Once the rulers of the world; now a persecuted underclass blamed for the Wrath.
Before the Wrath
The Elves called themselves the First. They mastered powerful Arts and ruled the Earth as sole rulers — until, per Church doctrine, their arrogance and heed of the Deceiver brought down the Wrath. Leylines are said to be, at their source, of old elvish origin. (S3)
Elves Today
- Physically: similar height to humans, slighter builds, notably attractive, only slightly pointed ears — but sometimes eye and hair colors well outside the human norm (Ari’s golden eyes).
- Most live impoverished in urban ghettos. Church doctrine says they are not Corrupted, but many lay folk believe otherwise.
- Watched constantly for the Arts of Corruption — by the Order of the Phoenix in the West, and the Eyes of the Order of the Eagle in the East. Crackdowns are swift.
- Elf children who manifest a Gift are taken to be raised by the Church; late manifestation triggers investigation for cover-ups.
- Inter-race relationships are deeply taboo; offspring considered abominations. Attractive elves are trafficked in corners of the sex trade, and some untouchable aristocrats openly keep elven partners.
Elves in Hazad
Conditions have improved somewhat under Sultan Fahim’s relatively tolerant policy — elves may own property and take apprenticeships. Those with more than minor Gifts are pressed into service or purged. Waves of western elves fleeing The Troubles have arrived; initially welcomed, they’re now seen as a burden by Hazadi elves.
Current Events
- Rumors blame an elf for an attempt on Baahir’s life; elves have been attacked and at least one house burned. The rumors appeared suspiciously fast. (S3) See The Elf Scapegoating.
- Midsummer 1739: it has gotten much worse. Two lines circulate openly in the capital — “elves brought plague” (an imported western disaster blamed on elven refugees) and “the elven seductress who got her fangs into Bahir tried to assassinate him.” Sadiq, an elf and an Eagle quartermaster, now wears his order’s tabard in public to reduce trouble. Then the capital rioted, a mob stormed the Ulpia estate, and seeing Ari made it angrier. (S6) See The Riot at the Ulpia Estate.
- Ari has been building contacts in the Isbi’liyyah elven community for the party. (S2–3) Nobody has checked whether that community survived the riot.
- Restricted lore: Old Elven writing survives but studying it is dangerous, “lest one invite the Wrath once more.” Written Dwarven may be a variant of the Old Elven alphabet — a claim that gets scholars punched. See Languages.