Yu'Lorei

Yu'Lorei
Race
Pronunciation	You-lor-ay / Lor-ee
Archetype	Elven
Nicknames	Lori, Machine Elves, Spice Elves, Ashen Elves
Languages	Common (Change Later)
Vampiric Conversion	Possible
Aetherial Affinity	Class D - Very Hard to Cast Magic
Roleplay Difficulty	Hard
Racial Traits
Aetheriality	Physical
Max Age	200 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 then almost 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, meaning they won't visually age past full maturity and will not accumulate excess body fat. Most lori can only live up to 200 years, the shortest lifespan of any elven race. 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 more 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 inherent 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 opulent 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 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 currently 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

Yu'Loran society is defined by the strong social bonds between fellow lori. There is no concept of aristocracy within the lori mind, who are far too empathetic and emotionally conscious to deprive their peers of material wealth. The fundamental necessity for lori to socialize has resulted in many different kinds of venues being born. From humble auditoriums to opulent bath houses, the lori have it all. In fact the concept of a restaurant was first coined by the lori. A phenomenon within lori society is the fact there are no strangers. Lori are incredibly friendly and trusting of others even if they don't know anything about them. Don't ever betray a lori or they will never stop talking about it and will let everyone know. These elves have a strong passion for the arts, imbuing everything with their own cultural flair. Punishment is very lax in lori society, as there are very few individuals who lack a high degree of empathy for others. When rules are broken, lori society prefers a reformative approach, and if that doesn't work then they may very well exile the subject in question.

Politics

The Yu'Lorei do not possess a formal political structure of their own, and utilize basic communal principals such as sharing their abundance with others and seeking positive community consensus. While this has helped to advance domestic pursuits, the elves are rendered incapable of representing themselves on a national level. 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 political dealings with the Yu'Lorei are directly handled by the dwarves, offloading all political responsibility from the elves. The decadent and conflict free lifestyle of the lori have rendered them incapable as political leaders or diplomats, which are instead addressed by the dwarves.

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 elves. The island has been the target of many human espionage attempts to steal dwarven secrets due to there being less surveillance overall.

Culture

Often described as party animals, lori are well known for their love of celebrations. Lori culture has an unending list of holidays in which there are feasts and festivals, and they always find a reason to turn a seemingly normal event into an outright celebration. A lori will bring their family, friends, cousins, acquaintances, and anyone on the street that happens to be standing there. Celebrations are full of colorful decorations and free gifts courtesy of the many artisans who attend the events, and many artists capture the moment to be forever immortalized in paintings and sculptures.

Lori architecture consists of countless domes, spires, columns, and arches, all possible with their invention of concrete. Buildings oftentimes have sculpted plaster walls with intricate scenes and patterns embedded on them. Their fully featured aqueduct system in their main cities on the island of Ae'Tezan allow for waterfalls, fountains, and canals to be implemented into the design of their city. While the primary material lori use is concrete, it's usually accompanied by intricate brickwork which form incredible architectural patterns.

The excessive use of seasonings has given lori the nickname of 'spice elves'. The notion of eating foods straight from the ground is absurd in lori culture, and you will never find a vegetable or fruit on a dish that hasn't been sliced, decorated, or modified in some way. Most foods are placed in carefully constructed patterns that create a form of art, accompanied by dishes of perfectly symmetrical or planned asymmetrical patterns. Access to additional food types has widened the lori palette in recent years, but the core of their diet revolves around the tropical bounty of their island home. Coconuts, oranges, avocados, peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers are just a few personal favorites for many of the elves. Fermented foods are also common, courtesy of the dwarves.

When it comes to Yu'Lorei fashion, one might wonder how it's possible for the elves to create so much variety with so little cloth. The tropical climate has kept clothing thin and revealing. Women usually have a short skirt and a top that only covers their bust, while males typically only wear kilts. These garments are immaculately decorated with strands of beads that hang down from the main garment, and rich colorful threads forming vibrant patterns. There are more then just beads which hang from their garments, with intricately carved miniature wooden totems which usually represent a lost family member or an ancestor also hanging from their clothes. In some cases they might have a narrow band of colorful cloth streaming diagonally over their chest when they attend celebrations or during leisure hours.

Lori are open and playful when expressing their affection. It is safe to say that lori have sensitive emotions and it wouldn't be the first time that a perfectly innocent encounter leads to disappointment and someone quickly running away while crying. Interracial couples should take great care, lori are easily heartbroken and can be considered very high maintenance.

Sports

Yu'Lorei are not known for being competitive, most of the time. One of the few ways in which the elves burn off their competitive feelings is through organized competitions that have been dubbed 'sports'. The most common sport the elves participate in is called disc ball. It is a game in which there is a rectangular court and at opposing ends there is a disc with a hole in the center. Sixteen total players divided by two opposing teams compete to keep a rubber ball from touching the ground and ultimately try to get the ball to fly through the opposing team's disc to score points. The players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or feet and usually use their elbows, hips, chest, and head to hit the ball. The sport is a sensation and there are many onlookers who cheer for their favored team. While there is such a thing as rivalries, lori are respectful opponents and grudges are rarely held.

Theatrics

One of the more interesting ways in which lori express themselves is through theater. This is usually done in an auditorium or a special building, and there are a series of actors who take on the roles of fictional characters. The show is separated into a series of scenes separated by periods of intermission. The actors use this time to change a series of props found on stage to reflect the new scene. The actors carry out their roles in stories normally formulated by a lori who specializes in storytelling. Most stories are about romance and comedy, but they may also be used to portray historical cultural events.

Aqueducts

The lori have used their extensive knowledge of masonry and concrete to build aqueducts on the Island of Ae'Tezan which carry water from hot springs high in the tropical mountains down into their city. These aqueducts give the elves running water to most major structures, and even most restaurants and bath houses. Some parts of the city have open showers for the elves to quickly wash off before entering buildings, and other areas have waterfalls, fountains, and canals. One might say that this infrastructure has allowed the lori to become one of the most hygienic races in Amestria, who never miss out on a chance to bathe or take a shower while chatting with friends.

Restaurants

The term restaurant was coined by none other then the Yu'Lorei. One of the elves' favorite activities is going out to restaurants with their friends or family to partake in eating meals prepared by skilled chefs. These establishments are decorated to impress and attract customers, competing by constantly improving their presentation or their recipes. This has led to a seemingly endless variety of different prepared foods, with a few unique to a single restaurant in order to stand out among the many others. A large assortment of brews imported from the Kingdom of Thandolin can be found in every establishment and is an important part of attracting customers. There is an area in every restaurant with beds for drunk elves to be placed when they pass out, and the more drunken lori a restaurant has the more attractive their business. Unlike many other races, lori don't get violent when they are drunk, but rather 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. 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 instead sport colorful and attractive masonry. 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 restaurant 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. Many believe that the prophecy is the indirect reason why the lori progressed beyond their primitive tribal existence on the island and embraced a more civilized lifestyle, however others disagree saying that the main component was their own ingenuity and inquisitive nature and not because of some prophecy. 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 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 1782 AE the elves started collaborating with the dwarves to develop Steam Power, a technology which could drastically improve the lives of both races.

Interbreeding

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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 taken a liking to the Yu'Lorei and they visit Ae'Tezan often, but they can never quite get over the lori'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.