The Ifer'hém elves are the fore-runners of the Coór'hém of northeastern Nybelmar. These elves were originally a part of the Royal Elves, but their turn to the Element of Fire made them a different tribe altogether. Representing the original faction that tore the Galderioth Woods apart, the Ifer'hém are now only a Cult among the Coór'hém.

Image description. A typical Ifer'hém elf with the pallid white skin complexion. Their bodies were thin and they had  a soft, supple skin. Picture by Viresse.

Appearance. The Ifer'hém, originally an offshoot of the Royal Elves, were immaculate and beautiful to behold; eyes clear and bright; of emerald and stormy greys, and hair colours ranging to a flaxen gold to a rich ebony. Their bodies were thin and had soft, supple skin; the colour of honeymilk. They had delicate features; high cheekbones, thin, expressive lips and nimble hands.

As the Ifer'hém turned to the worship of the Element of Fire, their appearance began to change. Their hair took a more bold direction; flat blacks and platinum blondes, with colors of red orange and yellow laid throughout their tresses, if they had hair at all. The eyes of the Ifer'hém evolved to darker, more extreme colors. The greens became blacks, the greys now ranged from a milky yellow to blazing red. Their skin too lost its richness; a pallid white began to emerge from their honeymilk complexions. Their bodies became emaciated, their skin drawn and tight over their delicate bones.

Coat of Arms/Sign. The Ifer'hém were proud of their past and looked forward to their future. They symbolized this with their coat of arms, taking the basic shape of the Royal Elves' coat of arms; a tri-pointed inverted tear, the Ifer'hém reversed the direction; making it more resemble a swath of fire. The shield has a steel border, with a field of orange, a black fist holding a torch of red and yellow flame.

Territory. In ancient times, the Ifer'hém resided in the large elven city of [...] in north-eastern Nybelmar. But the obsessive nature of these elves and their love for the dangerous Element of Fire caused for great fear. Some elves called for an end to the sect, while others did not know they existed. The Ifer'hém caused the City to split apart, due to a massive fire.

The Ifer'hém then took over most of the western side of the Galderioth, setting up a major city of their own around the Embertree. They lived for some time here until the Embertree fell and killed 3/4 of the tribe. After the Fall of the Embertree, the Ifer'hém dominance ended, and the Coór'hém came into power.

Now the Ifer'hém live among the Coór'hém in the Crystalwoods of Nybelmar.

People. Ancient history dictates these elves as the driving force that split the Galderioth. They began as a small number (roughly 250) of slightly off-kilter fire-worshipping elves. But their appearance began to change dramatically and they became a different tribe from the Royal Elves altogether. At their peak (during the Embertree era) they numbered as many as 10,000. Now their numbers have dwindled to under 600, and they reside with the Coór'hém.

The Ifer'hém are very political, much like their ascendant tribe. However, these elves hand no true right to power, only power over other elves. This turned their plans of power from political to murderous in attemps to overtake rule. Their ability to use fire magic made them even more dangerous. The Ifer'hém are master swordsmen, but they use their skills rarely; they are the sneaky and snake-like members of the Coór'hém tribe. Ifer'hém  prefer assassination over cold-blooded murder. They also live longer than their Coór'hém brethren, well over 400 years.

Housing. The ancient Ifer'hém were surrounded by the Embertree, living in the ancient buildings now occupied by the Coór'hém. These buildings are now vacant, apparently the area is heavily disliked by the Coór'hém. The exterior claims amazing craftsmanship, but where this skill came from is unknown. The interior of these homes was nothing special; they meant to comfort those that lived there; they did not receive guests. Decoration was moderate, some items around them were kept to remind the elves of the Fire they worshipped. In the area of the Embertree, the Coór'hém establishments are present in vast amounts. They seem to have been created by the Ifer'hém. But ask an Ifer'hém of it and they will tell you that they know nothing.

Clothing. Ifer'hém clothing was simple when they still represented a tribe of their own. All Ifer'hém wore black cassocks of varying cuts and lengths. Over these they wore garments such as cloaks, vests and shirts and jerkins in varying warm hues. Upon these bright garments anything could be drawn or written; they can be simple or complex in cut and shape, so long as there was something there. The clothes they wore represented their faith as well as their history. Now that they live among the Coór'hém, their garments are still the same, though coupled with things such as gauntlets and leather armor to protect themselves from their Coór'hém brethren.

Diet. Ifer'hém were omnivorous, but the tending of the Embertree left little time for cultivation. Those that did cultivate tended to grow things that took little effort, such as most natural plants and tubers. They caught animals in intricate traps and cooked them at the Embertree; sharing the flesh with everyone. One can quickly spot an Ifer'hém among the Coór'hém as of recent times; the Ifer'hém char their meat over fires while the Coór'hém eat their quarry raw, and the Ifer'hém feed their own offspring.

Weapons. The Ifer'hém rarely had need for weapons, they were disliked and feared. If the time arose and they actually needed weapons, their favorite weapons were coupled with flame; flaming arrows and torches, sometimes a sword heated to blistering-high temperatures. Their knowledge of magic was also a powerful weapon.

Occupations. Most work was spent keeping the Embertree burning. The Embertree was the largest tree in the forest at that time; it glowed a fiery red and cracked the dark bark as the inside of the tree was hollow and a fire burned in its base. Magic was used to halt the burning of the wood. In essence, the Embertree was just a glowing shell for the fire that constantly burned. The magic contained the fire, while many of the residents kept the fire burning through placing of burnable items in the fire. Animal and enemy corpses were not uncommon in keeping the fire burning; as well as wood, leaves and items from enemy encampments.

Some Ifer'hém spent their time harvesting food, and others were exclusively hunters, but these were good at what they did and few were actually needed.

Government. There isn't much of a government to speak of with these elves. The strongest (it can be in strength or magic) told the others what to do. And if the others didn't like it, they would stop him from giving commands. Then another would take the top spot and become the strongest. That was the natural cycle within the Ifer'hém regents.

Despite the strongest warrior taking control, females were alltogether respected. Referred to as Mother (if she had children) or Sister, the females did little work save giving birth and telling the Men what to do. Behind every man was a woman telling when to strike and why to do it. The only time a woman is disrespected is when the man that stands for her falters. Most males relinquish their females when they lose, or their children. Be aware however; the women are as adept at fighting than men are.

Production/Trade. The Iferhem did not trade. It wasn't that the concept was foreign; they often bartered among one another. The Ifer'hém disliked other tribes immensely and irrationally disliked those they did not know. Any belongings they received were from the overtaking of encampments and bartering with one another.

Natural Resources. The Ifer'hém had very little natural resources, other than the food they grew. As natural resources you can only count what they gathered through the attack of other tribes. Now among the Coór'hém, they harvest quite a bit more and hunt less.

Holidays, Festivals and Observances. There's only one major festival the Ifer'hém celebrate: The Embertree Revival. Every 150 years, in the month of the Burning Heavens (efér'ypheró) and the 16th day, the Ifer'hém gather in the clearing on the far-west side of the Crystalwoods. The clearing is where the Embertree fell, on that exact same day. The Ifer'hém spend a week in the clearing, spinning tales of days lost. Stories are told that the souls of those that died that night are released for one day by Coór to enforce the ties that make the Ifer'him so vile.