Elgfreyn

Elgfreyn  (pronounced elg-frey-an, plural elgfreyn) are a younger species, descended from the vaarentee and best known for their haughty, proud nature, seemingly inborn in the species. Militaristic and fierce, the elgfreyn reach massive technological heights during their nearly 15,000 year reign and still dominate the realm of sterilization and medical care, skills that helped them to recover from many great and terrible blows while maintaining their vast armies during the height of their civilization.

Though the elgfreyn empire once spanned much of the globe, little remains of their conquest save the lonely Dawnspire situated in the Mother's Hand on the Amarantine Coast. Despite this, and three hundred years of peace, their history precedes them, making much of the elgfreyn relations with the rest of the coast cautious, at best. Having once been devoted to racial purity and the promotion of their own species, the elgfreyn once nearly eliminated the human species in its infancy and drove many of the vaarentee families and clans into hiding, subjecting those spared of being eliminated to slavery in one of the many spires that stood as testament to their power, treating other species similar to cattle (including brief, reoccurring interest in husbandry), even making an attempt at creating the perfect slave race that was quickly scrapped after the initial destruction event during the Crater Age. Though slavery has been abolished as of Aoid's rise to the throne, a strict caste system remains intact, perpetuating the elfreyn interest in eugenics with those of impure blood being locked in at the lowest tier, religious leaders and those involved in the military holding honorary positions at the top of this system.

Rebuilding as of the devastating event of the Midnight War (which reduced the elgfreyn empire to the Dawnspire), the Spire has suffered yet another staggering blow perpetrated from within by Aoid herself, fleeing the Spire and leaving chaos in her wake as the Whiteguard continues to control the throne, rejecting any and all claimants. As tensions escalate, traditionalists begin to surface among the people, calling to an end to the worship of Aoid and a return, instead, to worship of the Mistress.

Biology 

Anatomy
Descended from seven original vaarentee houses some 15,000 years ago, all elgfreyn share similar traits, most iconic being their incredibly pale, alabaster-white skin and bright, often exaggerated hair colors ranging from common shades of white or blond to red to the rarest, black. Elgfreyn eyes are typically jewel-toned. Much like the vaarentee, the elgfreyn sport long (typically five to seven inches long), pointed ears and large, round eyes and cat-like pupils, giving them incredible night vision and passable day vision. The nose bridge of the average elgfreyn is typically not well defined in relation to the brow or forehead, the nose itself often being somewhat broad and flatter, with slightly sloping foreheads and a tendency toward dramatic brows, lending a very fierce, lion-like look.

With an average height of six feet and a largely carnivorous diet, the elgfreyn body may vary from soft and undefined to hard and well trained, though obesity is unknown to the species. Rather, most elgfreyn are long and lean in build with narrow hips and shoulders. The typical elgfreyn moves with a gliding ease with years of any Spire-dweller's life being spent on how one carries and presents their body, in addition to that natural predatory slant given within the evolutionary makeup of the species. In addition to this grace, the elgfreyn species is physiologically superior to a trained human, having far better reflexes and agility while being incredibly flexible. They are second only to doresh in terms of physical strength and lack stamina, being capable of performing incredible physical feats but only for a short time before needing to rest.

The most basic of weapons for the elgfreyn are their claws, and, more importantly, their teeth. Lacking the characteristic lower tusks of the vaarentee, elgfreyn teeth are yet strong and incredibly sharp, built to facilitate their strictly carnivorous diet. Elgfreyn nails grow in thicker and somewhat opaque, curving over the end of the finger slightly, tapering into points. Hard and sharp, these claws are typically filed shorter as not to interfere with the dexterity of one's fingers during day to day tasks, with the nails of the average manual worker often being filed close to the finger.

<span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Diet

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Strictly carnivorous with moderate energy demands, the typical elgfreyn consumes a high fat, high protein diet. Lactose tolerant, cheese and milk products may be supplemented into the diet, although this is typically reserved for those lowest in the hierarchy with the fattiest cuts of meat being considered the most prized as they offer the best source of energy for those in the military. Though intolerant of grains and a diet primarily composed of plant matter, it should be noted that the use of vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts are not unknown in elgfreyn feasts. Traditional meals are often described as bland by non-elgfreyn as spices are often omitted or toned down a great deal.

<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">It may be worth noting that historically the elgfreyn not only waged war against and enslaved other races, but ate them as well when the opportunity presented itself.

<h3 style="margin-top:6pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.4pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Life Cycle

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Though capable of being potentially immortal given their genetic makeup, the elgfreyn's relatively quick breeding lent itself to the proliferation of the empire. Gestation takes forty-three weeks, producing a single child with twins not only being rare but typically resulting in the death of one, if not both children and possibly the mother herself. Young are characteristically small to accommodate the narrower hips of the elgfreyn species, though labor remains both difficult and incredibly dangerous for the mother and young, landing females who successfully deliver healthy children a place of honor in the highest tiers for the first twenty years of the child's life, after which the mother and child return to their caste, the young entering into caste-specific training.

<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sexual maturity marks the end of physical maturation for the elgfreyn, arriving in the nineties, reaching mental and emotional maturity at the beginning of the second century. Though elgfreyn individuals may not age nor grow past their first hundred years, the environment and illness can take their toll on the body, rendering effects similar to those of time on races lacking longevity.

<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">As elgfreyn individuals age, distant memories often grow fuzzier or are forgotten altogether. This is not unusual and is simply the mind coping with vast amounts of information, ensuring that it can continue to function and optimal levels. Highly emotive memories, often tied to the senses, are more difficult to forget, though often stand alone if they are far too distant in one's past while learned memories, such as muscle memory, grows stronger with practice and is the hardest to remove. The recall for any one individual ranges anywhere from three to five centuries. In some rare cases of mutation it is possible for an elgfreyn to be incapable of forgetting, rendering the affected insane after a period of time and often shunned to the lower castes. It is not uncommon for elgfreyn to exhibit short term memory issues.

<h4 style="margin-top:6pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.4pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Inbreeding

<p style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Due to the limited genetic pool there is a <span style="border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-top-color:windowtext;border-right-color:windowtext;border-bottom-color:windowtext;border-left-color:windowtext;border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-bottom-width:1pt;border-left-width:1pt;padding-top:0in;padding-right:0in;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:0in;">great  deal of inbreeding to be found in the elgfreyn population, though social norms and taboos have been established over the years that make the potential of producing a child with poor bloodlines or otherwise inferior highly unattractive. For this reason, there are very few instances of direct incest and relations are otherwise self-monitored. More visible unions, such as those in higher-ranked houses, are more carefully considered, however the laws to prevent incest are rarely enforced.

<h3 style="margin-top:6pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.4pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Iskra

<p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Due to their strong iskra allergy, the elgfreyn rarely travel south of the Mother's Hand. While capable of being in proximity to the material, contact with iskra results in an immediate reaction, most commonly characterized by skin irritation. Iskra-inflicted wounds, or wounds with trace amounts of iskra still in them are incredibly dangerous to any elgfreyn due to their stubborn nature, often refusing to heal until thoroughly cleaned which in many cases necessitates removal of tissue. Manipulation of iskra is considered is both disorienting and possibly deadly for elgfreyn individuals.

<h2 style="margin-top:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.4pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;padding-top:0in;padding-right:0in;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:0in;"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Society and Culture  <p style="margin-top:4.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Strict and militaristic, elgfreyn exist within a caste that can best be put into example by the Spire itself. At the base exists the barest of architecture to accommodate the lowest orders of the hierarchy, including those deformed or otherwise incapable of work and those impure of blood. Consisting of numerous stables, cramped marketplaces and numerous accommodations for non-elgfreyn that visit the Spire, rarely are these visitors permitted above the first three levels. It is important to note that before the abolition of slavery within the Spire that while slaves were considered part of the lowest tiers they were held above the impure and deformed, closer to the level of commoners.

<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Higher up come the common folk and tradespeople with vocational skills holding a high level of esteem in the Spire. Teachers and religious leaders come next, a trend toward more lavish, spiritually-slanted decoration beginning at this point with "noble" families occupying the highest levels. Second only to the throne by title comes the guards and soldiers, a military life being the most celebrated of positions, elevating one's status to "highborn". Serving the throne, the guards have a large say in who takes power, regardless of the politics played out by the rest of the noble families and have been known to seat and dismiss leaders at their discretion. Being the law itself, the guards run a code of honor and respect, most similar to that of a pack with a naturally emerging hierarchy that rewards strength, cunning, or skill.

Religion and Spirituality
<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Traditionally monotheistic, the elgfreyn empire has been built around the concept of a single female goddess with religious leaders accounting for a portion of the noble houses, though the goddess’ identity itself is not permanent. The oldest incarnation of the paragon was that of a mother, usurped some 10,000 years ago by the cooler, stricter, crueler, more formidable Mistress who gave way to the military-backed, physically present Aoid three centuries ago. While the Mistress introduced many of the stark concepts that made the foundations of elgfreyn society, Aoid’s doctrine is considerably different and arguably only managed to gain control thanks to the efforts of Ryscdan Sicycre.

<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Credited with the formation of the original Whiteguard, an order of holy warriors that express undying loyalty to their goddess, Aoid, Ryscdan Sicycre undoubtedly had a highly influential role in Aoid’s rise to power, though it may be argued that he only expedited her rise to power, with much of her success being due to both her characteristic determination and charisma.

<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">With Aoid’s recent disappearance from the Spire, the Whiteguard has taken control of the throne leaving the people without a leader’s guidance or oversight. While political matters abandoned by the queen stagnate, Mistress worship has begun to reemerge.

<h3 style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:15.75pt;background-image:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-top-color:windowtext;border-right-color:windowtext;border-bottom-color:windowtext;border-left-color:windowtext;border-top-width:1pt;border-right-width:1pt;border-bottom-width:1pt;border-left-width:1pt;padding-top:0in;padding-right:0in;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:0in;">Clothing, Body Modification, and Material Culture <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:15.75pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;">Living in cooler climates, elgfreyn clothing is largely made of wool and fur with a preference among the noble class for showing power in modest ornamentation, such as lace trim or subtle scroll work. Elgfreyn hair is typically worn long by both genders with body modification, such as tattoos, scarification, or piercings still identifying an individual as different and potentially dangerous to associate with deviation from the crowd still not widely accepted. Elgfreyn culture places extreme importance on the colors red and white while expressing disapproval toward extravagance – while the common person might wear undyed garments or muted colors, it is not unusual for highly ranked houses to own and prize articles in either red or white. While much of the military base wears unadorned armor, prestige as a warrior is signified by enameling one’s plate red. White armor is reserved for members of the Whiteguard, and members of the Whiteguard alone.

Gender Roles
<span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:15.75pt;">Much of elgfreyn culture is androgynous, lacking specific gender roles in most day to day life. Males and females may both enter the military and hold any position, rank with many titles being gender-neutral. This is challenged only by successfully birthing a child, entering mother and child both into the higher ranks for the first twenty years of the child’s life.