Blood Elves
The Blood Elves of Stehreel are a pale race. One of five races of Drukar, the Blood Elves were the fourth born in the beginning. They trend towards an average height of 165cm (5'5") and have muscular and athletic builds for the most part. Their coloration ranges from pale pinks and peaches in skin tone, they have universally red colored irises for their eyes, and their hair can range from differing shades of greys, whites, and silvers to blacks. Considered the most physically intimidating of the Drukar races, despite their lack in height, the Blood Elves are a warrior race built to face their opponents head on and overpower them.
The Blood Elves of Stehreel are born with a curse: the Blood Rage. Prone to fly into uncontrollable rages when provoked, they are considered a fractious and volatile people. This ability is paired with a natural ability to sense even the smallest demon, which often tends to point their rage in that direction.
Shown here are Raychehl, a Spell Breaker in the Rahshehk Sisters of Delirium, and Toh’Kahne, a Berserker of the Kahlohtehk Tribe. Raychehl aspired only to be the best Sister she could possibly be, bucking the trend of her childhood playmates to defy the norms of the Tribe. Her life changes, however, when she meets a wandering prodigal of the Forest Elves that leads her astray. Toh’Kahne is an aberrant Blood Elf, tall for his people, who was sent on a mission to meet the leaders of other Blood Elf Tribes. Together with a Rock Troll that has adopted him as his king, this once simply Berserker has devoted his life to the reunification of all Blood Elf Tribes.
The Kahlohtehk Tribe, denoted by the Ring of Thorns Crest, is the only stationary Tribe of the Blood Elves. One of seven tribes, the Kahlohtehk have built a great city in the northern mountains of Zohlohrn.
The Ohrihdehth Tribe, denoted by the Twisting Scroll Crest, is the Berserker Tribe of the Blood Elves. One of seven tribes, the Ohrihdehth roam the plains south of the Sahrlahth Mountains on Zohlohrn aimlessly, like soldiers without captains.
The Rahshehk Tribe, denoted by the Bladed Sun Crest, is the Spell Breaker Tribe of the Blood Elves. One of seven tribes, the Rahshehk are twisted by the pain of their calling and the proximity of their most hated enemies: the Sun Elves.
The Tehnehihst Tribe, denoted by the Endless Spiral Crest, is the homeless Tribe of the Blood Elves. One of seven tribes, the Tehnehihst endlessly roam the seas of Stehreel, never calling any land their home.
The Xilohehn Tribe, denoted by the Flame Crest, is the Ranger Tribe of the Blood Elves. One of seven tribes, the Xilohehn call the Plains of Zelesh on Sayleen their home and are the only Tribe to laud speed over strength.
The Pehlehk Tribe, denoted by the Seven-Pointed Star Crest, is the negotiating Tribe of the Blood Elves. One of seven tribes, the Pehlehk roam the northern plains of Kayvahn in wagon caravans, and are considered the weakest Blood Elf Tribe by the other Tribes due to their focus on negotiation and intelligence over brute force.
The Nahst Tribe, denoted by the Glyph Crest, is unknown to the rest of the Tribes. One of seven tribes, the Nahst dwell in the frozen, inaccessible plains of the northern Polar Region and pursue a pure and almost spiritual lifestyle.
The Blood Elves are a meritocracy. The strong lead the weak, and only through power and its exercise can you gain respect and status. There are two factions in a Blood Elf Tribe, the Sisters of Delirium called the Ehtohrihm and the Berserker Thorns called the Sahrtihnohehk. The two factions constantly strive against one another to dominate the tribes, with only the strongest faction being allowed to rule.
The Blood Elves of Stehreel are a race of proud and arrogant warriors with chips on their shoulders the size of small mountains and something to prove. Universally considered a fractious and graceless people by those outside their race, the social structure of a Tribe can only be considered militant and regimented. There are no non-combatants in a Blood Elf Tribe, which makes the prospect of fighting them in their home territory terrifying to almost any army.
The outside perspective on Blood Elves tends to waffle from wariness to outright fear. While a wise Blood Elf is much more than the stereotype, it has enough basis in truth to be widely accepted. While that leads to a decided lack of charm and social skills, the Blood Elves are also well known positively for being blunt and straight-forward. You always know what you're going to get when dealing with a Blood Elf, they do not do intrigue or lies well unless they train extremely hard.
When a Blood Elf does something of note they are awarded with a tattoo. Each Tribe has a different style of tattoo that they favor, those styles identifying a Blood Elf’s Tribe at a glance to those that know. They are also extremely symbolic, as Blood Elves love symbolism and gain a dichotomous pleasure in creating a viewing art when compared to their warrior image
The Blood Elves are one of the few races on Stehreel who worship no Inkari or Nameless. They do not promote worship of one over the other either, often disregarding the great struggle between the great beings as if it is beneath them. If the Blood Elves worship anything, it could be said that they worship death and its pursuit. There is no greater virtue than an honorable death, and no greater prize at battle's end than the Final Rest.
The Blood Elves of Stehreel have little respect for magic as a people. Because of the prevalence for Spell Breakers in their culture, and the fact that they are one of two ruling factions in a Tribe, magic-users tend to receive a rude and painful welcome into any Tribe. The only known Tribe to eschew this trend is the Pehlehk, and the objective viewer finds Pehlehk Wizards and Warlocks to be among the most creative of students.
Blood Elves favor inelegant weapons. Axes, maces, great hacking swords, and other brutal and straight-forward weapons of war are their favorites. The critical consider this propensity for simple weapons to be a lack of creativity or intelligence on the part of the average Blood Elf warrior, but it has roots in something entirely different. The Blood Elves of Stehreel have no time for frivolity or the pursuit of elegance and grace. Their weapons are simple because to them it does not matter how their opponent dies, only that he does. A graceless, simple weapon will serve just as well as a more complicated or pretty one, can be assembled quicker, and endures more punishment.
Blood Elves cannot be said to have a favored tactic. Instead, they favor tactics as a whole. They adapt strategy and tactics to fit their opponents, and when unleashed can often function so well in combat that little change is necessary to the tactics they started out with. They also tend to favor offensive rather than defensive strategies.
Here is a developer diary recorded by the creator of Stehreel. For more information on the Blood Elves, check out our facebook page!