Almenodrim
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The Almenodrim, sometimes known as the Sea Elves or otherwise Grey Elves, are an ancient and prolific ethno-cultural subsection of Elvenkind who trace their lineage to several of Malin's primary sons. Unlike their Dark, High, and Wood cousins they claim to maintain the pure and unadulterated image of the forefather, and take immense pride in this fact; for this reason they cannot be considered a subrace, and should rather be seen as a vestigial remnant of a progenitor-people. The Almenodrim are tall, fair of face and strong of limb, fierce in passion and intensely proud of their land and people.
Their name Almenodrim derives from the ancient homeland Almenor, which was located in the Isles of Axios and founded by the elf Sylvaen. Largely destroyed during the War against Iblees and swallowed up into the oblivion of time, this land and heritage nonetheless gave rise to many great figures and tales which are remembered by the Sea Elves to this day. In the years following the War and Malin's disappearance, the Almenodrim departed the Elven homeland in ignominious circumstances which can only be hinted at by collected writings; this event is called the Great Exile, and is speculatively attributed to a succession crisis.
Upon their return some centuries later to the fold of Elvendom, the Almenodrim resumed their station in the echelons the Elderfolk; they rose first to lead the High Princedom of Malinor under Eleron Sylvaeri, and later to the throne of the Dominion of Malin under his grandson Belestram Sylvaeri. In more recent days they have founded again their fortress cities of old, and dwell in the fortified citadel at Aegrothond, upon the temperate southern shores of Arcas. Currently, they are led by the Sea Prince Feanor Sylvaeri of the House of Sylvaen, the sixth descendant of that line.
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As a People
While membership and qualification among the Almenodrim is not solely dependent upon blood, the core of the community are those who claim direct descent from the original gathering in Almenor under Sylvaen. As such, there is a collection of physical traits which can be treated as earmarks of the hereditary Sea Elves.
While a layman may easily confuse a member of the Almenodrim for a Wood Elf, they have a tendency to be considerably taller and fairer; their eyes are with few exceptions grey in colour, dark skin is very rare and the ashen grey of their Dark Elven cousins is virtually unheard of. They take poorly to magical arts of any kind, much preferring the satisfaction that can only be attained through physical craft (to which they are much better suited.) They take joy in simple arts and love the Sea.
Great Houses
The Sea Elves are led by their Great Houses (Ancient Elvish: Mar'linan), who form a backbone of the culture and community. Unlike the Seeds of the Wood Elves or Clans of the Dark Elves, a family must be able to definitively prove descent from one of Malin's primary sons in order to qualify for the rank of 'Great House'. If a family does not meet these qualifications but still upholds the Tenets and Laws of the Almenodrim, they are referred to simply as a 'House' until ennobled by the ruling Princely House. This is done rarely, and while blood is held in high regard, such families (and indeed House-less Elves) are not looked down upon.
The chiefest and greatest of these both in ancient times and today is the House of Sylvaen, which is colloquially and most often referred to as House Sylvaeri; these Elves have served as leaders and organizers of the Almenodrin bloodlines since the first establishment of Aegrothond in the centuries following the Great Exile. Currently they are the Princes of Aegrothond, and all the lands of Elvenesse de jure.
As a Culture
History
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General Appearance
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Architecture
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The Lay of Aegrothond
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