Lore
The elves of the Rotwood were once deeply connected to their environment, drawing strength and sustenance from the natural magic that flowed through the land. For countless ages, the forest thrived alongside them, its magic abundant and life-giving. However, over the passage of eons, that power began to fade, leaving behind the mana-consuming trees of the Rotwood desperate for a new source of energy. Driven by instinct, the trees turned upon the forest’s inhabitants, slowly draining the elves of their vitality.
As the corruption spread, the elves began to wither away, their once-timeless lifespans shortened to mere fragments of what they once were. Yet abandoning the forest was not an option, for their bond with the land had become so deeply intertwined that leaving meant certain death.
Desperate for survival, the elves turned to forbidden studies and began experimenting with death magic. Their research eventually revealed a grim solution: by transforming themselves into undead beings at the height of their physical decline, they could corrupt and alter their mana just enough to prevent the Rotwood from consuming them. The transformation allowed them to sever their dependence on the dying magic of the forest while preserving a twisted form of their ancient connection.
However, the process came at a terrible cost. The ritual was irreversible, forever changing their bodies. Those who underwent the transformation were forced to endure numerous side effects, becoming something caught between life and death—survivors of their own dying homeland, but no longer the elves they once were.
The process of a juvenile Corpse Elf becoming an ascended is called "The Pruning Ritual" - named after the art of clipping petals from a flower to preserve it's beauty. The ritual is attuned to the genetic makeup of Corpse Elves, other being that undergo the process have never survived it.
Those that have undergone the Pruning Ritual are capable of leaving the Rotwood without magical backlash from their environment or go through magic withdrawal.
Physiology
Corpse Elves have a very slow heartbeat which allows them to hold their breath for about 8 times as long as any other race (that needs to breath).
Corpse Elves have a colder than normal body temperature, around 85.4 degrees.
Corpse Elves give birth to living elves that are not undead, those at this state of life still have a connection to the Rotwood. They have normal body temperatures and don't have access to any of the traits of an undead Corpse Elf.
Beliefs
Living are Temporary
Over time they came to believe death is not an ending but the final stage of evolution. They pity living creatures because they are trapped in fragile bodies that expire and end.
Hatred for Necromancy
A necromancer sees corpses as tools. Corpse elves see themselves as people who achieved a higher state of existence. Necromancy cuts them off from the dead who have been exposed to necromantic magics - seeing the practice as the highest taboo.
Slurs
Corpse Elves see the word "zombie" as a slur, as a zombies have no free will. This would be the easiest way to insult a corpse elf.
Funeral Birthdays
Instead of celebrating births, they celebrate the day someone "joins the eternal."
Strengths
Death Sense
They can sense the dying or near-death
Undying Flesh
They heal slowly but physical wounds barely affect them, they bleed incredibly slowly due to their slow heartrate. A corpse elf with a severed limb could attach it re-attach it easily by aligning the limb with the stump and applying pressure over time - though a severed head is rarely re-attached (but not impossible). Scarring occurs briefly but is quickly removed after some time organically.
A Corpse Elf can survive 240 seconds without their head attached. If severed they have about 60 seconds to apply pressure for reattachment before the process of reattachment becomes impossible under the time constraints. A Corpse Elf cannot control their body while their head is severed - unlike some other undead.
Grave Whisperer
They can communicate with the recently dead
Umbramancy
Strong connection to shadow magic
Weaknesses
Emotional Decay
They slowly lose attachment to things because they live among death.
Soul Damage
Their bodies survive, but damage to their soul is permanent making them weak to holy and healing magic. Casting these types of spells themselves could be dangerous and in many cases fatal.
Sunlight Aversion
Sunlight doesn't cause any damage to Corpse Elves but through the process of becoming part undead they have acquired an irrational fear to it.
