Elf

Elf
Homeworld:
Average Height:	1,70m - 1,98m
Average Lifespan:	650 years
Classification:	Mammalian
Language(s):
Government:	Constitutional Monarchy
Notable Traits:
Affiliation(s):
Status:	Existing

Overview

Elves are one of the oldest races in the known universe. They value enhancement and development of their physical and mental abilities over technological progress and are one of the most magically attuned races. To others, the elves often appear as distant, aloof and sometimes even hostile. Between themselves, they are however passionate and open and happy to share ideas and knowledge. This drastic difference in how elves usually are and how they are perceived comes from their secrecy and their unwillingness to allow members of other races to visit their core worlds or get deeper insights into their technology and knowledge.

Physical Characteristics

• Elves are tall and, while they generally look like humans, their bodies are thinner and seem to be generally narrower and without distinctive curves. They rarely seem to be gaining weight. Elves are often in great physical shape as this is one of the things their society values the most. This might however differ with elven societies that developed outside of the core worlds and those places that are directly influenced by those.
• The only hair they have is found on their heads. It is normally straight and often worn long for both males and females.
• Elves have very keen senses, with very good hearing and eyesight.
• While the elven physiology does not lean itself easily for great strength, they are naturally dexterous and quick. Their movements are often described as graceful and very fluid.

Abilities & Strengths

• Their physiology often gives them a high level of dexterity and it is easy for elves to attain mastery in physical fields like acrobatics or running. The dexterity also makes them renown artisans and artists.
• Thenks to their atunment to magic, Elves are immune to magic sleep effects and benefit from a high resistance against enchantment spells and effects. However this effect is very dependant on the individual and their individual atumnment. Many elves actually even lack this ability outright.

Weaknesses & Limitations

Individual elves can be often single minded and focuses fully on the path they have taken in life. They might sometimes just refuse to do something else, seeing that their skilsl would be wasted if they are not turned to achieve true mastery in their original field of work.

Culture & Society

Elves are often seen as arrogant but in truth, they are actually secretive about their technology and abilities. The unknown and devastating attacks they suffered in the past made them hide their strength and abilities and often have a mistrust towards other races. They do not partake in the general galactic sharing of information and are not connected to the galactic data sphere.

Elves are known to be great artists and often posess great mastery in many different fields. But usually, an elf will be very focused on their special field they decided to study and reach mastery in. It is fairly rare for elves to switch away form a path they have taken.

While Elves are weary and do not trust others easily. Once they do, they tend to be seen as great friends and will stand by those they trust through the worse of times.

Elves like undisturbed nature and will try ot build their cities so that they work and exist within nature and form a symbiotic relationship with the land around.

While elves are secretive when it comes to their home worlds. They can still be found often traveling or even living in other places. Somtiems those elves have individual quirks that make people think, that those might be the strange ones who have been thrown out of their society. They are however substantial elven ocmmunities on toehr planet who, after many years of separation, do not have much connection to their home world anymore and have generally adopted to the culture of the worlds they live on.

The elves in your setting likely have their own ancient and sophisticated language, shaped by their long history and magical heritage. Given their secretive and isolationist nature, their language might be rarely taught to outsiders and could serve as both a cultural identifier and a tool for encryption in their technological systems. Possible Names for the Elven Language

Here are a few name ideas, depending on the tone and aesthetic you want:

   Elënari – A graceful and flowing name, evoking an old and refined civilization.
   Sylvaerin – A name that ties into their affinity with nature.
   Thael'sha – Suggests an older, more mystical tongue.
   Aurelian – A high, noble-sounding name.
   Isil'naë – Elegant, with an ethereal quality.

Linguistic Characteristics

   Highly Structured & Precise – Elves see language as an art form; ambiguity is avoided.
   Vowel-Rich & Flowing – Words often have a musical quality, with soft consonants and elongated vowels.
   Magical Notation System – Their writing system may incorporate runes or symbols that double as magic glyphs.
   Strict Formality – Different registers exist for addressing rulers, scholars, and commoners, reflecting status and mastery.
   Difficult for Non-Elves – Outsiders struggle with the nuances of pronunciation and layered meanings.

Usage in the Galaxy

   The language might be used in official documents, sacred texts, and technological systems.
   Many elves might refuse to speak other languages unless necessary, reinforcing their secretive nature.
   In diplomacy, they may insist on translations being verified by elven scholars, ensuring no misinterpretations.
   Non-elven societies might have fragments of their language, adopted into high academia or magical studies.

The Lost Elven Worlds: Forgotten, Fragmented, and Reclaimed

When the data attack devastated the elven empire, the decision to retreat and consolidate meant that many outlying colonies, trade hubs, and research worlds were abandoned. Though the elves tried to evacuate as many as possible, not everyone left or had the means to escape. Some remained due to circumstances, choice, or necessity. Over time, these left-behind elves formed their own distinct civilizations, diverging from both the High Elves and Dark Elves.

These lost elven worlds fall into several broad categories, ranging from struggling remnants to thriving independent civilizations. 1. The Survivors Who Stayed Behind

Not all elves agreed with the retreat. Some colonies had strong defenses, intact infrastructure, or simply felt abandoned by the central government. These groups adapted in different ways: A. The Isolated Holdouts (The Last Bastions)

   Some elven worlds were able to resist the data attack, either through luck, effective countermeasures, or sheer stubbornness.
   These colonies are often fortified, self-sustaining enclaves, holding on to ancient traditions while cut off from both the High Elves and Dark Elves.
   Many have become deeply suspicious of outsiders, including their own kin, blaming both factions for abandoning them.
   They rely on old elven technology, often modified or reinvented to function without access to external support.
   Some are now miniature elven kingdoms, ruled by monarchs or councils that claim to be the true inheritors of the elven legacy.

🔹 Example World: Silwe'ethal

   A former research and spiritual world where monastic scholars survived in deep underground vaults.
   Over centuries, they have developed a closed-off, ritualistic society, believing that their isolation preserved the “pure” elven way.
   Their technology is still ancient but refined, and their warriors are deadly duellists, dedicated to maintaining their own form of elven culture.
   They consider both the High Elves weak and the Dark Elves corrupt, refusing to ally with either.

B. The Free Elves (Those Who Chose Independence)

   Some elves refused to align with either major faction and instead formed their own civilizations.
   They abandoned the secrecy and isolationist policies of the High Elves but also rejected the Dark Elves’ brutality and slavery.
   Over time, they built alliances with human, dwarven, or other species, integrating into the wider galactic community.
   These societies tend to be less rigid, embracing cultural exchange and technological progress.

🔹 Example World: Vailis Prime

   Once a vibrant elven colony, Vailis Prime’s people survived by adapting to galactic trade and industry.
   Now an economic powerhouse, their descendants are found across the galaxy, working as diplomats, scholars, and shipwrights.
   They maintain cordial but distant relations with both High Elves and Dark Elves but do not consider themselves part of either faction.

C. The Lost Colonies (Those Who Struggled to Survive)

   Some elven worlds were cut off and collapsed into ruin.
   With no external support, many descended into feudalism, tribal warfare, or technological regression.
   Others barely survived, their once-thriving cities reduced to decay, scavenging, and subsistence living.
   Some of these worlds have become refuges for rogue elves, pirates, or exiles, turning into lawless frontier zones.
   The few elves who survived may now be unrecognizable to their original culture, having intermarried with local populations or become nomadic wanderers.

🔹 Example World: Calthelis

   Once a shining jewel of the elven empire, Calthelis was left behind due to its proximity to the data attack’s epicenter.
   Now a decayed ruin, its survivors are hardened warriors, scavengers, and shadowy technomancers.
   Some of its remnants have been recruited by the Dark Elves, while others have become cybernetically enhanced survivalists.

2. The Elves Who Joined the Greater Galactic Society

Many elves who were stranded on other worlds or in mixed-species space simply adapted. Without a centralized empire to rely on, they chose to fully integrate into the societies they found themselves in.

   Some became citizens of major human, dwarven, or alien empires, rising through academia, trade, or military service.
   Others formed interstellar guilds, becoming mercenaries, scientists, or traders, known for their elven precision and craftsmanship.
   Over centuries, these elves lost much of their original culture, evolving into something new.
   Some are seen as “galactic elves”—a hybrid culture that has no homeworld, no king, and no desire to return.

🔹 Example: The Elven Trade Clans

   A network of merchant families that spread across the galaxy after the empire’s fall.
   While still proud of their ancestry, they now see themselves as a part of the wider universe, trading with humans, dwarves, and other species.
   Their descendants are found in all corners of known space, from frontier traders to corporate executives.

3. Relations with the Two Major Elven Factions

The elves who remained outside the two dominant factions have complicated relationships with both. High Elves' View on the Lost Worlds

   The High Elves view the remaining colonies with mixed emotions—some are seen as tragic remnants, others as dangerous rogue states.
   They may offer alliances to some worlds, while avoiding or outright ignoring those that have diverged too much.
   To them, the "galactic elves" who fully integrated with outsiders are considered lost children of their race, respected but no longer part of the elven destiny.

Dark Elves' View on the Lost Worlds

   The Dark Elves see some lost colonies as potential allies, particularly those that are willing to embrace AI, cybernetics, and strength-based leadership.
   They actively recruit warriors, mercenaries, and technologists from fallen colonies.
   However, those who refuse their ideology are simply another obstacle or resource to exploit.

4. The Legacy of the Lost Worlds

The abandoned elven colonies and their descendants have shaped the galaxy in ways neither the High Elves nor Dark Elves anticipated.

   Some of these lost worlds may still hold secrets—forgotten elven databanks, experimental magic-tech, or ancient relics.
   The lost elves represent what the empire could have been had they taken different paths—more open, more integrated, or more fractured.
   They also serve as a potential bridge between the two major elven factions, though centuries of distrust make reconciliation unlikely.

Conclusion: A Future of Possibilities

The lost elven worlds are varied, diverse, and unpredictable. Some cling to the past, seeking to restore what was lost, while others have moved forward, forging their own destinies.

   Could one of these colonies rise to prominence and challenge the dominance of the High or Dark Elves?
   Might an ancient elven world hold the key to unlocking forgotten knowledge or lost magic?
   Do the descendants of these lost elves hold a different vision of what it means to be elven?

There is no single answer—only the echoes of a once-great empire, now scattered among the stars.

Government

Elves have a constitutional monarchy with elected rulers.

Seats in the parliament are given based on merits and elves who reached enough mastery in any task and became known around the wider society, can be selected to serve on the parliament as well. This ensures that the parliament is fileld with people from all paths of life.

While elves have relations with other species, their secretive nature and unwillingness to share, makes them refuse to be part of any actual formal allience or greater galactic organisation. They usually only have observer status in those.

Economy

Elves place almost all of their industry in orbit and are hapy to limit economical growth and production in orderto avoid damaging the planets they elected to live on.

Military

In combat, elves relay on their high tech weapons and senosrs as well as speed and manuverability. They prefer precission attacks on selected targets and will try to avoid large scale destruction whenever possible.

Just like with any other profession, elves who choose to follow the path of the warrior, will focus and train until they achieve true mastery of their craft. Making them very dangerous opponents both an an individual level and as part of units. Renown commandrs will often draw the best warriors to them just like a renown master of a craft will be able to gather the best students more easily.

Elven Military Philosophy: Precision, Mastery, and Elegance in Warfare

The elven approach to warfare reflects their cultural values: individual mastery, precision over brute force, and a deep suspicion of AI and automated systems. Unlike more conventional militaries that rely on overwhelming firepower or mass production, elven military forces are highly specialized, favoring precision strikes, adaptability, and elite warriors who have trained for centuries.

Their military technology is tailored to the elven mindset, avoiding full AI control, but still integrating complex, semi-autonomous systems that enhance individual capability without removing direct mastery from elven pilots and warriors. 1. Elven Starships: Masterpieces of War

Elven warships are handcrafted marvels, each built to perfection rather than mass-produced. While other species might churn out countless starships with factory-line efficiency, elves take a more artisanal approach, ensuring that every ship is a balanced work of art, engineering, and tactical prowess. General Characteristics

🔹 Manually-Controlled, but Enhanced

   No AI piloting; elves refuse to let machines make autonomous combat decisions.
   Instead, their ships use complex neural interfaces, allowing pilots to control ships as if they were an extension of their body.
   Tactical computers act only as advisors, enhancing the pilot’s capabilities without overriding them.

🔹 Fast, Maneuverable, and Precise

   Unlike the brute-force battleships of dwarves or the overwhelming numbers of human fleets, elven warships prioritize mobility, agility, and accuracy.
   They never engage in direct slugging matches—instead, they prefer evasive tactics, surgical strikes, and the complete neutralization of enemy command structures.
   Elven fighters and corvettes can weave through enemy fire like dancers, avoiding damage rather than tanking it.

🔹 Limited Numbers, Highly Specialized Crews

   Elven ships are not meant to be crewed by untrained personnel.
   Every officer and pilot is an expert in their field, sometimes training for centuries before being given a command position.
   Because of this, every elven warship is a precision instrument, operating with only the best crews.

🔹 Aesthetic and Functional

   Elven ships are elegant—smooth, curving hulls, intricate inlays of silver, gold, and blue-tinted alloys, and sails or fins that double as maneuvering thrusters or energy conduits.
   Instead of giant, bulky designs, they favor sleek, elongated vessels that flow through space rather than dominate it.
   Camouflage tech or light-warping fields are common, allowing elven ships to disappear from enemy sensors rather than rely on brute-force shields.

Elven Fleet Doctrine: Precision Strikes and Control of the Battlefield

Elves do not wage war like other species. Instead of massive fleet engagements, they favor highly coordinated, carefully executed battles where they control when and how they fight. Tactics & Doctrine

✅ Decapitation Strikes – Rather than destroying entire fleets, elven ships prioritize taking out command vessels, fleet coordinators, and logistics hubs. They use speed, precision, and tactical brilliance to leave enemy forces leaderless and disorganized.

✅ Hit-and-Fade Attacks – If an enemy is too strong for a direct engagement, elven ships will harass and withdraw, bleeding them slowly over time.

✅ No Wasted Motion – Every shot fired, every maneuver, and every deployment is calculated. Elven forces never engage in wasteful brawls.

✅ Superiority in Single-Combat Situations – A one-on-one duel between an elven warship and an enemy ship almost always favors the elves—they are better trained, better equipped, and more precise. 2. Notable Elven Ship Classes

Here are some typical categories of elven starships, each reflecting their philosophy of mastery and precision. A. The Duelist-Class Frigate

🔹 Small, lightning-fast, designed for ship-to-ship combat. 🔹 Pilots train for decades in zero-G maneuvers and are considered artists of space combat. 🔹 Armed with precision energy lances and micro-missiles that can target weak points in an enemy hull. 🔹 Designed for one-on-one combat, preferring to disable or surgically dismantle an opponent rather than outright destroy it. B. The Pathfinder-Class Cruiser

🔹 Used for reconnaissance, infiltration, and command. 🔹 Equipped with stealth technologies, it can gather intelligence, disrupt enemy communications, and disable sensors. 🔹 Often deployed ahead of the main fleet to soften the battlefield before the real engagement. C. The Master’s Wrath-Class Battleship

🔹 The rarest of elven warships, each one handcrafted by elven master shipwrights. 🔹 No two battleships are exactly alike, and each has its own reputation and storied history. 🔹 Armed with beam weapons that can slice through enemy capital ships, but only fires when a precise kill is possible. 🔹 Serves as the anchor of an elven fleet, coordinating the flow of battle with absolute precision. 3. Ground Warfare: The Art of War on the Surface

Elves approach ground combat the same way they approach space combat—precision, mastery, and efficiency. General Philosophy

✅ Elves do not engage in mass infantry warfare – They see it as wasteful. Instead, they deploy small, elite strike teams that can eliminate key targets before an enemy even realizes they are under attack.

✅ Each warrior is a master of their craft – An elven soldier trains for centuries, ensuring that even a single fighter is worth an entire squad of ordinary troops.

✅ Avoidance of destruction – Unlike humans or dwarves, who might use heavy bombardment to clear enemy strongholds, elves prefer surgical precision, taking out enemies without unnecessary collateral damage. Elven Ground Combat Units

🔹 Phantom Warriors (Stealth Operatives)

   Blend into the battlefield, striking from nowhere.
   Use cloaking fields and high-speed maneuvering.
   Often fight with energy blades, precision rifles, or small-scale magic disruptors.

🔹 Skystrikers (Aerial Specialists)

   Use jetpacks or gliders to move through urban environments or battlefields.
   Can evade enemy fire with extreme agility, making them almost impossible to hit.
   Function as mobile snipers, assassins, or saboteurs.

🔹 Sentinels (Defensive Elites)

   Masters of countering enemy attacks, turning an opponent’s force against them.
   Use magical barriers and energy shields to hold key locations.
   Can deflect or neutralize projectiles mid-air, making them incredibly hard to engage directly.

4. The Elven Military as a Whole

   Elves do not fight for conquest, only for preservation and precision.
   They avoid prolonged wars, preferring swift, decisive engagements.
   Their soldiers are artists, their ships are sculptures, and their warfare is an art form.
   Enemies often find it frustrating to fight elves, as they seem to appear and disappear with perfect timing.
   The greatest elven warriors and captains often become legends, with their names known across the stars.

Final Thoughts

Elves treat warfare as a matter of precision, personal skill, and strategic brilliance. Their fleets are surgical instruments, their warriors master duelists, and their philosophy of combat a balance of discipline and adaptability.

History

Data attack that hit the humans happened before already and it was targeted at the elves. It made the elves retreat from several worlds as treid to preserve their core empire. The expirience made them fortify their borders and give up parts of what they once owned.

It lead to various changes in the society and the separation of the dark elves away from the rest of the society.

Before the attack, the elves had many different nations with sometiems different forms of government. Facing the trouble and hardships in the aftermath of the data strikes, the elves unified much more and build up in amore ocntroleld way that lead to a much stornger unification of society and its customs and ideas too.

The data attack that struck the elves was a catastrophic event, likely on a scale that fundamentally reshaped their civilization. Unlike humans, who may have experienced it as a rapid collapse of infrastructure and widespread chaos, the elves—given their long history and structured society—likely faced it as a slow-burning existential crisis, responding with a calculated yet painful retreat to preserve their core worlds. How the Elves Survived the Data Attack

   Pre-Existing Technological Caution
       The elves were already secretive about their technology before the attack, which likely meant they had closed systems and avoided full integration with galactic networks. This reduced the initial spread of the data corruption.
       However, trade, diplomacy, and espionage meant some exposure was inevitable.

   Early Warning & Containment
       Some elven researchers or information specialists detected anomalies early. The nature of the attack was likely something beyond conventional hacking—possibly a form of magic-infused digital corruption or a highly advanced AI-driven virus.
       Once it was clear that the attack was spreading through data networks and AI systems, the elves shut down and isolated entire planetary and station-based data systems.
       Entire planets may have gone dark, cutting communication with others in an attempt to quarantine the infection.

   Strategic Retreat & Sacrifices
       The elves realized that attempting to fight the attack everywhere at once would lead to a total collapse.
       Instead, they made a painful decision: abandon outlying colonies and fortify the core worlds.
       Many elven-ruled or elven-influenced territories were cut off, either because they were too compromised or too difficult to hold without risking further contamination.
       This decision was controversial, and some groups (possibly the ancestors of the modern Dark Elves) refused to accept it.

   Purge & Rebuilding of Data Systems
       Unlike some civilizations that attempted to salvage and clean their data networks, the elves purged their infected systems entirely.
       They destroyed corrupted archives, shut down compromised AIs, and physically dismantled networks that could not be secured.
       From that point onward, the elves adopted an entirely different approach to technology:
           No direct integration with galactic networks.
           No AI reliance for critical functions.
           Strict manual oversight of all major technological systems.
       This led to a slower, but much more secure technological infrastructure.

Reorganizing the Empire: The Fall and the Rebirth

Once the worst of the attack had been contained, the elves faced a fragmented empire, with much of their previous territory lost or abandoned. The restructuring of their civilization was a monumental challenge, leading to major societal and political changes. 1. The Loss of the Outer Realms

   The outer colonies—whether due to data corruption, economic collapse, or military weakness—were lost.
   Some of these regions may have fallen under human, dwarven, or even Dark Elven control.
   Others became isolated elven enclaves, disconnected from their former empire and forced to adapt to new realities.

2. Political Unification

   Before the attack, the elves were divided into multiple nations, each with different government structures.
   The crisis forced them to unify, creating a centralized empire to ensure survival.
   The new government became a constitutional monarchy, blending ancient traditions with a structured meritocracy.
   The parliamentary system ensured that only those who had proven mastery in their field could participate in leadership.
   This change was not without opposition—some elves resented the loss of autonomy, contributing to further divisions in their civilization.

3. Militarization and Fortification

   The elves heavily fortified their core systems, turning them into nearly impenetrable bastions.
   Many previously open worlds became restricted, accessible only to elves or trusted allies.
   They adopted a new military strategy, emphasizing precision strikes, elite units, and rapid deployment rather than large-scale engagements.

4. The Split with the Dark Elves

   Not all elves agreed with the retreat and restructuring.
   Some factions—those who would later become the Dark Elves—believed that the elves should have fought harder, refused to retreat, or embraced more radical methods.
   In the aftermath, these groups were either exiled, left willingly, or broke away, forming their own secretive and militant society.
   The Dark Elves, in contrast to their more isolationist kin, embraced espionage, AI-enhanced technology, and ruthless pragmatism—a path that would later bring them into conflict with their former brethren.

Current Attitude Toward Technology and Information

As a direct result of the data attack, the elves have fundamentally altered their relationship with technology:

   No Connection to the Galactic Data Sphere – Elven systems are completely isolated, preventing outside influence.
   Heavily Encrypted & Analog Redundancy – They now rely on physical backups, analog fail-safes, and manual oversight.
   Extreme Caution Toward AI – AI is strictly controlled, never fully trusted, and always paired with manual supervision.
   Secrecy & Restricted Access – Outsiders are not allowed to access or study elven technology freely.
   Reliance on Personal Mastery – Knowledge is passed down through apprenticeships rather than automated databases.

Long-Term Consequences

   Cultural Shift Toward Secrecy
   → The elves are now even more reluctant to share knowledge, fearing a repeat of past mistakes.

   Loss of Former Influence
   → The once vast elven-controlled territories have shrunk, and they no longer dominate entire regions of space.

   Tension Between Tradition & Innovation
   → While elves still advance technologically, they do so with great caution, avoiding rapid or untested innovations.

   Survivor’s Guilt & Internal Divisions
   → Some elves still debate whether they should have fought harder instead of retreating, leading to ideological splits within their society.

Final Thoughts

The data attack was a turning point for the elves, forcing them to abandon their outer empire and reorganize their society into a more unified but secretive civilization. While this ensured their survival, it also left them distrustful of outsiders, highly protective of their knowledge, and deeply wary of AI and data networks.

Technology & Notable Creations

Elves see technological progress of limited and dangerous and focus mostly on developing and advancing their mental and physical abilities. They already have considerable technical skill, but their goal is to develop mental abilities that would allow them to limit the use of AI and related technologies even further (think: mentat etc.).

Trivia

A common theory about the very similar look between humans and elves say, that both races actually have common ancestors and their genetic code has been engineered or spread by an unknown race that is either extinct or has left the galaxy so long ago, that no traces are left that could shed light on this mystery.