Elf
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Elves are a long-lived race of humanoids that feature heavily in the Imperium.
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[edit] Characteristics
Elves are physically and mentally superior to humans in several respects. First, full-blooded elves are potentially immortal. Unless starved or killed by violence, they can live for many centuries, and possibly forever. They are immune to diseases. They have superior senses, including extra-sensitive hearing and dark vision. They can move faster than Humans and have superior reflexes, giving them some advantages in combat.
Elves can control their voices far more precisely than Humans, making them potentially much better singers and orators, and giving them the ability to whisper directly into the ears of other beings without anyone else being able to hear - even if the target is on the other side of a crowded room. In some cases they have been shown with strongly lyrical accents; for example, Iason has difficult pronouncing the hard J in Jamie's name, making several attempts before settling on "Iamie".
Elves seem to have much better memories than Humans, though this is not entirely an advantage, given that it means that elves can't forget traumatic memories they would like to forget.
Elves may also have certain disadvantages compared to Humans. While Elves have their own religion, the Elven Gods interact with their worshipers far less often than the Gods of Humans do. This may mean that Humans benefit from Divine intervention in ways that Elves do not.
[edit] Politics
Elves and humans have been allies for a long time.
- ADD ME: More details were mentioned in Mack's Imperial history class.
There are hints that elves possess an instinctive antipathy towards demons and their kin, but this is not confirmed. The elves in the story so far are about evenly split between Mackenzie's friends (Steff, Dee) and those who dislike her or are coldly indifferent (Ariadne, Jamie, Iason).
- ADD ME: Mackenzie's lawyer mentioned something about oathspeakers often being elves, since elves are considered more likely to be impartial.
[edit] Culture and sexuality
Humans and elves are capable of interbreeding fully, producing fertile offspring. Mack suggests that all intelligent species are capable of interbreeding [1]. Though historically there has been stigma towards elves in the Imperium, in human society there seems to be little stigma against human and elf interbreeding. However, in elven society, half-elves are often seen as lesser than elves. Steff is looked down on for her inability to match up to elven standards of art, while Iason is referred to as "Manblood," though his dueling and sexual prowess seems to have negated any stigma specifically based on his heritage. The assassin Mercy claims to have a subterranean elf father and a surface elf mother [2], though both Dee and Steff [3] deny the possibility emphatically. In fact, Dee finds the idea so abhorrent that she accidentally attacks Steff's genitals, assumably telekinetically or telepathically.
Humans regard elves as very physically attractive, probably helped by the fact that elves have practically infinite stamina for sex. Elves are also immune to sexually generated diseases. Elven men often find human men fascinating. Historically, elves would kidnap beautiful human men, binding them with bracelets similar to the one Iason gave to Jamie in order to extend their lifespan.
Elven culture has a profound respect for honesty, history, and poetry, considering all three to be roughly the same. Indeed, elven history is taught in story-songs and poetry.
There are some hints that there are far fewer elves than humans, despite their longevity. This is because elves have a comparatively low birth rate, by choice. They have a reputation among humans for preferring anal sex; this is because they use it as a method of contraception. Since the elven death rate is virtually nil, this keeps their population stable.
Elves have no issues with homosexuality. This is the same for both surface and subterranean elves. Dee's grandmother is wedded to another woman, while Jamie's grandfather is wedded to another man. Iason intends to wed Jamie. Indeed, the distinction of a heterosexual relationship from a homosexual one is largely a human concept. However, humans often consider elves to be "faggots" and there is a good deal of stigma against their sexual beliefs.
Elven men are raised on a diet of each other, often having mass gay orgies and coupling off without any permanence. It is hinted that elven women are inclined towards each other as well. Elven women come in two types, as a rule. Either they are open to sex with males, in which case they bind their breasts and dress much as boys, or they are disinclined. Elven women who do not wish to have heterosexual sex will wear dresses and veils over their mouths, as elves consider all orifices to be inherently sexual. The elf female Ursula is openly lesbian; it is hinted that many of the veiled elves who attend her are her lovers, or lovers of each other. Iason also indicates that Ursula believes her true love will be a female elf, forcing every new female elf who moves to Treehome to kiss her.
[edit] Sub-species
[edit] Surface elves
The "classic" elven type, at least from the point of view of surface dwellers. The term "elf" often implies "surface elf", as distinct from subterranean elves.
Surface elves typically live in forests. They have very light-coloured skin and blonde hair.
[edit] Examples
- Professor Ariadne Einhorn
- Iason is an elf with an unspecified level of human ancestry
- Steff is a half-elf
- Jamie Bowman is one-eighth elf
[edit] Subterranean elves
Also known as "dark elves" and "drow", though these terms are sometimes considered offensive. Subterranean elves possess a culture which is similar in some respects and quite different in other ways to surface elven culture. They have an undeserved reputation amongst humans and some other surface dwellers as being inherently evil.
Dark elves typically have very dark skin - black, or almost black - and white hair.
[edit] Examples
- Delia Daella d'Wyr (Dee)
- Dee's maternal ancestors: mother Daella Degra d’Wyr, grandmother Degra Daura d’Wyr, etc.
- Dehsah
- Dee's other relatives and lovers mentioned in the story (fill me in!)
- Kira Andrews (though never overtly stated, Jamie strongly suspects that she is half deep elf.)
