Skifra Elves

Not to be confused with Forest Elves or Glade Elves, Skifra Elves (ski-e-fra) are an almost extinct race of elves that live in small villages which are scattered throughout the spruce forests of the Valresh continent.

Origins
According to ancient folklore and some other remaining old texts, Skifra elves were not native to the spruce forests of Valresh. The ancient texts and folklore describe the original homeland of the Skifrains (ski-e-fra-en) elves to have been similar to the environment of valresh’s spruce forests. In the texts, there are some sentences which are illegible which may possibly contain the names and locations of their former homeland and other details of why the Skifrain elves left. However, despite some of the sentences being almost completely illegible, scholars using folklore and the pieceos the words from the illegible sentences they were able to understand realized that the Skifrains had been forced to migrate from their homeland to Valresh’s spruce forests due to some sort of ancient calamity. However, most scholars agree that the Skifrain elves were not part of the great elf migration. Some scholars believe the calamity could have been a dangerous monster such as the slime princess of which even high ranking adventurers would have issues defeating it. Other scholars believe that the calamity was actually some sort of large empire that forced the Skifrains from their homeland. A very small minority of the scholars believe that the spruce forest of which the elves had lived in had somehow perished, leaving the elfs with no home.

Regardless, most scholars believe that the Skifra elves were forced due to some sort of event and were forced to leave their home in search of a new home. As a race which typically remained isolationist and rarely left their homeland, many of the elves perished as they were simply unable to adapt to the sudden change in their environment. Some elves were even enslaved by other races as species such as the Skifrain elves.

Appearance
Skifra Elves have a range of skin tones, which can vary from pale to deep brown. Their hair is typically a dark shade of black, however rare occurrences of dark brown hair have been seen from the elves. This variation in skin tone and hair color is believed to be the result of adaptation to their natural environment and the varying levels of exposure to sunlight. Skifra Elves have striking, almond-shaped eyes that are often described as being "bright" or "sparkling". Their eye color ranges from shades of green, blue, gray, and brown. On very rare occurrences, a Skifra elf will have amber red colored eyes. Skifra Elves have distinct facial features, which are characterized by high cheekbones, narrow noses, and pointed chins. Their faces are often described as being "elfin" or "ethereal", and their expressions are known to be subtle and nuanced. The physical body of Skifra Elves are slender, which is the result of adaption to the forest dwelling lifestyle. Skifra elves are shorter than Humans, being about three and four feet tall, and have a lean and agile physique.

Community and Social Structure
Skifra Elves live in small, tight communities, of which are scattered throughout the Valresh continent’s spruce forests. These elves live in simple homes made up of the environment around them being organic materials such as spruce wood, ferns, leaves, and other natural materials. These villages are led by the village’s shaman or the spouse of the shaman in the absence of the shaman. The shaman is responsible for making important decisions and maintaining the spiritual traditions of the village. Skifra Elves place a strong emphasis on community and family ties. They value cooperation and mutual support, and work together to gather resources and meet the needs of the community. They are also fiercely protective of their culture and traditions, and likely because of this are extremely wary of outsiders preferring to live in absolute isolation from the rest of the world.

Nature and Environment
As elves who devote most of their life living in the forests without leaving it, Skifra Elves have a deep reverence for nature and the environment. They believe that all living things are connected and must be respected and cared for. Skifra Elves are skilled hunters and gatherers, and rely on the natural resources of their environment for sustenance. They have a unique ability to communicate with animals and plants, and are skilled in herbalism and natural healing. Skifra Elves believe in the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with the natural world. They practice sustainable hunting and gathering techniques and take great care to preserve the natural habitats of the animals and plants that they rely on for survival.

Arts and Crafts
Skifra Elves are skilled craftsmen, and their arts and crafts reflect their deep connection to nature and the environment. They are known for their woodworking, and their homes are often decorated with intricate carvings and engravings. Skifra Elves also practice weaving, and create beautiful tapestries and garments made from natural fibers.

Skifra Elves have a rich musical tradition, and their music is often accompanied by dance. Their music is characterized by its haunting melodies and intricate rhythms, and is often played on traditional instruments such as harp, flutes, violin, and the drums. Skifra Elves believe that music and dance are a way to connect with the natural world and the spirits that reside within it.