Post by The Maker on Jul 20, 2013 18:04:28 GMT -8
Elves of Thedas
City Culture:
Alienages exist, but not in the way they once did. Elves still maintain a Vhenedhal and a hahren in existing Alienages, but the gates surrounding them are no longer present. The cleanliness of many Alienages has increased ten fold, and many even say that the Alienages are cleaner than districts that are mainly dominated by humans. Elves are not required to live in Alienages and are able to purchase homes in previously human dominated districts.
The elves are allowed regular pay in most fields of work. Elves are now allowed to receive an education within the White Chantry and join their ranks. In recent years, many elves were given citizenship status within countries where the White Chantry is present.
Enslavement of elves is prohibited in most areas.*
Over the years, the elven population has increased drastically within cities, which eliminated their minority status in most countries and fixed the problem of the elves becoming a 'dying race'. Human-elf relationships are no longer looked down upon in most elven families and even human families.
*The Tevinter Imperium still prohibits these sorts of relationships and continues to use the system of slavery, which is mostly dominated by elves.
Even with the improved quality of life and general acceptance, many City elves migrate to Ostagar or traveling clans to live with the Dalish. Some stay amongst the clans while others bring aspects of Dalish culture back to the cities. Many city elves now speak much of the Dalish language and a few even worship Dalish gods. (Worship of the Gods, however, is uncommon.) City elves have developed their own version of vallaslin and once they are of age, have a small vhenedhal tattooed on their wrist. Married elves usually add some sort of flourishment to their tattoo.
The Dalish:
*WIP*
Physiology and Appearance:
Elves are considered particularly beautiful by humans. Typically, an elf will have large eyes, a flat nose bridge, a small frame, large pointed ears,and sharp canine teeth. However these traits vary and do not apply to all of the elvhen. For example, many city elves can have aspects of human characteristics (such as smaller eyes, smaller ears, or a curved nose bridge), while Dalish tend to keep to the typical elvhen appearance. Elves can naturally hear better and can see in the dark, and maintain a natural aptitude for magic. They also have, normally, longer lifespans than humans. The average city elf can live to be 80 while the average Dalish can live to be over 100 years old.
Coloration for eyes, skin, and hair of elves depend on region of birth and lineage. They can have natural traits not typically found in humans.
Ex:
-White hair
-Gold, orange-tinted, or seemingly violet eyes
-Albino condition is present in many elves
This Article was composed by Chloe-the-Great and TutorVeritatus(Dalish elves)