Glossary:
I will be using a lot of made-up elven words throughout the story. So if you're unsure or forget a word's meaning, look here or at the end of the chapter you are reading. Most of you should be able to guess from context, but I get that readers may go months without reading and might need a reminder, so I’ll put some of the big ones here to get you started. I will post an update maybe 30 or 40 chapters down the line. (Maybe I’ll make a fandom? Will see how things go.)
Manner of address between elves:
Female elves are called Elf-fae (Base-elves), Dry’fae (Wood-elves), Elf’na-fae (High-elves) by other elves. (‘fae means daughter, female, and graceful.) (‘na just adds a noble or high meaning to whatever it's attached to.)
Male elves are called Elf-ven (Base-elves), Dry’ven (Wood-elves), Elf’na-ven (High-elves), by other elves. (‘ven means son, male, and steady.)
Elves subtypes:
Normal elves are sometimes called Alf’far, or Fair-folk by Humans. Alf is the old collective noun for elves. Said to be taken from the name of the mother of the first elves, the Faith: Alf’faththaria, The Great Mother (Pretty much Mother Nature)(‘far means folk, people, or kin) They most commonly have fair skin, and their hair can be light brown to black. They are matriarchal and generally live in clan conclaves. All elves are around 6-6’3 feet tall, with males being only a few inches taller than their females. All elves can live for 250-300 years, and they have short pointy ears that grow longer as they slowly age.
Wood-elves are sometimes called Alf’ad-far, or Dry’far, or Wilder-folk by Humans. They are the ancient offspring of normal elves and the now-extinct dryads. They most often have tanned skin, auburn hair, and amber eyes, and are often more physically gifted than their lesser Alf’far cousins. And—if their blood is pure enough—they can sometimes manifest some strange powers inherited from their dryad ancestors. They are matriarchal, and are led by the oldest and wisest of the women amongst their clansmen.
High-elves are sometimes called Alf’na-far, or Bright-folk by Humans. They are born far more physically and magically gifted than their lesser cousins. Often called scions, they are the noble class of elves, having all descended from a mix of the twelve original noble bloodlines that have emerged throughout the centuries.
They most often are fair of skin—with blue eyes and blonde hair (Picture Hitlers wet dream with pointy ears, but the men are a little more androgynous). It is the result of the mixing of all twelve lines. They sometimes may experience atavism and may develop ‘Ancestral traits’. (My in world version of kekkei-genkai’s from Naruto.) They can be matriarchal or patriarchal, depending on the gender of the first ancestor of their bloodline.
There are 8 remaining of the original 12 great family lines. (With the Mystic-elves added, it's 13 total.) (I am not going to list them here because they are only important later and not all are completely fleshed out.)
Mystic-elves are the latest line to join the ranks of the Alf’na-far (High-elves). They have only been around for less than two hundred years. (Only three generations currently exist.) As they are such a relatively young subtype of elves, they have yet to be assimilated into the rest of the Alf’na-far population. Because of this, their base features still remain quite distinct.
While still unawakened, they have steel gray hair and eyes that slowly turn a vibrant violet as they awaken and grow into their power. Like other Alf’na-far, they are far more physically and magically gifted than their lesser cousins, and are known for their powerful eyes that can peer into the world of the spirit, affording them a far more intricate understanding of the workings of magic.
They are matriarchal, and the first of their line still lives. She is immensely powerful and acts as Dun-derie to the west. (Dun-derie are the four High-elven military commanders in charge of guarding the kingdom’s four cardinal directions. They serve and answer directly under the rule of the council)
Gods/Faiths:
Sor’et-tarr is the elven name for The Sleeper, the original spirit. She (for some cultures a he) has many names in different cultures and is the creator goddess who now slumbers after using all her power in ‘The making of the world’.
The Faiths are the in world equivalent to archangels, but are not creations of Sor’et-tarr. They are sentient manifestations of magic, with wills their own. They were created by the wills and strong emotions of mortals after interacting with Neui for hundreds of thousands of years, imbuing it with its own consciousness. (There are 12 in total. Not all are completely fleshed out. I will add them as they are mentioned in the story)
Brak’zis is the Faith of death and final release. Often called ‘The King of Shades’, it is said that his shades collect souls upon death, guiding them back into Sor’et-tarr’s embrace. (He is not an evil figure; just think of the Grim Reaper but no scythe—and he’s more of a gray, wispy spirit than bone) (Some cultures associate him with winter and cold)
Alf’faththaria is the Faith of birth and new life. Often called ‘The Great Mother’, she is seen as a mother/protector of life and is depicted as being one with nature. (She is much like Mother Nature, and is associated with spring)
Worlds/Planes of existence:
As a general rule: Worlds exist separately from one another, while planes exist in conjunction with one another—and are layer over one another.
Len’harna is the name of the world. In elder-tongue it means the ‘World that is’. (‘harna means world or plane of existence)
Nel’harna is the world of dreams. Said to be the realm in which Sor’et-tarr slumbers. Mortals believe that when they sleep, their spirits seep into Nel’harna to be closer to the creator.
Vi’harna is the plane of the spirit.
Vol-ren’harna is the world that was. In elder-tongue, it means the ‘World lost to dusk’
Vet-tho’harna is the world that will be. In elder-tongue, it means the ‘World awaiting its dawn’
Miscellaneous:
Neui is pretty much exp from games. It has other functions, but just think of it as exp. If you’re awakened, you can absorb it to permanently increase the potency of your spirit. (It’s more in line with cultivation, but more Western magic instead of Qi and sitting in a cave for hundreds of years)
Mana in this series is not an energy source like in most novels. Instead, it is the visible manifestation of an awaken’s Will when using magic. (Most often a glowing aura of blue, but turns purple and dark with corruption)
To Bind, or a Binding, is when a magically awakened individual actively imbues their Will into an object, giving it a desired trait. (Think of it as a temporary enchantment that costs Will to maintain.)
Cantrips are the most minor of spells. They only require a small incantation, a shaping of mana, and/or a flick of a finger.
The Dun-derie are the four High-elven military commanders in charge of guarding the kingdom’s four cardinal directions. They serve and answer directly under the rule of the council and are considered the most powerful warriors of the kingdom.
Vel’lon is an old elven word meaning tower sworn. It's a role for those who enter as warrior retainers that protect a fellow aspirant, most often of much higher status. (‘lon means guard or protector.)
Vas’sa-lon is a deeply trusted warrior servant. They swear a magical oath binding them to their chosen lord's service for the rest of their lives. It is considered a great honor, and it’s very unusual for a lord to ever have more than four of such servants at a time, as they are seen as extensions of the lord they serve. (‘lon means guard or protector.)
Tak-ki is an insult. To call them a tak-ki is to imply they are a young, inexperienced fool and/or idiot.
Mandorie are dark-skinned easterners (they are just humans with black skin, but they are treated like a different race)
Kel’koshie is the elven name for the race of people (better known as Titans) that rule over the ‘Northern wastes’ north of Solaria. They are near on eight feet tall and have dark, metallic, flaked/dusted skin and thick, braided hair. They are known for their powerful bodies and their wild, barbaric customs, and have long been considered the nemesis of the elven people.