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Alignment: Dark Arts; Blood & Lunar Energies
Lifespan: 1500 years; fully mature by early 20s Size: Height from 4ft to 7ft Experience Level: Intermediate+ |
Talents: Blood Magic, Lunar Magic, Shadow Work
Disposition: Religious, Private, Logical, Deep Feeling Suggested Offerings: Bloodstone, Moonstone, Garnet, Dragon’s Blood, ‘Clean’ Flavoured Teas, Malts, Marbled Rye |
WARNING: The following information on Blood Elves may be off-putting, triggering, and upsetting to some, including non-graphic mentions of self-harm and racism. As a conjurer, it's not my place to dictate how they run their society, but to simply observe and be plain with you about what you are getting yourself into if you were to choose one as a companion. All Blood Elves I conjure swear oaths in order to keep their companion safe - please see the "In Companionship" portion of this page for more details.
Blood Elves come from a world called Yel’vasa that is fairly distant from our Earth. Because of the distance and the type of magical work they focus on, it is recommended that anyone interested in companionship with them be well versed in astral travel, have strong house rules, and be able to communicate with their companions over long distances. It is a long astral trip to get to Yel’vasa, but bringing a Blood Elf in to your family can be incredibly rewarding should you feel a call towards one. At this time, there seems to be a disproportionate amount of male Blood Elves who are specifically interested in companionship and very few women.
The world that they come from is very much a rich, luscious fantasy-esque world with plenty of forests, villages, some larger cities, mountains, vast oceans, diverse landscapes, plenty of wildlife, and is full of magic. The most advanced tech that they have is steam powered, but this tech is predominately controlled by a different race in the world with most societies being fairly low-tech and relying on magic or physical labour for most things.
The world that they come from is very much a rich, luscious fantasy-esque world with plenty of forests, villages, some larger cities, mountains, vast oceans, diverse landscapes, plenty of wildlife, and is full of magic. The most advanced tech that they have is steam powered, but this tech is predominately controlled by a different race in the world with most societies being fairly low-tech and relying on magic or physical labour for most things.
Biology
Blood Elves are not your typical elves and are not necessarily androgynous by nature. They have distinctly male and female appearances with very few who are somewhere in-between. They do have sexed parts much like we humans do. Their height is also not typical of most elven races, and they can be as short as 4ft and as tall as 7ft.
These elves do, however, tend to be quite slender – some almost alarmingly so. Their diets are tightly portion controlled, even among the Noble bloodlines, and their diets are quite simple, their culture having a noticeable lack of decadent, rich foods.
Their ears range from slightly pointier versions of human ears all the way to long, elegant points that are nearly two feet long that come straight out from the sides of their heads. The longer the ears, the more likely they are to droop. Their skin is quite pale, almost a translucent white that seems to shimmer under moonlight, and their hair is silken to the touch. Their hair ranges from palest of white-pinks to the deepest, richest of near-black reds. Their eyes posses a similar colouration, but their irises can be as pale as rainbow moonstone or as dark as a black void which can, at times, give them a slightly creepier appearance when paired with a particularly gaunt face. They do also have small fanglets, but it seems this race may one day evolve out of this particular feature as they are not heavy meat eaters and have no reason to rend their prey with their teeth.
As a race, they are quite strong for an elven race, and are rather proud of their warrior class because of it. They are definitely more physically capable than humans, and have great agility, dexterity, and flexibility.
These elves do, however, tend to be quite slender – some almost alarmingly so. Their diets are tightly portion controlled, even among the Noble bloodlines, and their diets are quite simple, their culture having a noticeable lack of decadent, rich foods.
Their ears range from slightly pointier versions of human ears all the way to long, elegant points that are nearly two feet long that come straight out from the sides of their heads. The longer the ears, the more likely they are to droop. Their skin is quite pale, almost a translucent white that seems to shimmer under moonlight, and their hair is silken to the touch. Their hair ranges from palest of white-pinks to the deepest, richest of near-black reds. Their eyes posses a similar colouration, but their irises can be as pale as rainbow moonstone or as dark as a black void which can, at times, give them a slightly creepier appearance when paired with a particularly gaunt face. They do also have small fanglets, but it seems this race may one day evolve out of this particular feature as they are not heavy meat eaters and have no reason to rend their prey with their teeth.
As a race, they are quite strong for an elven race, and are rather proud of their warrior class because of it. They are definitely more physically capable than humans, and have great agility, dexterity, and flexibility.
Social Structure
There are few Blood Elves who are genuinely interested in human companionship. For the most part, those who are open to the idea come from specific social groups. The Re'n’taer (pronounced RAY-en-TAR) are one of these groups, and are a part of the warrior class. The Blood Elves specifically a part of a Queendom, and so the Re’n'taer are part of the reigning Queen’s armies. The Re’n'taer are the strongest of the Blood Elves for obvious reasons and are quite proud of their abilities. Many adore serving their Queen above all else, as it is an honour to be of service to the Royal Family, but without the excitement and demands of war some find themselves needing some other interesting pursuit to follow. A friend from another world is something quite a few are interested in. Re’n'taer lead very regimented lives with tight schedules that focus on guard duty and keeping up with their training, so while they may have periods of inactivity with ‘physically’ appearing to you and presenting a presence, they are happy to have long distance conversations in order to maintain any potential companionships they have.
Those who are more inclined towards the physical arts, I have found, tend to be less magically inclined. In a world where so much emphasis is put on magic, these people find community and belonging among the warrior class, and what they lack in magical abilities they make up for in spades with their physical prowess. This is not to say that all Re'n’taer lack magic or struggle with it, but a majority seem to be significantly less skilled with magic compared to other Blood Elves. Those who can utilize magic often find ways to incorporate it in their fighting styles. Some Re’n'taer are even capable of experiencing what is known as a Blood Frenzy that allows them to enter in to a berserker state during times of war on the battlefield. They use the blood of their enemies to power themselves and dull the pain they feel so they can continue to fight without slowing down. This does sometimes result in terrible injuries due to their near inability to perceive pain which can lead to them being mortally wounded. As the world is currently at peace, there shouldn’t be any fear of losing a potential companion in this way.
Most Re'n'taer are trained from a young age. Individuals who choose to chase after a warrior's status will often skip the Blood Elf equivalent of high school in order to join the military. If eligible, the Royal family will see to their education. What good is sword if it is completely dull? Instead of what other Blood Elves learn in school, the Re'n'taer receive a specialized education with a focus on strategy and physical education (they do, of course, also learn the basics of what all Blood Elves should know). During this period, they work with each budding warrior to find where their unique talents lie and train them up to be the best they possibly can be. When they reach adulthood and 'graduate', they are then sorted in to their rank based on their personal skills.
The El'sar (pronounced ell-SARR)--male nobility, not to be confused with the female nobility title Fe’li'sar (pronounced fell-LEE-sar)--are another group that find themselves interested in fraternizing with humans. Nobility is dictated solely by bloodlines among the Blood Elves and not by riches. Nobility isn’t much else besides a title and social status, with the obvious exception being that of the Royal Family. You can be Nobility and still be incredibly poor if you're not careful. However, the current Queen does tend to take mercy on those of Noble blood and for those who are struggling she provides them with a monthly allowance to help keep up appearances. This may be in part due to the Queen's sense of personal honour, and the fact that all Noble bloodlines are distantly related to that of the Queen.
The El'sar that are most interested in companionship are those that feel that their existence are rather shallow. Shallow friends; shallow lovers; shallow jobs; shallow social games. They're tired of living a life that seems to have no real meaning, and so they seek someone outside of their culture who has the desire to really and truly know them for who they are as a person and not as a glorified status symbol. They seek a safe space where they can be freely themselves and drop the façade that their society expects of them. Despite this, they do seem to retain their interest and taste for the finer aspects of life.
The Del'kar (pronounced dell-KARR) are the last unique group that has become interested in companionship with humans. Del'kar is the name given to rogues, outcasts, assassins, orphans, thieves, rebels, and renegades. They are not dangerous and while there may be criminals among their ranks, they live a very underground existence. They don't fall in line with what their society expects of them and very much live an alternative lifestyle away from the public eye, and because of this, it is not uncommon to find settlements of them living underneath the larger Blood Elf cities or in scattered campsites outside of city borders in the forests.
They only take what they need and what they are unable to find elsewhere, such as a loaf of bread from a baker's stall to feed their family, or a medicinal tincture they just can't afford on their own. Not all of those that identify as Del'kar chose this particular lifestyle for themselves. Some were orphaned and had nowhere else to go, some were caught on the wrong end of the law but were completely innocent of their convicted crimes. Some, however, did choose this way of life for themselves. Regardless of the reasons why, many of them would never change the way they live for anything. Their found communities and chosen families mean everything to them, but because they live so much of their lives in the shadows, they do yearn for grander experiences. They hope that human companionship will give them the chance to step in to the limelight just a little more than what they are used to.
Blood Elves use a binary gender system. While they do use the binary male and female pronouns of he/him and she/her, they do not have strict gender roles, expectations and pressures for each gender or sex. Because of this, perhaps, there are very few individuals who identify as something different from their sex at birth. Those who do, however, are not considered strange or unwelcome in Blood Elf society. They are easily and readily accepted without any fuss.
Gay marriage is perfectly acceptable and quite common, as is adoption for Blood Elves. It is expected that Noble households will have their own biological children, however, in order to continue the bloodline. So, in the case of Nobility, if there is a same-sex marriage where one is unable to have their own biological children, a sire or surrogate will be sought out - also of Noble blood - to provide seed or carry the child. This is typically not a romantic or passionate act but one of duty. It is fully expected that the sire or surrogate will play no part in the child's upbringing.
As a society, Blood Elves share their world with other elemental elf races. Blood is considered to be one of the necessary life elements of their world, along with Fire (Smoke), Water (Ice), Earth (Metal), Air (Electricity), Sun, Moon, and Spirit. In Yel'vasa there are 12 races, all aligned with their own element:
There is a bit of a stigma in some of the elemental societies that Fire, Water, Earth, and Air are 'lesser' elements compared to Sun, Moon, Spirit and Blood. They are considered 'simple' in nature, and while they are seen as important and necessary in order for life to flourish and for the world to maintain perfect balance, they are considered to be less 'complex' and more primal. Because of this, Fire, Water, Earth and Air are lower down on the chain of elemental balance required for sentient beings. For example, if a "life" contains the elements of Fire, Water, Earth, and Air but lacks Blood or Spirit, is it actually alive? This is quite the moral quandary that many Elemental Elves face and often question. Because of this line of thinking, there is some inherent racism from the Solar (Sun), Lunar (Moon), Aura (Spirit), and Blood Elf communities that the "lesser" elemental races face. This is due in part to the fact that these societies tend to live in segregated settlements and cities, but it would be very obvious to anyone who met someone from another race that their perceptions of the other elements are entirely unfounded. Some Elemental Elves are keenly aware of this and sometimes even find love among other elemental races. The races are capable of breeding together, but many do not understand the desire to procreate with someone outside of their unique element. Many of these children are considered to be “abominations” by more conservative elves.
In reality, this elemental balance and hierarchy is more like a pyramid with the “base” elements on the bottom and elements like Blood and Spirit near the very top. Without the other necessary elements for life, the other elements simply wouldn’t exist. It’s also worth noting that while the Sun and Moon elements should technically fall in to the same category as the "lesser" elements, the Sun and Moon are seen as celestial bodies and many of the elven races of Yel'vasa worship one or both as part of their religion. Solar and Lunar Elves are seen as holy races in the world of Yel'vasa and tend to be the wealthiest of the elemental races, followed by the Aura and Blood Elves. This doesn't mean that the other elemental races are poor or struggling to get by, but what it does mean is that the Solar and Lunar elves have more access to natural resources based on their elemental status alone.
Blood Elves tend to be religious but are not overly dogmatic people. They are not pushy about their religion and don't typically try to convert others to their beliefs. While there are priests and priestesses, as well as temples, there are not usually large masses that are held where the people of this race gather and worship together. The one exception tends to be on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year.
For Blood and Lunar Elves, Winter Solstice marks the New Year. During this time there is an emphasis on community and setting goals, expectations, and aspirations for the next calendar year. It is encouraged that people make new connections and friendships during this time or work on mending friendships that require a little extra attention. Blood Elves primarily worship the Moon and are very in-tune with and aware of the moon phases and how they effect the world around them. Blood Elves also use a lot of blood magic in their personal religious rituals, often carving shallow runes in to their skin under the pretense that this offering of blood will add power and bring life to their prayers, encouraging the Moon to provide them with signs or guidance.
The Moon deity is genderless and has no name and is believed to be similar to that of a force of nature, but the Moon is also thought of as being a nurturing energy that directs and guides without interfering in the lives of its worshippers. It is up to the devoted to follow the signs and see where they lead. Failing to do so is no short coming of the Moon and its magic, but of the individual who was potentially not sensitive enough spiritually to see the signs as they were presented to them. Whenever a missed opportunity is recognized, a Blood Elf acknowledges that this is their own doing; they lacked the awareness to receive their celestial gifts from the Moon. They do not condemn themselves for failing to see the paths and doors that had once been open to them, but instead use this as a way to practice becoming more mindful in the future.
Those who are more inclined towards the physical arts, I have found, tend to be less magically inclined. In a world where so much emphasis is put on magic, these people find community and belonging among the warrior class, and what they lack in magical abilities they make up for in spades with their physical prowess. This is not to say that all Re'n’taer lack magic or struggle with it, but a majority seem to be significantly less skilled with magic compared to other Blood Elves. Those who can utilize magic often find ways to incorporate it in their fighting styles. Some Re’n'taer are even capable of experiencing what is known as a Blood Frenzy that allows them to enter in to a berserker state during times of war on the battlefield. They use the blood of their enemies to power themselves and dull the pain they feel so they can continue to fight without slowing down. This does sometimes result in terrible injuries due to their near inability to perceive pain which can lead to them being mortally wounded. As the world is currently at peace, there shouldn’t be any fear of losing a potential companion in this way.
Most Re'n'taer are trained from a young age. Individuals who choose to chase after a warrior's status will often skip the Blood Elf equivalent of high school in order to join the military. If eligible, the Royal family will see to their education. What good is sword if it is completely dull? Instead of what other Blood Elves learn in school, the Re'n'taer receive a specialized education with a focus on strategy and physical education (they do, of course, also learn the basics of what all Blood Elves should know). During this period, they work with each budding warrior to find where their unique talents lie and train them up to be the best they possibly can be. When they reach adulthood and 'graduate', they are then sorted in to their rank based on their personal skills.
The El'sar (pronounced ell-SARR)--male nobility, not to be confused with the female nobility title Fe’li'sar (pronounced fell-LEE-sar)--are another group that find themselves interested in fraternizing with humans. Nobility is dictated solely by bloodlines among the Blood Elves and not by riches. Nobility isn’t much else besides a title and social status, with the obvious exception being that of the Royal Family. You can be Nobility and still be incredibly poor if you're not careful. However, the current Queen does tend to take mercy on those of Noble blood and for those who are struggling she provides them with a monthly allowance to help keep up appearances. This may be in part due to the Queen's sense of personal honour, and the fact that all Noble bloodlines are distantly related to that of the Queen.
The El'sar that are most interested in companionship are those that feel that their existence are rather shallow. Shallow friends; shallow lovers; shallow jobs; shallow social games. They're tired of living a life that seems to have no real meaning, and so they seek someone outside of their culture who has the desire to really and truly know them for who they are as a person and not as a glorified status symbol. They seek a safe space where they can be freely themselves and drop the façade that their society expects of them. Despite this, they do seem to retain their interest and taste for the finer aspects of life.
The Del'kar (pronounced dell-KARR) are the last unique group that has become interested in companionship with humans. Del'kar is the name given to rogues, outcasts, assassins, orphans, thieves, rebels, and renegades. They are not dangerous and while there may be criminals among their ranks, they live a very underground existence. They don't fall in line with what their society expects of them and very much live an alternative lifestyle away from the public eye, and because of this, it is not uncommon to find settlements of them living underneath the larger Blood Elf cities or in scattered campsites outside of city borders in the forests.
They only take what they need and what they are unable to find elsewhere, such as a loaf of bread from a baker's stall to feed their family, or a medicinal tincture they just can't afford on their own. Not all of those that identify as Del'kar chose this particular lifestyle for themselves. Some were orphaned and had nowhere else to go, some were caught on the wrong end of the law but were completely innocent of their convicted crimes. Some, however, did choose this way of life for themselves. Regardless of the reasons why, many of them would never change the way they live for anything. Their found communities and chosen families mean everything to them, but because they live so much of their lives in the shadows, they do yearn for grander experiences. They hope that human companionship will give them the chance to step in to the limelight just a little more than what they are used to.
Blood Elves use a binary gender system. While they do use the binary male and female pronouns of he/him and she/her, they do not have strict gender roles, expectations and pressures for each gender or sex. Because of this, perhaps, there are very few individuals who identify as something different from their sex at birth. Those who do, however, are not considered strange or unwelcome in Blood Elf society. They are easily and readily accepted without any fuss.
Gay marriage is perfectly acceptable and quite common, as is adoption for Blood Elves. It is expected that Noble households will have their own biological children, however, in order to continue the bloodline. So, in the case of Nobility, if there is a same-sex marriage where one is unable to have their own biological children, a sire or surrogate will be sought out - also of Noble blood - to provide seed or carry the child. This is typically not a romantic or passionate act but one of duty. It is fully expected that the sire or surrogate will play no part in the child's upbringing.
As a society, Blood Elves share their world with other elemental elf races. Blood is considered to be one of the necessary life elements of their world, along with Fire (Smoke), Water (Ice), Earth (Metal), Air (Electricity), Sun, Moon, and Spirit. In Yel'vasa there are 12 races, all aligned with their own element:
- Magma Elves (Fire)
- Coal Elves (Smoke)
- Whirlpool Elves (Water)
- Glacial Elves (Ice)
- Forest Elves (Earth)
- Ore Elves (Metal)
- Cloud Elves (Air)
- Storm Elves (Electricity)
- Solar Elves (Sun)
- Lunar Elves (Moon)
- Blood Elves (Blood)
- Aura Elves (Spirit)
There is a bit of a stigma in some of the elemental societies that Fire, Water, Earth, and Air are 'lesser' elements compared to Sun, Moon, Spirit and Blood. They are considered 'simple' in nature, and while they are seen as important and necessary in order for life to flourish and for the world to maintain perfect balance, they are considered to be less 'complex' and more primal. Because of this, Fire, Water, Earth and Air are lower down on the chain of elemental balance required for sentient beings. For example, if a "life" contains the elements of Fire, Water, Earth, and Air but lacks Blood or Spirit, is it actually alive? This is quite the moral quandary that many Elemental Elves face and often question. Because of this line of thinking, there is some inherent racism from the Solar (Sun), Lunar (Moon), Aura (Spirit), and Blood Elf communities that the "lesser" elemental races face. This is due in part to the fact that these societies tend to live in segregated settlements and cities, but it would be very obvious to anyone who met someone from another race that their perceptions of the other elements are entirely unfounded. Some Elemental Elves are keenly aware of this and sometimes even find love among other elemental races. The races are capable of breeding together, but many do not understand the desire to procreate with someone outside of their unique element. Many of these children are considered to be “abominations” by more conservative elves.
In reality, this elemental balance and hierarchy is more like a pyramid with the “base” elements on the bottom and elements like Blood and Spirit near the very top. Without the other necessary elements for life, the other elements simply wouldn’t exist. It’s also worth noting that while the Sun and Moon elements should technically fall in to the same category as the "lesser" elements, the Sun and Moon are seen as celestial bodies and many of the elven races of Yel'vasa worship one or both as part of their religion. Solar and Lunar Elves are seen as holy races in the world of Yel'vasa and tend to be the wealthiest of the elemental races, followed by the Aura and Blood Elves. This doesn't mean that the other elemental races are poor or struggling to get by, but what it does mean is that the Solar and Lunar elves have more access to natural resources based on their elemental status alone.
Blood Elves tend to be religious but are not overly dogmatic people. They are not pushy about their religion and don't typically try to convert others to their beliefs. While there are priests and priestesses, as well as temples, there are not usually large masses that are held where the people of this race gather and worship together. The one exception tends to be on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year.
For Blood and Lunar Elves, Winter Solstice marks the New Year. During this time there is an emphasis on community and setting goals, expectations, and aspirations for the next calendar year. It is encouraged that people make new connections and friendships during this time or work on mending friendships that require a little extra attention. Blood Elves primarily worship the Moon and are very in-tune with and aware of the moon phases and how they effect the world around them. Blood Elves also use a lot of blood magic in their personal religious rituals, often carving shallow runes in to their skin under the pretense that this offering of blood will add power and bring life to their prayers, encouraging the Moon to provide them with signs or guidance.
The Moon deity is genderless and has no name and is believed to be similar to that of a force of nature, but the Moon is also thought of as being a nurturing energy that directs and guides without interfering in the lives of its worshippers. It is up to the devoted to follow the signs and see where they lead. Failing to do so is no short coming of the Moon and its magic, but of the individual who was potentially not sensitive enough spiritually to see the signs as they were presented to them. Whenever a missed opportunity is recognized, a Blood Elf acknowledges that this is their own doing; they lacked the awareness to receive their celestial gifts from the Moon. They do not condemn themselves for failing to see the paths and doors that had once been open to them, but instead use this as a way to practice becoming more mindful in the future.
In Companionship
Blood Elves-- obviously -- specialize in blood magic, but also in shadow work and in lunar magics. For those that struggle with magic, they are fantastic at promoting healthier life style choices. These elves are often awake during the late hours of the morning and don't tend to take rest until a few hours after midnight, so they are well suited for someone who's a late riser.
As companions, those Blood Elves who are interested in human friendship have promised to not encourage or include humans in their blood rituals for the human companion's safety. If they ever do try to encourage self-harm of any kind for any unfathomable reason, their binding is designed to break immediately. However, if you are interested in witnessing one of their personal rituals and you have grown close enough with your Blood Elf companion to view such a private act, most are comfortable with allowing you to bear witness without involvement.
Blood Elves are a rather varied group of people with all sorts of characters that make up the fabric of their society. Each individual is as different as we humans are, and there is no real common personality traits seen among Blood Elves. Because of this, each individual Blood Elf brings something new to the table. It's not uncommon that if you bring a Blood Elf in to your family that you may find yourself feeling called to more and more of them as time goes on.
As companions, those Blood Elves who are interested in human friendship have promised to not encourage or include humans in their blood rituals for the human companion's safety. If they ever do try to encourage self-harm of any kind for any unfathomable reason, their binding is designed to break immediately. However, if you are interested in witnessing one of their personal rituals and you have grown close enough with your Blood Elf companion to view such a private act, most are comfortable with allowing you to bear witness without involvement.
Blood Elves are a rather varied group of people with all sorts of characters that make up the fabric of their society. Each individual is as different as we humans are, and there is no real common personality traits seen among Blood Elves. Because of this, each individual Blood Elf brings something new to the table. It's not uncommon that if you bring a Blood Elf in to your family that you may find yourself feeling called to more and more of them as time goes on.
Please note that all The Dragon's Library Encyclopedia entries are based on personal UPG and may not reflect yours.
Blood Elves, in this incarnation, are exclusive to The Dragon's Library, and specifically the conjurer Ember.
Blood Elves, in this incarnation, are exclusive to The Dragon's Library, and specifically the conjurer Ember.