Wild Elves
The Wild Elves of Stehreel are a reddish race. One of five races of Eldar, the Wild Elves were the third born in the beginning. They trend towards an average height of 183cm (6') and have tall and muscular builds for the most part. Their coloration ranges from very light tan reds to dark rusty reds in skin tone, they can have a range of jewel-toned irises for their eyes, and their hair can range through the brown and black spectrums. Built very physically intimidating, the Wild Elves are nonetheless a very spiritual race without much focus on physical pursuits.
Able to see into the lowest layer of the Spectral Plane at will almost from birth, the Wild Elves are also able to feel things moving through that Plane of existence.
Shown here are Mern'ishas'too, an errant Audiomancer from the Let'Tolomaneh Tribe, and Cat'oeta'ethu, a young Shamaness of the Let'Tolomaneh and granddaughter to the Tribe's Sevas Teth. Ishas'too left his family and joined a crew to sail the high seas as a lieutenant and mystic, meeting and making new friends along the way. Cat identified a dangerous Hkahnihn threat coming up in out of the caves in the jungle and together with a Moon Elf companion, faces it in a bit to stop it from destroying her Tribe.
The Let'Mahanay Tribe, denoted by the Dreamcatcher Crest, is one of the three Tribes of Wild Elves. Since the Let'Mahanay Tribe focuses the most on the dreams and spirit teachings of the ancestors out of all of the Tribes, the Dreamcatcher is meant to signify this focus. While all Tribes use dreamcatchers in their designs, those of the Let'Mahanay Tribe are often the most elaborate.
The Let'Tolomaneh Tribe, denoted by the Totem Crest, is one of the three Tribes of Wild Elves. Since the Let'Tolomaneh Tribe focuses the most on the animal totems of the spirit world, and their connection to the animals in the real world, the Totem is meant to signify this focus. While all the Tribes use totems in their designs, those of the Let'Tolomaneh Tribe are often the most elaborate.
The Let'Koriadenee Tribe, denoted by the Eye and Lightning Crest, is one of the three Tribes of the Wild Elves. Since the Let'Koriadenee Tribe focuses on the weather and the forces of the natural world, the painted lightning bolt is meant to signify this focus. While all the Tribes use body and structure paints in their designs, those of the Let'Koriadenee Tribe are often the most complex and elaborate.
A Shaman Sevas Teth rules each of the Tribes of the Wild Elves. The selection of a new Sevas Teth when an old one passes or steps down is up to the selection of the spirits in a Shamanistic ritual not revealed even to others in the Tribe. Only a Shaman may be a Sevas Teth and only a Sevas Teth may rule a Tribe.
The Wild Elves of Stehreel commonly speak to the spirits of their ancestors that have passed beyond the veil of life into the deeper places of the Planes. Through rituals unknown to most outside of the ranks of the Sevas Teth, they speak to their forbearers and gain wisdom and understanding from them. Others may consider death to be the end of life, the Wild Elves view it simply as a doorway into a new life.
Wild Elves of Stehreel have no use for materials of the flesh. While the Tribal Chieftains, figurehead leaders of the Tribes, covet jewels and precious metals as well as concubines and pleasures of the flesh, almost everyone else in the Tribes does not do so. Instead, the average Wild Elf seeks the pursuit of spiritual treasures and wealth, where those of the highest spiritual strength are valued and praised.
For each rank that Wild Elves receive, they tattoo their flesh with vibrant and intricate tattoos. These tattoos are not merely decoration, however, for in truth they are anchors that bind spiritual beings to the Wild Elf. The recipient receives a boon of the spirits, and Wild Elf Shamans can learn how to control and discipline their spirits.
The Wild Elves do not have any deities that they worship, because there are no "Gods" in their perception. Instead, the spirit world is a place of spirits of varying strengths, some of which have godlike powers. If they can be said to worship anything, it is the herbs that they smoke that bring them closer to the Spectral Plane. Though this "worship" tends to give them the bad reputation of drug addicts, the Wild Elves believe that other races just don't know how to cut loose.
Those who wield the power of the four main spectral elements: Flame, Plant, Ice, and Wind, are considered to be the greatest of magic users to the Wild Elves. Pyromancer, Geomancer, Aquamancer, and Aeromancer Wizards are viewed as powerful men and women worthy of laud.
Wild Elves are masters of spiritual powers that few understand. The Shaman class is their primary warrior, trained in the ability to harness Spectral entities, empower their bodies with spirits, and even draw those Spectral entities into the Physical Plane for combat. The Shamans of the Wild Elf Tribes are their rulers and leaders, as well as their primary force of warriors.
Because of their focus on spiritual might and power, the tactics of the Wild Elves often revolve around magical attacks and defense. Their home jungle has taught them well, however, and they also specialize in melting out of the battlefield to strike opponents in ways they did not expect and cannot see.
Here is a developer diary recorded by the creator of Stehreel. For more information on the Wild Elves, check out our facebook page!