Elves

Elves are a race of humanoid beings that inhabit the lands of Xadia. They are divided into six races based on their connection to one of the Primal Sources of magic that exist in nature.

Biology

All elves have four digits on each hand—three fingers and a thumb—and four toes on each foot.^[1] Most elven races have pointed ears, which differ from the norm in the case of both Tidebound Elves and individual cases of Skywing Elves. Their skin tones, hair colors, and the shape of their horns vary between races, and each race dons different body markings, which are not permanent, but rather temporary tattoos similar to henna.^[2] Elves appear to lack any body hair except for eyebrows, eyelashes, and the hair on their scalps.

Most elves have a lifespan similar to humans,^[3] though according to Rayla, when she attempted to pass for a human, they tend to live for more than a century. It is however unclear if elven centuries may pass differently to human years, based on how they count. Out of all races, the lifespans of Startouch Elves are the longest, exceeding that of a 1000 years.^[4]

Culture and Society

Elves are dedicated and passionate beings and often find magic mundane due to how it is interwoven into nearly all aspects of their daily lives. They consider dragons to be equals and kin, as powerful magic runs through both their races, but often consider humans to be inferior.

Much like most human societies, same-sex couples exist and are accepted in elven society. While uncommon due to the cultural and continental divide between them, some elves and humans have been known to form romantic relationships with one another.

Elves commonly adorn their horns with jewelry and have a penchant among their monarchs and most esteemed members of society to don decorative headdresses. The latter is most prominent among the queens of the Sunfire Elves, such as Queen Aditi and her granddaughter, Queen Khessa.

Elves appear to pride themselves on their knowledge of the natural world along with their supernatural strength and connection to magic. As a result, most elves are known to be very compassionate towards animals and respectful of the balance of nature.

As such a grand race steeped in magic and power, elven architecture and cities tend to exude a powerful connection to the natural world. There is often a sense of grandiosity about their cities. Lux Aurea, for example, is a massive city constructed of unknown metals that resemble gold and glow even in daylight. Another feature among differing elf cities is the use of magic to protect them. The Silvergrove is hidden from prying eyes by way of a moon spell that can be bypassed with ritual dance, whereas Lux Aurea uses sun magic to cast walls of fire around captured prisoners. However, if pushed to abandon a Primal Nexus due to occupation of enemy territory, elves are known to use both magic and mundane force in destroying their own settlements around such locations. They seem to have little issue in leaving no advantage to their enemies at the cost to themselves in the pursuit of preserving peace.

History

The first elves originated at least 5000 years before the Modern Era.^[5] In ancient times, elves and humans lived alongside one another. The relationship between elves and humans deteriorated when human mages began poaching magical creatures and harvested their body parts for dark magic spells. Horrified by this, the elves and the dragons exiled all of humanity to the western half of the continent and divided it with a river of lava. The elves remained in the eastern lands of Xadia and maintained a state of cold war with the humans—especially with Katolis, the human kingdom that borders Xadia. Humans eventually discovered The Breach, a narrow cliff that connects Katolis to Xadia across the lava river, and began using it to make clandestine trips into Xadia against the wishes of the elves.

Over 1000 years after their exile, humans from Katolis infiltrated Xadia and used dark magic to slay the Dragon King and supposedly destroyed his son's egg, which was in reality stolen by Viren. After the king's death, the Dragonguard, a group of elves dedicated to protecting the royal dragon family, was "ghosted" by the rest of the elves for abandoning their duty, meaning they were banned from returning to their homes and no longer acknowledged by their kin. Included in this punishment were Rayla's parents, Tiadrin and Lain, who had served in the guard at the day of Avizandum's death.^[6]

As revenge for the actions of humanity, Dragon Queen Zubeia decided to avenge their deaths by sending Moonshadow Elf assassins to kill King Harrow and his birth son Prince Ezran. Having discovered The Breach, Sunfire Elves also amassed their soldiers and conquered a fortress Katolis had secretly established on The Breach's eastern end in Xadia — a potential prelude to an invasion of the Human Kingdoms.

Book One - Moon

As Moonshadow Elves edged closer to Katolis, they were spotted by a human guard and left it as Rayla's task to stopping him; but feeling too much sympathy for the enemy, she lets him go. But soon they realize her deception and Runaan took her off the mission and yet wanting to make up for her mistake, she made her way back to the castle to finish the job. However, in her attempt to do so, she was led by the princes to something that everyone in Xadia thought was destroyed; the egg of the Dragon Prince. With the egg still alive, her sense of vengeance turned into hope. Escaping into the tunnels, she warned Callum and Ezran that more Moonshadow Elves were coming; and making her way to the roof, she tried to convince Runaan to call off the attack but he refused. Understanding that it was too late to save King Harrow, Rayla and the boys left on a mission to return the dragon prince to Xadia, without knowing that Runaan was captured for interrogation.

However, noticing one of her ribbons falls off, Rayla realized the terrible truth but despite liking the princes and bonding with them she didn't have the heart to tell them. It wasn't until Ezran and the egg were trapped on a frozen lake, she worked up the courage to tell them the truth about her ribbon but with the ice cracking she couldn't tell them about their father and due to her bad hand Rayla dropped the egg into the lake, despite Ezran saving it, the dragon prince's life was fading. Disguising herself as a human the group seek help in a village for the egg and for her other wrist binding realizing one of the villagers had a sunforge blade, however after catching the villager she realized the blade didn't work. Returning to Callum and Ezran she gave them the bad news but was informed that there was a healer that lived in the Cursed Caldera. With the help of Ellis and Ava, they make it to the top but was saddened to know that there was no healer but a moon mage named Lujanne.

From her they learn that the only way to save the egg was to hatch it in the eye of a storm, thanks to Callum destroying the sky primal stone and Rayla braving the storm everyone watched with joy as the dragon prince Zym was born even more so thanks to the young dragon she was freed from her binding. However Runaan wasn't so lucky with Viren fed up the elf's stubbornness he imprisoned him inside of a coin.

Book Two - Sky

Even though, Rayla despite feeling joy over Zym hatching and her hand free she knew danger was coming and she was right when Soren and Claudia caught up to them. She knew that they were hiding something while at the same time struggled with telling the princes the truth and when Rayla finally worked up the courage to tell Callum, but upon seeing his state, she realized it was too late, though they managed to reconcile. With the help of Ellis and Ava, she was able to prove their intention and escaped with the princes and Zym.

Meanwhile, the boys' aunt Amaya and her forces had to deal with a group of Sunfire Elves at the border.

Continuing over the ocean thanks to Captain Villads, Rayla was confused about what to do in life since she didn't have the heart of an assassin. From the Captain she was given some sage advice and when she saw a captured Sun Dragon Rayla finally discovered what she wanted to with her life. However, she became irked at Callum for using Dark Magic despite trying to help her and continued to watch over him in his dream fevered state while saddened that Ezran found about their father. Upon seeing her friend's condition worsen, Rayla broke down at the thought of losing him but her concern turned into amazement when she watched Callum perform magic through his connection of the Sky Arcanum.

After Ezran's return, she respected his decision to return home to try and stop the war from the other end while she and Callum continued onto Xadia but just they crossed the border the duo was met with another obstacle Sol Regem.

Book Three - Sun

The year-long battle at the breach found an end when General Amaya decided to destroy the only connection between Xadia and the human kingdoms known to humanity. Janai managed to capture Amaya and brought her to face judgment before the Sunfire Queen, Khessa, convincing her to show mercy after exposing Amaya to the Sunforge.

Inside the home of the Moonshadow Elves, the Silvergrove, Rayla learned that she had been ghosted by her kin, meaning they would no longer acknowledge her existence, as they had done with her parents, due to failing her mission. This is where they met Ethari, Runaan's husband, who delivered a letter to the Dragon Queen, informing her that her son is still alive. After given a Moonstrider and a Shadowpaw, Team Zym continued their way through the Midnight Desert.

Meanwhile, Aaravos moved towards Lux Aurea with Viren, manipulating Viren into faking his surrender to the Sunfire Elves. Although the Sunfire Queen at first declined an audience, Janai informed her that Viren claimed to know what had happened to their grandmother, Aditi. Like Amaya, Viren was exposed to the Sunforge as well, but before he could be destroyed by its magic, Aaravos overtook the Sunfire priest and claimed the Sunfire Staff, taking over the Sunforge. After whispering to Khessa what he had done to her grandmother, Aaravos used a spell on the Sunfire Queen, causing her body to dissolve.

Team Zym had reached the Storm Spire at the same time, where they returned Azymondias to the Dragon Queen, Zubeia. However, Zubeia had fallen ill and found herself in a deep slumber, thus she was unable to acknowledge her son's return. The group was made aware of Aaravos' and Viren's approach by Soren, who then joined the allied forces. While Ibis, a Skywing Elf mage and protector of the queen, scouted for the enemy, Callum managed to reveal the truth about the events surrounding Rayla's parents using a moon opal. The magic spell revealed that Tiadrin and Lain had stayed behind and tried to protect the Dragon Prince's egg, but had faced an unknown fate inflicted on them by Viren. Relieved and inspired by her parents' loyalty, Rayla followed into their footsteps, becoming the last Dragonguard.^[6]

After being joined by Janai and Amaya, as well as the Sunfire Elf army, Team Zym gathered their allies to fight a final battle against their enemies. After a heated war with Viren's now sunforge-enchanted soldiers, the allies were joined by the kingdom of Duren, as well as several dragons, allowing them to win the battle. Rayla successfully managed to stop Viren from harvesting Azymondias' essence, after the mage had infiltrated the spire, killing him in the process by throwing him off a cliff.

Victorious, the allied forces gathered inside the Storm Spire, where Queen Zubeia finally awakened. Overjoyed about seeing humans and elves reunited, a new era of peace began. However, there was still danger ahead, as unknown to the allied forces, Claudia had successfully resurrected Viren, and Aaravos entered a stage of metamorphosis.^[7]

Races

Moonshadow Elves

Moonshadow Elves are connected to the magical energy of the Moon. Their natural abilities in stealth and speed make them adept assassins and infiltrators. Moonshadow Elves live in the Silvergrove, which is hidden underneath a veil of magic and can only be entered through the use of a ritual. They are also able to tame Shadowpaws, Moonstriders, and Moon Phoenixes as mounts and pets. Moonshadow Elves also have a rather rigid culture: they believe in duty and oaths above all else, and never show fear. Those believed to have abandoned their duty become "ghosts", Moonshadow Elves who are effectively shunned by their kin through magic. Those who cast the ghosting spell on themselves cannot see or hear ghosts, and they appear faceless to ghosts as well.

According to Rayla, Moonshadow Elves have schools, implying egalitarian accessibility to education and knowledge. Moonshadow Elves in the Silvergrove live in homes built into immensely large trees, preferring to establish their cities within an existing ecosystem. For freestanding structures, stones are used and an apparent preference for high ceilings is present in all of their known dwellings.

Moonshadow Elves are typically pale to dark-skinned with purple markings stretching across parts of their body. They have white or silver hair, pale eyes that vary in color and wear teal and black colored clothing and armor. All appear to feature horns of blue to a purple hue, with swirl-like symbols of a lighter hue.^[8] On the night of the full moon, Moonshadow Elves are at the height of their power and can become nearly invisible. Very strong Moonshadow Elves may use this ability with less than full moon.^[9]

Along with Sunfire Elves, Moonshadow Elves are the most similar to humans in terms of overall appearance, allowing them to pass for humans even without the use of magic.

Moonshadow Elves typically garb themselves in various shades of green with accents of silver, brown, and black. Moon Opals are also known adornments that are as decorative as they are functional, acting as sources of auxiliary power when shattered. Garments worn by Moonshadow Elves are often layered, but very streamlined, often conforming to the need for mobility over presentation.

Moonshadow Elves are particularly fond of Adoraburrs.^[10]

Startouch Elves

Startouch Elves are connected to the magical energy of the Stars. The only Startouch Elf shown thus far is Aaravos.^[11] He wears an elegant dark blue tunic with golden ornaments, decorated with the symbol of the Stars Arcanum. His physical features include dark blue-tinted skin with hair of a light blue hue, while his horns are more elaborate than the horns of other elves. He also has yellow eyes,^[12] and they occasionally glow white when he uses magic. It is not yet known if these characteristics are common aspects of the race.

Startouch Elves are rare, and few others have ever come across them. They can live for over 1000 years,^[4] and they experience "a time scale that is more like the stars than other elves," which gives them a detached, "big picture" perspective of the world.^[13]

All known imagery of Startouch Elves depict them with horns that are much grander and elaborate than those of other races. Also, their skin ranges in color from the midnight tones of indigo and blue present in Aaravos' appearance to a soft, pearl gold. Additionally, their hair has been shown to come in extremes as varied as starlight white to stark black.

Clothing worn by Startouch Elves has been shown to include open chest tunics as well as overlapping, layered robes. All known designs incorporate a dark color scheme with accents reminiscent of constellations, planetary orbits, and other celestial phenomena.

Sunfire Elves

Sunfire Elves are connected to the magical energy of the Sun. They possess the ability to craft sunforged equipment, which includes sunforged blades and legendary armor. Sunfire Elf soldiers are shown to wear red and gold clothes and armor. They commonly appear with dark skin and hair that comes in varied but warm colors ranging from coal-black to golden blond. Many, but not all Sunfire Elves wear dreadlocks.^[14]

Sunfire Elves possess a powerful military that regularly clashed with human forces at the Border. Some of them managed to tame Twin-Tailed Inferno-Tooth Tigers as mounts. Their only known place of residence is Lux Aurea, a grand city that is considered to be a crowning achievement for their race. Some Sunfire Elves can enter a "heat-being mode" in which their skin heats, their body glows, their speed and strength are increased, as well as becoming immune to fire. However, this ability is not accessible to all Sunfire Elves.^[15] With the aid of Aaravos, Viren stole this power, creating an army of soldiers who were magically enhanced in the same manner.^[6] An even smaller number of them can enter a "light-being mode" to heal.^[13]^[16]

Sunfire Elves possess a light of purification that can both reveal one's true form and purge an individual of any traces of dark magic.^[17] While it's rare, some Sunfire Elves can enter a "light state", which allows them to heal others.^[18]

The Sunfire Elves revere Sol Regem, repeating the shape of his horns in their own crowns, weapon designs, and architecture.^[18]

Garments for Sunfire Elves are varied due to the extremely hierarchical structure of their society. As many of them are warriors, they typically favor defensive garments over that which emphasizes maneuverability, as they are not a culture that places as great an importance on stealth. Their clothing tends to come in warm tones of red, brown, gold, bronze, and black. Warriors often wear smaller headdresses placed over their horns than the monarchs. These adornments resemble the rising sun between a pair of much larger horns.

Skywing Elves

Skywing Elves are connected to the Sky Primal. Their skin tones include a tan brown, as well as blue or grey, while their hair varies in both color and length, with colors coming in stormy tones of gray and bright shades of electric blue. Compared to other races, their horn shapes come in several different varieties, such as small and stubby, long and thin, or backward bending horns. Although not always the case, their ears can appear split into a larger and a smaller section. Some Skywing Elves enjoy the advantage of being born with wings located on their lower back, akin to birds or angels. According to Ibis, fewer than one in ten Skywing Elves have wings, although some can cast a spell to turn their arms into wings.^[6]

Clothing for Skywing Elves is typically very streamlined and comes in colors reminiscent of the power of a storm, including blues, grays, purples, blacks, silver, and cyan. Their clothing is often very light and is customized according to the needs of the owner. Skywing Elves born with wings appear to keep the middle of their back bare as to accommodate their wings. Skywing Elf mages such as Ibis eschew sleeves to be able to perform the necessary spellwork to generate mage wings without wasting materials.

Earthblood Elves

Earthblood Elves are connected to the magical energy of the Earth. They feature skin or armor resembling tree bark and moss, as well as branch-like horns, which can grow leaves and are reminiscent of antlers. While female Earthblood Elves are generally slim, males appear in a broader, more muscular figure. Unlike females, the horns of males are small and only have a few branches.^[19]

Male Earthblood Elves appear to wear very little clothing compared to males of other races. Due to the symbiotic growths on their bodies, they clothe themselves to accommodate these features, baring more skin on their arms and legs.

Tidebound Elves

Tidebound Elves^[20] are connected to the magical energy of the Ocean. Their skin color includes a light blue, which shades off into white and darker blue colors on fin-like features. The fins are present on their heads, shoulders, and limbs and also replace their ears. On males, these fins are colored in red shades and are significantly longer than the fins of the females.^[19]

Their garments appear to be skin-tight with a very little tailing off. As they are creatures attuned to the power of the ocean, this is extremely useful, as the excess material would only slow them down underwater. Additionally, they do not appear to partake in the use of conventional footwear.