Asur
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| Asur (High Elves) | |
|---|---|
 First children of the world, last guardians of its light |
|
| Founding | |
| Founded | Dawn of time; taught civilisation by the Old Ones |
| Founder | Aenarion the Defender and the Everqueen |
| Current Leader | Phoenix King Finubar the Seafarer (for now); Everqueen Alarielle |
| Geography | |
| Capital | Lothern (de facto); the spiritual heart is the Isle of the Dead |
| Major Cities | Lothern, Saphery towers, Eataine palaces, Cothique shipyards |
| Regions | Ulthuan and its colonies across the Great Ocean |
| Biology | |
| Lifespan | 500-800 years commonly; mages and princes often far longer |
| Height | 170-200 cm (5′7″ - 6′7″) |
| Culture | |
| Language | Tar-Eltharin (the high tongue), spoken like music |
| Religion | The Cadai pantheon: Asuryan, Isha, Kurnous, Lileath, and the ancestors |
| Government | |
| Government | Dual monarchy of Phoenix King and Everqueen, ruled through ancient princes |
| Relations | |
| Allies | Wood Elves, Lizardmen (distant), Empire (useful tools), Bretonnia (amusing children) |
| Enemies | Dark Elves (eternal), Chaos, Greenskins, the undead |
The Asur are the High Elves of Ulthuan: the first mortal race, the architects of civilisation, and the self-appointed wardens of the world. They are taller than men, fairer than dawn, and prouder than dragons. Every movement is art, every word a poem, every arrow a promise of death. Their cities float on magic, their ships ride the wind itself, and their mages can unmake a mountain with a whisper. Yet for all their glory they are a dying race, bleeding slowly from ten thousand years of war and sorrow.
Overview
If you want to play an immortal aristocrat who has seen empires rise and fall before breakfast, and who still believes his people are the only thing standing between the world and darkness, this is your bloodline.
Appearance
Tall, willowy, impossibly beautiful. Skin like moonlight on marble, hair of silver, gold, or midnight black that flows like silk. Eyes that have watched centuries pass. Armour of ithilmar and dragon-scale, robes of sea-silk and starlight. Even their scouts look like princes.
Culture & Society
- Regions: The ten kingdoms of Ulthuan and scattered colonies.
- Culture: Art, war, and magic are the same thing. Excellence is the minimum standard.
- Names: Tyrion, Teclis, Alarielle, Eltharion, Imrik, Alith Anar, Caradryan.
- Religion: The Cadai heavenly gods; ancestor worship is practically mandatory.
Relations with Other Races
| Category | Faction | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | Empire | Friendly |
| Bretonnia | Friendly | |
| Kislev | Neutral | |
| Sartosa | Hostile | |
| Araby | Neutral | |
| Cathay | Friendly | |
| Norsca | Hostile | |
| Elves | Asrai (Wood Elves) | Neutral |
| Druchii (Dark Elves) | Hostile | |
| Dwarfs | Dwarfs | Neutral |
| Chaos Dwarfs | Hostile | |
| Greenskins | Orcs | Hostile |
| Goblins | Hostile | |
| Monstrous | Ogre | Neutral |
| Beastmen | Hostile | |
| Affliction | Chaos | Hostile |
| Vampire | Hostile |
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Strengths: Best mages, best archers, best everything (just ask them).
- Weaknesses: Arrogant, outnumbered a thousand to one, and running out of time.
Playing an Asur
You have seen mountains younger than your grudges. Speak slowly, choose every word like a duelling blade, and never let the lesser races forget who taught them fire. A prince fights with the calm of a dancer and the fury of a storm. A mage treats spellcraft like painting: beautiful, precise, and capable of erasing cities. Even a Shadow Warrior, grim and hooded, moves like liquid night.
Under the arrogance is melancholy: every High Elf knows their race is fading. Some fight to delay the end, some to burn brighter before the dark, some simply to prove the world still needs them.
Physical Appearance
Perfection given form. Tall, slender, impossibly symmetrical. Hair flows like water, eyes hold starlight, voices could charm a dragon (and sometimes do). Armour is artwork, weapons are heirlooms older than human nations. They do not walk; they glide.
Gender Role & Sexuality
Gender Roles
- High Elf society is highly egalitarian compared to human nations. Both men and women hold positions of power in politics, military, and magic, with social status determined more by skill, birth, and achievement than by gender.
- Royalty and Nobility: Male and female nobles govern kingdoms, command armies, and serve as High Priests or Mage-Lords. Queens and princesses wield significant political authority, and women often serve as leaders in magical or diplomatic capacities.
- Commoners: Citizens are expected to cultivate personal excellence, whether in craft, magic, or military training. Both genders are educated, trained, and involved in societal governance from a young age.
- Meritocracy, skill, and family prestige outweigh gender in social hierarchy, though long-standing traditions sometimes favor elder males in ceremonial roles.
Sexuality
- Sexuality in Asur culture is liberal, yet refined and socially conscious. Monogamy is common, but High Elves often form lifelong partnerships based on both love and political or social strategy.
- Courtship and Romance: Relationships are often strategic, aligning families, political factions, or military alliances, but emotional bonds and aesthetic attraction are highly valued.
- Sexuality is framed with elegance, discretion, and cultural refinement; explicit promiscuity exists but is less common than in libertine human cultures.
Attitudes toward Other Races (Sexualized)
- High Elves generally view other races with **pride, superiority, and selective fascination**, including occasional sexualized interest:
- Humans: Human women may be admired for exotic beauty or vigor, but relationships are rare and often politically motivated. Male humans are respected for courage but generally not sexually desired.
- Dwarfs: Male dwarfs are respected for craft and fortitude, rarely sexualized. Female dwarfs occasionally appear in eroticized fantasy, often as objects of curiosity due to rarity.
- Greenskins: Orcs and goblins are considered inferior and repulsive; sexualized depictions are largely absent, except in myths illustrating domination or conquest.
- Elves (Other Subraces): Sexual fascination exists between High Elves and Dark Elves, though it is taboo and fraught with political and moral danger. Wood Elves are often exoticized for their connection to nature and beauty.
Notable Cultural Nuances
- Gender equality is a core value, with men and women expected to contribute equally to governance, warfare, and magical pursuits.
- Sexuality is refined, strategic, and flexible; emotional and aesthetic bonds are as important as social or political ones.
- Sexualized interest in other races exists but is moderated by High Elf pride, politics, and moral codes.
- Relationships are often as much about alliance, family honor, or social standing as desire, blending elegance with personal expression.
Notable Ranks & Careers
Citizen levy → Lothern Sea Guard → Swordmaster of Hoeth → Phoenix Guard → Dragon Prince → Archmage → Phoenix King (only one at a time)