The Elfkin

The Elfkin: a Cultural Summary

by Sager Everstream, Scholar of the Daemedran Academy  

Elfkin are believed to be the last living remnants of the elven race on Solitude. They are the descendants of the very few elves who survived the Reaving and were absorbed into human societies. They live in many of Solitude’s nations but are most common in the northwest, in the nations of Arvair, Kantle and Costavil. In the Arvairian Empire, elfkin are almost revered and comprise a moderate portion of the ruling class.  

Elfkin are very similar to humans and are outwardly identical except for a few cosmetic differences. Many have oddly colored hair and eyes, little facial hair, and are usually on the taller side. Elfkin are also widely considered to be more attractive than average humans and tend to be physically fitter. However, the one sure way to tell an elfkin from a human is to inspect the eye – elfkin have a white ring around the pupil that is absent in pure-blooded humans. Unlike true elves, elfkin must eat regularly for nourishment and have shorter lifespans, averaging around two centuries, though they do retain a youthful appearance for the majority of this time.  

Elfkin have inherited a few powerful characteristics from their ancestors. Most obviously, they have strong and durable minds, allowing them to be powerful arcane magic users. Many of the world’s most powerful mages are elfkin, including Alutia Var, the Empress of Arvair, Shiryu, Daemedra’s High Priestess of Ahmay, and Anto Stonehouse, Master of Televada’s Third Quarter. Some elfkin, particularly those who walk the path of the warrior, are able to temporarily enhance their strength, speed and physical resilience to match what true elves were said to be capable of. Though scholars remain unsure whether this ability is magical or physiological, many lean towards the latter as it usually leaves the user exhausted and sore. Lastly, most elfkin seem to have inherited the cool and morally balanced charisma that the elves for which the elves were so loved. They tend to gravitate towards leadership positions and excel at charming and inspiring others. There is suspicion that some sort of innate magic is behind this trait as well, but no evidence exists to support this theory.  

Elfkin are generally well-respected by most races, though there are some human factions who are distrustful and discriminatory towards them. Eyra also tend to be wary of anything that relates to elves. Many elfkin actively seek out others of their kind when they desire romance or a partner to have children with, as the differences in lifespan with humans can cause strain. For decades, many noble human families within the Empire have taken to adopting elfkin children in an attempt to make their bloodlines more powerful in the eyes of the ruling class. Though not strictly forbidden, this practice has been curbed in recent years in the light of stories that some of these children were “acquired” violently.  

As a race, elfkin fall almost exclusively towards being kind, fair and compassionate. Though there are a few notable exceptions to this, they have upheld the grace and empathy of the elves admirably.