Golden Pools
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Back within the ancient days of Aegis, where the children of the four brothers were young and fresh, the forests of Malinor teemed with throngs of the long-lived elves. Though cursed with the infertility the fallen daemon had provided, their millennia-spanning lives were amiable. In this time, there was no high elf, dark elf, or even what would later be known as a wood elf—there were only the peaceful denizens of the woodlands. The Mali.
Such grand lifespans lead to equally grand studies in philosophy, the arts, the sciences, and magic. Great discoveries and advances were made almost without notice—such things were seemingly commonplace within the nigh-immortal society of the elves. At some point in their history, though none could possibly pinpoint when, groups of elves began to dabble in arcane magics rather that of traditional druidism. The practice became popular among scholars and other learned mali—being able to pull forth elements they had studied from the void were both amusing and fascinating. Enter the influential scholar Larihei Lohmanih.
Thought to have been conceived by a member of Malinor’s High Council - largely on account of her influence and interactions with it along with the populace that it oversaw - she eventually became a controversial figure at odds with the prevailing ideals of Mali culture of her time. Theories suggesting the causes for this range from views that the aggressiveness of the younger races threatened Mali way of life, disapproval of the complacency of Mali in regards to worldly affairs or that her stance on the status Mali had as the longest lived creatures meant they were responsible for the knowledge of the world, as well as entitled to it.
Though their work was ignored mostly by the general populace (however, utterly loathed by the druids), their skills with magic grew and expanded into areas few would comprehend until the post-Aegis years. However, one discovery that was an endless source of interest and study was a geological and magical marvel—the Golden Pools.
Deep within the earth, beneath the trees of old Malinor, Mali geologists discovered large cave systems with an abundance of what is now referred to as "Magegold." The substance was not unknown to these scholars, obviously, but within the centre of the largest chamber, there lay a pool of still water, imbued with magegold dust accumulated over untold millennia Curiously, due to the gold, the water itself could be enchanted like any other object—something previously thought impossible for liquids. Before further tests could be carried out, one scholar poured a previously-enchanted container of the liquid back into the main pool. A chain-reaction occurred throughout the entire body of water, and the enchantment itself spread to the rest of the inundated magegold.
It is unknown what the original purpose of "bathing" could possibly be for. Some have thought that the pools was intended to heal wounds without the need of druids. Others have postulated it was an alchemist's dream—a way to turn base metals into gold. Whatever was originally intended, its postulated function to be was swept aside when its effect upon elves was realised.
It was at this time during the initial studies of the pools that Larihei was ejected from the high council for her radical ideology. In retaliation, she and her supporters departed the main social hub of Malinor, and settled in a small commune outside the entrance to the pools. It was here that bathing in the pools became a popular past-time—encouraged mostly by Larihei herself in the belief that it enhanced their mental and magical capabilities.
At first, the pools did not appear to do anything to a bather. It was, to most, a relaxing and calming experience, and many took to bathing as a means of easing emotional and physical strain. Though scorned by the druids and even the High Council, the scholarly elves continued to bathe regardless of the warnings. After many years of this leisurely activity, noticeable physical changes began to take form. Their hair lightened to softer shades, and their skin grew paler with a slight golden undertone. Though these effects were noticed, they were mostly disregarded by the bathers, if not the rest of the elven public. Elven society as a whole, cared very little. Those elves that bathed were free to do as they desired.
Decades passed, and more changes took form. The pale elves grew distinctly taller and thinner than their brothers and sisters, yet now changes to their personality seemed to arise. Many bathers cared less for dancing and singing, and more for their studies. Even the politics of the realm - something mostly disregarded in the elven Utopia - were discussed and written upon to great lengths. To those who knew them previously, they seemed colder—less patient with their kin. The grand elven society began to worry, but still did nothing. After all, those elves were free to do as they pleased.
Centuries passed.
The bathers were utterly changed physically, and mentally. Their children were now born in the image of their parents; they matured with similar physical traits, and seemed predisposed to scholarly activities. Parents disallowed their children from marrying those of regular elves, for fear the next generation of offspring would need to spend more time in the pools to obtain their "blessing." Those who were not already the "blessed" were disallowed to enter the chamber of the pools, and those that managed to sneak in sometimes disappeared—never to be seen again. Many of the "blessed" scholars regarded the other races with grim disdain for their alleged "ignorance," and sometimes even belittled fellow elves for the same reason. At last, the elven society decided to take action. The Golden Pools were raided, and the caves that housed them were collapsed. This turbulant period of social upheaval lead to many of Malinor's scholarly elves to abandon their works, and embrace nature to a far greater degree.
Distraught and horrified over the loss of their beloved chamber, Larihei demanded that they should leave Malinor to forge their own destiny. Many left with her, but an almost equal number remained behind in Malinor. Little is known why they did so, but their practice of segregation and their ideals of "purity" did not die out quickly, and in fact, many of these "pure" families managed to survive until even the end of Aegis itself. Larihei's followers settled in Asulon millennia before Iblees' destruction of Aegis (little is known as to how this occurred). There, they built the city of what would be referred to as "Haelun'or," though curiously they never expanded from it.
Centuries before the Aegisian branch of high elves arrived, the whole population was wiped out by mysterious circumstances. As the first Aegisian stepped foot upon its hewn stone, the old city was in ruins, and only the Eternal College and fragments of its grand library remained intact. Rebuilding the city, the Aegisian high elves refounded the ancient society that once was, and with it, they uncovered secrets forgotten by time.
Remnants of another pool had lain dormant beneath the ruined city, and were re-discovered by the Maheral Dio Astore, who invited a select few of the pure citizenry to bathe in the ancient waters, and feel the bliss of their ancestor's creation. With the end of Asulon coming shortly after, few others were able to experience it. Its secrets were lost, along with the last of the ancient high elves discoveries.
Or, so the legend goes...
The Effects of the Golden Pools
The act of bathing in the Golden Pools is for high elves to "mend" any and all racial, physical, and mental impurities they may have. Being as bathers will likely be high elves already, a few bathing sessions will have noticeable effect on them—Brown hair will turn blond, for example. Other physical abnormalities, such as scars, will eventually disappear through bathing sessions, though this would likely take far more time. Traditionally, the pools have been known to transform elves into high elves (as you may have gathered from reading the above paragraphs). This is not a matter of a "quick-dip" however. To fully change into a high elf would require methodical bathing over the course of centuries (something unlikely to be possible due to the length of server time).
Shorter-term effects, as detailed in the above lore, are still possible. Elves should naturally retain any changes that occur to them from the pools. The other races, should they somehow come into contact with the enchanted waters, will not be so "lucky." It is likely that any changes will be impermanent (disappearing within an elven week of bathing) but, should they somehow continuously bathe, they may retain changes to themselves.
As the body changes, so does the mind. Those affected will likely gain greater confidence in themselves and their own assertions. This can often lead to subjects appearing arrogant, and perhaps even conceited at times. Often, their inquisitive natures are heightened—sometimes to the point of appearing agitated when information is hidden from them. Another common effect is a calm disposition—pure high elves being relatively difficult to anger. They tend to have great control over their emotions, and only grow flustered in extreme circumstances.
It has been postulated that the pools heighten the intelligence and magical capabilities of a bather, but there is no direct evidence to suggest this to be true or false. A High Elf's inquisitive nature, however, does tend to lean them towards scholarly arts—likely how the idea began in the first place.
