[✗] [Race Lore] Aquatic Elves

[CasualNuker 637]

Introduction to the Mali’mer Race

 

The Aquatic Elves, also known as Sea Elves, Water Elves, and the Mali’mer in Elven, are water-breathing cousins to land-dwelling elves. They live amid the waves and the ocean depths and have an average lifespan of 750 years, with allies such as dolphins and whales. Aquatic Elves fight underwater with tridents, spears, and nets. The sea elves fell in love with the wild beauty of the ocean in the earliest days of the multiverse. While other elves traveled from realm to realm, the sea elves navigated the deepest currents and explored the waters across the world. Today, they form small, hidden communities in the ocean shallows.

 

History of the Mali’mer

 

Aquatic Elves, also known as Sea Elves first appeared in the Great Sea untold ages ago, the last of the major elven races to migrate from the elven homeland to Arcas. For many years, these elves lived nomadic lives and spent much of their time exploring the waters of their new world. The Aquatic elves did not begin to settle down and form permanent communities in the depths until now. From the safety of the water, they kept their interactions with their land bound kin to a minimum. Aquatic Elves have fought many wars against the evil species of the sea, but surface-dwellers know very little of these tales. One of the main reasons Sea Elves stay away from the Land Elves since they will die if they spend over twenty four hours on land which has resulted in the Sea Elves being rather seclusive in a sort of Self Imposed exile. 

 

Mali’mer Description

 

Although they are of the same subrace, Aquatic Elves had a different appearance to those from Land Elves. Considered beautiful by many elves, humans, and similar surface races, aquatic elves are a graceful and quick-witted people. Their skin can be the pale white or gold of beach sand, the russet of living coral, or the green-black of deepwater kelp. Water Elves are robust and tall with long limbs, and long, thickly webbed digits. The Aquatic Elves are tall, standing 6 feet or more in height resembling humans in body build by weighing an average of 175 pounds. Water Elven hair is usually thick and somewhat stringy, and could be blue, black, silver, white, or even occasionally red. Eyes are oddly colored, ranging from an iridescent blue to gold to a white-silver hue that shines like mother-of-pearl. Their hands and feet are webbed, which is very unusual for elves. The most unusual feature was the gills visible in their necks and over their ribs. Sea elves were lightly clad, their clothes are formed from underwater plants, in blacks, browns, and greens. Warriors clip their hair, but other sea elves wear it long and flowing. Aquatic elves can live either in or out of the water but only for one day, but most prefer homes in the watery depths of oceans and seas. They establish small communities, uniting with other aquatic elves as needed for protection but remaining largely independent. Some of these communities are built partly above and partly below the water, with half-elves of aquatic descent living in the open air, while their aquatic kin make their homes below. Aquatic elves consider themselves an enlightened people capable of appreciating life in more dimensions than other creatures. When they do interact with other races, they often appear aloof and dismissive, as though bored or distracted, though this is not necessarily the case as they pay close attention to the details of the story being told.

 

Mali’mer Personality

 

Water Elves are isolationist by their physical nature, and by choice, though they were not quite as reclusive as the high elves. They trust only themselves, their clan, and no others. They couldn't understand why the surface elves did not understand that community and alliances meant survival, whereas rivalry and factionalism meant death. Their alliances with other elves were not based on racial affinity but on gain. However, this caution is tempered with curiosity and Water Elves could spend much time secretly observing the land-bound races. The Mali’mer fear the deep trenches of the Ocean Floor as the Sea Elves believe they are inhabited by evil beings.

 

Mali’mer Culture

 

Water Elven society is based on family and clan, and although females do wield power, they are patriarchal. Noble families rule, but in a benign and loose fashion rather than with an iron fist. Families or individuals might own their dwellings but most other property is held in common. Such communal ownership meant theft is almost unknown. Aquatic elves have an even more overdeveloped sense of self-worth than those found on land. They see their land-bound cousins as limited by their environment, boasting that they have embraced a biome filled with life and endless possibilities. Many aquatic elves band together into small communities, more for mutual defense than any perceived racial bond. Some aquatic elves distrust humans, who they believe conceal expansionist motives and have a reckless disregard for danger—especially as concerns ancient and dangerous magic.

 

Aquatic Elven Land

 

Aquatic elf cities are wonders to behold, crafted as they are of living coral just as many elf cities on land are made from still-living trees. They gleam with mother of pearl and shells scoured bright, and among them swim fish of a thousand colors. The borders of these cities are guarded by soldiers with tridents, spears, and nets, as are the hunter-gatherer parties sent out to retrieve food among the fish and carefully cultivated fields of food plants nearby. Aquatic elves are ruled by a loose feudal system, with clans of aquatic elves swearing fealty to noble houses who take an oath to protect those clans beneath them. All it takes to confer nobility upon a clan is to have another clan swear fealty to it, so most clans have had times in their histories when they were considered nobility.

 

Mali’mer Adventurer

Aquatic elf adventurers are often driven by a need to discover more about the other people and creatures in the world, for aquatic elf culture is very insular. They find themselves among strange races and cultures that they never dreamed possible. Most look forward to the day when they can return to their own people once more to tell the stories they have lived. Some begin a life of adventuring after undertaking an extended quest away from their homes

 

Common First Names and Clan Names

 

Each Sea Elf clan has a name that is often translated into Common around non-elves, similar to the surnames of other elves. Personal names are given at birth and maintained throughout the life of the aquatic elf.

 

Common Male Names: Arvastan, Balthonlis, Barishlin, Deranthil, Ervastath, Kerithlan, Perilastanor, Poldanlin.

 

Common Female Names: Avashtana, Bihalisha, Deirastane, Firiashe, Iridansa, Tiliashanna, Xiphalia, Yrashiae.

 

Common Clan Names: Anterome (Brightwave), Danlianthol (Silverpearl), Garinlastil (Scarletleaf), Gyrashiil (Joy-bringer), Iandaal (Brightwhisper), Ieriantol (Kinwatcher), Oromae (Silvercoral), Perlantasil (Nightwater).

 

Favored Class

 

An aquatic elf's favored class is fighter. While aquatic elves have few organized armies, individual fighting skills are highly prized. Land bound elves may prefer stealth and archery, but the underwater environment dictates speed and skill in melee instead. As a bow is not much use underwater Sea Elves prefer a Trident over the Bow unlike other Elven races.

 

Arts & Leisure

 

The special acoustics of a watery environment lent themselves to music, and sea elves are exposed to the eerie and beautiful songs of the whales and other denizens of the deep. It is not surprising that aquatic elven bards have a range of powerful and evocative songs. Many of their songs are sung in the halls of Sea Elven Kings.

 

Aquatic Elf Equipment

 

Aquatic elves rarely use metal tools due to the inevitable damage most metals suffer to saltwater corrosion. One notable exception is gold. Many aquatic elves have mastered the art of beating gold into beautiful jewelry, because forging metals is all but impossible underwater. For the most part, their tools, weapons, and armor are made from materials they have on hand underwater. Shipwrecks are a major source of materials for aquatic elves, although they are careful to honor any who may have died before looting the sunken cargo holds.

 

Arms and Armor

 

In an underwater world, bludgeoning and slashing weapons are nowhere near as efficient as piercing weapons. Tridents and spears are therefore the favored weapons of the aquatic elves, and these weapons can be found in amazing varieties and styles throughout the various undersea communities. Bone, narwhal horns, and even coral are used to build these weapons. Although they are more fragile than regular steel weaponry, they are easy to construct. Weighted nets are also a popular weapon for aquatic elves, who have perfected methods of throwing such weapons so that they drift and unfold in the water almost like large octopi or manta rays.

 

Armor is generally eschewed by aquatic elves for two reasons. First is slows their swimming speed and agility. Second, most metal deteriorates over time underwater. As a result most aquatic elves simply rely on their natural quickness to protect them in combat. Shields crafted from shells are common, and those elves with the resources often resort to magical means of protection, such as rings of protection and amulets of natural armor.

 

Animals and Pets

 

Aquatic elves have a strong affinity for dolphins and porpoises, and they usually live in the same areas as these aquatic mammals. Most aquatic elf communities have several of these creatures as guardians, messengers, and playful companions.

 

Aquatic elves also have a great and abiding respect for the larger whales, and although the migratory habits of the great sea mammals precludes the possibility of recruiting them as guardians or companions, many aquatic elves build communities long established migration routes so that twice yearly they receive visits from the stately creatures. A young aquatic elf often leaves home for a year just to accompany a pod of migrating whales. Some aquatic elf communities have been known to train and keep sea lions as guardians as well, especially in dangerous areas. Sharks are universally hated by aquatic elves, many think of these creatures as unnatural monsters created to hunt Sea Elves.

 

Artistic Depiction of the Mali’mer

 

 

Lore Writers

 

A huge thanks to Atrex, TreeSmoothie, Yuno, Cece and many others for helping me with the idea and creation of the Mali’mer race! - CasualNuker

Edited December 30, 2019 by Nuker

[z3m0s 1771]

You really gotta change that color up bro, your lore won’t get passed by hiding it in the background of the forums.

[CasualNuker 637]

How do I fix it?

[AtrexPieren 140]

Not going to lie this kind of just sounds like Nymphs and Axolotyn which both are races on LOTC already and one of which was playable long ago I believe.

 

Axolotyn Link:

https://wikia.lordofthecraft.net/index.php?title=Axolotyn

[CasualNuker 637]

But that link says only playable by Event Team

[AtrexPieren 140]

Axolotyn were at one time playable I believe, if you want them to be playable again petition for them to be playable.

[Wyrdsister 44]

Axolotyn are a bit more out there. You’re not gonna find much in the way of reference art or skins for them, but for these guys you’re better set.

 

I think it’s a great way to incorporate more of the recent Aquatic Update into the map. I’d play one for sure

[Unwillingly 11110]

There’s already enough subraces. You have a higher chance of success if this was a culture of elves rather than a new race. 

[IsaaKc 1225]

what the ****

[Mr. Etan 2839]

give me space elves

[rukio 8910]

-1 no aquaman RPers please dear god

[NestroPapaya 478]

+1 I don’t mind playing one

[AtrexPieren 140]

1 hour ago, Wyrdsister said:

Axolotyn are a bit more out there. You’re not gonna find much in the way of reference art or skins for them, but for these guys you’re better set.

 

I think it’s a great way to incorporate more of the recent Aquatic Update into the map. I’d play one for sure

Honestly I feel like alot of skins that could be used for Sea Elves could be roughly used for Axolotyn. Also if you don't agree then push for Sea Nymphs an established race through events to become playable because Sea Elves sound very similar to them. Lastly putting this race under the Elvish banner honestly seems like it would hurt it more then help it. Most races seem to have a trend of four subraces and forcing them to come from Malin seems to cripple their creation myth in the end.

Edited December 30, 2019 by AtrexPieren

[Sefardi 1455]

Let’s not... I’m having flashbacks... 

[Statherian 3314]

Apart from the fact that this lore very undercooked for an entirely new race, there is also no need for a new Elf sub race at all, or any non CA race in general. It won’t make it through chief, +0.5 for effort