Journey of the Half-Elf - Book 1

Compendium Of Species (5th Edition)

This compendium was last updated:

18th Gwylai, 1176, by Dr Aethaina of Aesdenthir: Professor of Zoology and Anthropology at Aesdenthir City University; Head Nurse at Aesdenthir City Hospital

"As I currently write, there are five humanoid species present in the Great Isle. In addition, there exists a number of unique creatures that each contribute to their various ecosystems.

I have painstakingly read through the entirety of this compendium and corrected any scientific information that is no longer valid in the present day, reproducing a new edition of the compendium: The 5th Edition.

One example of my corrections is the now disproved assertion by Belrandir of Rivenden in 1074 that Homo Aebonis, commonly referred to as Orcs, are 'all genetically predisposed to sexual violence.' I proved that this was incorrect by discovering that Belrandir had falsified data to confirm his beliefs. In actual fact, in the current year, hundreds of Orcs continue to be captured - mainly by Royal Elf Families - from a young age and subjected to horrific sexual abuse. In spite of the trauma however, only 1 in 30 abused Orcs will go on to develop violent sexual aggression, typically as a paranoia-driven method of defending themselves from additional assault.

Of course, should my corrections become invalid in the future, they must be amended by the next reader of this compendium.

Signed,
Dr Aethaina

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Humanoids

Homo Aelvus - Elves

Of the five humanoid species, Elves have the slowest ageing. According to history, the First Elves imbibed the breastmilk of the wolven deity known as Gwynblaidd. The milk slowed down their ageing, enabling them to live for many centuries and maintain youthful appearances.

Male Elves, once puberty begins at 13-15, will keep growing and changing steadily in appearance until around 25-years old.

For female Elves, once puberty begins at roughly 12-14 years old, they will continue to grow and develop until around 20-years old.

After this point in their lives however, their ageing will begin to vastly slow down; the rate of ageing varies between Elves and depends on the amount of Elf-blood in a person.

The Bordan Equation is a tool/ratio that was created by Dr Bordan of Loweth in 823 in order to study the slowed ageing of Elf-blooded individuals. It can however, be applied to any of the five humanoid species. It goes as follows:

The perceived age of the Elf-blooded individual (p)

÷

Their true age (t)

= Their Ageing Ratio (R)

If the R<1 = they age slowly (they look younger than they actually are)
If the R>1 = they age quickly (they look older than they actually are)

The equation can be rearranged to find a single missing value.

Using the Equation and the current data available, the average modern male Elf will have an ageing ratio of 0.33, meaning they will appear to be 1/3rd younger than they actually are.
A male Elf that appears to be 40-years old, would actually be around 120-years old. He can expect to live until 270-years old.

The average modern female Elf will have a smaller ageing ratio (female Elves on average, age slower
and live longer than males)
of 0.25.

In other words, their apparent age would be a quarter of their true age.
A female Elf that is actually 64-years old, will still resemble her 25-year old self for many decades, and will only begin to appear to be in her mid 30s (or at least, the mid 30s for a human female) once she turns 135-years old.
In terms of life expectancy, she will usually live until 340-years old.