Races of Wild

no elf could predict which memory would surface duringhis trance, so Tharivol savored his day for a moment beforebeginning his meditation.DESCRIPTIONElves are short and willowy in comparison to humans. Theirheight ranges from 4-1/2 feet to 5-1/2 feet, and they generallyweigh between 95 and 135 pounds. Males and females areusually equal in height, though the males tend to be slightlymore muscular. Elves’ lithe bodies are perfectly proportioned,and their movements are almost supernaturally graceful.Most high elves have pale skin and dark hair, though lightershades of hair are known in many societies. Neither gendersports any facial hair, and elves’ features are well definedand elegant, though somewhat more angular than those ofhumans. Their almond-shaped eyes are usually green, thoughthey can also be blue, gold, silver, or lavender. Their earssweep upward to pointed ends—a factor that many claimcontributes to their acute hearing.CLOTHINGElves dress in simple, comfortable clothing, though their garbalways has an elegance in keeping with their graceful bearing.Linen, silk, cotton, and wool are common fabrics for elvenclothing, and elves have developed the skill to spin even thecoarsest of natural fibers into incredibly fine thread that canbe tightly woven to create soft cloth of surprising strength.Leathers and furs are regularly used to endow clothing withstrength and protection. Leather is always tanned to a fine,supple texture. Fur provides both warmth and elegance, andthe elves incorporate it often into their garb. Soft furs suchas rabbit and lynx are preferred over bear and other roughtexturedfurs. Spider silk, certain mosses, and the fibers offlower stalks are also spun into cloth. Thistledown treatedwith magic is the material of choice for elven cloaks, thoughthe creation of this cloth is a lengthy process. Occasionallydifferent fibers are woven together to create tactile interestor to combine the characteristics of different materials forpractical reasons. Elves make all their own cloth, seeing thetextiles of other races as inferior in quality and workmanship.They occasionally trade with human settlements for rawmaterials, but rarely for finished cloth.Colors and styles of clothing vary with individual taste.Many elves prefer muted tones that help them to blend in withthe surrounding forest; others enjoy wearing bright colorsranging in shade from pastels to jewel tones. Dyes are drawnfrom a variety of natural sources, most of them plant-based.Multihued garments are also reasonably common, thoughthe patterns of those colors are rarely geometric. Elves preferirregular swatches of coloration that imitate the sun-dappledforest floor or wind-tossed clouds in a stormy sky.Elves see adornment and elegance of style as marks of ahighly civilized society as well as declarations of individuality.A tunic, cloak, or pair of trousers may be adorned withembroidery, encrusted with tiny gems, or decorated with bitsof polished wood. Alternatively, an item of clothing may becut or pieced together in some dramatic way. Embroidery canrange from a border done in contrasting thread to a fantasticdesign prominently displayed on a sleeve or bodice. Metallicthreads are sometimes employed for such embellishmentsamong wealthier elves, but the colors of nature (ranging frommuted earth tones to the bright colors of the sun, the sea, orbrilliant flowers) are more commonly chosen as adornments.Leather and fur may also be dyed, though such materials areoften left natural and adorned in other ways.Fastenings made of metal are rare. Base metals are almostnever used in elven clothing, though precious metals mayserve as adornment. Usually, elven clothing is fastened withhooks or buttons made of polished wood; carved bone orivory fasteners and leather thongs are also common.Footwear typically consists of boots made of supple leatheraffixed to sturdy soles made of wood or hardened leather;more delicate footgear is sometimes used for ceremonialpurposes. Leather soles secured to the bottoms of the feetwith long leather thongs laced up the calf are often used aslight footgear for dancing and other pursuits requiring onlyminimal protection. Shoes carved in fantastic designs fromcrystal or other precious substances are occasionally used byelf nobles during affairs of state.All elven clothing, whether for important ceremonies ordaily wear, is styled for ease of use and movement. To anelf, clothing that binds, restricts motion, fails to provideadequate warmth or protection in the situation for which itis intended, or in any way interferes with the business of lifeis worse than useless. Quietness is also a key consideration,so elves avoid garb that makes any more noise than therustling of leaves.Almost all elves wear jewelry of some kind. The materialsmay or may not be of exceptional value, but they are alwaysworked to enhance their beauty rather than left rustic andnatural. Circlets, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, armbands,anklets, and rings are common. Designs are invariably lightand airy rather than ostentatious or bulky, and many reflectnature either directly or in some stylized way. Gold or silverpendants shaped like flowers or birds are common, as aresilver circlets whose lines are reminiscent of running water.Gemstones are often incorporated into jewelry designs, usuallyin a manner that integrates them with the whole of thepiece. Huge, barely polished gemstones crudely plunked intohammered gold settings are for humans and dwarves; elvesprefer lightness, delicacy, and artistry in their jewelry.Typical garb for a member of either gender consists of atunic and trousers covered by a cloak. The tunic is usuallymade of light, tightly woven material such as fine linen,cotton, or silk, and the trousers are often made of wool spunfine and closely woven. Cloaks are made of sturdy clothbecause they serve a variety of purposes. An elf may wearone for warmth, wrap himself in it for resting, or spread it onthe ground to sit on. Cloaks for travel are usually dyed green,brown, or some combination of those shades to blend in withthe forest, while cloaks worn by nobles within the safety ofCHAPTER 1ELVES7