Quill and Compass, Entry 26: Sun Elves

It is a peculiar thing to attempt objectivity when writing of one’s own people. I have traveled widely enough to know that perspective sharpens with distance, yet some truths are clearest when viewed from within. The Sun Elves are often accused of arrogance. We would argue that it is simply clarity. 

Sun Elves are most commonly found in our ancestral home region of Sylandaria but have spread to every corner of Gaiaxia through the ages. Our cities rise in pale stone and polished marble, often recreating the beauty of nature within our structures. Gardens are carefully designed and curated, trees are shaped rather than grown naturally, and rivers are redirected into elegantly carved canals. Where others work with nature, we work to refine it. Whether that is improvement or interference depends entirely on whom you ask. 

In appearance, Sun Elves are fair of complexion, often pale-skinned with hair ranging from deep black to luminous gold. Our eyes tend toward brighter hues; blues, greens, and hazels are most common, with the occasional cool grey that catches the light like the glint of a blade. Like all Elves, we bear the elongated canines of our El'Koryn ancestors. Though among my kin there are those who file them down, a quiet gesture meant to distance themselves from our Orcish cousins. I have never found the practice necessary or flattering; shared ancestry is nothing to be ashamed of and is not so easily erased by simply dulling a tooth. 

Our demeanor is frequently misread. We Sun Elves carry ourselves with assurance and confidence… sometimes to excess. It is not always malicious, but simply a deeply ingrained belief that one ought to strive toward excellence and carry oneself accordingly. Whether that excellence has actually been earned is another matter entirely, and I would be dishonest if I claimed we are uniformly humble in our assessments of ourselves. Our long lives shape us profoundly; a Sun Elf is typically granted their first century entirely for exploration of the self and Gaiaxia. It is expected that we spend those years discovering what we are suited for; craft, scholarship, governance, war, commerce, or any discipline worthy of refinement. Upon reaching one hundred years, however, expectation is placed heavily upon our shoulders. One must contribute meaningfully to society. This is no longer suggestion, but mandate. A Sun Elf who drifts without purpose beyond that point invites quiet disapproval, and occasionally open scorn.

 Even our surnames reflect this mindset. Family names are not inherited relics of antiquity, but declarations of what a lineage is known for. Among Sun Elves, identity and contribution intertwine so deeply that they become nearly indistinguishable; a house is remembered less for who it once was, and more for what it continues to do. Legacy is not merely preserved; it is curated, refined, and, when necessary, corrected. A family that ceases to embody the meaning of its name will often find that the name changes within a few generations. I must confess a particular fondness for this tradition, not least because my own surname bears a far older root than most. Elanor traces back to a Draconic title granted to my ancestors: Al’an’orm, literally “knowledge carried through the Realm”, a title earned and carefully maintained. It would be a dreadful embarrassment to allow such a name to grow inaccurate; so I travel, learn, and write with not only a passion for the Realm around me, but also with a certain familial motivation.

Braids, among Sun Elves, are elevated nearly to heraldry. While most Elves weave their stories into their hair, we treat such braids as visible proof of status as much as accomplishment. The more intricate the pattern, the more significant the life it chronicles. It is said that one can read a Sun Elf’s standing in a single glance from across a hall simply by the pattern and adornment of their braids. I would caution that such reading is often biased by the observer's envy, we Sun Elves have a proclivity for embellishment.

We value knowledge fiercely. Discoveries are guarded, refined, and often compared with those of our peers. Competition is woven into our culture so thoroughly that even collaboration may quietly resemble rivalry. This constant striving has driven remarkable achievements, particularly in magic and craftsmanship, but has also fostered remarkable contention. Among Sun Elves, almost anything can become a contest if there is perceived status or renown involved. This is easily one of our greatest strengths, but also our greatest folly.

For all our reputation, it must be said that Sun Elves do not pursue excellence for vanity alone. At our best, we refine ourselves because we believe Gaiaxia deserves our most honed effort. To waste potential is, to us, the deepest form of negligence. That conviction may read as pride, and perhaps it is. Yet it is also responsibility, inherited from our El’Koryn ancestors who believed existence itself demanded intention and care.  

It is from this belief that we named ourselves. We are called Sun Elves not merely for the brightness of our cities or the lands we favor, but for what we aspire to resemble. The sun does not apologize for its light. It rises, it reveals, and it sustains life through constancy. So too do we strive to rise, to illuminate, to be visible in our achievements and unambiguous in our purpose. We would be to Gaiaxia what the sun is to the sky: a steady brilliance, a force that clarifies and strengthens, even if it occasionally scorches. Whether we succeed in that ambition is a matter history will decide. The striving, however, is not optional.

May you seek excellence that illuminates, and never mistake being seen for being worthy,
Yours, ever truly,
— Tobias Elanor, Bard, Scholar, Explorer Extraordinaire

© DracTheDrake

Hello hello!

The Sun Elves are our take on the classic High Elf of pulp fantasy, with our own twists of course. I know I say this in almost every entry, but their mindset was an interesting one to dive into since they carry themselves with an abundance of confidence that borders on haughtiness or arrogance. Yet, they do so out of a deeply engrained cultural push to simply be better, to improve constantly day after day, and to never settle for complacency or mediocrity.

Thank you for reading Quill and Compass! Hard to believe it's been 26 entries, half a year on this project already, how time has flown! I look forward to seeing you in the next entry where we discuss the close but contrasting cousins to the Sun Elves: the Moon Elves.