Star Elves: Difference between revisions

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Following a slow cultural dissolution, the Sira’nai fragmented into distinct populations. These lineages—Vel’nai, Dor’nai, and Mor’nai—each inherited portions of Sira’nai philosophy, settling different regions and evolving into new identities. Though the Sira’nai are no longer extant, their intellectual legacy persists in arcane law, temple astronomy, and the educational traditions of High Elves.

== Etymology ==

* '''Sira’nai''': Endonym; from ''sira'' (star, light, principle) + ''’nai'' (descendants/lineage) meaning “Those from the Stars” or "Those from the Light"

* '''Star Elves''': A common name used to distinguish this lineage from other elven branches.

* '''Light Elves''': An alternate translation to common tongue.

== Physical Characteristics ==

{| class="wikitable"

!Trait

!Description

|-

|'''Skin tones'''

|Pale pearl, sand-grey, and silver-tinted beige; often faintly luminescent in certain lighting.

|-

|'''Eyes'''

|Shades of white, starlight blue, or faint violet; sharp focus, highly reflective.

|-

|'''Hair'''

|Typically silver, snow-white, or faint gold; worn in simple, functional styles.

|-

|'''Height'''

|1.80 – 2.10 meters; lean, long-limbed, and lightly built.

|-

|'''Gait'''

|Measured, economical, almost still when not in motion.

|-

|'''Night Acuity'''

|Strong ability to track motion and light variation; some texts suggest enhanced perception of leyline currents or arcane flows.

|}

File:Alathra Star Elves 2.png|Star Elf Council Female

File:Alathra Star Elves 4.png|Star Elf Council Male

File:Alathra Star Elves 5.png|Star Elf Scientist

File:Alathra Star Elves 6.png|Star Elf Archivist

File:Alathra Star Elves 1.png|Star Elf Cartographer

</gallery>

== Ancestry ==

The Sira’nai were the third major divergence from the L’nai, contemporaneous with the rise of the Aure’lai and Elva’rai. They developed by gravitating to highlands, cliffs, and observatories, where they could study the heavens without distraction.

While the Aure’lai built their empire and the Elva’rai vanished into the trees, the Sira’nai documented the cosmos. They believed knowledge came from understanding patterns in the stars, in behavior and in history.

For a time, they maintained diplomatic and philosophical alliance with the Aure’lai, acting as mediators, advisors, and arcane calibrators. Some of the finest magical structures of Aurel are said to have been mathematically aligned by Sira’nai geomancers.

Following the Fall of Aurel, the Sira’nai withdrew. Over time, distance and divergent practice led to the emergence of three new lineages:

* The Vel’nai (High Elves), who inherited their arcane traditions and civic structure.

* The Dor’nai (Tide Elves), who took their celestial reverence and applied it to tidal cycles and navigation.

* The Mor’nai (Low Elves), who broke from Vel’nai purism and, in exile, became a distinct race.

The Sira’nai were not destroyed. They simply ceased to exist as a people, having transformed into many.

== Elven Lineage ==

The elves of Alathra trace their origins to the L’nai, the First Elves—primordial beings of long life, arcane potential, and fluid essence. Over the ages, the L’nai gave rise to multiple branches through divergence in philosophy, environment, and magical affinity.

From the L’nai emerged the Aure’lai (Sun Elves), Sira’nai (Star Elves), and Elva’rai (Moon Elves), who formed the three great ancient lineages. Each of these lines would, in time, fragment further into the modern elven subraces of today: the imperial Vel’nai (High Elves), exiled subterranean Mor’nai (Low Elves), extinct seaborne Dor’nai (Tide Elves), forest-bound Silva’rai (Wood Elves), and the remote Zaure’lai (Ash Elves).

Scattered among all lineages are the rare Veyari, shapeshifters born with residual echoes of the L’nai essence. Though rare, they are found across all elven communities and maintain no distinct homeland of their own.

[[File:Elven_Race_Lineage.png|center|frameless|750x750px]]