Aloof, unknowable, and deeply uncanny, the HaLafin are beings not meant for the Material Plane, but merely passing through it.

They are often mistaken for a kind of elf by the ignorant, but this comparison fails quickly upon closer inspection. The HaLafin are not a natural people—they are the refined remnants of something far worse, shaped by survival in a realm where cruelty is not a vice, but a baseline condition of existence.

Among the countless horrors of the Astral Sea, the HaLafin are considered reasonable. They are capable of restraint, negotiation, and even long-term planning.

This is not a kindness.

It is what allowed them to rise.

To mortals, they are terrifying.
To their neighbors, they are merely civilized.

The High Born, Their Excellency / Their Excellencies, Smiles in the Dark, Knife Ears, The Bad Neighbors, The Unkind Court, Pale Lords of the Between, The Gentle Monsters (used rarely, and never safely), Court of Long Teeth, Those Who Remain

Too tall. Too thin. Too deliberate.

Their limbs are unnaturally long, their torsos narrow, their proportions just slightly incorrect in ways that the eye cannot always articulate but the mind instinctively rejects.

They move with precision rather than weight, as if gravity is something they cooperate with rather than obey.

Extremely pale—often described as:

bleached
moon-drained
bloodless

Their skin does not tan, weather, or age in ways mortals expect.

Typically between 6'5" and 7', though higher-ranking individuals—particularly those closer to the Grand Duke—can be significantly taller.

Height is often associated with status, power, and proximity to their original form.
6'5"-7'

Variable, but universally deceptive.

All HaLafin appear too thin, regardless of actual mass. Their bodies do not carry weight in ways mortals understand.

They can feel unnaturally light—or impossibly heavy—depending on circumstance.

Long, sharply pointed ears
Glowing green eyes, often lacking visible pupils
Too many teeth, too sharp, arranged too perfectly
Hair exclusively in shades of black
Subtle, constant use of glamour magic to soften their presence
The less “human” a HaLafin appears, the less visible their pupils become—until in some cases the eye is nothing but light.
Their smiles are widely regarded as the most unsettling feature.
Not because they are exaggerated, but because they are controlled.

In truth, the HaLafin possess no fixed form.
They are beings of mutable essence, capable of reshaping their appearance at will. However, fashion, status, and cultural pressure have resulted in a striking uniformity.
Most HaLafin adopt forms modeled after the Oberon and his Queen, mimicking their pale skin, black hair, elongated proportions, and controlled elegance.
Deviation from this form is not forbidden, but it is noted.
And remembered.

Being nebulous creatures without actual substance, the HaLafin can look however they want, but it has been the prevailing fashion for some time to mimic the appearance of the Oberon and his queen as closely as possible. This tends to be extremely pale and tall with long black hair, a close cut beard on the men and the women hair hung low with a long, straight, blunt-cut hairstyle with full bangs and subtle face-framing strands, worn sleek and controlled—very refined, slightly formal, and almost porcelain-doll in presentation.

Regal, elaborate, and always slightly outdated by mortal standards.

Their clothing reflects styles that were fashionable centuries ago—or in some cases, styles that never existed on the Material Plane at all.

Silks, layered fabrics, long coats, and structured garments are common, often worn more for aesthetic ritual than practical need.

Clothing is not used for protection.

It is used for presentation.

Near limitless magical aptitude
Deep understanding of the underlying structures of magic
Ability to manipulate reality through glamour, illusion, and force
Longevity beyond mortal comprehension
Extreme patience

The HaLafin do not simply use magic.

They exist within it as naturally as mortals breathe.

Anti-magic substances disrupt their very being
Magical diseases can be catastrophic due to their reliance on magical structure
Extended absence from magical environments causes degradation

More subtly:

They are creatures of context.
Remove the rules they understand, and they become cautious.

Remove magic, and they become fragile.

Paranoia — not entirely irrational; their native plane rewards suspicion
Arcanium Withdrawal — prolonged exposure to low-magic environments leads to physical and psychological deterioration
Form Drift — in unstable magical conditions, their chosen form may begin to degrade or shift unintentionally

Hedonism and excess define much of HaLafin culture—but not in a crude sense.

They pursue:

sensation
novelty
control
aesthetic perfection

Gatherings among the HaLafin are elaborate affairs of performance, manipulation, and indulgence.

Cruelty is not uncommon—but it is rarely wasteful.

Everything must be interesting.

Absolute superiority over mortal races
Gods are false—either frauds or lesser beings mistaken for divinity
Power is the only reliable truth
Survival justifies refinement

They do not deny the existence of gods.

They deny their legitimacy.

Power is hierarchical and absolute.

The strongest rule.

Above all is the Oberon, the most powerful of the HaLafin, he lead them from the primordial chaos into the Astral Plane and fought against their giant oppressors. All others swear fealty to him and rule the lesser courts in his stead.

On Sol Saris, power flows from the Grand Duke Zukneere, the most powerful, whose authority is maintained not by law, but by the inability of others to successfully challenge him.

Lesser courts form beneath him, constantly shifting in loyalty, favor, and ambition.

Magic and technology are indistinguishable to the HaLafin.
They do not invent tools in the mortal sense. They replicate function through magical means.
Why build a mechanism, when you can command the outcome?
Their understanding of magic allows them to simulate nearly any technological effect.

They do not work as mortals do.

They rule, manipulate, observe, and indulge.

Among themselves, roles are defined more by:

power
influence
favor
proximity to the Grand Duke

On the Material Plane, they often take on roles that allow them access to:

entertainment
influence
chaos

Material scarcity is largely meaningless to them.

Through magic, they can produce nearly anything they require, though this is often limited by effort, interest, or the Grand Duke’s restrictions.

They do not participate in mortal economies out of necessity only out of convenience or amusement.

The one true currency among the HaLafin is: access

If they can get away with it in the Grand Dukes courts, they will trade in slaves and servants like cattle.

Meat of all kinds is favored, particularly when:

rare
exotic
difficult to obtain

The act of consumption is often more important than the sustenance.

Presentation, rarity, and experience matter more than flavor alone.

The HaLafin claw their way out of primordial chaos
Enslavement by the giants of the Astral Plane
The Great Revolt of the Slave Races
Ascension to dominant power within the Astral Sea
Expansion into the Material Plane
Formation of colonies, including Sol Saris
War with the dwarves and eventual uneasy peace
The Sensing of a Great Darkness in the aether
The Grand Duke phases Armon Kal out of reality to preserve the colony
The Theft of Orichalcum and the birth of the Lafin
The Failed Reconquest of Sol Saris in the Fourth Age
The Forced Peace Treaty with mortal powers

In the present age:

The HaLafin linger.

Restless.

Petitioning the Grand Duke for permission to return to the Material Plane—not to conquer,

but to interfere.

To grant boons.
To twist outcomes.
To see what happens.