Races of Wild

CHAPTER 1ELVES10they do in other humanoid communities because elves aregenerally mindful of the rights and boundaries of others andtry to get along with everyone. Thus, though laws do exist,they are more lightly enforced than they are even in humansettlements because every situation is considered unique.Anyone who is not happy with the resolution of a dispute inan elf community is free to leave. No stigma is attached tothose who do so, though an elf who enters a new communityis often treated with a certain reserve for a few decades, untilhis neighbors get to know him well.The highest virtues for an elf are the ability to take careof himself, skill with magic and art, and a high degree ofpersonal creativity. Members of less “civilized” (that is, morestaid) races are looked upon with smug amusement by elves.Similarly, an elf who is considered frivolous by other racesmay be revered as a creative genius by his own people.While most elves value freedom of expression and creativity,others find a degree of comfort in a less chaotic lifestyle.In particular, elves who wish to devote their entire lives to thepursuit of a single art may seek out human communities inwhich they can purchase the products of others’ skills ratherthan devoting even a short time to becoming completely selfsufficient.Such elves usually retain their generally pleasantattitude, but many are so focused on their own art that theyneglect the social interactions so necessary to a specializedcommunity. Even so, elves tend to fit more easily into nonelfcommunities than other races do. In particular, bridgingthe worlds of elf and human is not terribly difficult, thoughfitting into a highly ordered community of dwarves is a trialfor almost any elf.Elves tend to be quite tolerant of other races, even thosethat live very structured lives. This attitude stems from theelves’ strong belief in personal choice. If a person or even awhole group of people wish to become interdependent, theyare free to do so, as long as they do not encroach on the rightsof others to do otherwise. Regardless of his opinion of thepeople he meets, a well-brought-up elf considers the habitsand outlooks of his companions to be none of his business.An old elven platitude states, “Only those who are allowedto make their own mistakes can ever truly succeed.”Roleplaying Application: Many elves take up adventuringfor a portion of their lives as young adults, both to see theworld and to gain new experiences. Elves who adventure for awhile are almost always welcomed back into their communitieswhen they decide to take a break or even retire from theadventuring life.Though elves tend to be self-absorbed and may occasionallyappear haughty, they are generally pleasant traveling companions.Many, however, are unused to working with others ingroups at first and must come to realize that although othershave their areas of specialty, they can support one another inways that jacks-of-all-trades cannot.Though all elves are fiercely independent, other aspects ofan individual character require some definition. What is yourcharacter’s personality? What sort of place is he from, andhow do his friends and family back home view him? Doeshe feel the need to be completely self-sufficient, or would herather work with others to support one another’s strengths?To what extent does he value personal freedom over the needsof the group?ELVEN LIFEThe life of an elf may seem idyllic and tranquil to outsiders,and indeed many elves enjoy long periods of carefree bliss.Still, like all mortals, they aspire to greatness, endure conflictsand strife, and mark the passage of time with rituals befittingtheir culture.Elven culture is among the richest of any humanoid race.Their long life span allows elves to pursue their interests forlonger than humans can and to perfect the skills they haveacquired. The result is a complex culture rich in art, knowledge,and all the traits found in the highest of civilizations.ARTS AND CRAFTSUnlike dwarves, elves value art for its own sake. An object ofart need not be anything but beautiful to be prized in an elfcommunity. The elves also find joy in turning mundane objectsinto things of beauty. Strictly utilitarian objects are fine in anemergency, but why not make them beautiful as well? To createa functional object with no beauty is considered unforgivablylazy and wasteful of both time and resources.The visual arts are highly valued in elf society, andexamples abound in every household. Painting, sculpture,textiles, fashion design, metalwork, weaponsmithing, armorsmithing,jewelry making, pottery, and all manner of craftsare considered forms of self-expression with which everyelf should be proficient. Translating one’s feelings into anenduring object of beauty is considered a high achievementin elven culture.Architecture is among the most valued of the elven arts,and designing structures of grace and style is a dream towhich many young elves aspire. In most cases, the loveliestelven “buildings” are those that fit seamlessly into the naturalenvironment: houses built into tree branches, crystal-carvedcaverns, and flower-festooned arbors in the wilderness.Ornamentation on such buildings is generally simple yetelegant, and done in a manner that enhances rather thanoverwhelms the basic lines of the structure.Music is also a well-loved form of artistic expression, andelf bards have refined their art to a high level. Elven musiccan be lilting and cheerful, sorrowful and deep, or any stylein between. Elves make more use of flutes, lutes, harps, andexotic stringed instruments than most other cultures, and lessuse of loud horns and percussion instruments. Their choicesof instruments and composition styles combine to producethe delicate melodies for which they are justly famous.Drama is also a recognized and appreciated art form in elfcommunities, and most settlements hold plays throughoutthe year. Many elves enjoy acting and become quite proficientat it, and this skill stands them in good stead when they mustconduct delicate negotiations with other races.