Physical Description
Elves are often depicted as the idealistic form by humans. Elves stand between five and six feet tall and are slender with long limbs and graceful proportions. They have angular or refined facial features, with high cheekbones, pointed ears, and almond-shaped eyes. Their faces are commonly described as elegant or beautiful. Their skin tone varies from pale to copper toned for above-ground elves and a pure black ebony color for dark elves. Eye colors vary between all colors of the rainbow. Their hair has fine, silky strands in a variety of colors, including blonde, silver, white, black, gold, and shades of brown.
Elvish physical superiority continues beyond beauty into more concrete advantages. Their long, pointed ears give them a better sense of hearing. Elves also have exceptionally sharp eyesight, capable of seeing in low light conditions and discerning details that might be missed by humans. Elves also have a drastically slowed metabolism. They maintain a healthy weight while also living for centuries, much longer than any other mortal race.
Culture
Elves have an affinity for magic, beauty, and all things that grow. Arcane spells are present throughout elven domestic life. A spoon enchanted to stir a pot, a shirt ensorcelled to fold itself, or a sink that cleans its own dishes. More powerful spells provide protection for elven communities. Wards prevent many forest villages from being discovered through illusion or violence. Magic is just another tool to the common elf, just as likely to be used for gardening as it is for self defense.
All plants are viewed with fascination by elves. Elven settlements are constructed as part of nature. With their long lifespans they can afford a lengthened outlook on construction. Elven buildings are made by slowly training trees to grow together for walls and ceilings. This same training can also incorporate natural elements for decoration. Flowers and vines are grafted on to provide a fey-like aesthetic. Small holes and cones are left in the wood so that when the wind blows through them it makes hauntingly beautiful music. Woodwind instruments are played by the inhabitants of elvish dwellings to accompany the music of the natural world.
Elves are natural born artists. Their skill shows in their delicate architecture and their singing. For more physical art pieces, elf talent truly shines with metal work. The finest jewelry in Cimmeria comes from elven whitesmiths. Elves also do amazing work with mithral, forging even better armor than the dwarves. While elf weapons are visually stunning, they are functionally no better than any other crafter. The one exception is bows and arrows. Elvish bows are sought after by hunters across Cimmeria and an elvish-made arrow is often a prized possession for a human family. All these goods along with tree-grown fruits are exported to human communities that are set up outside of elven forests.
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