Austin Ithens

Florian is a country filled with many different ecosystems and climates, with a plethora of beings such as humans, elves, goblins, orcs, and more. There is discrimination between the rich and poor, with wealthy individuals looking down on peasants under ordinary circumstances. There are several social ecosystems within the country as well. The inner ring: Contains the capital city and the most prestigious communities/cities. Very expensive to live in and have a high quality of life. The middle ring: Contains cities that range in terms of prosperity but overall have a medium quality of life. These places mostly have a trade route going through them, well-known landmarks, or something that keeps them afloat. The outer ring: Contains poor communities that receive little to no assistance from the capital, and vast countryside. The Outskirts: the outskirts or 'the edge' is effectively a forsaken part of the country that is left alone, bordering neighboring countries that often change hands.

Elves were once a unified people, sharing culture, magic, and purpose. A philosophical divide — now obscured by millennia of conflicting accounts — fractured the ancient elven order. Much like the Je’daii split, neither side remembers the truth clearly. What remains are fragments, myths, and accusations. From this schism emerged the modern elven branches: High Elves, Snow Elves, Desert Elves, Wild Elves, Lowland Elves, Common Elves, and the exiled Dark Elves. Exile of the Dark Elves The Dark Elves were driven from their ancestral homeland after the schism. Whether they were defeated, betrayed, or simply outmaneuvered is unknown. Forced underground, they survived in vast cavern networks and subterranean cities. Over thousands of years, they adapted biologically to their new environment: Darkened skin for mineral‑rich environments Enlarged pupils and reflective retinal tissue for low‑light vision Heightened hearing due to cavern acoustics Sunlight intolerance, ranging from discomfort to severe pain Faint bioluminescent eye sheen in some bloodlines These changes were evolutionary, not magical. Underground Culture Dark Elf society evolved around scarcity, silence, and survival. Names are sacred, tied to lineage and memory Whisper‑based communication to avoid echo distortion Light is precious, lanterns treated as heirlooms Architecture is vertical, carved into cavern walls Art is tactile, emphasizing texture over color Territory is political, tunnels representing clan power Oral tradition dominates, but stories shift over generations Their culture is deeply introspective, shaped by isolation and the weight of history. Rise of the True Elves A small faction of Dark Elves eventually rejected the underground life entirely. They believe the schism was a mistake — a wound that must be healed. They call themselves True Elves, and they reject: the exile the underground clans the political narratives the name “Dark Elf” the name “Drow” their own ancestral names To them, names are chains to a broken past. Why They Abandoned Their Names True Elves believe: “A name is not given. A name is proven.” They discard both family names and given names, adopting functional identifiers instead: Scout Speaker Shade Keeper Watcher Strider These are not titles — they are chosen identities. Some True Elves never choose a name at all. Relations With Other Peoples High Elves View True Elves as tragic, misguided, or spiritually damaged. To them, an elf without a name is an elf without a soul. Dark Elves (Underground) See True Elves as traitors who abandoned sacred traditions and ancestral memory. Humans Find them unsettling, often mistaking them for a cult. Other Elven Branches Treat them with suspicion, pity, or cautious curiosity. Life Above Ground True Elves survive in the upper world despite their biology: Travel mostly at night Wear layered hoods, veils, and tinted lenses Build temporary camps in shaded ravines or ruins Avoid cities unless necessary Use subtle magic: shadow‑cooling light‑dampening echo‑mapping scent‑masking They know they will be hated by nearly everyone — elves, dark elves, humans, and others — but they venture upward anyway, hoping to carve out a future for their people. Summary The True Elves are: biologically distinct culturally unique ideologically rebellious politically volatile narratively rich not a D&D copy They are a people defined not by darkness, but by reinvention.