Elves lives in trees...OK, where do they go during Winter?

[taliesin15]

Thanks for all the funny replies...anyone ever think that those Elven cakes (Tolkien again) sound a lot like Power Bars, btw?

but there is a serious element as the elven communities I'm developing/designing IMC I want to have a tangible sense or versimmilitude...or "realism" in a fantasy milieu

part of the reason for this is to establish a more visceral sense of connection to the land--its not just the annoyance of the occasional Ankheg traipsing through some farmer's dell, but that monster disruptions can affect the larger community, and so on--or that there might be rational reason for humanoid incursion, i.e. they want to graze their goats on the same hills that the gnomes or humans use--like most wars, there being a definite economic point of conflict

which brings to mind something I've wondered about regarding dwarves(this also applies to most of the humanoid races too)--they live underground, right, so what do they eat? Sure they can eat fungus--but it seems they eat a lot of meat, y'know...so here's a question...how would they feed their livestock if they live underground...sounds like they aren't farming, or have too many herders, either...in 1.0 AD&D, most of the humanoids shunned the light...of course in a magical universe, perhaps the answer is they farm or herd a night, maybe they raise fell livestock beasts who only eat grains, etc. that grow by star and moonlight...?

 

[dvvega]

Dwarves farm/herd underground meat animals. Think of them as underground cows. It wouldn't be too hard to imagine a strain or two of top-side equivalent meat animals.

D

 

[frankthedm]

..how would they feed their livestock if they live underground...sounds like they aren't farming, or have too many herders, either...in 1.0 AD&D, most of the humanoids shunned the light...of course in a magical universe, perhaps the answer is they farm or herd a night, maybe they raise fell livestock beasts who only eat grains, etc. that grow by star and moonlight...?

Bodies of foes and various wastes feed Fungus farms, these feed under cattle and swine.

The humaniods that shun the light tend to eat what ever meat they can hunt or defeat in combat. Long pork is a popular one.

 

[Tyrol]

which brings to mind something I've wondered about regarding dwarves(this also applies to most of the humanoid races too)--they live underground, right, so what do they eat? Sure they can eat fungus--but it seems they eat a lot of meat, y'know...so here's a question...how would they feed their livestock if they live underground...sounds like they aren't farming, or have too many herders, either...in 1.0 AD&D, most of the humanoids shunned the light...of course in a magical universe, perhaps the answer is they farm or herd a night, maybe they raise fell livestock beasts who only eat grains, etc. that grow by star and moonlight...?

If I remember correctly, the dwarves in the Dragonlance campaign setting have masterfully planned and crafted 'skylights,' so-to-speak, that allow for sunlight to penetrate into the mountain and provide their crops. Well placed mirrors may be involved.

 

[robberbaron]

All their clothes drop off and they get covered in snow.

 

[Gez]

There's the Rothé from Forgotten Realms, large bison-like critters; available in polar and underground breeds.

IMC, one of the four main dwarven culture lives underground hills. The reason they live underground is that it makes more place for their livestock to graze. No aboveground roads or village, only small fortified towers that guard passageway to their underground network.

 

[Stone Face]

It's obvious. Elves really live inside the trees. I'm led to believe that it's quite roomy inside the larger trees and some of them even have central heating and running water. It is a common misconception that the elves live on the outside of the trees. The elves know about this idea by the other races, but don't contradict it because it makes them seem a bit more macho living in the freezing cold.

 

[Shadowdweller]

And what exactly is wrong with elves living in trees in the winter? Most WotC supplements that I've seen show them building actual walled houses up in the trees after all, so it's not as if you can claim some lack of shelter.

 

[Lamoni]

Well, humans live on the ground... OK, where do they go in the winter?

(Oh! they make snow caves... I forgot. It must stink to have to rebuild your house if it snows too much more. And we won't discuss freezing rain without snow.)

 

[qstor]

Well, humans live on the ground... OK, where do they go in the winter?

Florida



Mike