills related to the Elf's House sintarra. Some who choose to pursue knowledge of their sintarra will master a related skill, and then study other skills related to it so that they might explore new applications of it, thus furthering the House's glory. Others will take some time learning a skill of the sintarra, and then take some time to pursue some other area of expertise before returning to the sintarra, either choosing to further develop the skill that they were pursuing before or pick up a different skill related to the sintarra.
Because a strong sense of self-reliance is so inherent in Elven culture, Elves place a lot of importance on giving their children the tools they need to be self-reliant. Thus, almost all Elves who grow up in Elven households are literate in at least one language, and generally have a basic understanding of one or two crafts, plus basic understanding of one skill related to the House sintarra.
Elven Values
Boredom
One would think that with the vast expanse of time that Elves must fill with things to do that they would eventually run out of worthwhile pursuits, but this is not the case. Elves rarely get bored, for they consider themselves to be responsible for their own enjoyment.
Elves take pleasure in the beautiful things in life, such as fine craftsmanship, music, a colourful sunrise, or a brilliant, blooming flower. There are always new people to meet and new places to explore, especially if the Elf is inclined to travel. Simply put, an Elf does not simply idle away his years. He goes out and finds something to do.
Sustainability
Elves are taught how important sustainable communities are from an early age. They take only what they need from the land and water surrounding them for survival and their personal projects, and they put back what was taken to the best of their abilities. They will re-plant trees, build houses in such a manner that they do not disrupt the flow of Nature, and ensure that the local flora, fauna and fowl continue thrive, year in and year out. Their long-term outlook on the world is such that they can better foresee the consequences of their actions in a thousand years' time than the shorter-lived races can.
The Individual Before the Group
While all elves contribute to the community in which they live in one way or another, whether they live in exclusively Elven communities or communities with other races, Elves largely take care of themselves. An Elf is generally not in the habit of relying on others to meet her needs, whether they are biological needs or things required to pursue her interests.
With this in mind, Elves are generally mindful of the boundaries of others, and try to get on well with everyone. This is more prevalent in predominantly Elven communities, particularly in Arborthost, where the laws of the community reflect this mentality (See Community Structure, below).
Life
Arts & Crafts
Arts and crafts are an integral part of Elven life. To an Elf, a poetic ballad or a finely-crafted object are the the most telling expressions of their emotions. Elves tend to appreciate the inherent beauty in crafted objects rather than their intrinsic monetary value (another reason why you don't see many trade ships coming from Arborthost).
Elves tend to use themes that are appropriate for what they are trying to accomplish, both for the sake of beauty and functionality. For instance, Elves will design their building structures so that they blend seamlessly into the forests. The finest Elven buildings are nigh-invisible to those who don't know to look for them until they come quite close to them.
Elven music is generally soft and lyrical. Common instruments of choice include the lute, harp and harpsichord, which enable the Elves to create gentle melodies while also giving the musician the freedom to sing if he so chooses. It is not unheard of to hear wind instruments such as the flute and pan pipe in Elven music, although these are less common than the aforementioned three. Loud, percussive instruments, such as drums and horns, are rarely, if ever, found in Elven music. Elven lyrics follow the melody seamlessly, expressing the full emotion of the piece.
Elves love all forms of acting, but they have a particular interest in those dramatic pieces that focus on character and story. They often use dramatics as a means to help negotiations along, or to teach life lessons to children. Most Elven settlements hold plays throughout the year.
Another extremely important art among Elves is the written word. Elves are the most literate of the civilized races, and as such, they take great pride in this ability. Elven authors write emotive tales intended to keep history and tradition alive, or to teach the young life lessons. Some legendary Elven tales have been taken out of Arborthost by bards to be told in the courts of nobility across the world.
Love, Marriage & Reproduction
Elves tend to view love in a very complicated way. On the one hand, they place a lot of value in it, honouring it through artistic expression to an extent which is arguably greater than any of the other civilized races, including humans. To an elf, love is elation far beyond any that this mortal world could provide them through any other means.
On the other hand, Elves are uneasy, or even fearful, of the emotion. After all, sharing one's life with someone else means giving up a measure of the personal freedom he had previously enjoyed. This, combined with an elf's tendency to think long-term, means that love at first sight is virtually unheard of in Elven culture.
All of these complex factors affect the way Elves court. Generally, an Elf will become friends first, and then later, after both parties consent to court, the couple will begin a long courtship that usually lasts years and might stretch on for decades before they finally marry, if the courtship is successful at all.
Marriage
In Elven culture, marriage before the age of 150 is discouraged, as it is believed that Elves should still be learning about themselves prior to their sesquicentennial birthday. When a couple of the appropriate age does decide to marry, they are free to do so, with no consent required from their parents, House or community leaders.
While religion certainly plays a role in Elven weddings, and a couple's beliefs are the first consideration in the planning process, it is commonplace for weddings to be conducted in the presence of Nature, outdoors in the forest, whenever possible, as opposed to inside a temple or other holy building. A Mellinan or Gyellinan priest is the most common choice to conduct the wedding, although Kayleth, Rathelle and Mishra's priests are sometimes used. One almost never sees a Priest of Bacchus conduct an Elven wedding. The Priests of the Dark Gods are not even considered. With that being said, there is no hard and fast rule stating that anyone other than the trees needs to witness the wedding. However, it is commonplace for the entire community to be invited to witness the marriage ceremony. The couple always writes their own vows, and the priest, if any, uses his or her own words to seal the union.
After the wedding, a second ceremony is held by the leaders of the House the newly wedded couple intends to marry into. This is presided over by the Head of the House, and is attended by all members of the House, if possible. The ceremony officially recognizes the marriage, inducts the new member (the husband or wife of the already existing member) into the House, and, in the case of a member of The Common Houses marrying a member of Noble Houses, confers the status of Nobility and all of its privileges, rights, titles, and responsibilities upon the inductee. Following the formalities, a party is held in honour of the new couple, during which the newlyweds are given gifts with which to start their new life together. Wedding dowries are almost never given, with the exception of nobility status for those Commoners who marry into a Noble House.
Reproduction
While an Elf is physically mature and capable of bearing children by around age 70, most Elves usually wait until they are at least two centuries old before they decide to become parents. This is partly due to the Elves' independent natures, but it is also due to the fact that they can afford to wait longer to have children, as female Elves will remain fertile until they are around 1200 years old, while males are fertile virtually for life. With that being said, Elves generally suffer from low fertility. For this reason, it often takes many years for an Elf to become pregnant. Most only produce one or two children during their lifetime, if they produce any at all. One rarely sees an Elf who has produced more than four children. Most Elves are content with this, however, as they inevitably turn to other projects and interests as they age.
Like most other races, Elves view a child as a precious thing to be loved and nurtured, but they also see them as a special project they can develop and raise. They like to take the time to give each child the attention it needs without having to deal with too many other things simultaneously. For this reason, it is entirely commonplace for Elves to have brothers and sisters who are born decades, or even centuries, apart from them, as Elves prefer to wait until one child is grown up before they try to have another one.
Pregnancy and Childbirth
The Elven gestation period lasts for 78-80 weeks (roughly 18 months), fully twice as long as a human pregnancy. Most expectant mothers engage in little to no physical activity after the sixteenth month of pregnancy, as they are exceedingly delicate during this time, and the chance of miscarriage is high.
A doctor or midwife always oversees the birth, as it is a very risky process for both the child and the mother. It is not uncommon for this medical professional to also be a spellcasting Priest of Mellina, as Healing magic can often greatly increases the chances of a successful birth. These precautions are necessary, as Elves are very prone to stillbirth and death in childbirth, due to their inherently frail natures.
After the birth, the new mother rests for one to two weeks in order to recuperate from the arduous process of the baby’s birth. The local healers provide round-the-clock care to the newborn infant during this time.
Warfare
To most Elves, warfare is more an art form than a way of life, particularly in Arborthost, where war is seldom seen, and troops are almost never sent to the aid of other nations. Elves are generally pacifistic by nature, preferring to use words and diplomacy to resolve disputes. Arborthostian Elves in particular see very little quarrel, as they feel no need to compete with each other for resources, and they generally work together to ensure the balance of Nature on the island.
With that said, Elves have developed traditions and tactics for warfare over the centuries, and Elven military forces are definitely forces to be reckoned with. All Elves are raised on the bow, and more martially-inclined Elves often take up swords as well, particularly if martial skill is related to their House sintarra. Most Elves choose not to train with hafted weapons, as these do not offer as much freedom of movement as a sword does, particularly in the dense forest where they usually fight their battles.
War Tactics
The most common Elven war tactics rely on three principles: Stealth, Distance, and Magic. If an Elven military squad has access to all three of these, then victory is highly likely.
Stealth
Elven Hunters (as Elven soldiers are called) are the primary melee combatants. They tend to prefer stealthy combat maneuvers over brute force, using such methods to stun, knock out, or disarm their opponents. If they are in a heavily forested area, they will utilize their ability to appear suddenly from the forest, surprising their enemies. Elven Hunters are often more skilled in this inherent talent than other members of their race.
Distance
Since Archery is known to all Elves, it has naturally become a hallmark of their warfare tactics. For this reason, most Elven militia are archers. Some may also train in the art of Herbalism so that they may apply alchemical contact gels to their arrows for greater effect.
Magic
Magic often plays an integral role in Elven warfare. Elven ritual casters, if any are available, will make creative use of their powers, weaving confusion effects into the environment so as to throw the enemy off. Battle casters will provide massive offensive power using the Elemental schools, Confining and Enchantment. Casters of Alteration, Augmentation and Protection magic often play support roles, providing magical assistance to hunters and sometimes archers.
Faith casters are often reserved for healing, although they can sometimes be found playing support roles or offensive roles, depending upon the schools of magic they know. Casters of the Order school in particular are sometimes summoned to fight against the forces of evil, should they come to call.
Common Combination of Tactics
It is common for Elves to ambush invaders by hiding in the forest and surrounding a clearing, with archers up in the trees, arrows nocked and ready for when the enemy arrives, and hunters hidden on the ground with melee weapons drawn. When the enemy shows, the archers send several volleys of arrows into their attackers, often with alchemically-treated arrows (the favoured contact gel is vorpals). Once the enemy realizes what is going on, the hunters strike intermittently, seemingly from out of nowhere, from various sides of the clearing using Stealth tactics to disarm, stun, and otherwise catch their foes off-guard. The Elves always leave an escape route for the enemy that leads straight to their base of operations. As the enemy moves along, the Elven forces repeat their first tactic as they go as unpredictably as possible, thus heightening the confusion and anxiety felt by their enemies.
Once the enemy has arrived at the base of operations, the mages launch their major offensive attacks. The area around the mages will often be set with several traps (magical and otherwise). The archers and hunters will continue their assault to ensure that the enemy is as disorganized as possible during the offensive onslaught.
Aging & Death
For all their physical frailties, Elves are blessed with perhaps the most graceful aging process of all the humanoid races. Wrinkles and gray hair do not show themselves upon an Elf's countenance until the last few years of their lives. If anything, their bodies take on a more ethereal, otherworldly quality as they get older, with this process usually beginning around the age of 1200 for females, and 1400 for males.
If an Elf does not reside in Arborthost, she feels an innate compulsion to return there in the last year of her life before her Final Death. No one knows for sure why this occurs, though there are many theories related to this phenomenon, which are covered in the article concerning the land itself.
Elves view death as "the next great adventure". It is merely another stage in their long lives. When an Elf passes away in Arborthost, his body is given back to the natural world from whence it came, most often left deep in an uninhabited part of the forest or sent out to sea on a wooden boat. Mourners do not generally visit the body, as this is merely seen as the departed's mortal shell, and not the departed person themselves. When an Elf dies in another land and the body cannot be returned to Arborthost, the body will usually be destroyed through cremation to prevent necromancers from using the Elf's remains for foul purposes. The ashes are spread in a natural place where whatever nutrients remain can return to the soil.
Society and Culture
The Elven Houses
An Elf's status in society is often closely associated with that of his House. Elven Houses are virtually synonymous with extended family. Each House builds their reputation based off a combination of a shared certain area of expertise known as the sintarra, and the family members' individual achievements and accomplishments. An Elf's actions, especially while in the Elven homeland, often reflect upon the reputation of their House, for good or for ill.
For more on Elven Houses, please review its main article.
Family Structure
Elves feel a strong connection to their extended families, as they look to them as their place of origin. They are extremely loyal to one another, going to any length within their power to help kin in need. To this end, Elves often see every Elf as "family" in one way or another, especially if they are outside of Arborthost. Some scholars theorize that this is due to the strong connection that Elves feel towards their homeland.
Elves do not consider the raising of children to be the sole responsibility of the parents, even though the parents, if they are living, are generally the primary caregivers for the first fifty to seventy years of the child's life. Children are raised by everyone around them. It is commonplace for Elven children to spend a few months at a time living in their aunts', uncles', grandparents', and older cousins' homes, so as to gain different experiences, values, skills, and teachings from mentors other than their parents.
Families will often get together to celebrate festivals and important milestones for individual family members, such as important birthdays, weddings or the completion of a great project such as a new home or a piece of artwork which has taken years to create.
Community Structure
A few, simple guidelines are employed which the Elves live by rather than a complex set of codified laws. Each crime is judged on a case-by-case basis. Punishments are always related to the crime, and generally speaking, crimes against an individual, such as murder and plagiarism, are treated with the greatest severity, as compared to those against property, such as theft and vandalism.
If an Elf does not agree with the resolution of a dispute, then he is free to leave with no special stigma attached. Because of the mindfulness of Elves for the rights of others, crime and disputes of any significance rarely come up in Elven communities.
Festivals & Holidays
Elves generally observe two kinds of major festivals or holidays: religious and historical. Minor festivals may also be held in honour of a member of the community who has reached an important milestone, such as a coming of age, achieving ritual magic capability, or the completion of an epic poem are all reasons for the community to honour an individual with a celebration. These festivals are usually attended by two or more Houses, to allow members of different Houses the chance to socialize and build strong House relations.
Religious feasts and holidays are observed in honour of Gyellina, Kayleth and Mellina, and less commonly for Rathelle and Mishra. These can be solemn or jubilant events, depending on the religious aspect being observed.
Elves pay tribute to major historical events, such as the end of The War of Redemption, through celebration as well. These events are often presided over by a Priest of Mishra, who may tell stories or sing songs to educate those gathered about the history of what it is that they are celebrating. Some historical festivals are held more frequently than others. Lesser festivals may be held only once every ten to twelve years, or even more seldom than that.
Regardless of the reason for celebrating, the entire community makes every effort to make the occasion memorable. Delectable foods are prepared, and the best Elven wine and spirits are brought forth for merrymaking (allowing those with a love for wine-making a chance to shine). Artistic displays abound, including musical performances, small plays, sleight-of-hand and creative uses of magic. Visual artists display their finest paintings, sculptures, and other pieces. Small token gifts are often exchanged, especially if the festival is intended to honour an individual's achievement.
Most importantly, it is customary at such celebrations for the efforts of those involved in the celebrations to be recognized and complimented, whether it means heartily applauding stage performers, or admiring a particularly grand decorating job. Elves place great emphasis on personal achievement, and thus consider it a slight when their efforts are not duly recognized.
Race Relations
Barbarian
Elves rarely come in contact with the Drakkar. Most Elves tend to look down upon the Drakkar's apparent drinking problem and superstitious cultural customs. However, those Elves who bother to learn a little about Barbarians come to admire their respect for the natural world.
Darkling
Many Elves do a double-take when they meet Darklings, especially in the dark, because they resemble the reviled Drow so much. Once they establish the racial identity of these fae, however, Elves generally respect Darklings for their magical nature.
Drow
There is no race that Elves despise more than the Drow. An ancient feud between the two races fuels this hatred, though most Elves don't bother to cite this feud as the reason for their feelings toward their dark cousins.
Dwarf
Like Elves, Dwarves like to withdraw from the affairs of the wider world, and Elves respect this decision. Despite this fact, Elves pity the Dwarves for their inability to perform even the simplest of arcane magics.
Gnome
Elves do not come into contact with Gnomes very often, but they a great respect for the Gnomes' knack for creativity and inventiveness. They identify well with each other, due to the fact that they share the common trait of living long lives (although Elves live longer on average) and an aptitude for magic.
Halfling
Elves often smile when the Halflings are mentioned. They admire the jovial race for their ability to smile through any trouble the world might throw at them. At the same time, the Elves do pity the relative lack of magical potential the race possesses.
Human
The Elves' view of the Human race varies from Elf to Elf. Most Elves, however, feel that most humans are far too out of touch with Nature and the magical forces of the world for their own good.
Orc
Like the other civilized races, Elves view Orcs as little more than barbaric savages. Only the Drow are despised more than the Orcs are. This sentiment may not be unprovoked, however, as Orcs (and other monstrous races, for that matter) consider Elves to be quite the delicacy.
Rekesh
Elves rarely come in contact with the Rekesh, as the cat race's jungle homeland is far from Arborthost. When the two races do cross paths, Elves often view the Rekesh with a sense of benevolent curiosity.
Romani
Elves are generally cautious around Romani, although they wisely avoid any open hostility or expression of mistrust until the Romani gives them a reason to do so.
Wild Elf
Elves try to respect their more feral cousins, but more often than not, they find the Wild Elves pitiable due to their hostility towards civilization and their difficulty with magic. They do their best to get on with them whenever they encounter them, however, they generally know better than to challenge their wild cousins' beliefs.
Wolven
The Wolven and Elven races rarely come into contact with each other. In fact, the Elves know very little about this relatively new race. They do, however, respect the Wolven's strong dislike for Necromancy.
Wood Fae
Though some of the Wood Fae's mischievous games have been known to annoy the Elves from time to time, the Elves generally like and respect the Wood Fae. They share a long life and magical aptitude, and they respect the fae's desire for a free existence.
Religion
Though they are not a fanatically religious race, religion does play an important role in Elven society. Elves tend to pay tribute to different gods for different aspects of their lives, rather than single-mindedly devoting themselves to one god. Even Elven priests still respect the contributions of the other deities to the scope of existence, even if they hold their patron god in the highest regard.
Religious Practices
Elves usually hold solemn services in reverence to the deities they regularly worship. The deity to whom the service is dedicated is revered through the art of song, story, and finely crafted items. It is not uncommon, however, for an Elf to say his own prayers to whatever god is most appropriate to what is going on in his life. For instance, an Elf leaving on a journey to an unknown place may pray to Gyellina to see him safely to his destination, and to Mishra in hopes that he may learn many new things during the time he is away.
Relations with the Deities
Gyellina
While Rathelle is the embodiment of the Force of Nature, Gyellina embodies the care that Elves take with keeping the balance of the natural world around them. To an Elf, Gyellina represents a more active role in ensuring the survival of the creatures that they share their homes with.
Gyellina is also the patron mistress of the race's purity, innocence, and, perhaps most importantly, the personal projects that they hold so dear. She is often paid tribute before an Elf embarks on some new venture, with prayers that the endeavour will be successful.
Kayleth
Kayleth is a widely-worshipped deity among Elves, though they do not worship Him the way the other civilized races do. Rather than adamantly seeking out the dark forces in the world and destroying them in order to liberate the weak and defenseless, the Elves tirelessly defend their homes, livelihoods and, above all, personal freedom, against evil foes. To the Elves, Kayleth represents their basic right to lead the life they choose to lead without robbing others of that same right. In other words, He is the Elven God of Freedom.
Some theorize that the Elves identify strongly with Kayleth since He is the First-Born of the Gods, and the Elves believe that they were the first mortal race created.
Mellina
Mellina, being the Mother of the Elves and All Life, is one of the major Elven deities, despite the fact that She prefers that Her most devoted followers not use the bow. She is enshrined, along with Her third-born child, Rathelle, in sacred places in the wild that exemplify the Gift of Life. Elven Priests of Mellina are commonly divine spellcasters, as this combines reverence to The Mother of Life, and the Elven inclination towards magic. In fact, Priests of Mellina are often among an Elven community's most highly-skilled individuals, as they are often doctors or even alchemists in addition to their divine abilities.
Bacchus
Of all the non-Dark gods, Bacchus is worshipped the least among Elves. Some of the most avid musicians and wine-makers pay homage to Bacchus, and a tribute may be paid to Him by Elves who are trying to conceive. Aside from these instances, however, Bacchus is mostly a minor god among the Elves.
Mishra
Mishra is associated with a number of different aspects of Elven life, especially those involving the Arborthostian Mages' Guild and Elven holidays related to dates of historical significance, but most of His temples in Arborthost are relatively small in size. Most Elven Priests of Mishra join their local Mages' Guild chapter to help further magical study and theory.
Rathelle
Hunters will often pay tribute to Rathelle when they have killed an animal for food or some other purpose, promising to honour the creature's sacrifice by ensuring that no part of it is wasted. However, very few Elves feel strongly enough about The Huntress to enter Her priesthood. Those who do are very devoted to Her, and often go on to become prestigious members of the faith.
Kagent, Necros, and Sirethe
The Dark Deities are virtually never spoken of in polite Elven culture, except when telling tales in which They and Their followers are the darkest nemeses, or when uttering the gravest insult against somebody. The Elven obsession with personal freedom and their deep respect for life is enough to make Elves abhor Kagent and Necros, and their desire to maintain the reputations of their vaunted Houses keeps them from being attracted to The Moon's dark teachings.
This is not to say that Elves are immune to dark temptation. Elves have been known to fall sway to these heinous powers on rare occasion. There are also occasional whispers of cults dedicated to Sirethe popping up in Arborthost and other places where Elves are a prominent part of the population, though most of these are laughed off. After all, how could the purity of the Elven lands be corrupted so by its very tenders?
Mythology and Folklore
(See the main article, Elven Mythology and Folklore, for more on this subject.)
Names
Name Structure
Elves have a first name and a House name. The first name is given to the child at birth, and usually reflects his or her parents' personality. An Elf's House name is the same as his parents' House. In cases where the child is born out of wedlock, the name of the more prestigious of the parents' Houses is given to the child.
Elves keep their House name for as long as they are a member of that House, which may or may not be for life, depending on whether he marries into his spouses House or he is adopted by another House. While most Elves keep their first names for life, some Elves choose to change their first name as they get older to better reflect who they are. In fact, it is not unheard of for an Elf to change their first name several times throughout their lifetime as they enter new stages and eschew old interests for new ones. In particular, Elves who reside outside of Arborthost often use the changing of first names as a coping mechanism to deal with the deaths of generations of their shorter-lived friends.