Tell me about different elves

[Afrodyte]

interesting thoughts

Turanil:

Looking at the responses you seem to have liked the most, I believe that what you're really doing is taking elves beyond European folklore and mythology. This may not be your intent, but it is one of the main effects of what you're doing. I strongly believe this is a good thing, and I don't mean simply for its novelty value. What I have noticed about fantasy in general and fantasy roleplaying in particular is that the settings overwhelmingly default to Western European models of history and culture. As a result, entire worlds are constructed with only that as a reference point. The most obvious consequence of this is that such worlds generally become bland and derivative. There are other, more insiduous aspects of this trend, but I won't get into that now. Needless to say, as a piece of generic advice, looking beyond Western European history, folklore, and mythology is a great way to expand and invigorate a setting, especially with regards to presenting different races and cultures.

With that in mind, I've been thinking about this thread alot and also thinking of ways to add interesting ideas while staying relatively on-topic. I'm going to start by laying some of my interpretations on the table, at least so you can know where I'm coming from without having to do guesswork.

First of all, what are the traits which make elves recognizable as elves? From Tolkien to D&D to Shadowrun to every bit of fantasy literature featuring them, there are common elements that make elves, well, elves. IMO, elves are essentially human with three main differences: magic, magic, and magic.

I say that elves are basically human because their bodies and minds function in more or less human ways. Aesthetic differences aside, they look and move the same way we do. Psychologically, they have the same equipment we do. They have the same cognitive abilities. They have the same range of emotions (though guilt, shame, and empathy may be lacking). The triggers and expressions for these emotions may vary, but no more so than those for humans of different cultures.

Yet, with all these similarities, they generally live several times longer than the longest-lived human and are sometimes even immortal. Their senses are often keener, especially vision and hearing. This may influence their praeternatural agility and grace. In many cases they are in tune with forces beyond ordinary human perception, frequently displayed by enhanced intuition. Evolution could explain some of the advanced cognitive abilities and part of the extended lifespan (like about 200 or 300 years instead of 100, if elves are to humans as humans are to other apes). Genetic manipulation could explain much as well, but technology so advanced that one can have "designer genes" would transcend what most would consider natural law and might as well be considered magic.

Now for the really interesting part: how do we create a portrayable race from these characteristics? There are a lot of ways, actually. The method I favor least is the method most often used. That is: give the player a hodge-podge of traits without context that basically amount to "how to play your character." In other words, tell the player everything but what makes an elf an elf in the context of the setting. I'm leaning toward thinking that such a method more often than not facilitates functional but hollow roleplaying. Basically, if you want to do things "right," you have to follow the cliche. The method I favor most is more akin to a toolkit than a prescription. That is, the text (or rather, creator) provides the essential elements of the race while players and GMs apply their own creativity to flesh it out. It takes a little more work but I think it would result in more interesting characters and cultures and more rewarding roleplaying since you're more likely to be using what you create yourself than what someone else creates for you.

 

[tarchon]

My elves are nasty and brutish thugs that threaten the very existence of the ancient High Orc kingdoms.

 

[Afrodyte]

the in-between people

From the journals of a reputable scholar*

While collecting myths and stories of the frontier peoples, I have discovered a strange phenomenon. Every village on the outskirts of the wilderness has at least one story about the In-Between People: a child of the union of a mortal and a spirit. Dozens of storytellers across hundreds of miles and in many different languages all share a story with remarkably similar elements.

"The story always takes place at the dawn of civilization. It always involves a village of folk living on the edge of the wilderness. One day, a young man or a young woman wanders deep into the forest and disappears for three days (One story I had heard has a young woman disappear for three days and comes back nine months pregnant!). A search party is put together during his or her absence, but no one finds the missing son or daughter. When the missing person inevitably comes back, he or she speaks about having a strange dream in which they meet a strange and wondrous animal that turns into a human. The spirit and the mortal live in timeless bliss in the spirit's home, but then circumstances force the mortal to return. In the case of a woman, it is because she is pregnant, and the baby would not be able to survive in the spirit world. Some time later, the woman gives birth or a baby is found abandoned near the village.

"The babies always have unusual traits and powers inherited from their spirit parents. Most are very beautiful, and they share the timelessness of their spirit half. They live several times longer than the oldest mortal can be, and often do not die of old age at all. They have greater powers of perception than most mortals, and they have a remarkable affinity for the creatures or elements reminiscent of their spiritual parents. Whatever other abilities these offspring of man and spirit have depends upon the story being told. In almost every other sense they are quite human, though the seem more prone to extremes of emotion and behavior. Many of these tales portray them as ideal humans: courageous, skillful, wise, good-looking, etc. A good number of them also have them ostracized as soon as they show differences from their peers. I recall one story where an In-Between boy is tormented by the other boys of the village because he does not speak.

"One would think that these creatures get the best of both worlds: eternal youth, magical powers, social status. Yet the stories always end with a sad parting of the In-Between People and the place they once called home. This is the part of the tale where there is the most variation. The basic trend is that the In-Between People do something to frighten and anger the village. In one story, the child of a wolf spirit and a mortal woman summons a pack of wolves to tear her enemies to pieces. Fearful of invoking the wrath of the spirit parent, the villagers do not kill the In-Between People, but banish them.

"What happens to the In-Between People after the banishment is something usually not answered in the tales. What is particularly interesting is that there are more recent tales which feature a village's interactions with a people from deep in the wilderness. They are often very well-versed in the old stories of the village and speak in an archaic manner. Though the stories never explicitly state such, it is made clear that they are many times older than they are described to be in the stories. They are generally described as good-looking, and they have uncanny abilities regarding seeing and interacting with the spirit world. Could these be the In-Between People of earlier tales, or possibly their descendants?

*The name has been omitted to protect this person's status amongst his peers. [Note: Just to make it clear, I made all this stuff up.]

 

[Turanil]

Afrodyte, thanks for the additional material. I will probably use it as well (especially the last description for my players to read).

As for my setting, I fear it's going to be another derivative, bland European-like fantasy setting. Basically: Christian Merovingian kingdom (to the south) + Celtic Highlands to the north. However, the dwarves will be swiss mercenaries instead of Norsemen. Then, elves won't be European like at all. The world itself is getting rid of fey creatures, getting more in the way of spirits instead. Plus horrors and demons from the Shadow world infringing in the normal world regularly to give it a somewhat Lovecraftian feel.

 

[Gez]

My elves are nasty and brutish thugs that threaten the very existence of the ancient High Orc kingdoms.

Do you also have tales about the bravery and valor of the diminutive Giants slaying terrible Dwarves a dozen time their size?

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

Nordic Elves comprise the Ljosalfar and the Dokkalfar (also sometimes called the Svartalfar). Ljosalfar (light elves) are sometimes portrayed as insubstantial, airy beings, and sometimes portrayed as variant dwarfs. Read Elizabeth Boyer's work for of ancillary fluff.

Celtic Elves or Sidhe are the guys who put the "Fey" into Faerie. Capricious and inscrutable, and rarely seen by mortals, they are noted for stealing human babies and replacing them with Sidhe changelings. Tad Williams' "Sithi" appear to be partially based on these.

Tanu and Firvulag come from Julian May's work and, if stripped of the SF background present a credible dimorphic alternative view of elves. Read "The Saga of the Exiles" for ancillary fluff.