Ruinborn Elves are the descendants of the various groups of elves who remained in Aelantir after the Day of Ashen Skies, or as their namesake, the Ruin of Aelantir.
Ruinborn elves are not a single ethnic group but instead a general term for all elves in Aelantir who are not degenerated.
List of Ruinborn Elf Types
Below is a list of all classified Ruinborn Elf subtypes and their general identifying features.
Ruin Proper Sea Groups
- Kwineh: pale skin, rosy cheeks, bloodgrove sap (similar to dark red paint) markings for warriors but in general a peaceful people, bat-like nose
- Boek: hardy and stocky-looking elves, sharing a less severe version of the bat-like nose of the Kwineh people. They tattoo themselves similarly to the Kwineh. Brown to reddish-brown skin tones.
- Cheshoshi: full body black tattoo (making their bodies black entirely), battle scars are turned into ritualistic patterns, bat-like nose
- Soruinic: similar to Effelai groups
Ynnic Groups
For more info: Ynnic Ruinborn Elf
- Dolindhan: the most common Ynnic appearance, skin ranging from tanned to pale but incredibly similar to modern elves, with most not being able to tell the difference. The most striking part of Ynnic culture (bar Veykodan) is their knights and ruling caste sever the points of their ears in order to fit better in their helmets.
- Sarda: looks similar to Dolindhan, but with over half the population having the colourful hair of the precursor nobility
- Rzentur: similar to Dolindhans.
- Old Rzentur: more rugged compared to their settled brethren.
- Veykodan: looks similar to the other Ynnic groups but with a slight bat-like nose like the Ruin Proper groups. Veykodans wield ancient magics that work similarly to runic magic but applied through tattoos. Most Veykodans have magical tattoos, often all over their body and faces, that can enchant their abilities or grant them otherworldly powers, either briefly or permanently, depending on the tattoo.
Harafic Groups
For more info: Harafic Ruinborn Elf
- Harafe: grey-skinned and dark-haired, and known for wearing cloth covering suitable for desert conditions. The Harafe and their related groups have ears that grow wider horizontally than their other elven kin
- Epednar: looks similar to their Harafic kin, but generally shorter
- Mayte: general Harafic appearance but the Mayte exclusively wear masks which they believe protect themselves from the Silent Watchers. This stretches to their faith known as the Kalun Masks.
- Kooras: similar to the general appearance but stands tallest amongst their Harafic kin. Unlike their Harafic kin however, the Kooras' skin tone can range from greys to a peachy-grey tone.
Dalairey Groups
- Teira: the Teira look very similar to their Ruin Proper brethren with the bat-like noses, but with one difference: the Teira's eyes are said to glow yellow at night, possibly an artefact from the theory that ancient immortal elves had glowing yellow eyes. The Teira however do not have any significant long-livedness.
Amadian Groups
- Doos: Tan skin with a relatively large nose, and smooth medium-length hair which is typically black. Traditionally dressed in pelt garbs and wear silver necklaces and silver head or armbands.
- Doosun: Similar to Doos, but with darker, brown skin and shorter hair. Wear silver necklaces like the Doos, as well as silver ear rings and occasionally silver piercings, however their headbands are made of normal leather and they are generally unclothed. Most populous Amadian group, with their numbers being roughly the double of the Doos.
Taychendi Groups
- Taychendi: brown-skinned but generally similar to modern elves. The most striking thing is that the Taychendi elves can grow facial hair and even beards.
- Larankarha: of the same "race" as the Taychendi meaning they can grow facial hair and is similar in appearance - much of the difference lies on clothing and aesthetics: their rich and powerful extend their earlobes with rings and other jewelry. Many warriors wear rings and bells to weigh down their earlobes, and have become a warning sign associated with Larankari sabre warriors.
Alecandi Groups
- Kheionai: dark haired, usually curly, with teal-coloured skin likely due to long-term exposure to the Kaydhano Sea. Generally shorter height compared to other elves, but otherwise looks very similar to normal elves with no other facial degeneration
- Eltibhari: looks similar to the normal Kheionai type, but with more unkempt hair and muscular features due to their harsher rural lifestyle
Devandi Groups
- Mteibhar: tall and dexterous, skin ranging from pale to tanned, relatively large nose. The Devandi group's signature trait are their light green eyes shared by the majority of the population. Common hair colours are red and black.
- Basobhar: similar to Mteibhar but usually shorter, dresses in clothes imported from the Kheionai Nékheis.
- Chendhyan: tall and extremely muscular. Their skin has, due to centuries of exposure to the dark-bronze sands north of Chendhya blown by the magically-infused winds of the Kaydhano, obtained the visual properties and shine of a dark bronze metal. This makes their skin slightly tougher as well, closer to orcish skin than human skin. They have relatively large noses, normal looking ears, and obsidian black hair which they never cut, giving them shaggy and unkempt long hair. Perhaps the most famous attribute of a Chendhyan is the large feline pelt attached around their waist that symbolizes their first victory as an adult.
Effelai Groups
- Effe'i: brown or grey hair with dark skin, tall but thin, and wear ragged, trailing garments made of hide. Sing songs venerating the youth, especially saplings.
- Lai'i ("Troll-elves"): brown or blonde hair with brown skin, incredible stature, and manufacture weapons and clothing from the bones of monumental prey. Sing songs honoring those who have fallen in defense of their home. Those residing in the Mushroom Forest wear mushroom hats which, however, are not part of their body but a simple ornament instead.
- Parura (Paua'i): blue- and turquoise-dyed hair with dark skin, tall and lean, and wear animal pelts with few alterations. Sing songs glorifying the hunt and the death of the prey.
- Thamvoi (Thavo'i): Similar to Parura, but with hair green to brown/green.
- Oronoi (Oono'i) : black- and white-dyed hair with brown skin, mighty and fat, and wear simple garb made of natural fabric. Living in the Dry Coast, they are the least influenced by the Effelai Jungle. The Oronoi sing against the jungle.
Eordan Groups
For more info: Eordand#Cultures
- Selphereg:
- Physical Appearance: pinkish white to light green skin, well-kept long hair often in flowery colors, vividly dyed silk clothing, amber jewelry. Flowering plants often grow on their body
- Mannerisms: Artistic, innovative, and inquisitive. Pretentious and often hold an air of superiority. The Selpheregi often shape plants grown on them as one would tend to hair.
- Caamas:
- Physical Appearance: orange to reddish skin, shorter red or brown hair, shorter and looser often undyed cotton clothing, taller and broader
- Mannerisms: Headstrong, adventurous, and brave. Quick to temper, but prefer to forgive their opponent after a victory is declared. Prefer to live along the sea in warm climates.
- Peitar:
- Physical Appearance: white to tan skin, braided ginger or blonde hair, war paint, commonly green eyes, wear dull brown or green fine silk and fur clothing
- Mannerisms: Strong sense of community, comradery, and diligent. Zealous and intolerant of others beliefs. Prefer to dwell in deep forests, and hold ancient grudges.
- Tuathak:
- Physical Appearance: skin turns from autumn leaf colors (red, orange, yellow) to brown in the winter. Hair commonly black. Taller, bright colored autumn eyes. Autumn color scheme dyed clothing.
- Mannerisms: Well-prepared, organized, and seasoned in war. Unforgiving, militant, and hoarders. The Tuathak ever prepare for winter, the hated season of hardship, and view the Snecboth as responsible for the season.
- Snecboth:
- Physical Appearance: very pale skin with sometimes light blue tint, long black or white hair. Blue eyes. Fur clothing. Shorter and slighter.
- Mannerisms: Excellent survival skills, respect for the elderly, and prefer to find calm solutions to problems. Often trespass onto others land, slow to help people other than their tribe, and few in number. The Snecboth are semi-nomadic, and have attracted the ire of the Tuathak by attempting to migrate into their lands during winter.
- Fograc:
- Physical Appearance: Tan to black leathery skin (like an elephant), braided or dreadlock black hair. Amber eyes. Rough clothing made from wild cotton
- Mannerisms: They move around in small family groups herding sheep analogues, complaining about fey, and generally just being as standoffish and unapproachable as possible
Derogatory Terms
Bóciot: meaning 'Bastard'
Degenerated Elves
- Bloodfeeders: grey/pale-skinned peoples with a bat-like appearance. Feeds exclusively on the red sap of the Bloodgroves, and from their namesake, blood.
- Silent Watchers: a tall and thin homogeneous race that do not have the ability to speak. They are passive and non-hostile, but run away at the sign of any trouble. Named for their common practices of observing non-silent watchers in large groups. Their faces are pale, featureless and hairless, and their eyes glow in the dark of the Harafe jungles while the rest of their dark purple body remains hidden by the darkness, giving a rather eerie effect.
- Cursed Ones: brutish and large creatures with dark purple skin. Almost orc-like in appearance. Beady eyed.
- Leechmen: oily black skin, double-lidded eyes, and gills. Horribly bethoothed, leech-like maws making them unable to speak in any intelligible language.
- Ice Sleepers: oily skin ranging from cyan to dark teal, long spindly limbs, and webbed hands and feet that terminate in sharp claws. Cylinder-shaped heads, with beady black eyes, a proboscis, and a lipless fanged mouth.
- Seedthrall: dark skin covered by vines and exotic plants.