Yu'Lorei

Yu'Lorei
Race
Pronunciation	You-lor-ay / Lor-ee
Archetype	Elven
Nicknames	Lori, Machine Elves, Spice Elves, Ashen Elves
Languages	Yu'Loran
Vampiric Conversion	Possible
Aetherial Affinity	Class D - Very Hard to Cast Magic
Roleplay Difficulty	Hard
Racial Traits
Aetheriality	Physical
Max Age	280 Years
Strengths	Intelligent, Creative, Social
Weaknesses	Social Dependence, Hypothermic
Height	5' No-Dimorphism
Weight	90 to 180 lbs
Eye Colors	Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Amber
Hair Colors	White
Skin Tones	Gray
Average Physique	Slender to Athletic
Aetherial Limit	Power I - Control II
Significant Demographics
While this doesn't mean your character has to come from one of these places, it's recommended they do. Island of Ae'Tezan

A highly spirited race of elves who hail from the tropical island of Ae'Tezan. While "Yu'Lorei" is often used to describe the race, most people refer to them by their endearing nickname "lori". These elves enjoy a largely decadent lifestyle, and are characterized by their gray skin and exclusively white hair. An incredibly social people, Lori crave interaction with others and especially their own kind. They share a bond between their peers that is rarely understood by outsiders, however those bonds are not exclusive towards their own race. These elves often make the very best of friends, being easygoing while also never dull. Yu'Lorei enjoy the benefit of being more intelligent any other race, which has lead to numerous innovations and groundbreaking technologies. Their genius is often paired with culture and art, as lori absolutely love to express themselves in the most flamboyant manner possible. However not all is bliss within lori society, dark secrets and ancient prophecies foretold by their ancestors of yore have yet to be fulfilled. It remains to be seen if the Yu'Lorei will ascend to greatness in the world, or if their own blessings turn into a curse as the Night of the Dark Star inevitably approaches.

Physical Characteristics

Yu'Lorei are an interesting bunch, as there are several key aspects which make them different from other elven races. Their most noticeable feature is exclusively gray skin and white hair, and it would not be the first time that lori have been mocked for all looking the same. In fact both male and female lori share the same average height of 5 feet. Their pointed ears are not as long as a sylfae, but also not as short as an aesir. Yu'Lorei eye colors are less predictable, coming in flavors such as green, blue, lilac, purple, hazel, amber, and brown. In some incredibly rare instances they might even have silver eyes, a trait often associated to having a strong connection with the aetherial field. Lori are very strong compared to other elven races, whose average strength is equivalent with that of humans. Like other elven races, lori fall under Elven Physiology, please visit the link to learn more. Most lori can only live up to 280 years, the shortest lifespan of any elven race. Their childhood is longer than humanity's however, only being recognized as an adult at age 90. A very strange quirk that lori have is their excellent dark vision, while also being perfectly comfortable in daylight environments as well. Possibly a lori's biggest weakness is their vulnerability to the cold. Any lori that isn't bundled head to toe in extremely thick winter garments is at risk of dying of hypothermia in temperatures that normally would pose little risk to other races.

Mental Characteristics

Yu'Lorei are best described as sensual, expressive, and incredibly intelligent. Lori have a hard time dealing with loneliness, its takes a noticeable physical toll on them. Leave them completely alone for more then two weeks, and they might lose their sanity completely. This does have it's advantages, and ties into the lori's tendencies to always seek positive consensus within a group which results in lori society being the virtual opposite of human societies. Lori form strong social bonds regardless of differences in ideology, resulting in a strong unified society. They are also known to be very emotional with little ability to control or restrain their feelings, which gush forth like a raging river. Everyone has seen that one lori in the streets weeping uncontrollably, they simply can't help themselves and if they don't have an emotional support group they will probably remain there for a while yet. Lori favor words over actions, and if they are angry you will never hear the end of it, but you can relax knowing they won't get physical unless they are seriously ticked off. Many things considered taboo among other races do not bother lori the same way, if even at all. They love body contact, it's a fact that they get more pleasure from hugs then anyone else. This could do well to explain their eroticism, along with why there are very few boundaries between the genders (they hardly even care if they are naked). They have a strong tendency to be attracted to each other like magnets. Most lori can hardly feel the aetherial field at all, and this has resulted in them caring very little about the aetherial arts and instead favor progress in other disciplines where they can utilize their sharp minds.

History

It is unclear how the Yu'Lorei ended up on the shores of Ae'Tezan. There is no evidence of them having existed on any known continent, which has led scholars to believe they originated from a distant undiscovered land. Historical accounts from the elves state they migrated to the island several millennia ago. In ancient times there were four tribes on the island which lived in different areas and had different ways of life. The four chieftains would eventually meet and discuss the future of their people. The ancient Yu'Loran prophecy known as the Night of the Dark Star spurred the chieftains to take action and unify their people for the sake of progress.

An inherent lack of conflict, both from external threats and internal ones, allowed the lori to focus on improving the domestic quality of their lives. Even from an early point in their history, the lori built windmills and watermills to harness the energy of the land and avoid doing the work themselves. They devised clever mechanical solutions to problems, ensuring that the wind and water would do all the menial work. Unfortunately they couldn't automate everything, but anything which could conceivably be automated using these energy sources was done so.

An architectural renaissance followed the discovery of celestial sand. Plaster was immediately discovered, and spurred the lori to search the island for other similar resources. Volcanic ash is what the lori found, and it was combined with celestial sand and a few other materials to create concrete. Arches and domes, elaborate brickwork, aqueducts, and opulent homes were some of the benefits the elves now enjoyed. An aspect of Yu'Loran society which has remained until the present day is the lack of an economy or political hierarchy, which is a result of their instinct to unify rather then divide and their overall communal nature.

Without the weight of political overhead or an economic system, Yu'Loran towns evolved quickly. Everything from homes, aqueducts, to specialized venues were constructed using newfound construction techniques. It is believed by scholars that Yu'Lorans may have the easiest lives in the entire world, possibly only being exceeded by the historical aristocracy in Exodia.

The Yu'Lorei are relatively new to the rest of Amestria, having only been discovered by humanity in the year 1681 AE. The first known race to ever make contact with the elves were dwarves from the Kingdom of Thandolin, who date the encounter to around 1527 AE. When the dwarves first encountered the Yu'Lorei, they couldn't believe what they saw. In fact the dwarven captain of the first ship to sail to Ae'Tezan ordered his men to return aboard, where he then quickly proceeded to leave the island thinking it was some kind of magical illusion. His first mate convinced him to return a day later, stating that it couldn't have been an illusion.

The dwarves began trading with the Yu'Lorei almost immediately, and brought with them a commodity which has been adored by lori ever since, alcohol. The dwarves benefited greatly from the mechanical expertise of the Yu'Lorei, who were more then happy to improve the efficiency of dwarven mines using new mechanical solutions. The elves were able to obtain advanced metallurgy knowledge from the dwarves in addition to a wider variety of metals then was present on their island. This lead to a mechanical revolution where lori started using cast metal parts instead of wooden ones, and with the help of the dwarves would inevitably lead to the discovery of clocks.

Humanity discovered the existence of the Yu'Lorei through an encounter with dwarven merchants. The goods which lori produced for themselves were also being sold by the dwarves to other nations. One such group of dwarves visited the Kingdom of Rivera and impressed the king with intricate little clocks. The king granted a fortune to the dwarves for introducing them to the elves who produced the clocks. While there is some direct trade between Thantis and Ae'Tezan, the vast majority of trade volume involving Yu'Loran commodities is conducted by the Kingdom of Thandolin's merchant fleet.

The Kingdom of Thandolin and the Yu'Lorei of Ae'Tezan continued to develop a very close relationship. The dwarves started to worry about the elves being raided by pirates and possibly being conquered by other nations, especially since Yu'Lorei goods had become an extremely profitable commodity. They advised the elves to develop a military so that they could defend themselves, only to find out that the art of killing was completely foreign to the elves and they only knew how to hunt harmless animals. After the elves 'lost' (they gave it away willingly) a large portion of their goods to a fleet of greedy human pirates, the dwarves took matters into their own hands and allocated some of their military to defend Ae'Tezan from future threats.

The dwarves' solution was temporary and they ultimately decided on a more permanent solution. In the year 1723 AE, the dwarves formed a protectorate with the Island of Ae'Tezan. The island was now politically under the control of the dwarves, but the Yu'Lorei were left free to do whatever they wanted aside from military actions (they didn't care anyways). The dwarves have since started training some lori how to fight, but most of the prospective individuals wouldn't stand a chance in a real battle. The dwarves have started using a portion of wealth gained from selling Yu'Loran goods to garrison a sizable army of dwarves on the island, along with a small navy.

In the year 1782 AE, the dwarves discovered Steam Power. The dwarves and lori have since collaborated in improving the concept into a working design. The technology is still new to humanity and is a very tight trade secret of the dwarves. Human nations have sent spies to Ae'Tezan in the hopes of stealing the technology, but have to date failed in gathering any useful information.

Society

There is an emotional desire among Yu'Lorei to reach a positive social consensus. This has led to a very unified people which lack a complex government and most forms of internal conflict. Lori are pressured to stay within the limits of sensibility and naturally desire to conform to the group, which has resulted in no need for them to form any written laws as of yet. The inherent need to socialize with others has led to the development of very specialized venues such as Ryo'Torei and bath houses. Lori society is very friendly and inviting, even towards other races. The dwarves have helped themselves to lori hospitality and are elated drinking to their life's content while off duty or on vacation. A lori's trust should never be betrayed, they can get very vocal about betrayals and their entire support group will get involved. The Yu'Lorei are deeply engaged in artistic pursuits, having created a variety of works ranging from paintings to poetry.

Politics

Internally, the Yu'Lorei rely upon their innate desire to reach common consensus combined with outsourcing leadership to local communities in order to maintain stability within their society. One could say that each part of a Yu'Loran town is operated separately, depending on the goals of the local community which resides in the area. A local community will usually hold a council where it's members discuss their projects and how they can collaborate to progress their goals. The elves rely extensively on pressuring outliers in their social circles to go with the flow of the group, and thus maintain balance and tranquility within their society. There are also councils between members of different local communities, where the elves discuss the exchange of commodities unique to their local community. This current system of basic government is a major advancement over their original tribal political structure, where tribal chiefs would hold a council with the rest of their tribe to determine the course of actions.

While this very simple system has helped advance the elves' domestic pursuits, it has hindered their ability to formally represent themselves on a national level and engage in foreign political affairs. The Island of Ae'Tezan has since become a protectorate of the Kingdom of Thandolin, with the dwarves representing the elves' interests whenever possible. All external political dealings with the Yu'Lorei are directly handled by the dwarves, offloading all political responsibility from the elves. The Island of Ae'Tezan is fiercely guarded by the dwarves, in part due to lori goods being a massive source of income for the Kingdom of Thandolin. A sizable garrisoned army and small naval fleet have discouraged human nations from risking any altercations with the dwarves and thus the elves. The island has been the target of many human espionage attempts to steal dwarven secrets due to there being less surveillance overall.

Culture

Yu'Lorei are well known for their love of celebration, which takes priority over pretty much everything else. Celebrations serve as an incentive for the elves to exert more effort then normal in preparation for a big event or a major project. There are celebrations for almost everything under the sun, and lori keep finding new ways to celebrate every day. A good portion of the material wealth which lori accumulate is used to host celebrations. Other races can expect to see colorful decorations and free gifts whenever they attend a celebration on the Island of Ae'Tezan. Artists often memorialize larger events, producing paintings and sculptures of the attendants and the overall celebration.

Yu'Loran architecture consists of concrete and decorative masonry, along with statues and murals. Structures tend to be far more decorative then other races, with architects specifically focusing on visual appeal rather then utility. Buildings are unnecessarily complicated to construct, and are very inefficient in terms of materials used, but the lori have no problems exerting more effort in exchange for artistic expression. A variety of different buildings have been constructed, from opulent homes to massive auditoriums. Aqueducts are a very common sight in Yu'Loran architecture, and play a key role in the design of new town districts.

The excessive use of seasonings has given Yu'Lorei the nickname of 'spice elves'. Tropical fruit forms the base of any dish, accented with vegetables which have undergone immaculate decoration. Selection of meats was sparse before dealings with the dwarves, but has since been expanded by dwarven imports. The whole dish is seasoned with a variety of strong seasonings, most originating from Ae'Tezan and some having been imported from the dwarves. While alcohol has remained a popular drink for any meal since its introduction by the dwarves, a cultural classic are the many varieties of coffee which has been brewed by lori for centuries. In addition to introducing alcohol, the dwarves have also introduced the art of fermenting foods. The elves have since adopted a wide range of fermented commodities into their diet, and have even created their own style of fermented coffee with a rich seasoned flavor.

The tropical climate has kept lori clothing thin and revealing, often to the surprise of more conservative races such as humanity. The men usually only wear kilts, with the possibility of an armband for personal flair. The women usually have a very short skirt and a top which only covers the bare essentials. The fabrics are always immaculately decorated with beads, cloth strands, and small totems which often represent a lost family member. The fabric itself is usually dyed a vibrant color and is made of fine fibers from certain tropical plants. In some cases the cloth is embroidered with patterns, artwork, and symbols. There are pieces of colorful cloth which a lori might drape over their existing outfit for when they attend certain celebrations.

Yu'Lorei are open and playful about their affections towards one another. While they have particularly sensitive emotions and tend to get their feelings hurt easily at the hands of other races, they are adept at carefully managing the emotions of their fellow kin, resulting in an overall peaceful and harmonious society. Anyone thinking about having an intimate relationship with a Yu'Lorei needs to consider the proposition very carefully, they don't do so good outside their society and can be high maintenance.

Sports

Yu'Lorei are not known for being competitive, but still enjoy showing off their skills and participating in group activities. In order to encourage these kinds of social gatherings, sports were invented. Original lori sports were simple in objective and mainly involved running, jumping, and wresting. After the discovery of rubber, a new era of sports began. The rubber was fashioned into balls, which could then be used for various kinds of sports. A popular casual sport the lori love to play is a game where there is a woven net with two teams of four each on opposing sides. The objective is to keep the ball moving over one side of the net to the other, and the team who drops the ball the least number of times wins. There is also a sport involving striking a small ball with a wooden mallet and attempt getting it into a hole in the ground. However one of the biggest sports is Maize-ball.

Maize-ball

Maize-ball comprises of two teams with sixteen players total. There is a rectangular arena with a hollow disk centered on either long side, and the objective of the players is to get the ball to pass through the disc which is considered a 'goal'. The players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or feet, and must keep the ball airborne at all times. Creative strategies have been developed to move the ball, and players exhibit their own unique styles. This sport generally attracts a large crowd, who watch from stalls built into the sides of the area. The port has become so popular that there are now dedicated 'fans' who attend every game in order to watch their personal favorite compete.

Theatrics

Acting and storytelling goes hand in hand with the Yu'Loran personality. Storytelling has always remained an influential skill within lori society, and has since evolved into a sophisticated art. There are elves who exclusively specialize in writing plays which will be featured in prominent venues such as restaurants, auditoriums, or bath houses. There are even dedicated indoor buildings featuring a stage where more intricate plays can be carried out. Topics range from comedies related to recent events, to historical sagas celebrating Yu'Loran culture.

Music

Singing has always been present within Yu'Loran society, and there are songs which date back to ancient times. The art form underwent a major evolution after dwarven bards introduced stringed instruments. Lori quickly picked up the concept of using stringed objects to produce sound and started composing a massive variety of musical melodies. Instruments have since become commonplace in Yu'Loran society and are used by groups of bards to produce music in bath houses and auditoriums.

Aqueducts

Aqueducts are the veins which carry the lifeblood of Yu'Loran culture, fresh water. The Island of Ae'Tezan offers very little standing fresh water such as lakes, instead hosting a multitude of small rivers and hot springs. Aqueducts carry fresh water from these sources located deep in the mountains down into the elven towns along the coast of the island. Thanks to innovations such as concrete and aqueducts, most lori venues have an active supply of fresh water. There are waterfalls, fountains, and canals everywhere within Yu'Loran towns. The running water is also used in special shower stalls within bath houses, where lori may wash off before entering the bath. Scholars have suggested the Yu'Lorei might very well be the cleanest race in Amestria.

Ryo'Torei

Ryo'Torei, otherwise known as a restaurant in common, is a Yu'Loran venue which specializes in the exclusive preparation and serving of food. These establishments are decorated to impress and attract guests, which has led to a seemingly endless variety of different prepared foods. A large assortment of brews imported from the Kingdom of Thandolin can be found in every establishment and is an important part of attracting guests. There is an area in every Ryo'Torei with beds for drunk elves to be placed when they pass out, and more drunken lori in an establishment increases it's attractiveness. Unlike many other races, lori don't get violent when they are drunk, but have a heightened sense of humor.

Bath Houses

Bath houses are considered the pinnacle of Yu'Loran leisure, offering far more then a simple bath. A bath house usually consists of a circular or square building with an open center where a large pool resides. There is also a special shower room which is fed from a nearby aqueduct, where lori rinse off before entering the bath. The pool is fed from naturally occurring hot springs frequently present on the island. The elves also boil water scented with oils to make the bath more luxurious. There are rocks and small plants embedded within the bath to give it a more scenic look, however some baths sport colorful and attractive masonry instead. Bath houses are public locales and the participants are always nude while in the bath, usually with a towel close by for when they are ready to dry off. The baths are mixed and both genders share the same pool, however they are expected to follow moral guidelines and not act improperly during the bath. There is a wooden lattice that acts as a shelf where the elves can store their clothes for retrieval after the bath. The bath also has a raised platform next to it where a group of bards will sing and play music for the occupants of the bath. It is common courtesy to be quieter then normal while in the bath so that the bard's music can be heard. There is another room connected to the bath where the occupants can get a full massage with fragrant oils after the bath before they dawn their garments and leave the building. Some bath houses also have a Ryo'Torei connected to them, where occupants can enjoy lavish meals after their bathing experience. There are travelers among other races that inevitably find themselves trying the baths, having ventured far just for the experience. This is usually accompanied by many curious looks from the native lori and great embarrassment from the outsider.

This lore was inspired by Japanese public bathing and is not meant to incite a deliberately inappropriate atmosphere.

Night of the Dark Star

There is an ancient prophecy among the Yu'Lorei which dates back to a time before their recorded history. The origin of the prophecy is unknown, it is speculated to have originated from a random lori several thousands of years ago. The prophecy was responsible for the meeting of the four chiefs and the initial unification of the Yu'Loran people. Scholars have translated the prophecy into common for all Amestrians to read:

"Grand gifts you shall hath bestowed upon you, o' Yu'Lorei of elvish kin. But beware the day of your gifts becoming burdens and your efforts becoming meaningless, for a star of the night fast approaches. Prepare and you may yet survive, fail and thus by the might of the dark star your people will be scattered to all corners of the world. In distant lands you will reside, and for many millennia you will never see the promise of reunification. Prepare, and prosper. Do not fail o' elvish kin, for the price is too terrible to recompense."

Religion

The Yu'Lorei do not possess any formal religion, or even formal beliefs. They are not necessarily atheists, but have remained largely untouched by Amestria's major religions. The Holy Cardinal Pontificate has attempted to convert the elves to their religion, but the elves remain uninterested in the church's spiritual affairs. The church would normally convert such a population of heathens by force, but due to the Island of Ae'Tezan being heavily guarded by the Kingdom of Thandolin, such a course of action is not possible.

Military

The Yu'Lorei lack any kind of military power on their own, and instead rely on the Kingdom of Thandolin for defense. The dwarves have attempted to train lori how to fight, but the current prospects are inferior to other military forces. The Island of Ae'Tezan does possess a sizable garrisoned army of dwarves and a small dwarven navy, ensuring the elves are not completely defenseless.

Economy

The communal nature of the Yu'Lorei has hindered the development of any kind of economy. The elves are more then happy to distribute their wealth to everyone around them, ensuring a uniform spread of prosperity. The Kingdom of Thandolin trades alcohol and metal alloys in exchange for lori goods, and then proceeds to sell the goods to other nations. In this sense the Island of Ae'Tezan is a major economic asset of the dwarves, and they continue to safeguard it at all costs.

Technology

From an early age, lori are filled with passion to develop new and exciting ideas. A lot of this creative energy has been invested into cultural arts, but a reasonable portion has also been invested into technological progress. Yu'Lorei possess some of the most sophisticated architecture of any race, utilizing arches, domes, and aqueducts into basic town designs. This is all thanks to the discovery of concrete, which the elves discovered when combining celestial sand and volcanic ash together with a few other materials. Lori architecture also utilizes heavy use of plaster to create statues and murals. The elves are prone to discovering little things which other races would otherwise miss. Such discoveries include rubber which they make into balls for use in sports, and clocks which they use to keep track of time. Their civilization has always maintained heavy use of windmills and watermills, a free source of energy for performing menial tasks. In the year 1783 AE the elves started collaborating with the dwarves to develop Steam Power, a technology which could drastically improve the lives of both races.

Assorted Info

• Some lori have ventured into cold climates for the sake of expanding their knowledge of the world. Some people have described them as 'adorable' when bundled up in countless layers of winter clothing.
• The dwarves of Thandolin have close ties to the Yu'Lorei people, but they can never quite get over the Yu'Lorei's open eroticism.
• Disagreements and conflict does happen occasionally in lori society, but they feel so guilty afterwords that they usually make amends and forget that it ever happened.