Elf

Etymology and definition

Biology

Elves were one of the few near-human races that have differentiated from baseline stock enough to be considered a new species in the human genus rather than simply a subspecies. They can easily be described for having pointy ears and slender bodies. While many Germanic myths depict them as about 1.4-1.7 metres on average height, some fantasy stories portray them much shorter or even slightly taller than humans. Elves had multiple hair colours and could live for centuries.

Subspecies

In Norse mythology, elves are separated into two subspecies: light elves and dark elves. Light elves were native to the realm of Alfheim. They were peaceful in nature and likely had pale (appearing almost white) skin. Dark elves, the second elf race, were native to the realm of Svartalfheim. They were aggressive in nature and likely had dark brown and/or jet black skin.