Live in ancient carved out trees (think sequoia). The forest is about 200 miles wide, the Grove elf population, consisting of about 3,000 elves, spread out across about 40 square miles in the middle of the forest, where the trees are largest. As you get to the edges of the forest the trees get smaller. When an elf of the Grove dies they are taken to the edge of the forest and buried, with in acorn in their mouth. The acorn grows into a tree, and the elvish people believe that the tree keeps the soul of their ancestor alive for eons. The grove considers all members to be siblings, whom they call Sang, no parents consider their own birthed children to be any more or less their children than those of others. They also refer to the trees as Sang, as they are long dead relatives. However, only trees in the Grove are called such. The Grove elves do not believe in assigned gender roles in the sense that humans do, and believe that all members were sent special gifts from GOD (some universal spirit, possibly nameless) that they should do what they’re good at no matter what is between their legs. To reach adulthood in the grove 15-year-olds are sent off into the-land-beyond-the-grove with nothing but the clothes on their back, they may only return when they have found something of value to bring to their people. Oft these members are gone for 20 years or more, most never return and are either dead, or have joined other elven tribes or non-elven societies, (which is actually the intention, but you don’t get to learn that until you’re old and wisened). One of the more recent returned pilgrimages brought them the Common tongue and news of a great new land across the sea.
Meril was set to leave on his 15th year of growing, just a year and some odd days after the news of the new land. He had learned a basic understanding of the common tongue and, following the instructions of the Sang (kin) that had brought news of the new land, set off for the non-elven settlement.