Mortal Reins is home to two races of Aelves, the Aelfor and the Aelimfor. Thousands of years ago, at the beginning of the Age of Man and Strife (1000-400 BE), their parent race, the Aelim—forbearers of the old gods who fled the war of the heavens—split into two factions when Man rebelled against their mighty cities. Those who became the Aelimfor departed to the Echos Islands, where they established a fortified haven for their kind. On the other hand, the Aelfor remained in their cities, combating famine, disease, and the relentless assaults of the younger races. Records pertaining to the Aelim are scarce and widely dispersed, yet their descendants share certain common characteristics: pointed ears, short and agile frames. The Aelfor typically stand no taller than 5'10" but often weigh no more than a mere 40kg (88 lbs). In appearance, they are otherwise similar to humans, albeit devoid of any scars, flaws, or blemishes. Moreover, the Aelfor are immune to the ravages of old age, rendering them functionally immortal. As a result of their potentially extensive lifespans, the Aelfor undergo a "coming of age" ceremony at an age of their choosing, which can occur as early as thirty years old. Despite their prolonged lives, most Aelfor succumb to disease or violence by the time they reach around 500 years old.
Naturally gifted in magic, even the least talented Aelf possesses a good grasp of a few spells. With such inherent advantages at their disposal, it comes as no surprise that the Aelfor ruled over the cities and empires of Nuterra uncontested for millennia, regarding other races as mere peasants and servants. Even after the initial rebellions by the younger races, the cities of Haliahra and Tymaria remained firmly under the dominion of the dark Aelves. Even in their current state of defeat and being on the run, the Aelves have not exhausted their resources, pride, or places to seek refuge. The dark Aelves of Haliahra skillfully maintain positions of power within the human empires, although in some cases, interbreeding with humans has become so prevalent that the two races are virtually indistinguishable.
Remarkably, despite the struggles faced by their Haliahran brethren, the Wood Aelves of the Moon Forest and Redwood regions largely remain an enigma to the wider world. They sporadically interact with the Xoglio, who hold a deep respect for the elder races, but otherwise prefer to remain shrouded in mystery. Rumors circulate that the wood Aelves abduct human children from their beds, replacing them with their own offspring. The wood Aelves, however, refuse to confirm or deny the veracity of these claims.
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