
The Elves of the cold pine forests are as sturdy and enduring as the towering trees that shelter them. In this harsh, frost-kissed wilderness, they have learned to wield nature with a deep understanding of its ebb and flow—an intricate dance of give and take. These Elves are not the fragile figures of myth, but hearty and strong, their bodies honed by the relentless seasons. They move through the woods like shadows, their senses sharp, in tune with the whispers of the forest and the quiet strength of the earth. To them, nature is a partner, both fierce and nurturing, and they draw power from the deep roots and cold winds. Their resilience is matched only by their wisdom, as they use the cycles of the forest to survive and thrive, ever balanced between life and death, creation and destruction.
Found within the Cold pine forests of the north, Elves are a proud and graceful people, celebrated for their skills in brewing and woodworking. Their craftsmanship is put to good use in their world-renowned treetop fort cities, which stretch for miles within the canopies of great forests. Innately magical, Elves find magic to be a natural extension of themselves, leading to an unusually high number of wizards among their ranks. This also results in the creation of a wide variety of magical trinkets, which often find their way across the world.
​
Elves are known to travel widely, especially after surpassing a century of life. Whether driven by boredom or the desire for new purpose, many seek to explore the world beyond their woodland homes.
​
On average, Elves stand 5 feet 5 inches tall with lean builds. Their magical nature allows them to resist the effects of sleep spells and poisons, granting them Advantage when making checks against these effects. Elves gain a +1 bonus to Intellect and Dexterity, speak the languages Merchant and Elven, live up to 800 years, and have a movement speed of 30 feet.

Conclave of Valhare
The Valhare Elves founded their conclave in the year 986 of the First Age, after the former Kingdom of Valhare who had stood since the year 5 of the first age, was brought to its knees by The Descendancy. Following the loss of much of its population and major cities, the kingdom crumbled under the strain of rebuilding, quickly falling into anarchy. In response, a group of scholars—each representing one of the gods—gathered the remaining noble families and offered to use the gods’ wisdom to guide their people through this time of strife. The nobles agreed, and the Council of the Heavens was established. In the years that followed, the anarchy was quelled, and any use of dark arts such as necromancy or void research was forbidden under penalty of death. Though these harsh measures faced heavy protest from certain magical institutions, they provided the stability needed to lift the Conclave from collapse.
​
Today, the Council focuses on gathering lost knowledge and has founded the College of Scholars to train and house new scholars, providing them with the resources to combat the darkness. While some still bemoan the diminished power of the noble families, many have grown comfortable under the stability and protection the Council provides.

Kingdom of Ravenmeyer
Ravenmeyer was founded as a scattered nation of petty noble houses and interconnected villages during the year 500 of the First Age. Over time, it grew to establish a robust farming and ranching economy, thanks in part to its warmer climate compared to other elven regions. This favorable environment allowed the kingdom to develop a stable agricultural base, Unlike the hunting based lifestyle of the North.
During the Descendancy, Ravenmeyer was not directly attacked by the demon horde. However, it faced significant challenges as the majority of refugees from Valhare fled south into the more open and sparsely populated lands of Ravenmeyer. Practically overnight, the kingdom’s armies were stretched thin, not to fight demons but to manage and control the influx of desperate and displaced travelers who began raiding villages for food. This crisis nearly led to a civil war among the noble houses as they debated how best to handle the situation.
​
Fortunately, the kingdom’s leaders devised a solution before conflict could escalate. They organized a plan to patrol the borders and direct refugees into the most unpopulated regions of the kingdom, providing them with supplies and a small contingent of mercenaries for protection. By offering new homes to the refugees, Ravenmeyer was able to expand its territory, quickly claiming the marchlands and wilderness.
​
While this was not a perfect solution, it prevented further unrest and, over time, strengthened the kingdom. After the end of the Descendancy, Ravenmeyer emerged as the single most populous elven kingdom on the Aether Peninsula. With the influx of so many Valhare Elves, the culture of Ravenmeyer evolved into a melting pot of traditions and crafting styles. Although Ravenmeyer elves still hold all positions of power, from the High King to the lesser Jarls, far to the west of the capital one finds meshed families of Valhare and Ravenmeyer heritage, commonly referred to as “Valmeyer” elves.
These Valmeyer elves embrace both the northern spirit of individuality and survival in a harsh environment and the southern focus on cultivation and future-building. This blend has produced some of the most talented wizards in the kingdom.

Duchy of Hollowthorne
The Elves of the Sorrow Deep founded their kingdom, Sorrowmyer, during the year 103 of the First Age. This small realm clung to the edges of the Adurn Mountains, where they mined and crafted works of stone and steel to trade with neighboring lands to the south and east. Eager to prove their worth and with aspirations of grandeur, Sorrowmyer harbored ambitions of expanding its territory.
​
In the year 650 of the First Age, Sorrowmyer declared war on Valhare, claiming the de jure right to rule the elves of Sorrow Deep culture living under Valhare noble rule. According to Sorrowmyer, these kin should rightfully be under their governance. However, Valhare did not take kindly to this declaration, as the contested lands east of the Adurn Pass held significant cultural and religious importance, serving as pilgrimage sites for many Valhare elves. Confident in their military prowess, Sorrowmyer pressed the claim, and soon blood was spilled.
​
Valhare, previously known for its woodworking and exquisite leather hides rather than its warriors, shattered that perception during the conflict. At first, Sorrowmyer saw success, quickly pushing through the Adurn Pass and claiming territory within days. Villages that refused to accept the new governance were put to the sword, while others fled. After nearly a week of minimal opposition, Sorrowmyer’s forces settled in to secure their gains and ride out the coming winter.
​
However, before they could gather the necessary provisions, fire rained down from the sky, throwing their ranks into chaos. Although Valhare was not renowned for its warriors, it possessed a formidable force of wizards. Within days, Sorrowmyer’s forces were harried by magical barrages and relentless chases led by Valhare's scouting wizards. Exhausted and demoralized, the Sorrowmyer army was in disarray by the time the Valhare army arrived to launch its counteroffensive. The war was over shortly thereafter. Sorrowmyer was dissolved and reduced to a duchy—The Duchy of Hollowthorne—named after its founding family. The once-ambitious kingdom became a vassal of Valhare.
During the Descendancy, Hollowthorne was gravely weakened. Cut off from Valhare’s aid and unwilling to allow Valmere troops onto their soil, the duchy faced a second contingent of demons alone. The ensuing battles forced the elves to abandon much of their land, retreating deeper into the mountains and narrow passes—the very terrain that had once been their economic lifeblood. They survived as a sliver of their former society, spending the subsequent decades slowly rebuilding and repopulating their marches.
To this day, the Duchy of Hollowthorne remains an isolated and mist-shrouded realm, haunted by myths and shadows. Its once-prosperous lands are now quiet, filled with the remnants of a war-torn past and the echoes of lost glory.

Kingdom of Velmere
The Kingdom of Velmere is the oldest elven realm, founded well before recorded history, predating even the First Age. It is the cradle from which elves spread, establishing colonies that would eventually gain their independence. Velmere has safeguarded the records of elven society through the ages, storing them within the grand library of Vanderul, the largest collection of tomes, scrolls, and histories in the known world.
Velmere rarely extends beyond its borders except in times of extreme crisis. Queen Feran Velmyr, the ruler of Velmere, believes there is no reason to meddle in the affairs of the outside world. Isolated and secure, the kingdom is protected by the Dracador and Adurn Mountains to the east and the high plains to the south. Velmere's society is ancient and refined, home to experts in all fields—war, arts, and magic—who serve as both council and keepers of elven traditions.
​
During the Descendancy, Velmere remained unaffected by the demonic invasion, as its lands were too distant from the conflict. Although they offered aid to Hollowthorne, their assistance was declined. As a result, Velmere maintained its borders and welcomed refugees as one would welcome long-lost family members. In the aftermath of the war, Velmere provided food and resources to other elven kingdoms without demanding repayment—an act of kinship and solidarity.
​
Since those days, Velmere has become a stagnant point in history, rarely changing or influencing the world beyond its borders. This has led to mixed perceptions of the kingdom. Some honor it as the “Kingdom of the Elders,” respecting its wisdom and knowledge. Others, however, mockingly refer to it as the “Frail Old Man,” criticizing its reluctance to adapt or engage with the wider world.
The Descendancy
​
In the days when the current nations were but distant aspirations and the Elven kingdoms were just beginning to form their grand civilization, Gahiri was struck by a second tragedy, an event later known as the Descendancy.
In the year 900 of the First Age, reports surfaced of a massive wildfire in the northern reaches of the Kingdom of Valhare. Scouts were sent to investigate, but none returned. For weeks, every attempt to gather intelligence failed, until finally, a lone injured scout made it back.
​
The scout brought grim news: a large force of red-skinned creatures had attacked on sight, using the wounded and dead in dark rituals to create more of their kind. The scout narrowly escaped, revealing that the creatures had arrived on the northern coast, sailing on rafts made of ice and bone. Scholars soon identified these invaders as demons, returning from an ancient exile to unleash their fury upon the land.
Valhare urgently sought aid from its neighbors. Ravenmeyer and Valmere responded with modest contingents of soldiers and wizards, assuming it was only a small band of rogue fae. However, their forces proved inexperienced. Meanwhile, Hallowthorne hired a group of Oni mercenaries from the Nittok Islands to bolster Valhare’s defenses. Though the overall response was less than Valhare had hoped for, they rallied their forces nonetheless.
​
During the Time of the Descendancy, entire forests were burned to ash, including the treetop cities of Velostrina, Druvolka, and Myreshka—three cities that had stood for over a thousand years, untouched by strife, now laid to ruin within three months of the invasion. The destruction of these cities crippled the ability to harvest lumber, heat homes, and produce ale, while driving many Elves far to the south, leaving the northern reaches a desolate wasteland.
Yet, the fall of Velostrina would unknowingly bring a boon. In the aftermath of its destruction, a hero, now renowned far and wide, began his journey northward to join the fight.
​
An elf hero named Leon Pinrick had been living quietly in Radomirsk, helping his wife run a bar, when news of Velostrina's utter devastation reached him. Velostrina, his parents’ home, was gone. Upon hearing this, Leon left his life behind and set out for the frontlines. Later described as a quiet mountain of a man, Leon simply walked into a battle forty miles south of Myreshka. The Valhare army and the Oni mercenaries had been slowly retreating, holding off the demon horde to give refugees time to escape from the deep snow into open land.
​
It is said that Leon walked past the fleeing refugees, past the Elven and Oni defenders, wearing only a bearskin tunic and carrying nothing but his empty hands. His face was filled with an expression of anger and wrath, a fury said to rival that of the most ancient dragons. Without a word, Leon charged a greater demon, plunging his fist deep into the beast. The blow stunned the demon, and Leon, cold and focused, climbed it like one would climb a tall pine. He ripped a horn from its head and wielded it as a club.
Silent as the wind, Leon let out no battle cry. He leaped into the fray, carving a path through the horde that the defenders quickly took advantage of, following the stoic elf as he relentlessly pushed against the demons. For a day and a half, the battle raged, but for the first time, the demons were halted, then pushed back north.
This battle would become known as Pinrick’s Charge, though Leon cared little for such titles. Once the demon horde had been routed, he paused only long enough to wash the gore from his body, eat, and offer the army a curt "Well done." Then, without ceremony, he walked off in pursuit of the fleeing horde.
​
After that day, the armies learned to follow the "Mad Elf," using his fury to gain footholds against the demonic forces. They could not order him, nor could they stop him, but they used his devastation as a farmer might use wildfire to purge a blight from a field.
Leon fought with relentless fury, pushing the demon horde further north until their backs were against the ocean. Desperate for victory, the demons forged a dark pact with creatures from beyond creation—Void Beasts, born from the chaos outside the world’s borders. This unholy alliance brought forth a new terror, and the sky itself trembled as Void creatures tore into Gahiri, summoned by demonic magic. The war had reached its breaking point.
In the largest battle of the war, Leon fought side by side with the Elves and Oni, facing the demons' strongest champions alongside these Void horrors. The land itself seemed to weep under the weight of such destruction. Then, without warning, the sun vanished from the sky.
​
Darkness engulfed the battlefield, but as despair began to creep into the hearts of the defenders, a radiant figure appeared high above them—the Sun God, manifesting as an avatar for the first time in living memory. His presence was a blazing halo of power, his voice thundering across the land yet calm as the rising dawn. He declared that the demons had committed the greatest betrayal against all living things by tearing rifts in the very fabric of creation, allowing the Void to bleed into the world.
For this crime, their punishment was decreed: complete and eternal banishment.
At those words, the second ring, Inferna, appeared in the sky. First, a boiling sliver of fire, it grew and grew until it became the iron and flame-laden strata known today. With divine power, the Sun God forced the demons into exile. One by one, they were torn from Gahiri and banished to Inferna, their prison for all eternity.
​
The demons' reign of terror ended that day, their forces erased from Gahiri, and the Void creatures banished back beyond the stars. Leon, though scarred from the battles, stood among the victorious, silent as ever. The legend of his wrath would spread far and wide, but the story of the Sun God’s intervention would become myth, a tale of how divine justice reshaped the heavens and locked the demon kin away until the end of days.
After that day, the Elves withdrew to lick their wounds, many of their people dead, and countless cities erased from the world. They needed time to recover, and while Elves live long lives, many still remember this event as a distant memory. Yet after that fateful battle, Leon Pinrick was never seen again. He gave a final nod to the friends and allies who had followed him and walked back into the forest toward the south. The Hero of the Descendancy left as quietly as he had appeared, as though sent by the forest itself to defend the world, or so the legend would one day say.