Ancient elves lived in a world before the Veil separated the fade from the waking realm. Their culture was rich, varied, and based heavily on magic. All elvhen were born mages, and their long-lived nature made for a world both wondrous and strange. A single ball could last a week. Courtship could last decades. A complex ritual might take a hundred years or more to cast.

The eluvian network allowed for near-instantaneous long-distance travel. Goods and knowledge were shared freely, and resources were plentiful. Spirits were viewed as companions, fellows, sentient entities in their own right. Some spirits even took on elvhen bodies, to better experience everything that a physical form had to offer. Elves lived largely in harmony with nature, and their magic made for numerous advances in architecture, healthcare, infrastructure, and more.

Kingdoms of Elvhenan
Originally spanning across the face of Thedas, the elven kingdom was organized into smaller provinces, governed by their individual nobles and royalty. There were five separate kingdoms in total, which later came together to be known collectively as Elvhenan.

Evune

The justice system of Evune was heralded as one of the hallmarks of its reign. Its citizens - noble and peasant alike - were all permitted and encouraged to sit on a ‘peoples jury’ to vote on the outcome of court cases. Though the reigning monarch was given the final say in all rulings, this power was balanced by the means of succession of the kingdom itself. Monarchs were permitted to sit for no longer than 500 years - and at the end of that tenure, when the kingdom’s heir was put forward, the people’s jury had the power to veto the monarch’s choice.

Original home of: Mythal, Solas

Sil’tarem

It was said that all the knowledge of the kingdoms was kept - or created - by the scribes and bookbinders of Sil’tarem. Notably, even during the height of the Evanuris’ cruelty and excess, the kingdom’s extensive libraries were kept free for all elvhen to utilize and enter. Some of Elvhenan’s most powerful spells - and lengthiest rituals - were conceived by the scholars and academics of Sil’tarem.

Original home of: Dirthamen, Falon’din

Oranavra

Oranavra was hailed as the bastion of strength. To that end, tournaments of strength and skill were held quite often, and were seen as deadly serious affairs. Those who performed well were given acclaim, lands, and slaves. Those who performed poorly were ridiculed, stripped of their titles, and sometimes even taken as slaves themselves. For any elvhen of repute, refusing to participate in a tourney was seen as shameful and cowardly.

Original home of: Andruil

Vun Anor

A violent, opulent land of excess, Vun Anor was best known for its violent means of ruling succession. The kingdom’s monarch was open to challenges from any citizen. Any challenge made to the ruler was required to be met on the field of battle, and battles for the crown could only end in the death of one of its combatants. Elgar’nan was notedly crowned the official king of Vun Anor when he brutally slayed his own father on the killing fields.

Original home of: Elgar’nan


Adahl'en


All elvhen of Adahl’en are required to be married upon reaching adulthood. If an individual was not able to establish their own match, the elders of their kingdom would assign them a partner. Divorce was not permitted, and faithlessness was punishable by death.

Original home of: June, Sylaise