a_study_of_green_elves []

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====== A Study Of Green Elves ======


//by Cinnara Meadow, Scholar of The Binders of Kismet.//

In all my years as a scholar, there is one people that has always intrigued and eluded me. The closer I looked, the better they hid. The sharper my ears, the softer their footfalls. They are so secluded, that many thought them lost to time. The Green elves, I was told, is but a legend.

//"Thearnytaar. Eiellr. Sypiir. Miyeritar. Keltormir. The first grand elven nations of so long ago. Now only a legend, the faint whispers of long forgotten glory. Oh, to unravel the mystery of this people! The first elven explorers to this world, who accompanied the Lythari and the Avariels on those very first voyages. The green elves, who built such wonderful cities and were once the very masters of craft and magic. How could such a grand and magnificent civilization fall so easily to the dark elves? Oh, to dwell into the past and find the truth to their tragic story!"//

(Excerpt from "Birdie - Wild Elf of The Unicorn" by Cinnara Meadow)

==== First Encounters ====

In 580 SG, a clan known as The Huntsmen bragged about a hard battle won against a small elven settlement deep within Kilkaen. Nearby residents claimed such a settlement simply did not exist. Upon closer questioning, however, some woodsmen and traveling merchants admitted to having traded with a group of dark-skinned elves. They were described as rugged and wild-looking, often clad in animal hides and lacking the graceful social finesse normally associated with elven kind. A forest fire erupted as direct result of this alleged battle, and the site was never found. The ranks of The Huntsmen were severely thinned in the encounter, never fully recovering, - a testament to the fierceness with which these elves fought.

In the year 590 SG I first encountered witness-accounts of elven sightings by human rangers native to Asgard. The ghost of an elven child had been spotted in the vicinity of a pixie. It was described as being dark of skin and hair, dressed in animal hides. When the rangers approached, the child disappeared and the pixie chased the rangers off. Likewise, the beasts of Systhach(?) speak of ghost assassins, but no prey lives to tell their tale. I searched every inch of the magical, and highly dangerous, forest of Parnelli, from the northern mountains to the god-forsaken Laerad Plains, through which lay the only non-magical way back to the main-land. The closest I ever came, was awakening in the Carriage House with a headache and no memory of the last few hours.

It is my theory that these two groups are related. They were most likely separated during The Sundering of 0 SG, in which the island of Laerad was torn from the mainland.

=== The Parnelli Tribe ===

My luck changed in 680 SG, when I first crossed paths with a young elven orphan with the peculiar name of "Birdie", later known as Sumara Woodherd. A child of Mielikki, who claimed to have been raised by nature itself. We slowly became friends and my completed account of her adventures can be found in libaries across the realm. Imagine my excitement, when it became clear to both of us that she might well be a green elf with ties to the Parnelli tribe. She was later accepted by the tribe, and is now rumored to roam the wilds, defending nature and her tribe alongside a topaz dragon.

== A Disaster in Parnelli ==

711 SG a disaster befell the communities on the Island of Laerad. A gargantuan creature of legendary powers, known as a "tarrasque" awoke from slumber to wreck havoc upon the nearby lands. The city of Asgard took heavy damage. The tribe of green elves hidden deep within Parnelli had their dwelling destroyed in the incident, and found temporary refuge with the elves of Synoria. None of the elves perished in the disaster. In its wake, though, two scouts were killed and a child abducted by worshippers of Talos. The green elf druid known as Orn Sul and his allies rescued the child.* It was in the wake of this disaster, that I was honored to sit with a small group of green elves. From these talks and my time with Sumara, I have gained valuable insight into their ways and customs.

//*It is interesting to note that the druid Orn Sul was aided by the humans, Verbannon, Trillet and Vidarr, as well as the gnome Jimi Juker. Note also that the human noble Zathery of Tyr, on Sumara's request, aided in the recovery of green elves who had been lost in the incident.
//

== Structure ==

The tribe in question is a matriarch, governed by a council of Elders, whose word is Law. Their numbers remain unknown, as do their origin. It is rare now, for a green elf to venture far from their dwelling and those that do remain hidden, often choosing not to communicate with outsiders at all. They appear quite xenophobic, even more so than golden elves, and adhere strictly to the codes set down by the Elders. This is understandable, as it was the green elves who most fiercely opposed the human expansion in the past. Their distrust of other races also include their elven cousins, who they view as too far removed from nature. This is evident in the word used for elven outsiders, Tel'Quessir il-hostar, which translates into “elf not of my tribe”. Careful probing suggests that there are no half-humans among them, despite their close vicinity to the former city of Asgard.

The tribe has since returned to Parnelli. The disaster seems to have inspired an attempt to communicate with Asgard, as they too rebuild. With the human noble Zathery and the green-elven druid Ornsul in charge of diplomatic relations, a minor change might be in the air for the green elves of Parnelli.


== Art and Culture ==

While little to no written works by members of the tribe exist, the wealth of their oral traditions is remarkable. Songs and stories, passed down through generations, some as old as the race itself, exist aplenty. The legends provide guidelines for moral conduct and ethics, as well as day to day activities. The songs may be used in worship, to inspire courage and skill, or to invoke the tribal spirits, often in synchrony with dance. The Green elves enjoy festivities and often pay tribute to nature by way of song and dance. The solstice feasts are of particular importance. 

Their art, while ranging in complexity, is often meant to be temporary; a painting drawn by color rocks, upon a rock or an animal skin, a crown of leaves or an excellent meal, a spontaneous dance or song never repeated. Likewise, the tools they use may seem simple at first glance, but I have noticed most are sturdy and can be easily reassembled to fit their current task. Like nature shifts and changes, so does the green elves, while their way of life, much like nature itself, remains a steady, repetitive circle.

They no longer build cities, preferring to live as natural as possible, in mounds or nest-like abodes within the trees. Could I have passed straight through their dwelling and not even noticed? Despite the simplicity of their homes, they have retained the art of forging magical weapons and gear. Though seemingly simple and somewhat rural in design, I am assured they are every bit as effective as ours. I am prone to believe them, as the magic of their tribal rituals have aided in keeping them hidden and safe from all but a legendary beast. I am also left to wonder if their mystical powers are essential for the magic in Parnelli and to the defense against what is rumored to exist within the mountains?

=== Other Tribes? ===

My research into the Green Elves continue, and I have heard rumors tribes existing both in the wild lands and in the mountains bordering the Tsarven Empire.
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