Puun Ihmisia
The elven population is a study in racial divergence. Both descended from the Lightborn via the aelvar common ancestor, they diverged during the Second Age. Gwerin maintained links to the Aether-filled Astral, leading to near-immortality and strong magical capabilities. The ihmisi gave allegiance to the kami, bonding with the natural elements. Changeable and wild, they gave up their long lives and innate magic for strong ties to nature and wisdom. Still able to interbreed, the two had diverged significantly by the pre-Cataclysm era.
The Cataclysm War accelerated the divergence of these people. Now, many members of the two civilized elven populations barely consider each other as members of the same race. These ihmisi consider the gwerin a dead end, dying people who are stuck in the past. Conceited gwerin consider Wood elves barbarous and uncivilized. Both are right. Their languages have diverged to the point that they are mutually unintelligible although they are still written in the same script.
Ihmisi Ethnicities
Ihmisi tend to be slightly shorter than humanity (standing 5'2" -- 5'10"), lithe and dexterous, with sharp features and slightly pointed (but not elongated) ears. Their hair and skin tones tend toward earth tones--browns, greens, and grays. Their hair often is mottled as if by the shadow of leaves. They live a little longer than humans, averaging 100 years. Sexiual dimorphism is non-zero but not extreme; women are slightly shorter and have sharper features, with high firm breasts. Ihmisi do not show age strongly, although their physical capabilities wane fairly normally. They are considered adult by age 20, although some prove their adulthood earlier (depending on culture) and rarely show any grey hair or wrinkles until their mid 90s. Unlike humans, ihmisi exhibit very little geographically-defined physiological diversity despite being nearly as wide-spread in Noefra. Ihmisi are localized almost entirely to the Noefran continent. A very small number exist in the Great Rift area of Soefra, but they are entirely isolated there.
Ihmisi are much more fertile than gwerin, with most women having between 3 and 4 children during their lifetimes (less in more settled lands). They lack the conscious fertility control of the gwerin women. Half-breeds are known, but their treatment depends on the local culture. There have been reports of interbreeding with orcish populations, creating what some have called "wood orcs" or "wild elves". But such crosses are not common or widely known.
Ihmisi Cultures
Instead of physiological diversity, they exhibit more geographic cultural diversity, often related to the nature of the environment and the local kami.
Kotimaan Culture
Kotimaa is the region to the north of Dreamshore and along the north coast of Lake Coy'in. It is the home to one of the two major groups of puun ihmisia in western Noefra. Socially, most Kotimaan wood elves have almost become feral. They live in tribes, wandering through the woods and wastes at the northern and eastern edges of the Council Lands. Inter-tribal squabbles are not uncommon, but the Green Lady and her court have so far prevented any serious warfare. Wood elf society is egalitarian and free--members of the tribes are free to act as long as it doesn't endanger the tribe as a whole. Tribes are led by a council formed by the chief shaman (usually female) and the warleader (usually male). Tribes choose members to act as part of the Green Lady's court--the role of Green Lady (nominal ruler of the whole race) goes to a wise woman chosen from the tribes. No tribe ever is chosen twice in a row. Power-and-status seeking behaviors are rare. They are generally allied to, but wary of, the Duarchy, although many have settled down in that nation.
Sexually, Kotimaan wood elves practice exogamy--males are sent to other tribes at maturity to prevent inbreeding. Within a tribe, all children are notionally the children of the Warleader and monogamy is considered strange. Non-hetero-sexual life patterns are also not uncommon, but exclusive homosexuality is very rare.
Religiously, wood elves practice ancestor worship and venerate the spirits of the land. They tend to appease Lae-loara and Melara, but cannot be said to truly worship them or any of the gods.
Wood elf tribes vary in their acceptance of outsiders. The tribes furthest to the south are the most open and "civilized," settling in fixed locations and building villages and towns. These tend to get along with most races just fine. The far tribes are much more xenophobic. Tales of sophophagy (eating of other sapient life), blood rituals, and worship of the Outcasts are common. Wood elves get along well with most races--they are wary of orcs and dislike gwerin.
Kotimaan wood elf names follow the pattern <Given> il <Clan>. Given names are androgynous.
Common given names include: Ahti, Ilmarinen, Louhi, Mielikki, Pekko, Taipo, Ukko, and Vellamo.
The notable clans in the Council Lands are Myrsky, Metsaa, Yaarvi, Pilvi, Kirjava, and Lehti.
Byssian Culture
Byssian wood elves are more civilized and settled than those from near the former Council Lands. They are most prevalent in the northern side of the country in the foothills of the Nocthian Mountains. They propitiate elemental forces and local spirits, engaging in shamanistic practices at small shrines throughout the region. They are well-integrated into the local political system, electing judges just like the human folk. See Byssian Culture for more details.
Byssian wood elves use the same names as Byssian humans.
Auringon Culture
The ihmisi of Auringon (sometimes called steel elves) are very different from other ihmisi populations. The lingering effect of the Tale of Ages has reduced their lifespans to much closer to humans (80-90) and they age much more visibly. While the bulk of the ihmisi population is tribal and disdains hierarchy and agriculture, the auringon ihmisi are settled farmers and nobles and have a strong aristocratic tradition where they rule benevolently over a mostly human population. They have a very strong martial tradition, mostly involving mounted warfare in heavy armor. Also unlike most ihmisi, they tend to prefer arcane and divine magic over primal.
