Despite the fact that elves (or Fair Ones as they are sometimes known) are among the most common of Golarion's humanoid races, they are a people in decline. Their culture peaked thousands of years ago, and they have been unable to repopulate the many places they once called home. The remaining few are largely concentrated in the wholly elven nation of Kyonin, and to a lesser extent on the island of Mordant Spire in the Steaming Sea, in the jungles of the Mwangi Expanse, and in the wilds of the nation of Varisia.
Elves are tall, slender humanoids who are taller but more slender in build than humans. Even though their natural lifespan is measured in centuries, they also tend to be more frail than humans. Elves are often elegant in both appearance and movement, possessing of an almost supernatural grace.
Their colouration varies far less than humans', with most Avistani elves being quite pale and fair skinned, and almost none possess freckles or blemishes. Eye color is generally bright green or dark blue, sometimes ranging to nearly black, but it is their irises that differentiate them from others. These are far larger than those of other humanoids, often making it seem like they have little or no white in their eyes. This trait can make elves seem alien and unreadable to humans and dwarves. Their hair, which is typically naturally straight and healthy, is generally fair, though some possess pure white hair. Neither elven males nor females go bald, and indeed they show little in the way of discernible signs of aging. Elven ears are generally between six to nine inches in length and point backwards, angling upwards slightly to end usually parallel to the crown of the head.