Of all the races, Elves are closest to the natural world. While the Halflings are highly skilled at the raising of animals and the growing of crops, they do not understand the basic properties of life in the manner of the Elves.

A gift to the Elves by their creator, the Elemental Sovereign of the Water, is LifeShaping; the ability to actually guide and manipulate the life and growth processes of lower order living things.

Elven homes are rarely built, they are grown. By using their LifeShaping abilities, an Elf can control the growth of a tree and force it to grow in a configuration that is usable as a domicile. Elven homes are typically made from living plants and trees that have been Lifeshaped into arches, columns, and usable spaces. Such buildings will continue to grow and mature and can be continually Lifeshaped to provide new living areas or structural elements.

In addition to wood and other plant material, Elven homes can be made from Kree'agalariam; a form of coral which grows in any warm, clean water, fresh or salt. The entire colony of Kree'agalariam does not need to be submerged as it naturally develops a rudimentary circulatory system capable of forcing life-sustaining water up to 30 feet above the surface of the water for each 20 feet of submerged 'foundation'. Thus, homes Lifeshaped from Kree'agalariam in 40 feet of lake or ocean water are restricted in height to no more than 60 feet.

Elves rarely Lifeshape very large homes or palaces, and most take the form of modest, single story, single family homes attached to one another by networks of Lifeshaped Kree'agalariam bridges or simple rope and wood bridges. Elven villages tend to be extremely graceful; heavily dominated by smooth arches, domes, and a flowing, distinctly organic architecture.

When the LifeShaping abilities of two or more Elves are combined, they can drastically increase the growth of trees and plants. A mere seedling can be raised to a stout 2" diameter sapling in the course of an hour. Kree'agalariam is particularly sensitive to Elven LifeShaping (another gift of the Elemental Sovereign of the Water) and flows in an Elf's hands like clay.

The nature of LifeShaping is such that it becomes easier in the presence of other things which have been Lifeshaped. Within an Elven village, several Elves working together can turn a handful of seeds and acorns into a growing home in a matter of days while outside of the village, the same feat would be nearly impossible. New Elven communities are not undertaken lightly, and require the combined efforts of many highly experienced Lifeshapers.

Four times each year, on the Solstices and the Equinoxes, the colonies of Kree'agalariam go through a spawning period. During the few days of the spawning, special growths will appear on the surface of the Kree'agalariam colony, just beneath the surface. If left alone, the growth will separate from the colony and float away seeking to take root in a new place. However, in most locations, Elves harvest the pale, soft, and spherical growths for its unique properties. Elves call the substance Laithiriam.

Laithiriam is susceptible to LifeShaping in a way like no other substance in the world. A sphere of Laithiriam can be changed and modified into simple living creatures, like living organic dolls. The undifferentiated living material can be Lifeshaped into rudimentary bones, primitive nerves, and simple muscles; allowing the Elves to create a myriad of simple creatures.

Most Laithiriam creatures are created purely for entertainment; tiny intriguing toys which can respond to stimuli with simple behaviors and move on their own. Many Elven festivals host LifeShaping contests where Elves vie to create the most unique, beautiful, or interesting Laithiriam creatures. Some contests are designed to see who can Lifeshape a creature capable of performing a simple task such as filling a glass with water, navigating a simple maze, or placing randomly placed objects in a straight line. Other contests involve LifeShaping creatures for miniature combat, where the last creature left standing being declared the winner.

Laithiriam can survive for several weeks if kept moist and given sufficient sunlight. And a creature Lifeshaped from Laithiriam generally lasts for a few days unless special care is taken in its creation. If it is created carelessly, as festival creations usually are, the creature will begin to 'malfunction' and will eventually stop moving and begin to decay.

In addition to small, simple creatures, small quantities of Laithiriam can be fused together to create more powerful organisms. When combined with non-living matter, Laithiriam creatures can be used as tools and provide motive force for machines.

'Muscles' of Laithiriam can be used to turn the blades of a ceiling fan, turn the grinding wheels of a mill, or pull the oars of a galley or riverboat; any circumstance where a simple push or pull motive force is needed.

If properly cared for -- given plenty of water, sunlight, and supplementary nutrition - such Laithiriam muscles can live and function reliably for a period of 1-2 years. If the Laithiriam muscles can be rested for at least half as many hours as they are worked, the life expectancy increases to 2-4 years.

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