The term Elf is commonly used to describe several sub-races of Tel'Quessir and Eladrin, rarely ever deviating due to the populaces inability to distinguish most variants. Tel-quessir (also Tel'Quessir or Tel'Quess) are a number of closely related, long-lived fey races commonly known as Elves, though this term is technically inaccurate. Nonetheless, the name is common and many of the Tel-quessir consider themselves as one larger culture, an attitude not unjustified given that nearly all Tel-quessir speak Elven and share a common history together. Perhaps more importantly, the Tel-quessir were once one race, generally assumed to have been the Eladrin or "high elves."
The term Eladrin is even more complex due to it also encompassing several different sub-races, some dating back several millennia before the calamity. I will break down each of the Eladrin races into their primary families.
High elves, also sometimes known as common Eladrin, were graceful warriors and wizards who originated from the realm of Faerie, now known as the Feywild. They lived in the forests of the world. They were magical in nature and shared an interest in the arcane arts. From an early age they also learned to defend themselves, particularly with swords.
Occasionally the term "Noble Eladrin" was used to denote more powerful variants, who had become so infused with the magic of the Feywild that they took on the characteristics of natural phenomena such as seasons. Prior to the Spellplague, the term "Eladrin" referred exclusively to celestial Eladrin, the chaotic good celestials residing in Arvandor the last city of Arborea. After the Spellplague and the reemergence of the Feywild, certain races of the Tel-quessir, previously referred to as "elves," began to self-identify as Eladrin leading to much of the widespread confusion between the two.
Celestial Eladrin (plural either "Eladrin" or "Eladrins") were fey celestials native to Arborea, primarily in Arvandor, although their faerie court was located in the Gates of the Moon. Unlike the celestials of other planes, the Eladrin did not serve the gods in dominion of the planes; rather, they were allies. One exception to this was the old god Shevarash, who had Ghaele Eladrin in his service, Ghaele Eladrin being a more athletic variant of Celestial Eladrin. What few Celestial Eladrin remain have taken the name Arborean Elves and continue their work by catering to the World Tree in the abscence of Mystra.
The Fey Eladrin were the most powerful of the Eladrin, a sub-race who adopted the Feywild as their home. After centuries of exposure to that plane's magic, they acquired supernatural abilities not seen on most of their kin from the Prime Material plane and were effectively transformed into fey. Sometimes called noble Eladrin, they were capable of changing their physical appearance and powers according to their mood, assuming characteristics of the seasons.
Fey Eladrin were similar to High Elves but were considerably more slender. It was common for their eyes to shine, giving away their connection to the magic of the Feywild. Their hair and skin colors changed to reflect their moods, which could each be identified to a particular season of the year. How frequently Eladrin changed their appearance was an individual choice. Some Eladrin spent their entire lives in the same season or followed the seasons of the place where they lived, while others could change as frequently as once per day.
