Notes

Eastern Elves

POLITICS:
The houses of Cuicudh'zhea or the Ash Elves wage a guerilla war against the invader Kha'zar tribes whilst also spinning the webs of intrigue amongst each other.
In the deepest jungles of the eastlands which even the Kha'zar fire may not touch dwell the house elders; in magnificent abodes of earth and living tree, they plan war against the savage invaders and those of the houses that currently they have a falling out with.
Eight greater and two score lesser houses exist in the lands controlled by elves; relentlessly, they send their young to the frontline squads to kill and ambush the Kha'zar in the areas which the pests have infested.
Half to two score young elves usually form a squad and once a squad becomes too big, it usually separates into two lesser squads. Although direct confrontations between the squads are few, major house wars occasionally cause such, and unfriendly competition on who can slay more Kha'zar is always present.
The houses: Deddir Blu, Deddir Zheze, Buzheq Gyake, Thythe Ester, Merimange Eger, Hye Sie, Aror Erret and Argye Bardhe (Blue Sea, Black Sea, Bloody Grin, Bone Smash, Vicious Spider, Ghost Eye, Dark Gold and White Silver) plus all the lesser ones leave the fields to the younger ones; those over a hundred years old return home unless their distinguished ability proves them apt for a military career.
It is here that they are needed for the house to survive in the endless cycle of blood feuds, marriages, alliances and revenge. Forsooth a wonder it is that the houses still remain intact whilst under attack by both each other and the Kha'zar, but if the elves are something, the are stubborn.
There has been talk of uniting the clans and retaking the lost elven lands, but that would meen one house ruling the others which, naturally, the latter would not hear of. However, rumour is the Ihror Scander Bereng te Thythe Ester has his own plans for conquering the other houses and writing himself down into history.
CULTURE:
The Elven culture is one of contrast: of great cruelty and intricate social norms, of savage violence and fabulous arts. The Elves are a proud and quick to anger race whose heart is given to their reverence of the nature.
Magnificent are the pieces of art the elves produce, for instead of forcing materials into crude shapes like is the way of humans, they mold them with care, love and passion known only to their kin.
On the other hand, they make great use of slaves: as ritual sacrifices, cannon fodder or workers in their plantations. It must be said that torture and cruelty are also considered art by the elves and they pursue it with the same ardour as they do poetry or painting.
Being a race of longevity, elves are hot-tempered but slow to forget. Their boredom with life often leads to extravagance, adrenaline seeking and pleasure-mongering. However, their high intellect and cunning must always be remembered if they seem rash; and also their excellent memory, for their infamous blood feuds sometimes span over centuries of bloody confrontations.
The castes of the elven society are rigid and loose at the same time; elven youth know no respect nor are they expected to bow, but settled house members must follow extremely stringent codes of proper conduct lest they commit a faux pas that will lead to another decade of bloodshed.
The eldest elf of a house - the elder - leads the house. His direct family are nobles and needn't work. The next caste is that of the elven druids and engineers, scientists and mysticians of great respect. Diplomats and artisans and poets follow them, with simple workers being a caste so lowly that for a common elf it is a disgrace to belong into it. The young elven partisans are outside of this system, driven only by their own good judgement they need to learn to survive and of course bloodlust.
GEOGRAPHY:
The northernmost part of the Ash Elven inhabitat is also the southernmost part of the Kha'zar area - a great savannah. For hundreds of miles, this pristine land sprawls, and on its soil are fought the bloodiest of battles between the Kha'zar and elven cavalry raiders.
As we venture further south, the grass grows lusher and trees more frequent. This area already has a bad reputation for the Kha'zar; in the high grass lurk predators, vicious Mhachkays and Ubirs that drag honest Kha'zar from their mounds to feast on their blood, and elven squads that capture and torture those who venture too far.
Beyond this verdancy and the river of Chuzheze begin the jungles. Disease and the last elven border regiments befall any who dare venture there, except for the immune elves themselves. Hidden under the gargantuan treetops that blot out the sun are elven settlements and all interhouse wars are fought; darkness and blood are perennial components of this wilderness.
At the southwestern borders of the area, the ground rises and the forest grows darker yet; even elves dare not venture there and legends say it inhabited by a creature called Archura who came to the place on a fallen star and now guards the star that is hidden still somewhere in the endless blackwoods.