Wood elves refers to the sylvians that reside in the forests of arcanth but that’s not an accurate description as there are some “pure” elves that live in forests and many “wood” elves are found in cities, towns, and other urban environments. A more accurate way to classify them is by their actual physical differences: they are short in stature especially compared to their far taller relatives, most about 5’10, another characteristic is their pronounced ears, which are larger and thinner than those of “pure” elves usually more facing back than straight up. While deeply connected to nature they aren’t as innately ment using magic as “pure” elves, they are however much better in dexterity and they are very perceptive in nature making them great archers.
Here are the most common variants/ethnicities of wood elves:
Veran Elves – Veran Elves are wood elves primarily from the Ortian Forest in Shinjiri. They are mostly good natured and are great healers, many you will find in great cities offering help to those in need if they’re willing to convert that is, promoting the praise of Arcanthia. They do not hunt as they believe animals are sacred children of Arcanthia just as the elves are, as such they are almost exclusively vegetarians, and even then they limit what they take from the woods. Veran elves are fair skinned bright eyed and dark haired.
Aestan Elves – Hailing from the Vitaen Forest of southwestern Kaldiros, the Aestan Elves are known for their passion, and respect for life. Not life of plants, animals, or even people but life of those who live. The Vitaen forest is full of life whether it be monsters; trees, or elves. Life in the Vitaen forest is tough: conflict is the rule of life Aestan Elves care not where you live as long as you truly live, because all life must end so you must respect what you have while you have it. Aestan elves have a tanned complexion, and light hair.
Autumn Elves – These elves come from the brutal Occasus Forests of Western Arcanth, to understand the Autumn Elves is to understand the Occasus itself. The Occasus Forest is one of perpetual death and ruin- a never-ending sunset. Because of the tough place the Autumn elves have gotten tough right back, they’ve embraced the decay and used it as a tool. They’ve dropped their ties to nature and are some of the more industrious of wood elves. They also use necromancy quite often as resources are limited, so wasting and working body regardless of its vitality is a luxury they can’t afford. Autumn elves are auburn haired and light skinned with eyes of fire.
Hiemian Elves – Cold and emotionless as the Somnian Forest of Northern Arcanth they call home. Living in a sleep that never wakes, the Hiemian Elves have learned to be far more introspective than other wood elves. They believe that in order to balance nature and civilization they must be firm with their laws, and wise with their choices, life is but a dream of the world soul, that must be guarded but not obsessed over. Their skin is pale as ice and hair white as freshly fallen snow.
Legulan Elves – These are the most common of wood elves, originating from the vast expanse that is the Greenwoods. They have no issue mining the land for ore, cutting down the trees for timber, and farming the land for food as long as a balance remains. They despise those who abuse nature or kill for sport and are willing to stake their claim of the Greenwoods by bloodshed if needed.
Venatoran Elves – These are the tough wood elves that share the Vehemen Woods with the Valinorians, as such they have grown to be just as tough in ferocity. The Venatoran Elves have vowed to leave the woods unharmed as they believe it to be the home of Arcanthia thus sacred, they’ve learned to become the top predators and live as hunters. Everything they make and use comes from the beasts they kill, using composite bows and bone swords.
Furantian Elves – These blood thirsty elves are from the “slaughter” woods of shingiri, realizing they can’t physically keep up with the other races of these brutal forests they’ve learned to scavenge of those who can. They have no honor to them and are seen as ow lives and thieves, usually banned from other cultures lands.
Venenian Elves – These are the scheming wood elves of the Rot Woods, they are cut off from other elves in the sense that they’ve not only broken all bonds to arcanthia but have also openly defied her by corrupting their life tree and straight up rejecting nature. While they aren’t really industrious by other races standards they are easily the most industrious of wood elves. The only thing that still grows in the Rot Woods are the fungi still trying to feed off of the long dead life. Venenian elves culture the insidious Grimboldorf, a dark, fungal parody of a life tree which spreads blight and decay instead of life and fertility.
Sylvan Elves – These are the elves of the sylvan grove and supposedly the original wood elves. They are the most fanatical in the worship of arcanthia and harm neither beast nor tree, and basically live in a druid ruled community, they are more than willing to release beasts of nature and natural disasters on all who disrespect the woods. They view the other wood elves as misguided children and the other races as demons, they will punish both with equal fever.