Template:High Elves in Neressa

Currently, 0 High Elves live in the Empire of Neressa, making up % of the empire's population.

High Elves narrowly make up the majority of Neressa's population, as well almost all of its ruling-class, such as the imperial household. The origins of this community are just as mysterious as that of the state they inhabit. The High Elves of Neressa are classified as such, because they are biologically identical to the High Elves of Froturn, despite speaking their own distinct language that clearly did not evolve out of Archaic High Elven (albeit was influenced by it), but out of Proto-Elven. The most likely explanation is the they emerged from the amalgamation of multiple groups, including the language-donors (Late Proto-Elves), successive waves of High Elven migrations from Froturn, and possibly earlier migrations of a small number of Wood Elves that have gotten absorbed but contributed to the evolution of the language.

Regardless of the origins of High Elven population of Neressa, it is clear that by the 12th century BEKE, they were already very much present in today's Neressa and Southern Etrand, fighting against Fathred's Confederation at one point, during Fathred's failed southern campaign. It was during this war that the so-called "Phoenix Emperor" made an appearence in history books for the first time, from whom all emperors of Neressa would claim to have descended. This emperor's identity remains unknown, and it is a possibility that he belonged to the Late Proto-Elven group of language-donors that would subsequently mix with and assimilate successive waves of High Elven migrants, eventually becoming High Elves themselves - alternatively, maybe the Phoenix Emperor was already a High Elf himself, possibly dissident warlord with origins in Froturn. The last time High Elves migrated to Neressa in high numbers was during the consolidation of Froturn between 850 BEKE and 700 BEKE, when many who disagreed with the religious and political reforms self-exiled to Neressa, and assimilated to the pre-existing Neressan culture, converted to the Fire Cult, etc. Afterwards, there would be no historical incidents of migration between Neressa and Froturn.

Since then, there have been a migration of various other races into Neressa - namely Wood Elves, Goblins, Dwarves, Humans and Half-Elves - which pushed the High Elven population of Neressa from being absolute majority to merely being roughly % of the population. Nevertheless, they continue to have a near-absolute monopoly on political power.