The Kaýrrhem are the
oldest of the elven tribes of
Nybelmar and possibly the most respected. Long
years they prospered in the vast forests and jungles of the Faellaenion
Gaeldorioth (translated the "the Emerald Woods") till the "Great
Unrest" divided the elves and caused their great empire to fall apart.
In present days they officially still control all the east of the woods,
but in fact all the glory their realm once was has now withdrawn to some small
secluded spots hidden deep in dark jungles and protected valleys.
The Korweynites who where allies
for many years to the Kaýrrhem during the first
and second darkness of Nybelmar also refer to them as the Kaýr and the
teachers of the Chosen - the Korweynites
see themselves as the Chosen by those gods that seek peace and balance. In
ancient times they were also called the Taeánrhim (Styrásh
Taeánrhim,
the "Hidden tribe") for avoiding any contact to the
other races and even their brothers safe for the Astyrhim
before the continents fell apart.
Appearance.
The Kaŭr look like normal woodelves by appearance but in their veins flows a
good amount of lightelven blood hat shines through from time to time. The
eldest generation of the Kaŭr - though seldom seen - might be even related to
the famous Astyrhim of
Sarvonia because when all the races moved to
Fá'áv'cál'âr they did not join
and only held contact with this one
Sarvonian elven tribe. Still, the line of
lightelves among the Kaŭr is very thin and only grows thinner with any millenium
that passes though it has helped them to amass great wisdom and protect their
old traditions to the very day.
Most Kaŭr can
be described as highgrown, even for elves, reaching up to 2.3 peds and their
body is of elegant slenderness. Their skin is usually of very light tones, people
sometimes say they've some kind of light glow about them though if this is poetic
exaggeration is difficult to tell. However it is true that most people think
about them as most beautiful and perfect even compared to their brethren in
the Autumn Woods. Blonde hair from golden to foxblonde are most
common, as are blue and green eyes, more seldom is black hair or gray and purple
eyes. Their faces are noble with high cheeks and eyebrows. As the Kaŭr reach high
age and some can come as close to immortality as a woodelf can do they always
seem to have a wistful shadow on their eyes, as if they remember everything
about the past and know what to expect from the future.
Coat of Arms/Sign.
Though only loosely related to the Astyrhim through the myths of time and many
legends the Kaŭr bear their version of the Tree of Life on their shield, but
theirs is displayed under a sky of stars and one half of the shield is darkened
showing the tree burnt not neglecting the first appearance of
Coór. Thus their shield shows the dream
the way it turned out and how it was supposed to be - at least this is the Kaŭr
interpretation. When mourning for a fallen friend it is known that soldiers
cover the dark half of their shield with their white coats to remember the Dream
as it should have been.
Territory.
East of the Nimroth and west of the Jerrah lies the Kaŭr realm, deep within the
forests defended by the creatures of the jungles and even the trees. Their northern
border is the Dolion Meriath. It can be said that the core of the realm lies
mostly in the northern half of this part of the jungle and the
elves to the
south and east live rather independent from the Kaŭr, only seeing themselves
loosely aligned to them, only following their call and advise in times of war
or unrest. In ancient times all woods of eastern
Nybelmar were under their
rule, but this is long forgotten by most but the Kaŭr.
People.
In their glorious times the Kaŭr became great in many things, even in smithing
and architecture. The perfection of balance and order is one of their greatest
goals and they proved great in building vast cities with incredible buildings
of stone interwoven with the forest in a way that does not make one feel wandering
through cold stone streets but flourishing gardens. Barely anyone has seen what
happened to their cities now but most have been abandoned during the time
called the "Great
Unrest" and possibly only the capital and some places nearby still shine
in the glory of old days.
The Kaŭr are still great smiths in making finest
elven armor and jewelry made
for eternity. Such items are invaluable and legendary outside the woods and
only few people were honoured to receive such an item from a Kaŭr for great
deeds or services. There's no distinction between male and female among the
Kaŭr society, only wisdom and age make one a leader and this can be anyone from
a great warrior to a smith.
The Kaŭr live the maximum known to woodelves, up to 700 years and at few occasions
even exceed this to become 1000 years or even older and become lightelves. Though
this happens only once or twice in a whole century and most Kaŭr live within
normal elven standards this is made them being called the "Highelves" not only
by themselves but also by most others.
Housing.
The Kaŭr were - and still are - great builders and architects and most houses are
built as part of a great artistic project including gardens, fountains and trees,
sometimes built within them, sometimes beneath them and sometimes around them.
The buildings themselves are usually heavily decorated with ornaments, sometimes
colourful, sometimes tinted into a certain mood. Travelers gifted with the right
to visit one of their cities told that you could never tell when the city ends
and the forest begins so perfectly everything fits into each other.
Clothing.
The Kaŭr like to dress in most beautiful and colourful clothes, usually in wide
robes fixed by a belt but they also wear fine elven armor when they have to.
Beside the robe and light sandals - and those not necessarily - only jewelry
is worn from beautiful necklets to bracelets in gold and silver.
Diet.
The Kaŭr don't hunt nor do they farm within their lands. However they plant
small forests with fruits and breed honeybees. They usually feed from whatever
the forests and gardens around them give them and are happy with it. The bread
and drinks of the Kaŭr are still known to be tasty and satisfying, giving a
man enough for a day of hard work.
Weapons.
When they go to war they clad in most formidable armor, usually light chain
or plate mail. Their main weapons beside the
hornbow - a
bow the size of a
longbow
which bends into two spirals looking like the horns of a ram - they usually
use the spear and the "Iurías", a light elven
longsword which bend blade flows
smoothly into the hilt and proves to be a swift and elegant
weapon fitting for
an elf. An oval shield usually completes this set. The
kŭrass is a heavier version
of the iurías usually wielded with both hands and without a shield.
Occupations.
The Kaŭr can be split up into gardeners, smiths, lapidaries, architects, beekeepers
and guards. Whoever and wherever one does one or the other job is up to the
individual and is also a question of study. Any Kaŭr studies his occupation
to a degree where he masters it nearly to perfection. Sometimes when he has
reached such a level of perfection that it becomes tedious to him he just starts
a new occupation. Thus it is the norm that any Kaŭr from young to old learns
from others and teaches them and workshops simply switch owners when one starts
in a new field of interest.
The only exception in this seemingly easy striving for wisdom are the guards.
Though not bound to their duties full time they usually consist of any firstborn
of a family. As anything they train their skills to perfection before they're
considered true warriors. This state of readiness became necessary after the
breakup with the Fireelves that would then turn into the Coórhem later and
gives the Kaŭr a decent fighting force to defend their realm.
Government.
The government of the Kaŭr is more legend than fact. It is said to consist of
the eldest of the elves, even with several lightelves among their ranks. In
fact there's little to govern except in times of war. Most of the time this
high council just watches and gathers information about the events in the world
and keeps the Kaŭr out of the affairs of this world most of the time. Only
on rare occasions they agree to interfere into the business with other races
and among all nations and tribes they only allied with the
Korweynites over
a long time. Other than that they stay on none's side as long as these sides
stay out of their territory. Most disputes - if there are any - are solved by
the people themselves or by addressing an older Kaŭr for advice.
Production/Trade.
The only things they produce in a way is honey, armor, jewelry and
weapons,
though the later three are all considered an artistic challenge not just a practical
one. They don't trade often and will only very seldom allow a caravan to come
to their place. Usually they just produce anything they need for themselves
and are happy with it.
Natural Resources.
The Kaŭr are not great miners, however they obviously know where to find precious
stones like emeralds, crystals or sapphires or metals like iron, silver and
gold. But usually this is the task of the smith or lapidaries who seek the
necessary raw materials themselves as it is part of producing a piece of art.
Most metal and precious stones are found up to the north near the mountains but the
sources are unknown. When really desperate a Kaŭr will travel miles over miles
to a city of humans or stop a caravan of plaindwarves to get his materials.
Holidays, Festivals
and Observances.
Like the Sarvonian
elves the Kaŭr believe in a High Goddess
above all other Gods, calling Her Ŭvan. Religion
is never worshipped in great festivals but only in the way a Kaŭr lives. The
only celebrations are one's funeral or the Raise to Light, both events are more gatherings
for group meditations and honouring the individual with songs or poems rather
than festivals.
Important Achievements.
The Kaŭr got famous for their great garden cities though barely anyone has seen
them and their determination in fighting the dark servants of
Coór whenever
and wherever they might raise. The Kaŭr bonds to the
Korweynites reach as far as
to the defeat of Menemronn, the last Chosen of
Nybelmar. Though they can be
rarely seen outside their realm in times of peace they also got a high reputation
for their skills at war and their pure spirit.
