Nikhen Elves

Nikhen Elves
The Nikhen Elves were a group of elves that live in Altenquia in ancient times, one of the more varied types of elves

Origins
The Nikhen were part of the group of Dune Elves that migrated to Altenquia during the time of the Ashuran Dominion (not the modern one). After a split among the group, they left for the southeastern area of the main body of the continent, roughly around the border between Carn, Sironia, and Yimmu Audal today. They were one of the more isolated groups, having little to no known contact with Ashura after their settling.

History
After they settled, around two thousand years ago, the region came under the rule of the South Altenquian Empire, a mix of Nikhen and another group of Dune Elves, the Tuvaral. A large war was fought around this time between the South and North, which caused the collapse of the south and Nikhen’s independence. Shortly after, Emperor Nymbus, the only leader of the Nikhen referenced in their few records, grew the state into a much larger portion of the continent, assumed to include larger parts of modern YA and Sironia, as well as part of the island of

Once again, however, as with all empires, it fell, and the next thousand years in Altenquia are assumed to be relatively peaceful, although this is more due to lack of recorded data. Around 70p years ago, Tuvaral and Nikhen united into the First Southern Republic. However, the Yitendu, a Dune Elf tribe near modern Coltmaere, saw this as a threat to their power, and launched an invasion. They were beaten back, and the Republic gained most of the western half of Yimmu Audal’s southern provinces. After another peace period of around 200 years, the two northern tribes of Yitendu and Ashami banded together and brought an end to the Republic.

Elven history on the continent largely fades out at this point, and most vestiges of elven culture were wiped out when the Audalad settlers arrived Fromm Jagdas.

Appearance
The Elves of Nikhen looked a fair bit different than the average Dune Elf. Since their home was a mix of biomes, some of them adapted in different ways, and over time, a unique culture and elf variant was born. They have fair skin, but lighter than their Dune Elf cousins. Their eyes were many shades of blue, green, or both. Their hair was a dark green shade, oftentimes black or a more jade colour. Their appearances varied a lot, however. Some might be born with brown or hazel eyes, or a blonde or even bluish hair. Many of them had a lighter skin aswell. However, much of this is hard to confirm. Most of the elves were wiped out by some kind of conflict or strife shortly before the Audalads arrived, and the only known remaining elf of the Nikhen Culture is Ottoman, who currently resides in Carn.

TBC