Who are the Wood Elves and what are they like?

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The Elves of the Laurëlorn

By Tim Eccles, Alfred Nuñez Jr. and Martin Oliver

Additional Background by Ryan Wileman


Introduction

Compared to their kin in the enchanted Loren Forest of southwest Bretonnia, the Wood Elves of the Fey Forest are little known. This is surprising given that the Elves are not quite as secretive as their more numerous kin.

In fact, the impression that most outsiders have of the Elves is from limited interaction from those Elves who decide to make their mark on the larger world. Any assumptions based upon these chance meetings are likely to promote even further misunderstandings between the two races. After all, the individuals who leave the sanctuary of the Fey Forest for the dangers of the wider world are hardly representative members of their former communities. Their respective outlook on life, no matter how varied, is seen by their forested kin as “not quite right in the head and heart.”


History

The Beginning of the Wood Elves

One decision, one choice, determined the history of the Wood Elves. When Phoenix King Caradryel gave the order that the fine, proud cities of the Old World were to be abandoned, he lost the hearts of thousands of settlers. There were many who had never seen Ulthuan, who had been born and raised in the colonies. Without warning, when the threat to their safety and tranquillity was at its greatest, these citizens were issued an ultimatum: abandon your homes and flee to Ulthuan, or remain, in peril of your very lives.

The sense of shock, of betrayal, was incredible. Proud princes raged in the streets like madmen, railing against the shame of abandoning their lands. The ordinary folk wept, filled with dread and grief at the prospect of leaving all the knew, taking only what they could carry, queuing like cattle to board the boats leaving from the harbours they had helped to build. All knew the risks of staying, but was life as a refugee, dead to the culture they had helped to build, any worse?

When the last boats sailed, many were left to wander the deserted streets of Tol Alessi, of Sith Rionnasc’namishathir, of a dozen other once-proud colonies. As their kin sailed for Ulthuan, many settlers gathered what they could and struck out for the remotest parts of the Old World. They carried all they could, but the greatest weight for each was the sense of betrayal they carried in their hearts. They would have no more to do with the Phoenix King. They would have no more to do with Ulthuan. As they left their comfortable homes for lives of hardship and suffering, they vowed that they would never, ever rely on anyone again.

Of those few that remained in their cities, none survived. Such rich pickings were soon pillaged and ransacked by Orcs, demolished by Dwarfs or humbled by the vandalism of the Dark Elves. Those hundreds who gave up all hope and motivation, who lost the will to move on and stayed in their homes, also gave up their lives. Not one was left alive at the next waxing of the moon.

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Settlements

Most Wood Elven settlements are small affairs, comprising of between fifty and a hundred individuals. Unlike the small, isolated enclaves elsewhere in the deep forests of the Empire, those in the Laurëlorn are thriving. These follow the patterns established in the smaller settlements and the Athel-Loren, forming a loose alliance of related kindreds who have agreed to rule by a single shared council. This means that all settlements follow the same basic pattern: the Glade.

The term ‘Glade’ is really a misnomer. Few settlements are actually based in a physical glade; instead, most are based around a central clearing, or around a tree which has special significance to the community. Traditionally, each community consisted solely of the members of one kindred. Wood Elves still talk as if this is true today, although the reality is that smaller kindreds may live alongside one another. Stragglers and travellers may also choose to dwell for a while amongst the related families.

Open spaces near the heart of the community are set aside for assembly meetings, gatherings, celebrations, and so on. These usually consist of little more than bare earth; people bring blankets if they wish to sit. Places are also set aside for stores to be kept. These, like the dwellings, have been created by Treesingers, and are as often underground as they are in the trees. In this manner, stores are kept cool, making them less likely to spoil.

Further out are the dwellings of the kindred. These are scattered around, with no particular rhyme or reason to their layout. In most settlements, these dwellings have been created in the branches of trees by Treesingers, mages trained in the ways of shaping nature to meet the needs of the community. These individuals begin by scaling a suitable tree, sometimes drawing out branches to use as a ladder as they climb, and then bend, shape and unite branches in order to form the structure of the dwelling. Over a period of days, Treesingers use their nurturing magic to grow and weave branches to form the floor, ceiling and walls.

For the most part, these dwellings consist of one room where people gather, eat, cook, sing, and so forth, and small rooms or alcoves which are used as sleeping quarters and to store any personal effects. Guests invariably sleep in the common room, as do many Wood Elven children. The rooms have simple cloth hangings in the place of doors. To keep out the wind, these will be pinned to the walls; similar arrangements are made for the windows. Naturally, such houses are ill-suited for fires. In winter, small wood or coal fires are kindled in large metal bowls, and herbs or resins are often added in order to fill the house with pleasant aromas. These are placed on top of heavy, dead wood, in order to protect the living dwelling. The chances of fires are small as the material of the dwelling is full of sap, thereby rendering the chances of a fire taking hold negligible.

These fires do little to stave off the chill of mid-winter. As the weather turns colder, furs and woollen clothing are broken out of storage and shared around. When houses become too cold, two or more families may move in together. This may make places cramped, but is an important way of keeping the houses warm enough for the Elves to survive in. If the wintry weather becomes particularly severe, the underground storerooms will be cleared out (at this point, the freezing weather will preserve stores perfectly well), and the old, the young and the ill will be moved down into these. Whilst they view the prospect of living underground with revulsion, these rooms prove considerably easier to heat.

The Elves’ houses need constant tending if they are to remain habitable. Those abandoned during the winter often need the attentions of a Treesinger come springtime. For the most part, though, these homes are viewed as temporary structures, and it is common for families to move about from year to year. Some families do without homes altogether, spending the summers living an almost nomadic life in the land around the Glade, and sharing a home with others in the winter.

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Elven Society

Elven society is best described as an organised anarchy, in which the rights of the individual are paramount. Their society is, however, highly structured and many tiered. To human eyes, it is impossibly complex, having evolved over the millennia before human existence. Compared with those of the High Elves, however, the structure is very primitive and uncomplicated.

Individual independence is fundamental, and one's social standing is based upon intelligence, intuition, skill, prowess, etc. Age and previous experience are not guarantees of respect, though are likely to be allied to esteemed attributes and skills. Elven society is based on a strong moral/ethical code that is inherent in all Elves and on a total openness and commitment to the community, possibly due to the impossibility of jealousy in their non-materialistic culture.

In effect, the principle of Elven society in the Elven is that one must fully understand the meaning of all rules and obligations, in order to then ignore them. All action will then be open to the individual, but the consequential results will also be realised and the consequences accepted.

Elven longevity and their easy pace of life allows for the evolution of consensus that such a social system requires. Since Elves love the discussion more than the outcome, all problems can be solved by interaction. In war, however, these luxuries are not available.

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Government and the Kindreds

Though to a lesser degree than the inhabitants of the Loren Forest, the Laurëlornalim are an insular, suspicious people. Their tales of the ancient decree of the Phoenix King Caradryel remind them constantly of the failings of Princes and Kings who have lost touch with the feelings of their people. Thus, Wood Elven communities have no governments or royalty as their independent spirits rail against the prospect of some faceless individual controlling their lives. Instead, they operate more along the lines of an extended family. In fact, the human translation of the name Elves give their communities is ‘kindred’.

When problems arise which are beyond the ability of an individual to deal with, they are brought before an assembly of the kindred and discussed. Sometimes, leaders are appointed to focus or coordinate any actions that may need to be taken. More often, individuals undertake responsibility for a part of the task, negotiating further support or advice as needed.

There are exceptions to this, most of which requires unified action by all members of the Elves. When the entire people are threatened by some external enemy, the need for a coordinated effort is vital. Representatives from each Kindred (Glade) assembly are sent forward to represent their community at the Council, presided over by High Priestesses of Isha and Liadriel. The Council meets at the base of the largest tree in the heart of the forest.

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Physiology

Like other Elves, they are known by the ignorant as the ‘fair folk’ – they are pale skinned, with elegant features and hair fine as flax. They are also taller that the other races, and of a slender build. Many Elves believe themselves to be superior to other races in almost every way. They are nimbler, faster, smarter and longer-lived than humans or halflings, not to mention being better skilled at all important survival traits such as woodcraft and hunting. They are also less prone to illness and disease, and generally live for a span of 220 years, though some are believed to be even older.

The only area in which the Elves seem to fall short concerns physical endurance, in which humans have a slight advantage. Some Elves dismiss this as nothing more than their own more highly developed senses allow them to feel pain and suffering far more acutely than the other, less attuned races. This same basic Elven point of view extends to the areas where Dwarfs excel and Elves do not – such as resilience and stubbornness. The Elves simply perceive this as an example of the bestial nature of the Dwarfs given that such qualities are not ones to which any civilised Elf would aspire.

As a result of their racial bias, the Elves feel a certain obligation to help out the less able races. After all, it is not their fault that they may lack the physical and intellectual resources that would help them make their way in the world. Such are the responsibilities of the elite in the natural order of things.

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Birth, Marriage and Death

Like other Wood Elves, the lives of the elves are governed by the passage of the seasons and the cycle of birth, death and rebirth is integral to their view of the world. They strongly believe that the souls of the dead rest in the spirit world until they have gathered their strength and decided what they want to achieve in their next life. At this point, they are reborn to the world.

As in most cultures, births are a cause for great celebration amongst the Wood Elves. Feasts are held, and offerings made. Sickly children are often attended by Priests of Sarriel, who help lead the infant’s consciousness out from the realm of the dead, and Priests of Isha, who also tends to the mother.

Although Wood Elves do marry, their customs are very different from those of humans or even the High Elves. They view marriage as a new life, and so subject to the same cycles as any other life. Marriage among the Wood Elves is as simple as the couple publicly declare their love and their intention to live as husband and wife. Such declarations can take place whenever and wherever the couple deems appropriate. Marriage ceremonies in the Fey Forest usually take place during the celebrations held on the first day of Spring, when the living creature finally shake off the effects of their winter slumber.

If members of the kindred view a particular marriage as ill-advised then the matter is taken up in assembly. If need be, a close relative of one of the couple is chosen to speak with them about the issues raised in the assembly. If matters cannot be resolved, the couple can choose either to separate or to leave the community together.

There are certain restrictions on who can and who cannot marry, although these are far looser than are found in most societies. No Elf is allowed to marry until they have reached physical maturity (at around 12 for females and 14 for males). No Elf can have more than one spouse at any time; so, any couples who do not renew their vows are considered to be eligible for marriage once more. Single-sex marriages are permitted, but those involved are usually spoken to by an Elder as a matter of course, as the marriage will be barren.

Needless to say, the Wood Elves’ view of marriage as bonds of love and acceptance of serial monogamy cause further bafflement and revulsion on the parts of Dwarfs, who view the clan as an immutable and constant foundation for society. Humans have fairly mixed views about all this; many consider it inappropriate and degenerate, although the more liberal (and depraved) see it as another sign of Elven wisdom and enlightenment.

The care and socialisation of children has become a community responsibility. As their society expects mothers and fathers to work alongside other adults in order to ensure that no-one starved to death, the children are left with those unable to work. Injured or venerable Elves take on the role tending and teaching the young until the new generation are old enough to assume their societal responsibilities.

Because of this community upbringing and the loose marital arrangements of Wood Elves, their concept of families is a strange one. A ‘family’ consists solely of a Wood Elf’s mother, and any brothers or sisters (including those with different fathers). Even if the mother remains married to their father, he will still not be considered a member of their family. A wider concept is that of ‘kin’. Strictly speaking, this consists of an Elf’s family, the families of the mother’s sisters, and all the sons and daughters of any of the mother’s husbands. In practice, the convoluted relationships of the Elves mean that all members of a community are regarded as being of the same ‘kin’. Matters are further confused by wandering Elves who are taken in by the community. These are usually housed with a family, and if the stay lasts for any length of time, are likely to be ‘adopted’ as part of the family, making them a member of the community.

This unusual set-up has strengthened Wood Elven communities considerably. Since almost everyone is viewed as a relative by marriage of some sort, there is a sense of mutual respect and obligation. People are willing to share and to support each other, and will go out of their way to help others, knowing that they can count on similar assistance when they need it.

The Wood Elves’ death practices are also unique. Because of their belief in reincarnation, death is not viewed with quite the same horror as it is amongst humans. The passing of a friend or loved one is still a sad event, but the sadness is tempered by the belief that the friends may be re-united in some future life.

Since the soul will out-last the body, Wood Elves view their material frame as being borrowed from nature. Each individual chooses their own method of burial before their time is ended, which ensures that their closest friends and family are aware of their wishes. Wood Elves consider it unlucky for a soul if their body is not disposed of according to their wishes. Should an Elf die without a burial preference being known, their family and friends may spend many long hours, usually in the company of a Priest of Sarriel, discussing how the remains should be disposed. Cremation is the usual form of disposal. The ashes for the deceased are scattered throughout the Glade by a Priest of Sarriel, who is followed by members of the grieving kindred.

In addition to the burial, many Elves carry out an addition ritual. Many settlements will have a Tree of Remembrance, onto which a scrap of cloth from the clothing of the deceased is usually tied. Some grieving Elves come to mourn or sleep beneath these trees. It is said that the most troubled may, at times, be granted a dream or a vision of the departed soul.

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Names

The convoluted family lives of Wood Elves make it hard to trace descent, not that the elves really care about such matters. There are no nobles, for who such would be important, among their number. Like those of the Loren, they tend to carry two names: their given name and their use name.

When an Elf is born, the parents (or closest relatives, if the parents are unavailable) will give the child a name that it will carry throughout its life. In addition, the Elf can choose a name for itself. This may be the given name of someone the Elf admires, or a word describing a trait or activity that is important to them. It is not unheard of for married couples each to take the other’s given name as a use name. Use names change as the Elf grows, altering to reflect their developing personality. This, of course, adds to the prevalent human view that Elves are a rather flaky bunch.

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Fashion

Given their lifestyle, Wood Elves have little or no concept of fashion. Their clothes are first practical and then comfortable; only after these criteria have been met will appearance be considered. To this end, Wood Elves often embroider and embellish favourite garments, using stylised designs. These designs often incorporate circles, representing the cycle of life, symbols of balance, and images of nature.

In the balmy days of summer, Elves are often warm enough to make clothing unnecessary. While some choose to wear things which enhance their appearance, it is not unusual for others to do without. Many a human lad has lived to regret wandering into a forest after catching a glimpse of an Elf maid going naked.

Just as designs are used to embellish clothes, so it is common for Wood Elves to sport tattoos or, more commonly, temporary decorations worked in paints and dyes. These may be as subtle as using pigments to enhance the appearance of eyes and lips, or as elaborate as turning the entire body into a canvas for some grand work of art. Both sexes use of the whole range of decorations available to them. In fact, it is not considered at all unusual for a man to sport subtle lip and eye make-up, or for a woman to have extensive tattoos.

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Elven Senses

Wood Elves take great pleasure in stimulating their senses. Like other races, Elves enjoy beholding beauty in all its forms: light playing on the surface of brooks, a beautifully polished gemstone, the smile of a friend, and other such activities. Music and singing that excite the sense of hearing are also enjoyed to the fullest. In addition, Wood Elves find great pleasure with the taste of good food and wine as well as experiencing the world through touch.

The one sense that the Wood Elves take greater stock than any other race is smell. The Elven sense of smell is far more acute than those of humans and they take great delight in the delicate fragrances of flowers, the heady smells of summer, musky scents of autumn. Their study of plants has made them well aware of how each can be used, and how the ground leaves, crushed petals, burnt seeds, distilled oils, and countless other sources and actions can be used to enhance the scent of a place or person.

Elves bath frequently, enjoying its sensation as well as the resulting cleanliness, In contrast, humans wash infrequently, and Dwarfs even rarer still. Unless forced to under less than favourable conditions – such as travelling across country or spending hours cramped in hot, sweaty coaches – Wood Elves will do what they can to remain upwind when dealing with other races. The bodily odours of these races offend the Wood Elves’ well-developed senses and do little to help different races to co-exist peaceably.

Flowers are particularly valued by the elves as ornaments, since they combine scent and appearance. Many Elves grow flowers in their homes, and some wear freshly cut blooms as humans might wear jewellery. This is not something to be done casually, however, as picking flowers is viewed as damaging nature; only the most common of flowers are picked purely to be used for such vanities.