Wood elf

Wood elves (also known as copper elves ) are the guardians of the elven forest homes that were mostly abandoned before The Retreat.

Physical characteristics
They have coppery skin tinged with green, brown, or hazel eyes. Hair is usually black or brown, and they tend to dress in simple cloths, similar to moon elves cloths but not quite as flashy. They love to wear leather armor, and even when not under threat they like the feel of a well-crafted set of leather. Naturally, they like to dress in browns, but also greens and other subdued colors. They stand as tall as most other elves but are slightly more heavily built.

Wood elves are often stronger than other Tel-quessir, including other elves, but are also often less cerebral, putting less value on learning than the eladrin.

Psychology
Wood elves are often off-putting compared to other Tel-quessir, with a gruff manner that makes them less charismatic.

History
Wood elves were the last of the elven subraces to appear on Faerûn, though not through the same method as the other subraces. The wood elves are actually native to Faerûn, the descendants of green elves, silver elves, and gold elves who decided to retreat to the deepest woodland areas after the last of the Crown Wars.

While not following the same path as the wild elves, they formed tightly-knit, networked commnities, leaving behind high magic and becoming closer to nature. The interbreeding between the three subraces created the wood elves of today.

In the eastern High Forest the wood elves founded the realm of Earlann in -4700 DR. They befriended the dwarves of Delzoun and were responsible for teaching the Netherese about magic.

The elves of Earlann were worried about the sudden rise in power of their Netherese neighbours and attempted to check the humans' pride and expansionism for centuries to come but when Karsus attempted to gain godhood and failed, their hard work had been for naught. They allowed refugees to settle in the city of Ascalhorn. Over 1200 years later, weakened after a year of fighting orc hordes, Ascalhorn fell after a multitude of Baatezu overthrew the city. Earlann fell soon after. The wood elves have never raised another realm like it, although some dream of trying again.

The wood elves ignored the call of The Retreat, staying on the mainland to look after their small villages and protect their forests but with The Retreat over, they have emerged once more as a people devoted to protecting their native forests.

Homelands


Wood elves can be found in the Elven Court (Semberholem, Tangled Trees, and the old Elven Court itself), the Great Dale, Tethyr , the Western Heartlands , the Forest of Lethyr , the High Forest , and the Wealdath.

They are among the most numerous of elves in Faerun.

Behind the scenes
Under 1st and 2nd Editions, wild elves and wood elves were considered to be one sub-race, the difference merely being one of naming, with wild elf being considered somewhat derogatory, much like calling a moon elf, grey elf. At this time, the entire race was often referred to Sylvan elves, as well as Copper elves and Green elves. The elven name for themselves was Sy'Tel'Quessir and it is not entirely clear whether this continues to apply to both of the new sub-divisions, or only one and if so, which one. Given the earlier materials' physical descriptions, it would seem that the originally described sub-race is what is now under 3rd edition referred to as Wood elves.

In 4th edition, wood elves and wild elves were revised once again to become separate cultures of the single race known as "elves." Other elven subraces were categorized under other labels.