Elven Lore (as the elves believe it)
Riu is the all-powerful god of the elves who created the universe and all within it. From the beginning of his creation, Riu made a host of elemental spirits—helpers and companions to carry out his orders for creation and act as his messengers to the world.
Riu molded, shaped, and formed the planet Riure using these spirits. The terra spirits shaped the mountains and valleys, cycled the elements of the world, and brought balance to the plants and animals. The water spirits formed the seas, lakes, and rivers, purified freshwater, watered the earth with rain and snow, and controlled the tides. The flame spirits rejuvenated forests and grasslands, spewed their joyful energy through geysers, and eventually brought light, warmth, and crafting to the elves. The ether spirits purified the air and created currents and weather, eroding earth, moving and freezing water, and feeding or extinguishing flames.
Riu raised the first elves from the lifestone of Riure—vierstone. The elves’ bodies were of the earth and relied upon the earth, and the elves felt connection to its physicality, but within their bodies their souls were not fully at ease, for their souls were of Riu. So Riu placed his own spirit into vierstone, so that through it the elves could connect with Riu through earthly means, and quiet the disharmony of their souls.
The elves found great joy in the beauty of the world Riu had made for them, and in each other. They created dwellings and gardens, hunted, gathered, and grew crops. The stones and elements of the earth they loved best of all, and with them, they began to craft things both beautiful and useful.
But one of Riu’s spirits grew jealous of the elves—Riu’s prize creation—and resented their dominion over the world that he and the other spirits had made. He longed to gain dominion over the world and shape it to his own will. The elves call this spirit Olcon. Olcon corrupted the spirits and the work of Riu’s will. Where Riu created plants and animals, Olcon brought about poison and monsters. Where Riu created bacteria and fungus, Olcon turned them to disease. The spirits who fell under Olcon’s influence created floods, earthquakes, storms, and destructive fires.
From their earliest days, Olcon tempted the elves through desire, pride, jealousy, and discontent. The elves resisted, yet did not possess power enough to stop the spread of his evil through themselves or their world. Olcon tainted life, and he tainted death, taking a journey that was meant to be good and turning it into something unknown, feared, and dreaded. Riu watched grimly, yet knew that he would use Olcon’s treachery for deeds greater still in his own time. Still, he mourned for the pain of the elves.
The Elves
Elves cannot die of biological age or sickness, though their bodies can be destroyed by violence or poison. They live until their souls weary of the world and sever from their bodies to join Riu. This amount of time varies by elf, but the oldest elf ever recorded died at the age of 3,000. Elves may reproduce while their souls are still fully engaged in the physical body and world, usually between the ages of 40 (maturity) and 1000. As elves age, their physical features and strength remain ageless, but their eyes may grow dimmer as their souls lose their connection to the world. Some elves may resist this calling and attempt to remain in the world out of love or fear. Often lovers will live until the souls of both partners are ready to depart together. The long-lived nature of the elves affects their culture and beliefs deeply. Grudges and violence hold a severity which humans cannot fathom, and premature death represents a separation from loved ones for untold decades and centuries.
Religious Practices
Prior to the discovery of vierstone, Riu commonly used his spirits to provide witness to the elves about his existence and their purpose. The elven prophets wrote accounts of visions and dreams, building the foundation of the elven faith. To this day, the elves rely upon these accounts as a basis of their religion. By the time the elves discovered vierstone in 0 p.v., elven prophets had become increasingly rare, and the visions of existing prophets dwindled to nothing in time. Riu had sent his message to the elves. Thereafter, any communication and interference by Riu came by much subtler means.
Elven religious practices and traditions vary widely by Kindom. Across Kindoms, there are rarely buildings of dedicated worship, and no priests by profession. The elves worship and connect to Riu through their daily lives and relationships and worship during festivals or gatherings anywhere they wish, be it a street, a forest, or a performance hall. Some elves feel a greater connection to Riu than others. Many doubt him; some reject him. Each Kindom and individual elf worships and sustains their relationship with Riu in different ways.
The symbol of the elvish faith is a three-pointed star, often with a stone in the middle. The points signify mind, body, and soul. The star is used in architectural designs, jewelry, tattoos, and other art forms. Elves may ‘cross themselves’ with the star: forehead (mind), right shoulder (body), left breast (soul) when praying or in fear.
