Elf

Elf
Beautiful are the flotillas of the elfs. Driven to the seas long ago, the elfs are the greatest experts in sailing the seas around the argent. Though not uncommon the find an elf living upon the mainlands, you will not see them far from the coasts. Their skin tone often appears as tanned brown with spots of slight blue.

Location - Oceans, Mainland Coasts

Language - Elfish

Lifespan - 80-90 years / 160-180 years (See "The Drow")

History
Long ago the elfs lived among the trees and the forests around the argent, but after a great war with the gnomes and humans, they were forced from their homes and onto the seas. Congregating in floatillas of small to large ships they roamed the seas in clusters sense.

"The Drow"
A disease all elfs suffer when they grow old. For the average elf, around the age of 80 their bodies begin to decay and their minds begin to go. Their skin loses it's elfish lush youthfulness & begins to wrinkle and darken to a pitch black color. They begin to lose their memories until they become a "blank slate" and eventually become "reborn" as a full Drow.

Culture
Elf culture is centered around water, and general naval or sailing life. Their expertise in sailing allows them to dominate the naval transportation market. Most elfs within a flotilla will own a boat at some point in their lifetime.

The boats in a flotilla vary in size. There are small personal 2-3 person travel boats that allow travel between the ships that are not connected to the capital ship. There are the clan ships that could carry a few large families on ship. Then there are the capital ships. The capital ships are very large and can hold the size of a smaller village upon it. All capital ships are also built with a small lighthouse in the center.

When the drow begins to effect elfs living among the flotillas, they are given two options to deal with the disease. They are allowed a ceremony where they can kill themselves or have a loved one kill them and release their body into the ocean, or they are allowed a ship onto the mainlands where they can live the rest of their life reborn as a Drow.

Mainland elfs tend to take up fishing jobs or ferrying services.

Skin Colors
Over the years ocean based elfs have developed skin coloration causing tattoo-like blue markings to form on their bodies. Likewise land based elfs have similar brown markings over their bodies.