Eldar

Eldar collect magical knowledge the way dragons hoard gold. They memorize entire spellbooks, copy ancient texts by hand, and jealously guard family grimoires passed down through generations. The glowing sigils burned into their palms mark how much they've learned and what secrets they're trusted to keep.

Physical Characteristics

Eldar look like other elves until you notice the details. Their eyes shine brighter than normal—deep purples, electric blues, molten golds. Most eldar wear gloves in mixed company, but among their own kind they display their palm sigils openly. A student might show a simple triangle with three dots, while a master archivist's entire palm writhes with interconnected spirals, geometric knots, and tiny script that shifts as you watch.

These sigils hurt when they're first burned in. Eldar describe the process like being branded with lightning. The marks fade to a warm glow over time, but flare bright when the elf casts magic or gets emotional.

Culture and Governance

Seven whitestone towers dominate Illyndra, each one an Archive House stuffed floor to ceiling with books, scrolls, and magical curiosities. The Seven Mirrors who rule eldar society each control one tower, and their rivalry drives them to outdo each other in collecting rare knowledge.

The towers overflow with knowledge. Lecture halls occupy the bottom floors where young eldar learn basic principles. Middle floors house vast libraries with reading desks carved into stone alcoves. The top floors contain private vaults where the most dangerous or valuable knowledge stays locked away. Students earn their place by copying texts perfectly and contributing new discoveries to their house's collection.

Vault Secrets

What dangerous knowledge lies locked in those high tower vaults?

The Seven Mirrors guard certain texts behind wards that haven't been opened in centuries. Rumors speak of:

• Pre-Black Wind research
• Experiments that might have caused the catastrophe itself

What happens when Archive House secrets surface in the wrong hands, or when desperate times force the Mirrors to consider using them?

Traditions

Sigil Burning: At 50, young eldar undergo their first examination. They spend three days locked in testing chambers, demonstrating basic cantrips and copying complex formulae by memory. Those who pass have their palm sigils burned in during a ceremony where the whole community watches. The pain is considered part of the achievement.

Knowledge Harvest: During autumn, Archive Houses hold public auctions where they sell copies of their discoveries to other houses and foreign buyers. The halls fill with bidders shouting prices, while scribes frantically copy winning bids onto contracts. These events can last for days and determine which house will dominate certain magical fields for the next year.

Relations with Other Peoples

Other peoples often seek out eldar for their magical expertise, but dealing with them requires patience. Eldar hate sharing knowledge without getting something back—usually more knowledge, rare books, or access to restricted libraries. They'll help you, but they want to learn from the experience.

Humans: Eldar appreciate human curiosity and find them easier to teach than most peoples. Human scholars often study at Archive Houses, bringing outside perspectives that eldar value.

Dwarves: Both peoples respect mastery and precision. Eldar study dwarven runic techniques while Dwarves seek magical enhancements for their crafts. The relationship works because both sides have something the other wants to learn.

Other Elves: Ancient philosophical splits created tension between elven peoples. Eldar view themselves as the most scholarly branch of elvenkind, while other elves see them as obsessive collectors who've lost touch with wisdom in favor of raw accumulation of facts.

Character Creation Notes

Eldar characters work as wizards, sorcerers, or bards, reflecting their intensive magical education. Think about which Archive House trained your character and what forbidden knowledge they might have glimpsed in those high tower vaults.

Regional Backgrounds: Sage fits most eldar perfectly. Noble works for those from established archival families. Hermit or folk hero suit characters who've broken away from their house's expectations.

Scholarly Networks: Your character knows researchers, librarians, and magic-users across many communities. Eldar build relationships with anyone who might have interesting knowledge to share.

Knowledge Obligations: Every eldar's education comes with strings attached. Your character owes their Archive House continued research, copies of anything interesting they discover, and absolute secrecy about house-specific techniques. What happens if they share something they shouldn't, or if they discover knowledge their house desperately wants?

House Obligations

Every eldar owes their Archive House:

• Continued research
• Copies of discoveries
• Absolute secrecy about house-specific techniques

Breaking these obligations doesn't just mean losing access to libraries. It can result in exile, magical binding of tongues, or worse.

When your character discovers something their house desperately wants, or when sharing knowledge could save lives, the choice between loyalty and conscience becomes deeply personal.