The Elfen
The Elfen were once a single race living in three castes. The War, Magic, and Farm castes were split with the invasion of the Orcish tribes lead by Clan Orka. The Magic Caste fled east from their mountain home to the Desert City of Ril and became its Lords. The strong and proud Elfen Naval fleet of Kraviethan stayed behind keeping an eternal vigil on their lost borders forever trapping the Orkans within their home with a massive blockade. The peasant cast fled after their Magic Caste but were rejected from their masters and continued their sojourn into the Norther Reaches, a land permanently wrapped in winter.
While the labels given by outsiders name them Desert, Sea, and North Elf, Each caste proclaims themselves the true Elf and use no superfluous labels.
The Erudite Mage-Princes, Rulers of the the desert kingdom of Rilgalen, were once the highest class of the Elfen people of Cepha before the Orkan invasion. They are now masters of sand and illusion, sitting on the throne of a kingdom they stole. The Desert Elfs follow the 8 Aspect Lords, their old gods of Cepha.
With a massive metropolis in their control, the Desert Elfs have set about developing sciences and chronicling all the knowledge lost in the sack of their ancient capital of Ahn.
The Sea Elfen are the greatest naval force in the world. While they are thinner and shorter than humans and other Elfen they make up for it with ingenious naval tactics and expert swordsmanship. These benefits made no effect against Clan Orka and their bestial war machine. Eternally following the last command given to them by the Magic Caste, the Armada linked ships together and created a blockade around the continent. This floating ring city has lead to an innate fear of fire, as even a small fire could destroy their floating home.
While carrying no faith of their own, the Sea Elfen are notorious for their superstition and quick belief in any story told to them.
The Peasant Elfen that traveled to the far north after the Schism finally settled in Beistet, a wooden fortress lying in the middle of the Northern Reaches. After much hardship fighting the indigenous barbarians and mi-gobi pygmy tribes, the North Elfen discovered to amazing powers that have helped them survive in their Icehold. A bestial transformation bestowed upon them in the ice caves in the Lufton Ranges also led to the discovery of an organic stone, Obsidia, which runs through much of the north. Due to the berserker transformation the North Elfen can undergo they have become referred to as Ice Trolls.
In their new home the Farm Caste have divided themselves up in the manner of their ancient home, and crowned 3 God-Kings to rule over them. Each successive king is crowned from amongst the caste the prior was born and potential kings are taken through a brutal rite to prove their worth.
The Elfen Lands
The Desert City of Rilgalen
Before the schism of the elfen, the kingdom of Rilgalen was ruled by the Sultans of the Gali tribe, the first nomadic tribe of the Desert of Ril to swear fealty to the First Empire of Men. With the dissolution of the Empire and defeat in their war with Lufton, the Mage-Lords of Cepha easily swept in and took control of the dying kingdom.
There are 100 families of Mage Lords each following one of the 8 Gods of Aspects. There are 9 seats on the Mage-Prince Council and 8 of them are chosen by order of birth, not by family but by Patron God. Each newborn desert elf is placed at the end of the List for their aspect lord and will take the position when their name comes up. The 9th seat is chosen from the other races represented in the city by vote of the other 8 seats. Each seat represents a different internal function of government and a district of Rilgalen.
Organizations
Volcanic Arms Company – The VAC control the larges cordite deposit in the deserts of Ril and use the black powder in the shells for their Cordite based weaponry. These weapons are an extremely popular alternative to the less magically inclined citizens of Rilgalen concerned with self-defense.
The Traveler's Guild – An group of merchants bent on creating safety within and without the city via several functions. An improved communications system and messenger service, mercenary contract system, and and information desk for newcomers and those looking for a guide to exploring the massive town. It also serves a secondary function for well paying customers as an intelligence net.
Institute for Xenobiological Studies – After the crushing defeat at their own hands in the Ril-Lufton War, the city charged it's most enlightened citizens with the task of identifying any and all Veilbeasts in addition to researching all normal creatures of Ehryn.
The Kraviethan Armada
The Sea Elf empire is based around the “Kraviethan”, an amalgam of damaged ships put together to giant floating ring used to blockade the waters around Cepha. Once merely several hundred ships connected by long chains, more 'land' has been built by salvaging ships and material from the few holdings the Sea Elfs still have on Cepha, Vackendour and the chain of islands originally known as the Spines of the World.. A highly superstitious lot, Sea Elfs have lost 3 settlements on the Spines and now refer to them as the Isles of Draygons.
The Floats of the Kraviethan Armada are sometimes as simple as two boats bound together or as complex as boats stacked and broken upon the backs of other ships. Born out of the fires of war, the Military Caste of the Elfs of Cepha build strict education regimens for their children. 5 years of Tactics and Aetherwarping, and 5 years of seamanship and fencing prepare a Sea Elf for a life of vigilance and survival.
The majority of Sea Elfs spend their eternities fighting privateers (from within or without) and exploring the islands dotting the coastline of the continents. With duty paramount in the caste's mind, the Sea Elfs have done little searching for a new homeland focusing all energy on building up the Kraviethan blockade and training new soldiers for the rare Orkan escape attempts.
Organizations
Eldar Tides – Elfen who relinquish their lineage take to the seas as privateers, raiding coastal cities and merchant ships. The Eldar Tides are rumored to make port in the Isles of Draygons.
Wyvern Marines – Elfen who have finished their schooling and wish to again sail the seas with their brother Elfs join the Wyvern Marines and may someday take command of their own vessel.
Storm Command – The politicians and aether gifted amongst the adult Elfen join the ranks of the Storm Command, who see to the day to day running and reconstruction of the Kraviethan, as well as being stationed aboard Marine ships as 'weapons' experts.
The Icehold of Beistet
The North Elfen fortress in the Northern Reaches stands out amongst the snow drifts and barren wastes. Fleeing south after the Schism, the Elfen peasants eked out a bleak existence fighting the Men of the north, harsh barbarians refusing any land to the refugees. After pushing the barbarians into the Ruins of the Circle, a remnant of the Mage Wars, The Obsidia wrought halls of Beistet were built.
Following the social structure of their ancestors the Elfs of Beistet are separated into 3 sectors, the Wisdom Caste represented by the Raven, the War Caste and the Bear, and the Work Caste with the Elk. In the center of the city lies an open area free for all castes to intermingle and conduct business. This center area also houses the Temple of the God-Kings, who rule as a triumvirate over the North Elfen people.
The Triad of Beasts rules over the wooden city of Beistet separating the people into three sectors based on the 3 patron beasts of the North Elfs. In the center of the city lies an open area free for all castes to intermingle and conduct business. This center area also houses the Temple of the God-Kings, who rule as a triumvirate over the North Elfen people.
Organizations
Sheep Shearers – Captured Mi-gobi are sheared yearly to provide wool for clothing. As the Mi-gobi are dangerous wild creatures, Sheep Shearers are celebrated and the practice is nearly a sport.
Obsidia Obelisks – The living obsidia material has a mind of its own and members of the Obelisks have accepted its control over them and devote themselves to guarding Beistet against the magic powers of the Circle Ruins.
Troll Tribe - A group of north elfs that continue to live in the Lufton mountains and the Ice Caves. The Troll Tribe revel in the Ice Troll form that all North Elfs gained during their time in the Ice Caves.
