High Elves

High Elves were the first race of elves, off of which Wood Elves split in the beginning of the Second Age. The first city of the High Elves was Quercetia, later followed by Corallia and then Urbs Laci. High Elves were granted the gifts of literacy, oration, poetry and theatre by the god Samelum. Upon receiving these gifts the High Elves grew haughty and arrogant, viewing the other races as uncultured and inferior. A portion of the High Elves grew discontent with these attitudes and the strict gender-based caste system of the High Elves. These elves split off from the High Elves and formed the subrace of the Wood Elves, founding the city of Dryopolis.

Gender System
High Elf society is based around a strict gender caste system. All High Elves are biologically similar and capable of both conceiving children and impregnating other elves. Thus the High Elf conception of gender is not based around any biological characteristics, but upon social status. High Elves are expected to marry within their own gender and so any children they have will be the same gender as the parents.

Nobilis
This gender is at the very top of the gender caste system and it consists of noble High Elves who perform roles in society that are held in high esteem. Nobilis elves are free to pursue the arts gifted to High Elves by Samelum, such as oration, poetry, theatre, and writing.

Sacerdos
The Sacerdos gender began as a class only containing members of the Order of the Silvertongue and high priests of Samelum. The gender later came to include scholars and mages as well.

Mercantis
Mercantis elves compose the merchant class of High Elf society.

Agricolis
This is the largest gender group in High Elf society, consisting of peasants and farmers.

Government
The High Elves have no formal system of federal government, though the elves generally will defer to the leadership in the capital city of Quercetia in important matters. On the local level each High Elf city is free to govern however they see fit and are very independent.