Culture: Elorians outside of Ellentop do not have a unique cultural identifier beyond a general feeling of non-belonging. Their long lives make it difficult to live with humans, but elven traditionalists often treat them with disdain and block them access to many employment venues. Therefore, many Elorians flock to military elven towns, where skill is valued above all.
Physical uniqueness: Elorians possess the physical traits of their parents, with varied skin tones, soften ear points, and even occasionally partially-formed Rygent birthmarks. Height and strength tend to lean heavily toward the elven parentage, and can take many generations for the ear points to completely disappear.
Humans are generally classified by where they come from, as opposed to their race to most of the other races. The one exception to this rule are hardline “elves for elves”, who believe humans are inferior and, as such, don’t care about national pride or identity.
Government: Most humans follow a form of monarchy, with or without an advising council or parliament-style. Taftlin, for example, uses an absolute monarchy model, but also utilizes royal advisors and is answerable to the peerage who, together, hold more power and wealth than the Crown itself possesses.
Territory: Humans live north of the elven and Elorian territories. Some elves see the Elorian lands as a buffer against the invading humans, whereas most people recognize that intermarriage between the races is inevitable in neighbouring towns and nations. Most of the human lands are in the colder regions, with nations like Taftlin holding a significant amount of the ice-bound northern mountains and oceans. Famine is a problem in the north, though the abundance of freshwater lakes alongside marine animals does help reduce the pressures.
Culture: Human culture is more dependent upon rank, wealth, and location than anything else. Wealthy families tend to send their sons away to elven or Elorian universities, monasteries, or military bases for training when they come of age. Women hold varying degrees of power, with Taftlin and its eastern neighbours holding tighter misogynistic views than most. Slavery remains a contentious issue across all human territories, with the northern countries all engaging in it (including Taftlin, who was once the leader in the slave trade) to nations bordering elven lands who are strictly opposed to it.
Physical uniqueness: Humans are generally shorter than elves, and generally tanner in complexion. However, this isn’t an absolute, as there are regional pockets of very dark and very pale humans. Skin tone rarely plays a role. Northern men are more likely to have long hair than southern men, though they generally cut their hair if sent to attend one of the elven training groups as young men. Elves in Wyllow and the more isolated islands sometimes hold stereotypes about humans, which in turn causes conflict between humans and elves.
Also by Krista D. Ball
Collaborator
Traitor
Fugitive
Spirit Caller
Spirits Rising
Dark Whispers
Knight Shift
Mystery Night
Dead Living
Blood Family
Spirit Caller: Books 1-3
Spirit Caller: Books 4-6
Spirit Caller: The Complete Series
The Dark Abyss of Our Sins
The Demons We See
Tranquility
Blaze
Grief
Interlude
Fury
Tranquility: Blaze, Grief, & Fury Box Set
Schemes
Liberate
Standalone
No More Blank Screen: Blogging Ideas for Fiction Authors
Elle Attend
Liberate Page 23
