What are Shadow Elves?
Shadow elves are similar to sun-elves in appearance, though with the
passing of time it would seem their skin has become paler and more
translucent, and their hair a bit darker. The Elves of Avenir are the
longest-lived of the races, the most intelligent, and the most comely
to look upon. They are taller than the tallest Humans, but by not more
than a hand-span (4 in/10 cm). The other races all admire and revere
the Elves to some extent, much in the same way we admire a thing of
beauty that is eternally beyond our grasp. Elves are the oldest of the
humanoid races of Avenir, generally reclusive, and conscious of their
superiority over the other races in all things.
It was by this consciousness, (which I shall call 'vanity') that certain
of the Spirit Beings manipulated the Elves into accepting the Pact of
Sybarus. These Beings knew that if they could persuade the Elves to
accept the Pact, the other races would follow suit. The Elves knew this,
too, and the responsibility weighed heavy upon them, delaying their
decision. Yet it was made, and Sybarus was founded, and the new People
of Sybarus expressed their joy by selecting the Elves as their leaders,
and by building them a great fortress upon their own island.
Upheld by both mortals and spirits alike as saviours and allies, the
Elves have become a bit degenerate, but not complacent. They command
great powers and learn to exercise them; they train their bodies to
a fine hone and their wits to a point sharper than that of any blade.
Their amusements are often cruel, and their pronouncements harsh, but
such things are expected of rulers, and deemed necessary to maintain the
order which Sybarites so desperately crave.
Shadow Elves, and in fact all Sybarites, are not evil. Though sometimes
the result of what they do appears to be Evil, their motivations are
purely Good. Daily, the Gods visit proof of their powers upon the
Sybarites, who in turn worship Them and placate Them in all things, lest
They wreck divine havoc upon fair Sybarus, causing great harm to its
people.
Sybarites are zealots. They are passionate about their Cause and their
Gods. They do what they do because they Must -- and all who oppose them
in this are Evil. In their minds, an Evil act is one that brings the
retribution of the Gods, and the Ultimate Evil act is one that would
bring the death of their Society.
A person who intentionally does evil is considered insane, and meets a
swift death, that he not reproduce himself and taint future generations.
If he has children, they are put to death, and if he has siblings, they
too, meet the Executioner. In this way does Sybarus control the morality
of its People, and not even Shadow Elves are exempt from such justice.
The Sybarite Elves are called 'Shadow Elves' because they live in the
Shadow of the Source. The other races can also be referred to as 'shadow
they, in their exaltedness, are closer to the Source than all others.
(Please note that the terms "good" and "evil" are used for the benefit of
Outlanders. While sybarites do not subscribe to your morality, we are aware
of its application, and thus we use such terms in order to explain ourselves
in words you will understand)
