Underground Elves
| Underground Elf | |
|---|---|
| Major race | |
 Example appearance | |
| Attributes | |
| Average lifespan (max) | 800 years (1600) |
| Age of maturity | 150 years |
| Height range | 1.75 - 2.20 m (5′9′′ - 7′30′′) |
Parent Race: Elf
The Underground Elves, or Mor’nai, (also known as Low Elves or Free Elves) are a minor race of elves directly descended from the High Elves (Vel’nai), mastery of arcane magic, structured society, and towering architecture. Following the fall of the Tide Elves and the suppression of ideological dissent, the Underground Elves came to be through exile and cultural rebellion, originally a portion of the High Elves that rejected the dogma of purity, they retreated underground, gradually becoming the Low Elves or Free Elves.
Etymology
- Mor’nai: Originally endonym; from mor (free) + nai (essence, bound) meaning “Free from the lineage".
- Low Elves: The term was later modified in High Elven language to mor (low), meaning “from low birth" or “Low Elves” by the Vel’nai following their exile, a naming convention meant to diminish their standing.
- Underground Elves: A common name used to distinguish this lineage from other elven branches. Considered more politically correct.
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.
