Elves

An elf with a bow. Illustration from Sword World RPG World Guide.

Elves (エルフ, Erufu) were originally beings from the spirit world, who manifested in the material world during the War of the Gods. The gods summoned beings from the spirit world to fight for them, but when the war ended not all beings returned to the spirit world. Some beings gave up some of their spiritual essence to gain physical forms, including elves. Among elves, there are different sub-species.

Common elves

Common elves (エルフの代表的, Erufu no daihyō-teki) live for 1,000 years or more. They gather in small forest villages throughout the island and avoid contact with other races, whom they see as rash and immature. Encounters between elves and other races often lead to conflict. As a result, the elves live in isolation. Their appearance is similar to that of high elves, but with more variation. Unlike high elves, who have mostly given up on reproducing, common elves usually have at least one child. More generations of elves have resulted in more variations in appearance.

A splinter group of the common elves reside in the Mirror Forest. Often referred to as "Mirror Forest Elves". During the War of the Demon King, they sided with humans and dwarves, and the experience opened their minds. They concluded the best way to avoid conflicts with other races is understanding each other through open contact. A well-known common elf is Endinka.

Half-elves

Half-elves (ハーフエルフ, Hāfuerufu) Born from the union of a human and an elf. They are usually shunned by either tribe for being different. Most have an aptitude for shamanism, although they still need to be taught spirit magic, preferably from a young age. They live for an average of five hundred years. Many half-elves have been born in recent times, mainly since the elves of the Mirror Forest began to integrate with humans after the Demon Wars. There were also a number of half-elves born from dark elves during Marmo’s occupation of Kanon. A well-known half-elf is Leaf.

High elves

The most noble of all elves, retaining their original spiritual nature. High elves (ハイエルフ, Haierufu) are immortal and live in the Forest of No Return, a forest that exists in a plane called the fairy world. The forest is ruled by an ancient tree that is the source of the high elves' immortality. They have existed for a long time, and some fought alongside the gods of light during the War of the Gods. High elves have abandoned their material nature and have given up on reproduction. Most married couples live separately. It's their belief that elves, like trees, must have their own space in which to live. Deedlit is the only high elf born in the last thousand years. High elves excel in shamanism but also make formidable warriors, despite being physically inferior to humans in strength. They are extremely agile and accurate fighters, though most dislike metal weapons and have given up on the art of combat.

Dark elves

Dark elves (ダークエルフ, Dākuerufu) are descendants of the elves who sided with Phalaris, the god of darkness, during the War of the Gods. They're despised by the other elves and reside only in the Forest of Darkness on Marmo. Dark elves have dark skins and are more resistant to magic, which is said to have been a gift to them by Phalaris. A well-known dark elf is Pirotess.

Among dark elves there may be so-called snatchers, who are considered are inferior warriors with little training in combat or espionage. Commanders are leaders who organise a number of units. They almost never act alone; usually there are at least two escort dark elves escorting the commander. Most of the time, they have lived many years and amassed much knowledge. Leaders are very powerful and have the abilities of both an assassin and a sorcerer.