Quai

The Quai are a peoples of Sahlen that inhabit the Green Isles and are divided into four tribes. The Green Isles, located off the west coast of Sahl proper, and protected by jutting sharp rocks in nearly any direction. The elves can navigate the waters freely to participate in trade and travel, but attempts from outsiders to visit this land ends always in wrecks or death. No outsiders have ever visited without an elf escort. They refer to themselves as the Quai. The humans and other residents of the Sahl mainland refer to them as Elves, after creatures from their stories growing up.

Every Quai is paired with a heartbeast, an animal companion that is like a piece of their soul

Quai-Gal
The largest and northernmost of the Green Isles. It is watched over by Illaura Neya, Queen of the Branch. The island is forested with plentiful running water, beautiful fruits, nuts, and vegetables---their major export when they choose to trade at their leisure. It is said Illaura is connected in all ways to the plant life on Quai-Gal. It is rumored that she is a direct descendant of the god Hortiel, the Sower. The Quai-Gal's heartbeasts are plant-like in nature.

Quai-Lir
The middle of the Green Isles, and the smallest. It is a steep and tall rocky island with homes and castles carved into its great spire. Ruled by Nellka Irwe, King of the Wing. Birds of the water, land, and sky all roost there, of varying size and danger. The Quai-Lir are swift, silent, and deadly (when it is deemed necessary). They ride on great birds on land, and have learned abilities from their friends in the air. The Quai-Lir's heartbeasts are bird-like in nature.

Quai-Kul
The southernmost of the Green Isles. It is flat, tropical, and covered in green. It is ruled by Aurem Nuura, Queen of the Fang. It is rumored that she (and Illaura of Quai-Gal) is as old as the world and walked Sahl when the gods began to shape it. The Quai-Kul are beast masters and are able to perform animal husbandry with even the most strong-willed creatures. For their partnership is not that of master and pet, but two consenting intelligent and powerful beings. Each could easily end the other, and it is only through that respect that either survive. Quai-Kul is a dangerous island, populated by nightmarish and violent beasts of prey, pack animals, vipers, and the like. Even the prey animals hold deadly defenses. The Quai-Kul's heartbeasts are beast-like in nature.

Quai-Lem
The "Ghost Elves." Banished by the Quai to the Glasslands (at the hand of then royal advisor Ellish Bassir while siphoning the power of Kloht through the connection of the Irwe royal bloodline). The Quai-Lem were banished for severe crimes and compelled to travel north until they arrived in the desolate wasteland of the Glasslands. This was effectively a death sentence due to the intense cold.

Among the first four Quai-Lem were: Ulnas "The Willing", Ratha "The Warrior", Helis "The Farmer", and Pliss "The Vengeful." Their tomb was in a cave just north of Copperforge.

Ulnas discovered a ritual that allowed for the Quai-Lem to reseist the cold, but it required a sacrifice of another, either another being or their heartbeast. Ratha was the first sacrifice so that another could live. Helis was able to create plants that could grow in the desolate Glasslands. Pliss was able to resist the curse, return to the Green Isles, and assassinate King Belk Irwe.

Sunken Isle
There once was a more northern isle, which housed another Quai tribe, but it was destroyed by Kloht when he attempted to embrace it. Its inhabitants drowned. Kloht's daughter, Kleth, raised them from the dead, but they were twisted and became tieflings.