ElfFacts

Ten Facts About the Elves of the Sapphire Forest

1. Sapphire Forest elves are vegans. They believe an elf eating meat is an insult to the Sapphire Totem. Many elves get physically ill if they try to digest meat. Some get ill at the mere smell of cooking meat. Most elves are lactose intolerant.
2. Sapphire Forest elves believe ocean travel is unnatural. Most would refuse to board a boat unless they absolutely have to.
3. When an elf travels outside the Sapphire Forest she observes the Rite of Improvement. In this Rite the elf plants a tree seed somewhere close to any campsite or dwelling they sleep in on the first night of their stay at that location.
4. Elves do use metal tools and weapons but they must first purify such items with an extract made from plant oils.
5. The Elven Lore is carved into a giant tree known as a Lore Tree. There is a Lore Tree located in each elven community.
6. All Sapphire Forest elves wear a piece of jewelry signifying their clan affiliation. The type of jewelry each wears depends upon the clan and ranges from bracelets to armlets to necklaces earrings to circlets. Clan jewelry is marked with intricate swirls and patterns. Tracing the patterns with a fingertip serves as a form of meditation during prayer.
7. Devout elves fix a sapphire in the upper center of the main doorway leading into their residence. It is custom for the elf to touch first their lips and then the sapphire with the index and middle finger of their left hand when entering or leaving the residence.
8. There is a long tradition in elven folklore of sages hanging upside down from tree limbs in order to obtain wisdom. Such sages are known as Nrrguid which means, literally, ears pointing down. Many young elves take a turn at being a Nrrguid but few manage it for more than a few hours. True Nrrguid are valued and their material needs are cared for by the community so they can focus entirely on the pursuit of wisdom.
9. Elves who are banished from the Sapphire Forest or who leave permanently but voluntarily are known as Gwwhiloh (one whistles when making the ww sound). This translates to "rounding of the ears". Elves who are exiled or exile themselves are not allowed to return to the Forest but their children may after completing certain rights of repatriation.
10. A popular game among elven children is Tree Running. Runners start in the branch of a tree. They must then make it to the finish line, the branch of another tree, without touching the ground once. Usually one child or an adult serves as an observer to make sure all participants stay in the trees.