High Elves

These arrogant people live msotly in the south, preferring the more temperate climate. They are an interesting lot, mostly trying to integrate themselves seamlessly into human life they they can show off how much better they are. Of course, since they are raised among humans, not all turn out this way - but most do. For the most part, elves attend church with the humans, but this is entirely a facade. Their own religion is much more complex than they choose to let on.

Elves worship dragons as demigods. Although the remnants of Angels and Demons are often exalted as such, the only true objects of Elven worship are the dragons. however, this lack of divine diety makes divine casting impossible. Dragons, although very powerful, can only work blood magic - sorcerery. They cannot grant power to anyone else - arcane magic can only be learned via blood or study.

The result of this is an elven ecclesia based around those with the blood of their gods - the wild, natural sorcerers. "Cleric" in the elven world is not a class title, but a societal role. Elven children - and indeed, the rest of the island - are given the explanation that the dragons grant power to the clerics. Only those imbued with the blood - and therefore considered "holy" enough to know the truth - realise that Elven clerics are nothing but sorcerers. (As a side note, this means that the cleric and paladin classes is completely unavaliable to high elves, and the sorcerer class is only avaliable to those within the ecclesia.)

One of the most famous and demonic stories about the Elven Fall involves Elves drinking Elven blood - they reportedly sliced the necks of their own to drink from them. Although the Elves tend to allow or even help the explanation that these Elves were possessed, the truth is that this was a desperate attempt to gain a sliver of the dragon's power. Almost all of the elves slain in this gruesome manner were the powerful, elite, holy sorcerers. since then, Elves have recluded to high monastary-like towers to quietly practice what they tell the world are powers bestowed to them. They cnsider it a necessary means of protection.

Those who leave the safety of the tower to adventure seem very strange. they often refrain from casting around anyone they do not know (and aren't attempting to kill.) They never heal, and so have a reputation for being cold, callous, and evil. They look in all respects like a cleric; they dress in religious garb and carry holy symbols (usually depicting their patron dragon) and can often be found praying. (Rules-wise, an Elven sorcerer will still take a single domain that relates in some way to their patron dragon, they need a holy symbol on them to cast, and they tend to call themselves "clerics," although they otherwise follow all rules for sorcerers as outlined in the PHB.)

High Elf monks are another aspect of the ecclesia. They are non-sorcerers, but in their desire to serve the ecclesia, they turn to physical perfection. There is no denying that a Dragon is a thing to admire in terms of physical prowess. They refuse to use weapons because of their belief in the strength of their bodies dedicated to the dragons, and act like temple guards and guard the sorcerers when they go out.

Above all else, the High Elves are arcanists. They are the most likely of all races to be born a sorcerer (although the babies that show signs of natural power are generally taken away immediately to one of the religious towers) and many who are not take up the wizarding trade. Some wizards have even been known to pretend they are sorcerers, and are universally shunned from Elven society if and when they are found out. As a general rule, High Elves claim to have been bestowed arcane energy from the dragons, and shared it later with other races. Most other races - and every non-Elven historical text - give no evidence to support this claim, but no one argues this point with them, either.

High elves are never druids or rangers - those that tend towards that path are considered a Woodland Elf (or a "Low Elf" in the High Elven vernacular) by default. Fighters are often glory seekers, but pretty good at what they do. Those that exist were often raised among another race, generally humans, but they are nonetheless good at the art. Because they weave arcane magic, bards are not uncommon. Barbarians, like druids or rangers, are soley among the "Low" Elves. Rogues are fairly common, although rarely seen - they very much follow the route of stealth and treachery.