Wood Elf RP for Dummies

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Hello Reader, and welcome to…

 

This is a post meant solely for new players, which will help you understand the culture of the Principality of Laureh’lin (i.e the wood elven homeland) in a nutshell. For a more detail, check out the compilation of threads on the Wood Elf Player’s Guide. But, if you’re just looking to skim for the most basic, essential information, this is the thread for you!

 

Bare in mind that no one will OOCly force you to follow this, and these are guidelines, not rules. However, how your character acts will affect how people treat them, this will happen wherever you go (For example, practicing wood elven religion in Oren won't be taken kindly!) What this guide will do help you fit in with mainstream wood elf culture!

 

In short, if you hate reading and big words- here's how you more or less understand how wood elf RP works in less than 5 minutes.

 

---

 

APPEARANCE

 

Spoiler

 

GOOD

Wood elves are primarily distinguishable from their high and dark elven cousins due to the darker tones of their skin and darker hair colours. For more information, read the Wood Elf Appearance Guide!

 

BAD

Self explanatory. Don't be pale. Don't be a High Elf. Save looking like a high elf for the high elves!

 

UNSHAKABLE SOCIAL STIGMA

Flamboyant anime-inspired overly colourful elves are generally looked down upon, at least in-character. The fact of the matter is that the far-out Japanese Anime theme sticks out like a sore thumb in LOTC, thus why it is associated with the term "edgy". While there are in-character "Easterner" cultures for you to follow, it is generally recommended you stick to natural hair colours, eye colours and aesthetics!

 

 

BREEDING:

 

Spoiler

 

GOOD

Elf + Elf = More Elf. Which for a race which is cursed with infertility, is very important!
 

BAD

Elves who have children with non-elf races produce half-breeds with two curses. For example, breeding a half-human baby produces a baby which is both infertile AND lives the short life of a human. It’s not racism if there’s an actual crushing biological downside!

 

 

 

 

MAGIC:

 

Spoiler

 

GOOD

The Druids are considered to be the spiritual guardians of the wood elven people. They’ve been guiding them since ancient times. Their power comes from their personal connection to the Aspects, and works to serve and benefit nature! (The wood elven druids are called the Naelurir. Read more about them here.)

 

ALSO GOOD (But not great)

The holy magicks (Clerics, Paladins and Ascended) have a relatively favourable status with wood elves. On one hand, they’re excellent at fighting off the undead. On the other, it strays wood elves away from worship of the Aspects (seen as the race’s chosen gods). Usually, wood elves who take up a holy patron are simply expected to worship the Aspects alongside their new God.

 

BAD

Voidal (or Arcane) magic is illegal and widely hated in wood elf society because it is seen as something that corrupts and pollutes nature. It comes directly from the void, and isn’t given to them by aenguls like Druidism is. Thus, it tears the barriers between our worlds!

 

REALLY BAD

The Dark Arts are the worst to Wood Elves. Naturally, since it raises the dead and drains lifeforce from the wood elf's beloved nature. Necromancers, Liches, Wraiths, Darkstalkers, Shades, and every other kind of spooky evil dark magic user are hunted and actively exterminated on sight by the warrior hippies. Avoid!

 

 

RELIGION

 

Spoiler

 

GOOD

The Wood Elves adhere to Aspectism. This religion worships the titular gods known as the Aspects- Cernunnos, the horned man, and Cerridwen, the springmother. These two deities are believed to keep all of nature in balance and are an important part of wood elf life!

 

BAD

Wood elves are actually quite tolerant of other religions! The only no-gos are anything the undead, necromancers or other such evil spooks worship. This includes (but is not limited to) Mordring, Azdromoth (pictured above), Iblees, Billy Bob, and Greg from Accounting.

 

 

CAREER CHOICES

 

Spoiler

 

GOOD

Wood elves greatly value professions which contribute to society. Such as the Virarim (pictured above), the wood elven guardian military. Another popular option is to become a Druid, or to simply become a skilled craftsman, smith, librarian, hunter, or farmer!

 

BAD

Lone wolves. People who want to “stick it to the man”. Rogues, assassins, thieves, mercenaries (dare I use the word “Edgy”?) Any job which involves rebellious individualism is a no-no and shouldn’t be pursued, especially if it involves breaking the law!

 

 

 

 

 

[Sky 0]

Linandria Wood Elf RP for Dummies* 

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Just now, Sky said:

Linandria Wood Elf RP for Dummies* 

That's like asking a guide on Chinese culture to specify that it's only about the Chinese people from China.  As if any other group of Chinese people has the population or distinct culture to be relevant enough to warrant the distinction!

 

Also,

Quote

This is a post meant solely for new players, which will help you understand the culture of the Principality of Laureh’lin (i.e the wood elven homeland) in a nutshell.

Quote

understand the culture of the Principality of Laureh’lin (i.e the wood elven homeland) in a nutshell.

Quote

 

Principality of Laureh’lin (i.e the wood elven homeland)

 

 

[Seliyne 196]

I like this a lot, but one thing bothers me; the fact that belonging/contributing to wood elven society is labeled as 'good'. I can see how advocating this behavior is beneficial for roleplay, but wood elves always stuck out to me as perhaps the race most inclined to wanderlust and solitariness, especially when it involves being around nature. Then again, a lonely elf creates no RP, so I guess it makes sense. Cool read.

[Gladuos 869]

Billy Bob doesn't deserve this. Let him throw potatoes at people in peace! ;~;

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Just now, Tarian said:

I like this a lot, but one thing bothers me; the fact that belonging/contributing to wood elven society is labeled as 'good'. I can see how advocating this behavior is beneficial for roleplay, but wood elves always stuck out to me as perhaps the race most inclined to wanderlust and solitariness, especially when it involves being around nature. Then again, a lonely elf creates no RP, so I guess it makes sense. Cool read.

That individualism was more a thing in Anthos. It changed in Athera when the wood elves under Tristin and myself slowly became more community based and tight knit, focusing on centralizing their culture and forming a community which would make them stronger. (Unlike Anthos Malinor which was a nightmare. Spooks freely roaming the city. Raids everyday. Vithquar. No one caring about improving things, only themselves. Shudder.).

[Seliyne 196]

Just now, 吳憾戰士14 said:

That individualism was more a thing in Anthos. It changed in Athera when the wood elves under Tristin and myself slowly became more community based and tight knit, focusing on centralizing their culture and forming a community which would make them stronger. (Unlike Anthos Malinor which was a nightmare. Spooks freely roaming the city. Raids everyday. Vithquar. No one caring about improving things, only themselves. Shudder.).

 

Yeah I thought about how wood elves had evolved as a culture.  It's cool to see how such a fundamental shift can occur in a race over time, especially when it's for the better (welves) not the worse (snelves). Of course, to any snelves reading, I mean this in a good way; the snelven fall was just as fascinating a thing to watch as the wood elven rebirth.

 

Still, a wood elf is a wood elf, so I think they should be given some reprieve if they wish to run off and get frisky with a tree (lel dryads) or what have you. 

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Just now, Tarian said:

 

Yeah I thought about how wood elves had evolved as a culture.  It's cool to see how such a fundamental shift can occur in a race over time, especially when it's for the better (welves) not the worse (snelves). Of course, to any snelves reading, I mean this in a good way; the snelven fall was just as fascinating a thing to watch as the wood elven rebirth.

 

Still, a wood elf is a wood elf, so I think they should be given some reprieve if they wish to run off and get frisky with a tree (lel dryads) or what have you. 

We still hug trees and do nature **** we just do it in a more nationalistic state-sponsored manner :^)

 

In all seriousness, Ultimately you can still be your own person, just give something back to the community. Teach, fight, craft, whatever floats your boat

[Abyssus 487]

does every single person in the principality of laureh’lin rp like this

 

i ask that literally not in a mean way

 

and, if so

 

doesn't that get boring?

[Seliyne 196]

30 minutes ago, 吳憾戰士14 said:

We still hug trees and do nature **** we just do it in a more nationalistic state-sponsored manner :^)

 

In all seriousness, Ultimately you can still be your own person, just give something back to the community. Teach, fight, craft, whatever floats your boat

 

The wood elven state would prefer if independent wood elves were part of the whole, I see. Perhaps you could name this the 'One Linandria' policy?

 

 

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Just now, Abyssus said:

does every single person in the principality of laureh’lin rp like this

 

i ask that literally not in a mean way

 

and, if so

 

doesn't that get boring?

More or less, with factors and variables adjusting to the individual quirks of each character.

 

And no, it doesnt get boring. A coherent culture shared across many people is very interesting to RP out, and breathes life into a fantasy world. I was inspired by the richness of oren lore, the dark elf culture revival, and (though i hate to admit it) the high elf model of preserving a unique society

 

Just now, Tarian said:

The wood elven state would prefer if independent wood elves were part of the whole, I see. Perhaps you could name this the 'One Linandria' policy?

Yes, which is very ironic considering I am Taiwanese.

[Angmarzku 1251]

Just now, 吳憾戰士14 said:

More or less, with factors and variables adjusting to the individual quirks of each character.

 

And no, it doesnt get boring. A coherent culture shared across many people is very interesting to RP out, and breathes life into a fantasy world. I was inspired by the richness of oren lore, the dark elf culture revival, and (though i hate to admit it) the high elf model of preserving a unique society

So you're Thranduil and the Woodland realm?

[Vaynth 3005]

Okay, this isn't a bad guide for basic Linandria role-play. Perhaps you should put the name of the city somewhere in the title. I would also like to add, I wouldn't try to discourage characters from being unique individuals that will sometimes question authority and not always follow the rest of the crowd. Variety can be a good thing, and keep role-play interesting. People in the same culture often have different personalities. If you didn't mean for it to seem that way, wording it differently would be better than basically just saying "don't be an edgy".

Edit: I would also like to clarify, this was aimed towards the career choices portion of the guide. The addition to the introduction did make it much better.

[Gone 869]

Just now, Abyssus said:

does every single person in the principality of laureh’lin rp like this

 

i ask that literally not in a mean way

 

and, if so

 

doesn't that get boring?

 

Cheza hangs around the wood elves when she's bored which is a lot. You know how I am, Cheza violates just about all of these things c: 

Somehow not dead/exiled yet.

[Seliyne 196]

Just now, Vaynth said:

Okay, this isn't a bad guide for basic Linandria role-play. Perhaps you should put the name of the city somewhere in the title. I would also like to add, I wouldn't try to discourage characters from being unique individuals that will sometimes question authority and not always follow the rest of the crowd. Variety can be a good thing, and keep role-play interesting. People in the same culture often have different personalities. If you didn't mean for it to seem that way, wording it differently would be better than basically just saying "don't be an edgy".

 

Generally if your entire character is defined by something that makes them incompatible with their own race's culture, you're probably doing something wrong, extenuating circumstances besides; but not everything is that binary. It's okay to question authority in character if you accept the double-edged nature of such behaviour. Anyways, what I believe leowarrior is stating is "don't be a contrarian for the sake of it", so it's less a critique of such characters and more so of the intentions behind them.

 

Also, unique individualism can occur at any level, not only the highest, and personally if you can implement it at a micro (say, a character's hobbies, mannerism) rather than macro level (political ideologies, allegiances in the global scheme of things), I believe you'll likely find much more success with your characters.