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Location, History, Physical Characteristics,
Alignment, Language & Worldview
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Location: "There are, upon the Trembling Plains, a proud group of nomadic herders, known as the Eloy. These half-elven people breed and maintain large herds of dewbacks, which they trade to caravans and at merchant towns such as Azeth’s Rest, Dry Spring, South Guard and Kurn. The Eloy maintain a unique racial trait, in that they are all of mixed human and elven descents; half-elven children of half-elven descendants.
History: "Human Kurnans and Eldaarish, fleeing their cities when those Sorcerer-Kings began to gather annual tributes for the Dragon, ventured out onto the Trembling Plains
seeking sanctuary. Here, they met with elven tribes who had once been part of the Table Land tribes, but who had also ventured onto the Trembling Plains during the Cleansing Wars, seeking escape from the 8th Champion of Rajaat – Albeorn of Brunswich (Andropinis) ‘Slayer of Elves.’ The two races learned the benefits of cooperation, intermarried, had children, and established their own unique culture. Since those long ago times, ages ago, the Eloy have since remained an elusive and secretive group of people, endlessly roaming the Trembling Plains, migrating as the seasons change, forever weary of the sedentary races who sometimes venture into their territory."
Physical Characteristics: "Like other half-elves encountered on Athas, the Eloy are bulkier than elves, and taller than humans. The Eloy tend to share characteristics from both races, however the majority of the Eloy bear more Elvish physical characteristics than human, due to the fact that they live their lives in the wildlands and endure the elements, much like the closely related Elven tribes. Upon meeting the Eloy, however, it is quite apparent that they are not Elven, and are certainly not Human either; they are a distinct and unique combination of the two, altogether very natural in the setting in which they are encountered."
Alignment: "Eloy will most commonly be chaotic neutral in personality due to their worship of Wind, but many are lawful neutral. They value unpredictability, but work together for the benefit of all and follow a fairly regimented lifestyle."
Language: "The Eloy have a very simple, minimalist language. The vocabulary focuses on simple concepts and elements that are relatively universal among all cultures; the entire language consists of approximately only one hundred and twenty words. The language is a combination of Common and Elvish sounds, with many words unique only to the Eloy.
An example of Eloy, when describing the lands they live upon, translates ‘eloy mata,’ literally as ‘Eloy land.’ It could, however, also be interpreted as: ‘the land of the Eloy,’ or ‘the land the Eloy possess,’ or just ‘Eloy territory.’ While Eloy is a very easy language to learn, it is also closely guarded from outsiders and therefore most of the communication the Eloy do with non-Eloy is in the Common or Elven Tongue.
The Eloy have also developed, and commonly use, a complex code of insect and bird calls to signal and warn each other of approaching dangers."
Worldview: “The Eloy see all things in life as they relate to nature and to the natural cycle of life. This cyclical worldview seems to be integrated into all aspects of the Eloy’s daily life.
An example of this worldview is the Eloy encampment. The camp will always be set in a circular pattern, with the shelters of individual families arranged facing inwards, towards the open communal space traditionally left in the center. This space is used for ritual, ceremonial and public functions, as well as a protective refuge for the tribe’s most valuable animals should danger threaten.
The camp circle is also symbolic of the group’s interest in providing both social and spiritual space. The ring of shelters, sometimes surrounded by a ditch, or a tangle of bramblevines, is pierced by two entrances. These opposite openings are oriented to the prevailing wind – as the seasons change, and wind direction changes, the entrances are adjusted to match, guaranteeing that the wind can always flow easily through the center of camp. Part of this function is for practicality, allowing the winds to blow unrestricted, and partially because the Eloy believe the winds will blow and cleanse any ‘bad spirits’ out of their encampment. The chieftain of each tribe will always pitch his shelter so that the entrance faces the direction of wind, thereby being able to bless the winds as they enter the camp.
Eloy camp under the light of Ral
Another example of the Eloy’s reverence for the natural cycle of life is how they refer to being born, or ‘coming from the earth.’ While alive, the Eloy refer to living as ‘being kept alive by the earth,’ and when death comes, it is referred to it as ‘returning to the earth.’ The Eloy believe in the balance of the natural world and will often base any decision they make on what they feel would create, restore or maintain that balance."
~ Agi
