It is widely reported that a tribe of elves, those elusive beings connected to the Plant Rune, inhabit the Garden. The Garden is the tree-bound domain occupying a large area of the Big Rubble. It is important as it represents the largest elven settlement for many hundreds of miles around. Here the elves are divided into two clans: Blood Elves and the Seatharn Aldryami (water elves). Blood Elves (which is rendered into Aldryami as Ilthwin Aldryami) are a xenophobic grouping based around the worship of Flamal and Babeester Gor. The Seeatharn are more generally well-disposed to outsiders, though conservative. Second to Aldrya, they give worship to Voria. The Seeatharn seek union with their goddesses in the Garden as it is now, taking delight in the spirits of the glades. They seek only to maintain their traditional domain and are not interested in physical expansion. Their areas are full of sprites and pixies, along with the silver-backed wood pigeon. The leader of the Seeatharn is a High King Elf noble called Curolwin. The Seeatharn (who also include actual murthdrya, the sea elves, amongst their number), dominate towards the Zola Fel. Curolwin is currently seeking to establish a harmonious kingdom within the Garden, recalling memories of the Garden Age.
The Ilthwin on the other hand live in darker, thicker parts of the woods of the Garden. They seek to expand these into the troll realms of the Big Rubble. Their domain is noted for the runners that live everywhere, along with the engimatic black squirrel and large insect colonies. They are a more adventurous culture and are lead by Me'gana, high priestess of Aldrya and Arafel, a Babeester Gor worshipper. The Ilthwin domains are more inland than the Seeatharn. Of the two, the Seeatharn are more numerous and more widespread whilst the Ilthwin are more active. Me'gana sees the trolls as a threat, remembering the hostility that has existed between their races since before Time. Planting trees further into the troll realms is her stock tactic in expanding into uzko territory, though raids on each side are becoming gradually more common.
One peculiarity of the Blood Elves is their use of daggers; each warrior has a special one with some gem in the hilt. It is an Ilthwini secret that these gems are taken from a plant, hidden deep in their territory and closely guarded, that can grow such items. Most of these gems are enchanted, normally with either regenerating magic stores or battle magic matrices (typically Shimmer and Silence). Other, more exotic magics are reputed to have been grown but these are the preserve of the Ilthwini hierachy.
lawrence@aslak.demon.co.uk