Wood Elves
The Wood Elves of Stehreel are a very brown race. One of five races of Eldar, the Wood Elves were the second born in the beginning. They trend towards an average height of 179cm (5'10") and have light and nimble builds for the most part. Their coloration ranges from very light and pale browns to dark chocolate and loam browns in skin tone, they can have a range of brown colored irises for their eyes, and their hair can also range through the brown spectrum. Built for acrobatics and thievery, the Wood Elves are not the sort to go toe to toe with an opponent.
Able to perform deft tricks of prestidigitation almost from birth, the Forest Elves are hyperactive and slightly spastic.
Shown here are Harker Vanai, an archer from the Vanai Family-Clan, and Robin Silian-Meridan, a young woman of the Meridan Family-Clan who dreamt of one day being free of the expectations of her family. Harker was just one of many children in the core Vanai family and sought to pursue dreams outside of the family business. Taking up with a trainer named Pheasant, Harker learned the bow, and chose the Great Bow as his constant companion. Robin was a somewhat talented Thief in the Meridan Family-Clan until she encountered the wandering Forest Elf Jynnrai Blackoak. That meeting was fated to end poorly, though for a brief time she lived a dream of freedom.
Meridan Family-Clan, denoted by the Feather and the Table Crest, is one of the four Family-Clans of the Wood Elves. The table on the crest is a symbol of the Clan Table that is location in Meridan lands where the Patriarchs of the Four Clans meet every decade.
Felar Family-Clan, denoted by the Feather and Tornado Crest, is the second of the four Family-Clans of Wood Elves. The tornado on the crest is a symbol of the divine gift of speed that Esmus granted to the Felar Clan.
Kayern Family-Clan, denoted by the Feather and Pipes Crest, is the third of four Family-Clans of the Wood Elves. The pipes on the crest are a symbol of the Kayern's musical talent; a talent that is legendary among the Eldar.
Vanai Family-Clan, denoted by the Feather in Cap Crest, is the final Family-Clan of the Wood Elves. The hat is a favored style among the archers of the Clan, often worn at a jaunty angle.
A Patriarch rules each of the Family-clans of the Wood Elves. That rule always passes to a member of the Patriarch's direct family, though all members of the Clan are considered to be extended family. Since Wood Elf families are among the biggest on Stehreel, the eldest living male is the one that inherits the Patriarchy.
The Family-Clans are most well known for their Thievery. Most cultures consider all Wood Elves to be thieves as a result, though it is truly a complete lack of respect for the idea of personal possessions that plagues them. What the Wood Elves should be better known for is their cheerful, indomitable spirit. A Wood Elf can often find the best in almost any situation.
Wood Elves are extremely family-centric. Sometimes multiple generations of the same family will live in the same home, simply building more rooms onto the rambling structure of their treetop homes. One of the highest forms of praise a Wood Elf can offer is "your family speaks well of you", while one of their cruelest insults is "dead wood" which means infertile to their people.
For each rank that Wood Elves receive, they weave brightly colored ribbons into their hair that have been enchanted with ritual magic. As a result, these ribbons pass boons and enhancements on to the Wood Elf that receives them.
The Wood Elves have a very lax way of worshiping about them, but do have a deity that they follow. The official religion of the Family-Clans is the Church of the Four Winds. Unsurprisingly, the church is devoted to the God of Wind, Esmus. Clergy of the Four Winds wander from Family-Clan to Family-Clan, offering their God the thing he is denied in his binding: the ability to roam the world.
Those who wield the power of Wind energy, Aeromancer Wizards and Brothers of Esmus, are the favored Spark Wielders of Stehreel among the Wood Elves.
Wood Elves are masters of their surroundings. The Thief class is their primary warrior, trained in the ability to turn anything into a weapon and use their surroundings to their advantage. The Thief Guilds for each of the Family-Clans are prominent fixtures in the Clan, and talented Thieves receive applause rather than censure.
The way they do war reflects their focus on thievery, specializing in guerilla tactics and adaptable maneuvers. There are no greater guerillas than in the Family-Clans of the Wood Elves.
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