THE
EOPHYRHIM
ELVES
("HUNTING
TRIBE") |
The Eophyrhim is a particularly quiet
dark elven
tribe inhabiting the Paelelon forest, facing the Seanian
Swamps and within travel to Elsreth. They are
introverted yet imposing on those that attempt to enter their forest. Stories
abound that the Eophyrhim are merciless to those that cross them, and missing
caravans of traders have seemed to prove the point.
The Eophyrhim are rarely seen by foreign travellers, they like the darkness of
their forest and the privacy their reputation gives them. Friends of these
drow paint a picture of genteel affluence; respectable
and courteous nobles who wish only for their way in their home and nothing
more. But those that have been at the wrong end of an Eophyrhim bow claim that
they are bloodthirsty creatures of the woods that should
be erradicated from the Paelelon at any cost. Either
way, the Eophyrhim are mysterious, and though much is
claimed to be known of them, not many can prove it.
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Appearance.
The Eophyrhim are usually around two peds in
height, with thin figures full of bony edges. But their look of fragility hides
a strength unrivaled by a human their
size. Sinuous muscles ripple like snakes under a thin layer of skin when they
move, as if a smaller, stronger creature lives inside the Eophyrhim Elf; a
demon waiting for its time to escape,
some say. Their skin is pallid and smooth, rarely do the
Eophyrhim see the unfiltered sun under their own will. The Eophyrhim hair color
varies from a deep rust-brown to a jet black, and the styling of the hair is
long and unbound, with some braids hidden within their tressses. Some of the
younger drow have gotten a bit more extreme, shaving
parts of their hair for more unique styles, perhaps to further frighten
travellers who see them.
Aesthetic scaring is not uncommon among the Eophyrhim, who usually perform it
on their arms and chests. No one can completely prove if it is a scare tactic
or a ritual. Piercing on the ears and other fleshy parts (rarely on the face,
a facial piercing is the sign of an outcast) and tattooing on the arms, legs
and torso is not uncommon among the Eophyrhim either, though it is in less
abundance. The higher nobility of Eophyrhim carry little or no scars, tattoos
or piercings.
Coat of Arms/Sign.
The Eophyrhim shield is an old design. It is the basic shield shape,
covered with a field of black. A simple thick silver border surrounds it,
silver studs at each corner. There is a thin circle of silver surrounding a
tree with wide outstretched branches. The leafed part of the tree contains a
pair of eyes.
This shield is a symbol of the Eophyrhim way of life. The forest is protected,
and the Trees are always there. And though the tree is alone, the Drow sees
everything inside his Paelelon.
Territory.
The Eophyrhim inhabit the Paelelon, a small forest facing the Seanian
Swamps to the east, the Ancythrian Sea and Elsreth to the north, the KairIian
Teeth to the east, and the Heath of Cijur to the south.
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Picture description. The location of the Paelelon Forest in the heart of Santharia, home of the Eophyrhim dark elves. The woods lie just south of the Ancythrian Sea, near Elsreth. |
The Eophyrhim are very protective of their forest. Small drowish establishments
are set up at the borders of the Paelelon, where it is guarded fiercely. Those
not without an Eophyrhim escort are not permitted to enter. Those that are not
drow of the Paelelon and damage the forest in any way
are roughly reprimanded by the Eophyrhim. Those that attempt to pass through
the forest without permission are promptly executed.
People.
The Eophyrhim are quiet and introverted. They prefer the solitude and
peace of their own forest. Passing travellers and those disrespectful to the
woods and the drow are not tolerated. Friendship between
the Eophyrhim and anyone else not of the
Eophyrhim is usually considered a useless and fruitless endeavor, as few
understand these dark elves. But
once a friend to the Eophyrhim, forever a friend. The
Eophyrhim are dedicated to what they have worked upon; rarely do they abandon
things. To the friends of the Eophyrhim, the
elves are polite, calm and respectful. They know
that they are not liked, and living in the middle of a continent that frowns
upon their practices is difficult for them. To avoid persecution they hide from
prying eyes and cover their tracks, even if it means that they must kill
without mercy to keep their way of life. They rarely try and help people
understand them, most decide that rather than explaining, killing would be
easier for the drow. The
Eophyrhim are cold, aloof and calculating to most, their emotions are not
exhibited to other races.
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The Eophyrhim live in trees, like most
elves. The higher
the rank of an elf, the closer to the earth
they live. Mages and clerics live lowest, and have
removed dirt from the roots of the largest trees, making small homes under
them. The Eophyrhim are nocturnal, living at night and
resting during the day. They are adept at the relaxation meditation most
elves
practice, considering they rest during the day.
For the most part, the Eophyrhim are hunters. They have elaborate festivals for
Arvins, that include some special
"animals" for the hunt, and their
weapons are adapted for silence and swiftness for the most efficient kill
possible. They may also capture creatures and poison them, so they may eat the
animal when the poison has worked effectively. This process has made them
well-defended against most poisons. Even more interesting, the Eophyrhim have
bred a slender and strong (much like themselves) domesticated wolf to assist
them in hunting, the
Eophyrhim Hunting Hound.
Housing.
The Eophyrhim are a backwards tribe compared to most
elves in this respect. The highest-set home
is the poorest family, and the dark clerics and
magi live between the roots of the tallest trees. Homes
are not elaborate. The average home has a dydactic drapery
covering most of one wall, and small stools for sitting scattered around the
room, and a small, low table.
On the opposite wall from the drapery, the wall is
covered in an odd, moss-like lichen called Tree-rot. The Eophyrhim lean against
this wall while they rest, gazing at the Drapery. Poorer homes are incapable of
growing Tree-rot, it is too far from the earth and too much air and sun for
proper, healthy growth. In Magi and Clerics' homes, the walls are covered in
it. Though magi and clerics do
not have draperies, (their homes tend to be on the small side) they have a
similar, stimulating setup. Candles made from the fat of the animals they hunt
flank a deer skull, the horns still attached. Other
skulls and bones surround the deer skull. No one is
entirely sure why this is, but it can be assumed that the deer
represents Arvins, and the deadness of
it representing Queprur.
Clothing.
The Eophyrhim, despite living in a forest, are impeccably dressed. They
always look like a well-dressed noble, their clothing dominated by the colours
grey, black and red. Cloaks are usually worn, fringed with the finest fur.
Buttons, clasps and chains are always silver, for silver resembles moonlight
more than gold. Fine leathers, soft cottons and pure wools are used
extensively, and the craftsmanship is beyond compare. Some materials that are
rare seem to be in great abundance for the Eophyrhim, like silks and an odd,
transparent fabric called Ether-flake seen in great abundance among younger
Eophyrhim.
Hunters are the workhorses of the tribe, so they tend to dress down. Hunters
are also most seen of the Eophyrhim, travelling to near towns to sell goods.
They try their hardest to distance people from them, but it is a difficult
effort. Hunters are usually clad in long hooded cloaks, thin cotton (or
Ether-flake) tunics and leather jerkins or vests, and fine leather boots. The
material and cut of their breeches varies from one to another, but it is always
of sturdy craftsmanship. More dedicated hunters dress less elaborate. Silver
and chains can alert a kill of change, as can fur and leather. There are women
hunters, though other women look down upon them. Their clothes also look
similar to hunter clothes, though they are made to flatter the feminine form
(which still makes them particularly impractical).
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Nobles are known to dress far more elaborately. Matching gowns for male and
female are donned for public occasions, especially at parties, festivals and
social gatherings. Most men prefer to wear outfits similar to Guide clothes,
although more flamboyant in cut, pattern and design. Women are also more
flamboyant with personal selection; gowns of obscene length, revealing cuts and
unique design. Women's clothing is essentially impractical for forest living,
which is a reason they do not have a occupational position.
Diet.
The Eophyrhim drow comsume a large portion of
meat; deer, bird, rabbit. They also consume wine, and some of the poorer
Eophyrhim eat grains and plants. In lean times they will kill
horses for food, and even dogs. In the
days of hunger,
human flesh was found to be palatable, but
it is now only consumed on special occasions.
Weapons.
The weapons the Eophyrhim employ are similar to most other weapons
elves have:
scimtars, knives, and bows, though the Eophyrhim have taken their love of the
hunt and death to a new level. Even though they only hunt animals (and enslaved
humans purchased for the
Arvins festival) they poison the tips
and blades of their weapons. Wooden shafts are nocked, hollowed out and blades
curved for better aerodynamics and weight. The quicker a kill, the quicker you
can kill again.
Eophyrhim weapons are usually silver or black. Even
wooden bows and arrows are painted black, simply because to many creatures,
these weapons are the essence of death. The poison that the Eophyrhim
drow use on the steel swords and daggers turns the
silver blades to a charred black color, that eats away at the metal. Eophyrhim
swords only last about 15 years, and are purchased from travellers and nearby
towns. Even though swords are expendable, the Eophyrhim are picky about their
blades and take a long time in selecting the best one.
Although not a weapon, the Eophyrhim
Hunting Hound is an effective killer, much like the drow
that have bred it. The dog is bred to be slender and fast, with a long snout,
thin musculature and lots of power and energy. These creatures live about 15
years, parents of Eophyrhim hunters give their child their first sword and
hound at
the same time. When the sword wears out, it means it's time to replace the dog
as well.
Occupations.
The Eophyrhim do little. Some are guards that live at outposts at the
edge of the Paelelon, guarding its bordes so no
unwelcome visitors slip inside without warning. Most are hunters,
hunting animals for food. The poorest of the Eophyrhim
harvest grains, mosses and berries in small gardens on the forest floor. Women
do little in the way of working, though some do hunt, and even less are guides.
Poor Eophyrhim women work as much as the males in harvesting foods. If the
season is right, a poor family can quickly become rich by creating a good
harvest of corpse-berry wine,
which sells for a great price.
There is also a mercenary guild consisting of only seven
Eophyrhim drow called
"The Hounds
of Paelelon". They are hired
again and again for their speed, precision, and willingness to kill. These
mercenaries are simply flamboyant hunters, whose pay only goes for room, board
and armory. The rest is sent back to the tribe.
Government.
The Eophyrhim have little in the way of government. It is based upon
respect. Clerics and mages are the most respected. After
that, it is based on skill in hunting. There is no surpreme overlord or ruler,
each Eophyrhim colony is closely linked with its neighbors. As each Eophyrhim
seems to think in much the same way, there are not many rules:
These rules are followed without much debate. Those that do not follow the
rules are exiled.
Production/Trade.
The Eophyrhim can glean items and pay from frightened travellers asking for
their lives to be spared. In rare occasions, they will approach an entire
caravan and attack it, taking the items. They are selective however, usually
only taking textiles. They will sell leftover material for money in nearby
towns and buy swords, knives, bows and jewelery. In lean times, they will sell
live animals and meat in nearby towns.
Corpse-berry wine can be traded in nearby towns for a great sum of money, and
greedy travellers come to the forest edge and request it by name.
Eophyrhim
hunting hounds are sought after by nobles all over
Caelereth, and can be sold for
a great price.
Natural Resources.
Meat and wood are the Eophyrhim's natural resources, as well as a small market
for agriculture.
Festivals.
The Eophyrhim are normally rather somber. However they have a few festivals
that allow them let their emotions go, even if they are odd
emotions...
The
Arvins
Festival
This festival happens in each colony in early fall every 25 years,
in the middle of the day (oddly). It can last anywhere
from 2 to 8 days, depending on the skill and intelligence of the quarry. The
first day of the festival, the quarry is fed a great feast, and the whole of
the colony feasts with them. When night comes, the quarry is awakened and
released. The quarry is allowed to run and hide in the
Paelelon, and the next
night the hunters (dressed in grey cloaks for better
visibility by their quarry) hunt the prey. The festival
ends when the last human body is counted.
The Arvins Festival is a gruesome festival by
human standards. Each colony
selects a human from a passing caravan to take in shortly before the festival
is to take place. The night of release, the
human is stripped of both clothes
and belongings. Alltogether there are roughly 25-40
humans
released. A
game-like hunt ensues, the hunter to bring in the most
humans
wins the respect
of all Eophyrhim and is considered a Master Hunter. The flesh of the
humans
is
then cooked and eaten.
As long as the Arvins
Festival has been practiced, there has been no
human escapes. Few
humans
even know of the festival, and the Eophyrhim prefer it that
way.
Queprur's Day
This is a simple festival, taking place in the spring every 10
years. In the morning, a
Eophyrhim hound of full age is poisoned with black
corpse-berry wine. The Eophyrhim then watch the
hound die, thinking thoughts of
life and death. The more noble of drow have elaborate parties, and for those
poorer families that cannot or do not own a
hound, the Head Cleric of the
colony poisons a
horse in front of his home and preaches so that the less
fortunate Eophyrhim may still participate in the celebration.
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Information provided by
Viresse
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