Dune Elves

The Dune Elves, also known as Azerals, are a nomadic elven people who wander the deserts of Syltör, Ummarnu and Alteniquia, as well as parts of southern Anglunia in Eldham. Dune Elves are sometime known as "Dark Elves" due to their signature Ebony black skin.

Dune Elves live to be 170-200 years of age, which is a shorter than Celestial Elves, but is still a rather long life span. The maturity of a Dune Elf is 30.

Etymology
The name "Dune Elves" was actually a name that was given later on during the Second Dominion of Ashura by the Aurlûnor Velande, mostly by sources of Aurlûnoren Humans, who travelled the deserts, negotiating with tribes and varying people groups that lurk within the Ashuran Desert. The earliest term, "Dark Elf", was used by the people of Norfthorn, as the color of their skin to them, was darker than any elf they had encountered, such as the Celestial Elves. They were referred to as "Mörk Elfve".

The word "Azeral" originates from a Nabut terminology that was on a tablet written back in 2,300BCA. The term would be used by future historians and researchers who study Dune Elf biology and cultures. Other names around different groups are used, such as Ajina, Ezaru, and Miadu. The Dune Elves south of Anglunia use the term "Nazzu" when referring to their people.

History
Records about the Dune Elves are quite scattered due to the lack of an ancient Dune Elven language, and the diversity of the various amounts of tribes that are throughout. Rathnirian Archeologists predict that they could of came from the same region as other elves from the Elven Migrations over 11,000 years ago with evidence of hunting tools found in an area known as the "Barrier Desert" located west of modern day Tacua Province in the Aurlûnor Velande.

The Dune Elves would migrate around the varying deserts located in the now Ashuran Desert to the southeast of modern day Hampo, in which they would settle down in the region. Though, some continued onwards with their nomadic lifestyles, reaching different regions of the world.

Dune Elves would reach the continent of Ummaru by 4,000BSS, and would live along the northern tips. Some Huitcans such as Toyo'on'tyo Chililatl Dou'wall, would claim to be a descendent of settlers that would meet and mingle with Huitcan Colonists later on. There was also Dune Elves who migrated as far south as Ardat, starting conflicts with the Geshemi, the Talawans and the Ardatians. However, there was also tribes on their side, who fought against the rival tribes of the Dune Elves.

By the year 6,100BCA, the Syltör-based Dune Elves would mostly come together to form the Dominion of Ashura would form from a band of struggling nomads that would come together and call themselves the Ashurans. Made up of multiple tribes and confederacies, this new dominion would come to dominate the region for several centuries. As for the rest of the Dune Elves of the Ashuran Desert, many of them continued their nomadic lifestyle, while some were eventually subjugated by the Dominion of Ashura.

At around 2,600BCA, multiple Dune Elves had arrived on Alteniquia. These Dune Elves would grow comfortable living in the region, as the deserts here were much larger and expansive. The Elves built a new empire for themselves here, which became a trading partner with Ashura. However, the empire had a schism around 2300BCA, and the southern tribes, the Nikhen and Tuvaral, split away to for their own independent state. Even they split shortly later, while the northern tribes of Yitendu and Ashami stagnated in the north, but conquered a little more of Carvay in this time. In around 1900BCA, Nikhen began to resurge, conquering new territories in Reyllea, Caen, and Sironia Andy retaking much of the Southern Empire’s old land. They united with Tuvaral again in roughly 1500BCA, and the nations of Altenquia flourished again. However, this didn’t last long, as a war broke out between the two state in 250BCA and lasted for over a hundred years, with all the tribes separating and in decline. Some remnant states survived, but what was left of their civilizations would be integrated and perhaps inspired the Yimmu-Audalian refugees from Jagdas to build in a certain style.

Appearance
Appearances of the Dune Elves are usually often seen as one common trait: Ebony skin. Their ebony skin is rather more resistant to the sun's deadly heat than other species, thus, can survive longer than a regular person can without water. This is also probable from their extremely high myelin levels, and the suns affect on their skin. Dune Elves also appear to have different color hairs, mostly being either black, red, brown or even white.

Dune Elves also drastically vary whenever they come to their clothes. Some, such as the ones who live closer to Ardat, are far more revealing with their clothing, meanwhile those who live near the former Dominion of Ashura, are more conservative, and reserved about their clothing. Dune Elves also appear to sometimes wear paint on their faces and their bodies, usually signifying tribal markings or clan insignas. Former Ashurans often dress in their more traditional jewelry, which is said to be lavish and colorful.

Known Groups
Dune Elves are among the most diverse type of elf in the world, with over thousands of different ethnic groups and tribes. This list compiled are currently the well known Dune Elf tribes that live in Rathnir:

Syltör

 * Ashurans - Made up of both the Nabut and Qanti people. The most developed of the Dune Elf groups, and the least nomadic, being rulers of the former Dominion of Ashura.
 * Upper Nabut - Related to the Nabut peoples, these are the Nabut that did not migrated with the large Nabut migrations during the early 6,000BCAs.
 * Kidat - Costal Dune Elves, they have been subjects of Ryzan since the area was taken over. Under the Deutzani people, they lived in Port Syros and Luxor, as well as wanderd the desert around the region. They are known to be good fishermen.
 * Kadut - Also known as the river people, the Kadut are known for their mound hovels that are burried in the sands.
 * Yaza - These Dune Elves are well known to be the only Dune Elves that integrated with Twin Dragon, and had been exposed to the Almadorian culture. Due to them being subjects under the Kingdom of Almador, they had seen years of persecution including under the Queendom of Hampo which they were ruled under the Kumiho. Presently, the Yaza are said to be the most Aurlûnoren tribe, with their clothes and culture and language script even being inspired by the Aurlûnor Velande's culture. Despite this, the Kumiho continue to build illegal settlements and oppress the Yazans, who had retaliated into a quiet war that has been ongoing for many years.
 * Belet
 * Ereket - Known as the Soleannen Dune Elves, many Ereketis converted to Soleannen when the region was colonized by Escharia. Due to this, influences of Niedene culture are seen within these Dune Elves, and even to this day, still build shrines in the desert despite it being banned nationwide. For a long while, they were under protection by the Sneedistanis, until the purchace of the eastern part of the desert by the Aurlûnor Velande.
 * Tandra - Dune Elves that encountered the Order of the Green. They are well known for their mask culture, and had traded with the order when it became Viridian.
 * Ormo
 * Shamar
 * Eza
 * Gawamar
 * Istih

Ummarnu

 * Dashuri - Ancestors of the current Huitcan Royal family descended from the ancient Quia'Jal Royal which used to reside in the ancient capital city of Bradecblight who descended from the Dashurite tribe.
 * Kemal
 * Ordati - Also known as the Ardati Elves, the Ordati, with their name sake, are known for their practice of the Path of Dain. Unlike other Dune Elves, their skin is more copper black red. They are well known for playing digideroos, and for being fierce in combat.
 * Mamori - Ancestors of the Talawans, and said to have bred with humans in Ummarnu to produce the Talawans. It is unknown how many Mamori are alive, but it is said that they are related to the Kemal tribes in terms of linguistics and culture, despite being located further away from eachother. Are said to be the lightest skin of the Dune Elves, as they are said to have light dark skin.
 * Almnutaa - A closely linked Dune Elf, the Almnutaa were a people that migrated away from Ardat, travelling to the southeastern settlement known as Nuanje. They would have a steep decline at around 1073BCA, indicating extinction, though few incomplete records state some were still alive by 327-527ACA. As of current, they are classified as extinct.

Alteniquia

 * Yitendu: The Yitendu lived in the northwestern deserts of modern Yimmu Audal. They were naturally acclimated towards the deserts there, and were the center of the trade between Ashura and Altenquia
 * Tuvaral: The Tuvaral lived in areas now know as Ayesinco, another province of Yimmu Audal. They grew accustomed to the savanah and the desert equally, and had close relations to the Nikhen.
 * Nikhen: The Nikhen lived in what the natives call Abayril and most people know as Fuscinivir. They were the most diverse of the tribes in Altenquia, with some living near the sea, and being the closest Rathnir has to Sea Elves, while some lived in the savanna or desert like the Tuvaral, and some lived in the swamps of Sironia. They had close links with Tuvaral.
 * Ashami: These elves lived near modern Urnu-Arrak and Anosphiae, and lived in the deserts there. They cherished knowledge, and created a large university before the Audal refugees came from Jagdas. They had close ties to Yitendu.

Anglunia

 * Pikenda
 * Ukandi
 * Tishal
 * Ni-Yirisi - Dune Elves who are half Ice Elf. They are often mistaken to be a possible connection to the Almnutaa, but are confirmed to not at all be related, due to the eye color and pigmentation being far more distinguished, as well as their colder blood. They are the only Dune Elf that can live in temperate climates, but at the cost of them resisting extreme heat.