Sun Elves
| Sun Elf | |
|---|---|
| Major race | |
 Example appearance | |
| Attributes | |
| Average lifespan (max) | 800 years (2000) |
| Age of maturity | 150 years |
| Height range | 1.75 - 2.20 m (5′9′′ - 7′30′′) |
Note: The Sun Elves are considered a lost or extinct civilization. While their descendants, such as the Ash Elves, still carry fragments of their legacy, Sun Elves should not be used as a playable race by new characters.
The Sun Elves (Aurenai), now were an ancient and influential elven minor race originating from the legendary continent of Aurel. Known for their mastery of solar magic, monumental architecture, and celestial philosophy, Sun Elves were once considered the pinnacle of elven civilization. Their culture emphasized structure, harmony, and intellectual refinement, and played a central role in shaping ancient magical traditions across Alathra.
Sun Elves were characterized by their luminous appearance, philosophical disposition, and strong affinity for solar cycles and elemental light. They were typically more reserved and formal than other elves, often assuming roles as scholars, architects, and ritual leaders. Though their civilization is now lost, their influence remains deeply embedded in many surviving elven and human traditions.
The fall of Aurel—believed to have occurred through a combination of internal collapse and cosmic disruption—marked the end of the Sun Elves' dominion. Some of their descendants scattered across the world, integrating into new societies, while others became the ancestors of the Ash Elves, who preserved elements of Aurelian tradition in the volcanic lands of Verokuna.
Etymology
- Sun Elves: A term used by scholars and historians to distinguish this lineage from other elven groups.
- Aurenai: The original endonym used within their society, derived from aur- (light/sun) + -enai (people).
Homeland
The Sun Elves originated from Aurel, a mythologized continent described in ancient texts as a land of golden cities, endless sunlight, and harmonious magical order. Aurel was believed to be aligned with solar movements, its temples and towers designed to channel radiant energy at precise celestial intervals.
Little knowledge remains of Aurel—whether the continent sank, was destroyed, or was sealed away remains a matter of speculation. For many Aurelian-descended cultures, Aurel exists more as a spiritual ideal than a historical location, often referenced in ceremony, architecture, and metaphysical theory.
Physical Traits
Sun Elves exhibit a number of distinguishing features:
- Skin tones: Pale gold, ivory, or warm tan, often with a subtle inner glow.
- Eyes: Bright amber, pale blue, or white-gold; often appear to reflect sunlight.
- Hair: Ranges from platinum and gold to auburn and copper; commonly worn long and adorned with woven metallic threads or diadems.
- Posture: Upright and elegant, with a slow, deliberate mode of movement.
Culture
Sun Elven society was structured around the ideals of order, knowledge, and cosmic resonance. Cultural life centered on the study of celestial patterns, ritual precision, and the preservation of harmony through art, law, and magical architecture. Education was seen as both a duty and a rite, and artistic expression was viewed as a reflection of cosmic balance.
Though often seen as aloof or idealistic by outsiders, Sun Elves were deeply committed to the stewardship of knowledge and the maintenance of social equilibrium.
Religion and Beliefs
Sun Elves practiced a form of cosmological reverence focused on the interaction between light, time, and order. Rather than worshipping deities, they honored the solar principle—the idea that the sun was not only a source of life, but also a symbol of clarity, memory, and law.
Core concepts included:
- Radiant Order: The belief that all things have their proper place within a cosmic structure governed by light and rhythm.
- Solar Descent: The philosophical claim that elvenkind, particularly the Aurenai, were born of celestial fire and destined to guide lesser beings toward harmony.
- Cycle of Light: A sacred calendar system aligning solar movement with historical memory, ritual obligations, and seasonal transitions.
Temples were often built on sun-aligned axes, using refracted light in ritual and recordkeeping. Fire was used ceremonially, not as a destructive force but as a purifying and clarifying element.
Legacy
Although the civilization of Aurel has vanished, the legacy of the Sun Elves continues through their descendants—most notably the Ash Elves of Verokuna—as well as through surviving texts, architecture, and magical practices scattered across Alathra. In scholarly and religious circles, Aurel is still invoked as a symbol of enlightened order, and the Aurenai are regarded as a formative influence on elven culture throughout the world.
In many traditions, the return or rediscovery of Aurel is prophesied as a sign of cosmic renewal.