Desert Elf | Tyrrapedia: Encyclopedia of Tyrra

Desert Elves originated in the Great Desert, far to the west of Evendarr. There are many rumors about difficulties with a Sorcerer King there who many have enslaved many of the desert elven people. If these tales are true, it is understandable why those rare few that you meet in Evendarr do not often speak of such a tragic history.

The elves of the Great Desert are organized into tribes. Like all desert people, water is very important to them. Some fear it. Some adore it. All respect it and its worth. The strongest oaths and bargains of the desert people are sealed with water.

Desert elves share some similarities with other elven races. Like all elves, desert elves mature at the same rate as human children for the first 20 years or so. After that, their aging slows dramatically. A healthy desert elf that leads a quiet life, free of the dangers common to the lives of adventurers might live to see her 450th birthday! Like other elven races, desert elves believe that elven spirits have true names, and those names hold power over the individual. Some rumors indicate that all elves prefer to be resurrected by elves, that this commonality makes the process of resurrection less painful.

Little is known of desert elves in Evendarr, as they rarely immigrate to the Kingdom in any numbers. Along with many other rumors about this passionate and unusual people, some claim that there is some ancient animosity between desert elves and stone elves. Other tales say that they hold necromancy in great contempt, and the desert people rarely practice it.

It is evident that whatever the truth may be of their origins, they prize their freedom, perhaps unto the depths of their spirit. Mild claustrophobia is not uncommon among desert elves, though it is not more common in its extreme form than most other civilized races. Many have speculated that this common discomfort with restriction or confinement is the reason desert elves choose not to wear armor into battle, and cannot usually gain any benefit from it without training and practice.

Spirit Marks

All desert elves have tattooed or painted faces and ears. These marks are referred to as "spirit marks," and are said to bear the impression of the individual spirit. Some tales indicate that the desert people tattoo and paint their faces as protection from the harsh desert sun. Other rumors lead back to the Sorcerer King, and the mark of independence of the unconquerable spirit. Whatever their origin, or the reason for wearing them, all desert elves receive these marks when they come of age. Spirit marks are unique, and it is extremely unusual and cause for great alarm when any two desert elves, even twins, have the same marks. Vague similarities of markings will often run in families, however.

Most spirit marks are black and white and cover the entire face and ears, ending cleanly at the jaw line. Other colors are sometimes used sparingly. An abundance of color, or coverage of less than the entire face are both very rare, and are not necessarily considered desirable traits among the desert people. Rare individuals and at least one tribe are known to paint their hair rather than their face. They are seldom discovered outside of their own tribe.

The appearance of spirit marks is often said not to be a conscious choice of the individual, but the unconscious expression of the spirit. As such, desert elven spirit marks usually take abstract shapes. Specific personal and tribe symbols and colors are not found articulated on the faces of desert elves, and would likely be considered grotesque and a sign of madness by the desert people!

As the name indicates, spirit marks are said to be tied to the very nature of the individual spirit. As such, they do not often change. Significant changes in spirit marks usually coincide with significant, life-changing events, perhaps even the change of the spirit's true name.

Passions

Desert elves tend to be very emotional and prone to follow their instincts and their heart's advice over the mind's. When coming of age, each desert elf decides upon a path to guide perspective and action for her lifetime. She chooses her heart's strongest calling, and follows it. This is referred to as a "Passion." Passions tend to be somewhat broad categories such as, Battle, Intrigue, Healing, Freedom, Humor, Adventure, Death, etc.

Passions are an integral part of desert elven culture. An individual's Passion usually influences his choice of occupation and all major decisions in his life. The Passion an individual follows is probably fairly easy to guess because most desert elves "wear their heart on their sleeve." While Passions are by no means as confidential as the true name of the spirit, they are a personal topic, however. Close friends and associates are usually welcome to make specific inquiry about Passions, but it is probably not the best way to start a conversation with a desert elf.