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Elves, like humans, are ruled by hereditary leaders. They are often called kings or queens by humans, but within their own lands, they are simply referred to as lords or ladies. The only exception is when they owe fealty to a human ruler, such as in the case of Lord Parvan Luminor, who was made Baron of Tivilton in Weldwyn.
As immortal beings, the rule of Elven lands changes very little, resulting in what many outsiders consider to be a stagnant culture. In truth, they are as vibrant as any of the other races, but they keep to themselves, sharing little with outsiders. Many Elven lands ban outsiders altogether, and if one should happen to enter their borders, it often results in a death sentence.
They generally view Humans as a blight on the land, but Dwarves are often trading partners, bringing much-needed ore into their lands in exchange for food and wood. For the most part, Elves shun Orcs, who are seen as their traditional enemies. In Merceria, the Elven Ruler, Lord Arandil Greycloak, decided that it was in the best interest of his people to ally themselves with the Humans, despite the presence of what they see as Orc mercenaries.
On the Continent, little is known of Elven armies, as they have not been seen on the battlefield for generations. In Merceria, however, they have assisted in a number of battles, deploying their legendary Elven bows. The construction of these composite recurve bows is a closely guarded secret that allows for increased draw weight, even superior to that of a longbow. This results in a higher velocity arrow that can deal devastating wounds and can puncture the best armour that smiths can forge. Only Orc warbow’s come close to the penetrating effects of these long-range weapons.
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