Elven Lore Questions

[Lawrence Berell 226]

Hey! I ain't no insane guy!

[Queen of Aegis 174]

Hey! I ain't no insane guy!

lets stay reasonable ninja.......ur totally insane without any piece of mind thats not insane

[Lawrence Berell 226]

Oi! I can have you skinned for that!

On a less off topic note, I could probably help you with the lore I grew up with. Gimme a shout if you're interested.

[Queen of Aegis 174]

Oi! I can have you skinned for that!

coma at me bro!

[Dio Astóre 69]

Would love to flesh out the Lore for High Elves, although I'm of a similar disposition to Sythra; writing something up alone makes the evaluation process rather isolated in my opinion. I left my application in a state of ambiguity which to this day is bothering me, having based it off the 2 lines of text which was available as a reference.

And with all these council meetings I am feeling left out; considering the mentioned political interest of High Elves was a factor in me choosing to be one. Lo and behold; they're all private.

Even something simple such as all High Elves being from a region that has dense canopies that house alot of the Elven academies and learning centers would be great. We're pale and our platinum hair is in dire need of a tan. -shrugs-

Hard to tell what is currently being worked on by the Lore team and what we are still in a position to contribute to. I was inclined to wait for Aegis 2.0; getting the impression it was only a few days away, however many days ago that was.

In any case: I am here, and would like to help.

[Yuln 265]

7: this depends on the warmth of the area, the greeks and romans didn't care if they where naked because it was warm most time of the year. So for elves, we live in the second warmest klimate of Aegis, so it seems logical that we don't need too mutch cloths.

[Aerinyes 402]

7: this depends on the warmth of the area, the greeks and romans didn't care if they where naked because it was warm most time of the year. So for elves, we live in the second warmest klimate of Aegis, so it seems logical that we don't need too mutch cloths.

There's a cultural thing there as well. I live in one of the warmest climates in the US but hardly see anyone running around like that. :mrgreen:

Though I do agree, typically elves are the least modest. Not because they want to show off the body, but because they just don't see the logic behind hiding it. An elven male isn't going to go "ooh boobies" he's going to see them for what they are, caring for children, shrug and go on his merry way.

Of course with all the teenagers on the server, that would probably not happen ICly. I still get elves that blush or gawk at my character's dress and its not that bad even by human/modern standards.

I wish players would RP elves. Not RP 'humans' with pointed ears.

[Lawrence Berell 226]

There's a cultural thing there as well. I live in one of the warmest climates in the US but hardly see anyone running around like that. :mrgreen:

Though I do agree, typically elves are the least modest. Not because they want to show off the body, but because they just don't see the logic behind hiding it. An elven male isn't going to go "ooh boobies" he's going to see them for what they are, caring for children, shrug and go on his merry way.

Of course with all the teenagers on the server, that would probably not happen ICly. I still get elves that blush or gawk at my character's dress and its not that bad even by human/modern standards.

I wish players would RP elves. Not RP 'humans' with pointed ears.

Tee hee. You said boobies ^.^

I don't think elves do that. But most of them are kinda like humans, I grant you.

[Petyr 485]

I've been playing on LotC for about two weeks now. But like any good story, and any good community, the more you learn, the more you find you don't know. Rather than spamming chat asking questions (and having most unheard since OOC scrolls fast when there's a number on). I figured I'd ask here and have it a bit more organized.

I'm actually going to compile the answers so that it could even be posted on the wiki for others to see and read. So if you could, when you answer the question, quote it with its number and section. That way I know which question is getting answered and I can file it a little easier.

Also specify if it is speculation and not lore. Ideally I want actual lore. But I understand that not all of it is written down or even known (otherwise it'd be on the wiki right?). So I will accept answers that are just commonly observed (as in most elves do follow said guideline without it being written down. Though if the answer is only speculation, I will accept it too, but please identify it as such. Tag the answer with "Official Lore", "Player Lore" (unwritten, but commonly done by the players), or "Speculation".

So here are the questions I have, and there is a bit :mrgreen:

I. General Elven Lore:

1. Immortality.

Elves are immortal or near immortal in lore, living very long lives. Are elves subject to natural diseases and illnesses? Its understandable that they are hurt by mundane means, and can be killed like any other race, but do wounds scar, or eventually heal with time? In some other fictions, elves do not have permanent scars, and in some tales they can even regrow lost members(over a long long time), so this is why I ask.

Elves are subject to disease and illness. Regarding wounds, I'm going to go ahead and say that most elves don't have permanent scars unless the injury was magical in any way.

2. Ancestors.

Even though elves are not the most prolific race, they are still able to bear children for the first 500 years. This combined with the fact that they live along time means that elves live amongst their ancestors. Do they revere those older then them? Or do they see them as peers just a bit more experienced? Do they build monuments (think burial stones, or statues for heroes and notable members)? Is it uncommon for elves to court those of much different ages (a 200 year old and an 1800 year old)? To be friends of vastly different ages (see each other as peers as described above)?

From my experience, if both elves are older than around 100 years old, then their maturity is around the same and they can court. I'd like to think that they revere elders, but in my experience, they seem to only revere nobility (humans behind the computer, lol).

3. Nobility.

Is the elven princedom a meritocracy? Do the elves have equivalent noble titles to that of humans (Lord/Lady for landowners, Baron/Baroness, Count/Countess)? I know that there is supposed to be Viscounts to aid the princes/esses. If there is nobility does it differ between the subraces? Is it hereditary?

Most elves use the same general noble titles as humans. I believe that the respect that comes from nobility is passed down, but the actual position is not. The son of a prince is respected, but he is not guaranteed to be prince.

Also more specifically when one VIP's to Gold, Diamond, or Bedrock level they get the attribute Lordship. If the character is an elf, how does this affect them? I ask since I do plan to donate as much and would like to have a small backstory to explain how Sythra earns such a position. Not looking to instantly become a princess of the elves, but what exactly does Lordship mean in elven terms.

Not precisely sure. In reality, donations don't actually make you a lord/baron/princess in the government, but rather, make you lord of your own estate.

4. Disposition.

Elves are not human, so I ask, what is their concept of honor? Are they supposed to fight over small slights or are they more inclined to shrug off words, taking action only when there is a clear and eminent threat? When they fight do they do so honorably or fight to win? For example, if faced against smaller odds, do they quell their attackers, or even it up? In other elvish lores, its not uncommon for elves to not fight toe to toe but to use bow and arrow combined with mobility and stealth as well as numbers. So do elves leave 'honor' to the humans in that sense?

A lot of it is up to the player.

5. Swordplay and Archery.

In other fictions elves receive training with bow and swords as part of their normal education (think of it as their driver's ed). Do the elves here in LotC do the same?

Considering that most players don't start as a child, we rarely have actual schools. Regardless, it would be safe to assume that basic training is given to elves.

6. Education.

In other fictions, elves mature as fast as humans, but do not become adults (think US standards, can't drink or own property till 21, can't rent a car till 25, even though you're physically and legally an adult at 18) until after their first century. This is due to their educational system being honed and practiced for a long time. Do the elves here do the same? Or is it similar to the humans and you see elves in their third decade (20s) on their own?

Again, because of the nature of our server, sort of up to the players.

7. Modesty and Fashion.

Elves in other fictions don't have modesty as a concept, sort of like the ancient Greeks and Romans. Showing skin wasn't an issue. Is that the same here? Not asking if we should go nude, but it is uncommon for elves to show more skin than other races? Do they see it as an everyday thing or are they going to raise an eyebrow like a human may?

I personally see elves with lots of nature-y clothing, but very few showing much skin. That's just me.

Anything distinct about elven fashion? How do they wear their hair, what styles of clothes do they wear? What fabrics do they prefer? Any designs that are popular?

8. Craftsmanship.

Elves can live a long time. Does this make them excellent craftsmen? Will an item made by an elf take longer then a human but of much better quality and be more ornate?

It would be fair to roleplay such, but most players don't care enough about roleplay to actually postpone the receiving of an item for "quality".

9. Naming.

Does an elf call another elf an elf? Do elves call males and females, men and women? In some fictions elves sometimes use fay(fae,fey, ect) to refer to themselves. In EQ they use Tier'dal, Fier'dal, and Koada'dal. WoW uses Kal'dorei, Quel'dorei, and Sin'dorei. Do the elves of LotC have a similar naming scheme for their subraces? Do elves identify themselves as a people, or a land? How do elves refer to their own people? I've personally been using terms like kin, sylvan folk/kin (wood elves), dark kin (dark elves), ect.

Kin works fine, some use brethren as well. They do refer to themselves as elves, typically.

10. Courtship.

How do elves go about marriage? Do they shy away from it? Do families have arranged marriages? Any particular means that this goes about (such as rituals, customs, ect). Are they married by the nobility, religious order, or some other authority? Does adultery occur? Is it common? Or even accepted? Or perhaps is it punishable?

Marriages are fairly common. Since children are hard to come by, marriage is celebrated because of the possible offspring it may generate. Adultery is typically a no-no.

II. Subraces:

So far this is what the lore is on subraces:

The Dark Elf

You are of the Dark Elves, the dusty skinned brothers of the Elves. Although more cunning and physically stronger than your brothers, you lack their patience and skills in archery.

The Dark Elves receive + 20 Swordsmanship - 20 Archery

The High Elf

You're a High Elf, the most graceful of the Elves and most educated. You attend the councils of Malinor and make sure the ways of your ancestors are passed on.

The High Elves receive - 10 Swordsmanship - 10 Archery + 50 Herbalism

The Wood Elf

Ah, a Wood Elf, a nimble creature of the forests of Malinor, shorter but more agile than your Elven kin. You are known to be the best archers in all of Aegis!

The Wood Elves receive - 20 Swordsmanship + 20 Archery Also basic woodland magicks.

Not very much to work with, but its a start! Now I'll go into specific questions.

A. Dark Elves.

Let me just say that soon, you will learn a ton about dark elves...

B. High Elves

1. Disposition.

Am I correct to assume that these are the most patient of elves? What would it take to get a typical High Elf to fight?

Up to each individual player.

2. Relations.

How do they see other elves? How do they see other races? How do elves see them in kind?

They probably look slightly down at other elves and subraces. Most players don't make huge distinctions between elven subraces, really.

3. Ancestors.

They make sure their words are passed on... couldn't the ancestors do this themselves? XD

*shrug*

4. Alignment.

Are High elves compassionate? Will they sacrifice life, limb, injury, or station to help someone they don't know? If not, do they have qualms about hurting an innocent?

Up to the players.

C. Wood Elves

1. Disposition.

In most fictions, wood elves are cunning little hunters. Pose a threat and you sprout arrows out of your back and then they ask questions. Is that the same here (obviously no non-RP kills of course)? Are they overprotective of nature?

Usually pretty close to nature, not sure how cunning though.

2. Relations.

Same as High elves, how do they see other elves. How do they see other races? How do other elves see them?

Again, most players seldom go to this depth in roleplay.

3. Alignment.

Are wood elves compassionate? Will they sacrifice life, limb, injury, or station to help someone they don't know? If not, do they have qualms about hurting an innocent?

Hmmm

4. Education.

Are wood elves less educated than other elves? Are they all taught archery as part of their schooling? Basic woodland magic? Is that like growing saplings and healing small wounds?

Archery for sure, maybe small bits of nature magic. Small bits.

Modifications:

Also for the general subrace questions. Is there anything different in those by subrace? Do they have different views on modesty for example, or terms for nobility (like maybe a High Elf or Dark Elf would call noble Lord/Lady, where a Wood Elf would use Dryad or something of the sort). Again I don't know otherwise I wouldn't be asking :)

Hopefully I answered some of your questions. Been meaning to post here for a while.

[Elindor 666]

The all knowing halfling strikes again. We had a word for Ava-iler worked into ancient Elven. Should we do one for Petyr too?

[Aerinyes 402]

You've mentioned "up to the players" quite a bit. It is assumed that each and every character will be unique and can and will often differ from the norm.

When asking these questions I meant on a whole and more specifically towards Non-Player Characters. I cannot say NPC in this regard because NPC implies something else on the server.

Non-player Character in this case pertains to all that are not played by players such as Malin, and those elves that came before the players. Native and a few others in lore were not the first. Our characters have parents which themselves have parents and so on and so on. They too have dispositions and views. This was intended to see what those were.

Also I understand most players just don't take the time or effort to put as much depth into their characters and do play their elves as humans with pointed ears. But there is a good few of us that do not. And given the tools, we can set the example for the rest.

I once had someone tell me that they tried to figure my character out using a psychoanalysis and that they just couldn't make any sense. My reply was not to apply human reasoning to an elf :lol:

[Yuln 265]

The all knowing halfling strikes again. We had a word for Ava-iler worked into ancient Elven. Should we do one for Petyr too?

Oh, yes, about that, I suggested a whole lot of new words, can you take a look at them?

[Petyr 485]

You've mentioned "up to the players" quite a bit. It is assumed that each and every character will be unique and can and will often differ from the norm.

When asking these questions I meant on a whole and more specifically towards Non-Player Characters. I cannot say NPC in this regard because NPC implies something else on the server.

Non-player Character in this case pertains to all that are not played by players such as Malin, and those elves that came before the players. Native and a few others in lore were not the first. Our characters have parents which themselves have parents and so on and so on. They too have dispositions and views. This was intended to see what those were.

Also I understand most players just don't take the time or effort to put as much depth into their characters and do play their elves as humans with pointed ears. But there is a good few of us that do not. And given the tools, we can set the example for the rest.

I once had someone tell me that they tried to figure my character out using a psychoanalysis and that they just couldn't make any sense. My reply was not to apply human reasoning to an elf :lol:

Considering that, at this time, we have very few NPCs, named historical characters, or anything of the sort, much of the lore is really created by the players' actions. I could craft up some lore about the history and demeanor of each race and force it upon people, but many people don't like that.

I see your point, of course. Some RPers would like to enter a rich dense world where things like lore, history, and culture are all very established, but at this time, Aegis is not quite that place. The focus is currently on each person crafting the future, not living because of the past. I'm not disagreeing with you, but simply stating the current situation.

Honestly, the orcs are the only ones with extremely developed culture, history, folklore, etc. And... it's almost all player-made. The social norms, political heirarchy, and history are evident in the way that (most) orcs roleplay. The other races have yet to catch on to that as a whole.

By all means, should you wish to "discover" some tomes about the culture of Wood Elven society three centuries ago, go for it. Now perhaps it only turns out to be folklore that is later dismissed (probably because of yours truly meddling with lore and events), or maybe it will catch on among elves. However, I don't want to force things upon people.

Thinking about this, perhaps I might starting some more history and culture books, as well... there are quite a few actually in existence, if you know where to look.

Hopefully that answers your questions!

[KarmaDelta 969]

*writes a note

..... Find Wood Elf lore in volcanoe......

But in all seriousness I think this should be done in the new map. Think about how other species were killed.

[Petyr 485]

Aw, c'mon, no more questions? I got too many answers within me! Time to find someone else in need of knowledge, I suppose.