High Elf

High Elves (Elvish: Taurn Tel'Quessir) are a race of Elf that evolved from the Original Elves after they arrived in the Material Plane from the Feywild. Unlike other Elven races, the High Elves maintained their connection to their magical homeland through pursuit of civilized scholarly knowledge, as opposed to the more spiritualistic and animist methods that were employed by their cousins, the Wood Elves. High Elves have innate magical abilities, and are, arguably, the race of Elf that most closely resembles their Original Elven ancestors.

Some of the more powerful High Elves are denoted with the term "Greater Elf" (Elvish: Val Tel'Quessir). These are frequently High Elves that have honed their connection to the Feywild to the point in which they exist there and in the Material Plane at the same time. As such they are considered a subrace, however not an independent one due to many of them having begun their lives as High Elves.

Physical description
High Elves are typically slightly taller than most Humans, and often weight slightly less. As with most racial averages, there are many exceptions to this stipulation. Most High Elves have lighter skin colors, as they were less frequently exposed to the sun than their Wood Elf relatives in the early days of their evolution. Most High Elves have dark black to silvery hair, and it is almost always straight. Eye color corresponds to the individual elf's relationship with the Feywild; those with green eyes are typically the most detached, followed by blue, and purple being used for those who are more closely connected.

Like most other elves, High Elves live considerably longer than most other races, typically reaching maturity at 100 years, and living to be anywhere between 500 and around 750. High Elf aging is seldom noticeable, apart from the gap between children and adults. Usually older elves have hair that becomes increasingly whiter, and will sometimes gleam in the sunshine when they've reached the final years of their natural life.

Abilities
High Elves are typically more intelligent than other humanoid races, as their early attachment to the civilizations of the Material Plane allowed for them to make intellectual leaps and bounds beyond their kin. From this, they developed an iron will that allows them to resist enchantment spells.

Like other elves, High Elves do not need to sleep, but rather they enter into a hypnotic trance that lasts for about four hours. While in trance, High Elves remain mostly aware of their surroundings. Sometimes they will mutter phrases in Elvish or Sylvan while in trance, sometimes indicating an attempted contact with the Feywild.

Culture
High Elven society has been a mixed and complicated affair. Because most High Elves are descended from the intellectual elite of Original Elven society, they maintain much higher standards of social hierarchy than other races. Wealthier elven cities, such as Sinsoria, typically feature towering monuments of architectural prowess, featuring great citadels of marble and elegant structures that rival some of the most beautiful natural creations. Poorer cities, such as Gardlith, have much more modest designs, rarely exceeding that of a standard wooden longhouse model.

A majority of High Elves worship Corellon Larethian, their patron god and, according to his followers, the creator of the Original Elves in the Feywild. Although there are many that worship other elven gods, even they frequently pay Corellon Larethian respect and acknowledge his authority.

High Elf clothing is, even for poorer members of their society, lavish and beautiful. Intricate patterns made from wide varieties of cloth are worn in their daily lives. Elite High Elves are rumored to have ceremonial clothing made of incredibly expensive fibers.

History
The precursor to the birth of the High Elves was the Great Elf Migration, in the first year of the Mirrors Period, when the Original Elves passed into the Material Plane from the Feywild and made landfall somewhere in the Llorvania and Faolin regions. After they completed their journey, they realized that their Fey magic was rapidly diminishing in the new world, and many attempted to return home, only to discover that the portals had been permanently shut.

After being exposed to the Material Plane for many years, the Original Elves that made the journey diminished into Neutral Elves, which were powerless husks of their former selves. The Neutral Elves divided into two groups; those that wanted to reclaim their Fey magic through contact with civilization, and those who wanted to reclaim it through the powers of the natural world. Those who chose the former evolved into High Elves.