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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hriston" data-source="post: 6522352" data-attributes="member: 6787503">My take on this is that Elves, Dwarves (Dwerrow), Orcs, Goblins (incl. all Goblinoids), possibly Treants and Trolls, and certainly Hobbits (Halflings) are all members of Homo sapiens. I've long suspected that Dwarves should be identified with Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, due to shorter stature but heavier musculature, larger brains, etc., and Elves certainly are the closest relatives, physiologically, to what we call "modern" humans. The difference between Elves and Men is not so much physical, although there are minor differences due to the long sundering of the two lineages, but is rather one of spiritual growth, as if a particular "race" of humans had discovered the secret of living a perfectly yogic existence, transcending the need for sleep, and even death, because of a closer relationship with the gods and a more perfect way of existing on Earth. That's how I conceive of Elves in my worlds, and I've obviously been influenced by Tolkien in that regard, but since he is the sole inventor of the modern concept of the Elf (whereas previous authors mostly considered them as creatures more akin to Tinkerbell) I think that is probably most people's starting point for how the D&D Elf is thought of. I do find these Elves strange, but inherently relatable, because they represent the higher self of mankind, like a race of bodhisattvas, and therefore are an aspirational model for a higher way for humans to live.</blockquote>

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