Sunfire Elves

Information
Name	Sunfire Elves
Type	Sun Primal
Home	Lux Aurea (formerly) Scumport Evrkynd

Sunfire Elves are one of the six races of elves native to Xadia. They are connected to the magical energy of the Sun. Their primary home was Lux Aurea prior to its corruption and their nexus was the Sunforge before its destruction. They are the most common of the elven races.

All Sunfire Elves in the series can be found here.

Characteristics

Sunfire Elves commonly appear with dark skin and hair that comes in varying warm colors, ranging from coal-black to golden blond. Some Sunfire Elves have light skin, but they are uncommon. Many but not all Sunfire Elves wear dreadlocks. Their ears are usually long and slim, while their commonly brown horns are thick, long, and generally point upward. Their facial markings are usually colored in yellow or cream tones and often resemble the rays of the Sun.

Along with Moonshadow Elves, Sunfire Elves are the most similar to humans in terms of overall physical appearance, allowing them to pass for humans from a distance even without the use of magic. Unlike most other elven races that live up to the age of humans, Sunfire Elves are said to have a long lifespan, counting up to at least a few hundred years.

Abilities

Being connected to the Sun Primal, Sunfire Elves are able to use magic that allows them to generate destructive fire and heat, as well as light that can heal and purify. Some Sunfire Elves can enter a "heat-being mode", in which their skin heats, their body glows with golden cracks similar to magma rivers, their speed and strength are increased, and they become immune to fire. This state is often triggered by strong emotion. However, this ability is not accessible to all Sunfire Elves. An even smaller number of them can enter a "light-being mode", which allows them to cast healing magic.

Sunfire Elves are also famous for crafting Sunforge equipment, which include Sunforge blades, Sunforge shields, and legendary armor. This rare equipment is created in the Sunforge and forged by skilled craftsmen.

Culture and Customs

Sunfire Elves value honesty, forthrightness, and integrity above all else, and are intensely devoted to martial prowess. However, some of them are also known as the greatest artisans and smiths in Xadia. Their primary residence was Lux Aurea, a grand city that was considered to be a crowning achievement for their race before the Sunforge's corruption. The city possessed a powerful military called the Sunfire Armies commanded by the Golden Knight of Lux Aurea and six elite generals called the Six Horns. The Sunfire Armies regularly clashed with human forces at the Border. When Xadia is in danger, Sunfire Armies are the nation's first line of defense. While most Sunfire Elves strive to be the golden protectors of all of Xadia, the wisest among them remember that the Sun, for all its light and glory, can blind.

Sunfire Elves practice an ancient chant that repels Star Devourer Dragons from approaching Xadia and its sun:

“

Oh let me meditate on the beast of devouring that feeds on stars, that Star Devourer Dragon Let me repel this Star Dragon and banish it from the light of my sun

”

Sunfire Elves have a respectful greeting in which they bow slightly and put both hands in front of their forehead, one hand in front of the other, and they spread out their fingers to resemble sun rays.

Some Sunfire Elves managed to tame Twin-Tailed Inferno-Tooth Tigers as mounts and pets, allowing them to participate in "Hotcat Races". They can tame and use Sunbirds to deliver messages. They also respect Emberback Spiders.

Songs that Sunfire Elves sing and dance to include Prominence Promenade.

Young Sunfire Elves play games such as sunbeam tag and Bannerman's Run. Bannerman's Run requires two teams: one that wields a red banner and another that wields a gold banner. The first team that grabs the other team's banner or that crosses the finish line with their original banner is the winner of the game.

Sunfire Elves court and propose to their potential spouses with a traditional ceremony that involves flowers and dancers who wield flame ribbons. Wedding decorations can include flowers such as crimson orchids and sunset violets.

Sunfire Elf weddings are held on sunny days, with the would-be-spouses exchanging necklaces and dancing together. Simultaneously, the officiator performs the "Blessing of the Sun", which is a remark of asking the Sun to shine upon and bless the would-be-spouses with love, light, warmth, and growth. If the Sun is shrouded by clouds, the wedding can be put on hold until the sky is clear again. When the would-be-spouses complete their vows, the officiator allows them to kiss each other.

Sunfire Elves say good morning to each other by saying "suns first". However, this practice is considered outdated compared to the standard "good morning".

If a terrible crime is committed against a Sunfire Elf, the monarch will call in the "Tribunal of the Six Horns", with the six elite generals presiding as juries to determine the criminal's fate. If the criminal is declared as guilty, they are punished with death. However, the monarch possesses the power to change the tribunal's rules. According to the laws of the Sunfire Kingdom, treason is a crime that is punishable by death, although the monarch can issue a different sentence.

Sunfire Elves are usually unified under a single monarch until Janai married Amaya and allowed them to rule together as queens. When a Sunfire Elf deems that their monarch is unfit to rule, they can challenge the monarch to a Royal Blood Duel that ends with the loser's death and the winner becoming the new ruler of Lux Aurea. However, Queen Aditi made the ritual illegal due to its barbaric nature and the consistent infighting that diverted attention from the duties of the crown. This practice originated from the War of Blood and Ash. As such, it is also known as a duel of blood and ash.

Beliefs

Sunfire Elves revere the Archdragon Sol Regem, which leads to them repeating the shape of his horns in their crowns, weapon designs, and architecture. They also named the Six Horns after him.

Sunfire Elves believe in revealing the true self of an individual, using a light of purification within the Sunforge that can both reveal one's true form and purge an individual of any traces of dark magic.

After a Sunfire Elf has passed away, their loved ones ignite a Soul Candle to return the deceased soul to the Sun Primal. The candle will be lit while the life of the lost one is remembered and honored one last time, burning for one entire night to guide the soul of the deceased through the darkness of death and return them to the Sun at dawn. If the flame goes out before dawn, then the soul is lost.

Sunfire Elf legends tell of a place underneath the earth where ancient elves built the first forges and learned how to weave Sun magic into fire and stone - crafting art, architecture, armor, and weapons. This place is known as the Blacksteel Sanctum, and its inhabitants were known as "Forgemasters".

Fashion

Garments for Sunfire Elves are varied, due to the extremely hierarchical structure of their society, though they prefer bold reds and golds throughout all of their fashion. They find value in the roles of soldiers and servants honoring their queen and the clothes that resemble so. As many of them are warriors and are not a culture that places as great an importance on stealth, they typically favor defensive garments over gear that emphasizes maneuverability. More casual clothing tends to come in warm tones of red, brown, gold, orange, bronze, white, and black. Warriors often wear smaller, golden headdresses placed over their horns that denote military rank and social standing, while monarchs wear a similar, larger version as crown-like headpiece. These adornments resemble the rising sun between a pair of much larger horns. Additionally, members of the military may be seen bearing family crests and emblems resembling their long military history and achievements.

Food

Foods among Sunfire Elves are shown to enjoy sweets that incorporate ingredients such as chocolate, marshmallows, and scorchberries. This indicates Sunfire Elves are highly skilled at processing sugars and other plant solids into extremely refined states. Along with this, their desserts such as flambéed fire cakes are known to be very elaborate, using magic to light them on fire without incinerating them. This presentation is consistent with their culture's propensity for showmanship and grand art.

In winter, Sunfire Elves will eat a meal dubbed "Crackledrake", consisting of dawnfruits and kindlecorn which are mixed with flaming brandy. This is part of a tradition celebrating the effort of a traveler who saved her food from a pack of Emberdrakes.

Sunfire Elf wedding cakes are known to taste like fire.

History

The Sunfire Elves built Lux Aurea and settled in the city at an unknown point in history. They were allied with the dragons and other elves in deciding to banish all of humanity to the west of the continent. The successful banishment was overlooked by their current leader at the time, whose name remains unknown.

Long ago, a King of Lux Aurea descended into madness and ruled as a tyrant. His younger brother, the first Golden Knight of Lux Aurea, challenged his reign, rallying his armies and rebelled, sparking a civil war that would be known as the War of Blood and Ash. Having realized that his rebellion only brought more death and destruction, the Golden Knight then challenged his brother to a Royal Blood Duel. The knight was able to kill his vile brother and became the new Sunfire King. Royal Blood Duels continued to be practiced in Lux Aurea until Queen Aditi abolished them due to their grotesque nature. Queen Aditi ruled over the Sunfire Elves during the reigns of Luna Tenebris and Avizandum. Following her death, she was succeeded by her descendants, with Khessa being one of the more recent monarchs.

Due to humans setting up two fortresses at both sides of the Breach, the Sunfire Elves were involved in a long struggle of two opposing forces in an effort to protect the only entrance to Xadia, which lasted until the Breach's destruction and the capture of General Amaya.

After Lux Aurea was infiltrated by Aaravos and Viren, which resulted in the death of Queen Khessa and the corruption of the Sunforge, the Sunfire Elves were forced to abandon the city, as the corrupted Sunforge began to spawn monstrosities that left their home in ruins. Led by Khessa's sister Janai, their troops became allied forces of Team Zym during the final battle at the Storm Spire, in which they assisted them by using their Sunforge equipment for both offense and defense.

The Sunfire Elves eventually relocated to a camp site built over the ruins of their original capital, located not very far from Lux Aurea. With her sister Khessa gone, Janai took the throne as queen. Attempts of purifying the Sunforge and reclaim Lux Aurea had been largely unsuccessful, and they had to kill their own people who had been infected by the corruption.

Even with peace briefly restored, Janai still had a tough time with civil unrest still marring between the nations. Her own younger brother Karim in particular was a prominent voice of division. And yet, she found kinship in General Amaya betrothing her as her bride.

At some point after the battle of the Storm Spire, Janai began cultivating an impossibly rare plant, known as a Sun Seed. The Great Orb of the Sunforge had started out as a Sun Seed, and Janai had intended for her Sun Seed to one day become just as powerful, even though her generation would be long dead by then.

Karim, dissatisfied with his sister's plan for their peoples future, challenged her to a Royal Blood Duel. She defeated him and sentenced him to banishment. While wandering aimlessly, Karim was found by Pharos, the former Sunfire High Priest of Lux Aurea, who'd been presumed deceased. Pharos pledged loyalty to Karim and implored him to restore their people to greatness.

Karim and Pharos journeyed to meet Sol Regem, in hopes of persuading the Archdragon of the Sun to join their cause. But a thousand years of blindness had made Sol Regem bitter and depressed, so he sent them away. Karim believed that if they could heal his eyes, he might change his mind, but no normal healing magic could do that. They would need something impossibly rare and immensely powerful: Janai's Sun Seed.

Karim and Pharos journeyed to Moonshadow Forest to meet the Moonshadow Elf Kim'dael, the Bloodmoon Huntress, who owed a magical life debt to Karim's family. He sent her to steal the Sun Seed in exchange for freeing her from her debt.

When Janai was informed that the camp had been "infiltrated by a ghost", she entrusted the Sun Seed to one of her most trusted generals, Miyana. Janai confronted Kim'dael, but was defeated and kidnapped. Pharos delivered Karim's message to the camp, that they would release Janai if Miyana delivered the Sun Seed to them. Amaya disguised herself as Miyana and ambushed Karim. Karim and Kim'dael were backed into a corner, and Kim'dael decided to cut her losses. Karim was able to escape as well with help from Pharos.

When Janai and Amaya returned to the camp, they had been informed that Miyana, actually Karim's lover, had betrayed them by bringing the Sun Seed to him, along with an army of like-minded followers, thereby triggering the beginning of a civil war, albeit one where the forces under Karim remained outnumbered by the five remaining armies of Sunfire Elves that had remained loyal to their queen. Karim presented the Sun Seed to Sol Regem and offered to heal his eyes. Sol Regem agreed to join them after he commanded them to use the Seed to heal his tattered wings instead, so that he could rain fiery justice down on their enemies from the skies.

Karim, Miyana, Pharos, and their supporters challenged Janai's army to battle, with the traitorous prince intending to use Sol Regem as his primary weapon. However, Aaravos had possessed Pharos's body and deceived Sol Regem into attacking Katolis instead. Upon marrying Amaya, Janai and her army succeeded in defeating Karim's forces, who were swiftly overwhelmed and defeated by superior numbers. Janai decided to spare and pardon Karim's followers by granting them amnesty, which she later extended to Miyana upon learning that her former general was pregnant with the children of Karim. She made this same offer to the banished prince, however, after Karim demonstrated that he had not changed, causing Janai to order the five remaining Six Horns to set a date for his execution. Some of the Sunfire Elves, including Miyana, started to settle in Evrkynd following the destruction of Lux Aurea.

Trivia

• Sunfire Elves have African-French accents.
• In early concepts, it was discussed to have younger Sunfire Elves wear bright colors in their clothing to resemble light, while older Sunfire Elves would wear red colors in their clothing to resemble heat. Whether this still applies is unknown.

Gallery

Early concept art

Early concept art

Early Sunfire Elf concept

Early Sunfire Elf concept

Sunfire Elves at the Border

Janai showing the Sunfire Elf "heat-being mode"

Sunfire Elves in Tales of Xadia

A Sunfire Elf flame ribbon dancer

The Sunfire Army