The Elves of Kodu
Fantasy stories should have elves, and why not? They can be used as a great plot device when the hero is stuck for a solution. However, too many fantasy stories have elves as a god-like apparition. They're perfect in every way; their logic impeccable, their magic flawless, and their concern for nature was nearly suicidal. In other words, they are impossible. I wanted my elves to be more real, with flaws and emotions, a society that was literally on top of the world but nearly destroyed, and when they emerged from the rubble they found their world ruled by what they considered to be two legged rodents. My elves can do something no other elves can do, they can hate. Many hate humans with a passion that over rules common sense. I have divided them up into four tribes to better illustrate their foibles.
Elves were once the primary species of humanoid on Kodu; however their numbers are dwindling. Like humans, their population was decimated during the Starfall disaster, and when they emerged from their underground shelters, they had split up into different tribes. Infighting within the tribes and a plunging birth rate, were major factors why the elves failed to repopulate a destroyed Kodu. The failure of the elves to work together handed Kodu to the humans, and humans being humans, they became the most dominant humanoid species on Kodu. In population humans were followed by fairies, then dwarves, then "micro humanoids" such as gnomes and gremlins, and then were the elves.
Even before the Starfall destroyed civilization on Kodu, the elves were beginning to become tribal. When the modern calendar was adopted over 3,000 years ago, the elves were split up into four distinct tribes, whom the humans thought were different species. The social and emotional separation between the tribes caused the humans to believe the tribes were separate species. Once humans believed that elves were mystical beings of light and peace, but by the year 2,000, the humans realized that the elves were more like humans than anyone ever realized.
Imagine the hell that the elves went through, their astronomers were convinced that the planet Zigu was going to strike Kodu, then superhumans who were considered gods began to appear on Kodu. The gods told them that Zigu was going to miss Kodu, but Zigu's moon Aestea was going to strike Kodu's moon Hiphus and that shelters should be built. When Aestea did indeed strike Hiphus, it initiated worldwide destruction on a scale that was devastating. Every city, every village, every farm, every forest was destroyed by ten years of meteor showers. When they emerged from underground, the elves were divided into four tribes that had become for all intents and purposes, separate species.
Mountain Elves
The first tribes to emerge became known as Mountain Elves. They lived in the mountainous regions living on hunting and scavenging in the ruins of their cities. The constant threat of meteor strikes made them tough. Like all elves, Mountain Elves are tall and slim, but Mountain Elves grew strong and powerful due to their mountain lifestyle. Like all elves they have pointed ears and their eyes are brightly colored, mostly purple. They are the most magically powerful elves on Kodu. Mountain elves hate humans because humans were found in the ruins of the elves cities.
Dark Elves
Officially they are the Odhalleas Elves. These are mountain elves with dark skin, almost black, with white hair. Their figures are more human than the average elf, more figuresque, more curvaceous. They are powerful magically and are the most physically powerful humanoids on Kodu. Dark elves have no problems with humans but they avoid human cities. Dark elves are despised by Mountain elves and mistrusted by forest and plains elves. The largest remaining Elf Kingdom on the continent of Edux is Silvanor and was founded by Dark Elves. Politically they are aligned with Uduithia but trade heavily with the independent city state of Torwin-Armistad.
Forest Elves
Tall, fair, elegant humanoids, with pointed ears and emerald green eyes. They were the last elves to emerge from the underground shelters after the Starfall. They started a "back to the woods" lifestyle, emulating the lifestyle of elves 20,000 years ago. They protect their forest cities with large armies even though physically they are the weakest of the four main tribes.
Plains Elves
Tall, fair, elegant humanoids, with small pointed ears and ruby red eyes as their main physical traits. They are the most human-like elves because of their interrelationships with humans. After emerging they found humans living in the ruins of their cities and moved in with them. Like all elves they stand six feet tall or more, and are the most common elf on Kodu. They are friendly with humans and often marry humans and have half-breed children. They are magically weak, but they are the most spiritual of all the elves.
Plains elves are the leading tribe in the reunification process where villages in the mountains at the edge of forests become a haven for wandering elves and sanctuary for elves driven from their tribes. Not surprisingly, the birth rate in these havens is quite high.
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