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Long lived, a young elf is little different from a human. Their reputation for aloofness is a learned behavior, born of a lifetime of outlived friends.

Alteran elves are taller than humans, with a minimum adult height of around 5'6, and an average height of 6'2. Elven bloodlines that tend toward severe features, great height, and slimmer bodies are generally considered "purer." Elves that take on more humanlike features, such as facial hair, tend to be as a result of partial human ancestry. In the long ago, elves and humans were totally isolated - literally from different worlds. In the intervening millennia, it is virtually impossible to find a living human or elf that does not have some amount of mixed ancestry.

There have been many failed attempts to segregate the two again ever since their introduction, but all have failed in the end. Will there ever be an attempt again, and if so will it finally succeed this time?

What do Alteran elves look like?

Most elves look like humans, but much taller and with pointy ears. Some elves have relatively subtle points, while others can extend for several inches.

Do they have any special mechanics?

Elves have an average life expectancy of around 300 years.

Elves develop and grow much more slowly than humans, only reaching physical maturity at 20 years of age.

Elves reproduce slowly, with pregnancy coming to term after six trimesters instead of three and an elf's cycle occurring only every ten years instead of every month or so as it is with human women.

Elves and Ages

Elves live for twelve ages. Uniquely, they reproduce so slowly that they can only bear children once per age.

DARK ELVES

Dark Elves are the descendants of survivors of an ancient war. In millennia long past, Grief corrupted an isolated population of elves into forms that better suited her needs. Some of these elves would eventually be rescued, and many attempts were made to cure them and reassimilate them into the rest of elven society, but no attempt would succeed until centuries later. With the death of Grief, Dark Elves were no longer plagued by bouts of volatility, rage, or confusion.

Ancient stereotypes were made obsolete. Millennia of foul deeds, largely forgiven. In time, Dark Elves were seen as no different from the rest of elfkind. Ancient, aloof, and just another patch on the vibrant tapestry of Alteran life.

Then, as it had not for generations, the world ended again.

As Corruption tore into reality again, some Dark Elves felt a searing mental agony that they had never known but their ancestors would have immediately recognized. Only some. The reasons for why the sane were spared and not others isn't known, and is in fact a spectrum. Some blame it on poor discipline, others genetic, others a moral failing.

What do they look like?

Dark Elves have skin that ranges from a dusty white, to coal black. They do not have what humans would consider a natural skin tone. Those who are on the darker side of the spectrum occasionally have hues of exotic colors. Deep burgundy reds, wine dark purples, and midnight blues. Their eyes are usually grey or purple, but sometimes red. They have either white or black hair; if black hair, it may have the faintest sheen of color.

So are they insane or what?

Some Dark Elves experience what is called the Lure. It is different for everyone. To some, a maddening hum; to others, a voice calling out from the edge of their awareness; for most, it is simply there. They are aware of it like a man standing over their shoulder, watching, waiting, compelling them to action for some unknown end.

The Lure may manifest as psychosis, as strange compulsions, as intense mood swings, among other things. Play with it how you like. Your elf, after generations of absence, is now possessed by the spirit of some ancient evil manifested from the deepest recesses of their ancestry. To your elf, it might manifest as a dour nature. To another, it may not manifest at all until some traumatic event triggers it.