Ironworks Gaming Forum - Cultural Aspects of Elves

<font color= "blue"> Cultural Aspects </font>

Elves tend to disdain the alcoholic drinks of the other races, finding them crude to the elven taste buds.

Elves do not sleep, but entera meditative trance known as Reverie, wherein eyes often remain open and life signs diminish dramatically. This is a communal function, connecting elves nearby to one another emotionally.

Elves will occasionally sleep as other races do when badly injured or sick.

Elven culture does not hold a taboo on nudity. As such, public bathing and revealing clothing are normal experiences within the community.

Elves are clean creatures by nature and as such bathe often and keep their gear and homes clean and well-maintained. It is rude to enter an elven home while unclean.

Elves, especially Gold, Wild, and Wood elves, often have a disdain for other races and their items, viewing them as inferior and crude. Although elves tend to hold these views, they also respect certain aspects of their cultures. Examples would be dwarven masonry, gnomish alchemy or mechanisms, or human music and art.

Most elves do not choose a particular deity, but worship the entire elven pantheon.

Elves hold a wonder for magic, and love even the simplest of magical devices.
Most Wood and Wild elves, and some other elves, have a strong dislike for half-elves.

All elves hold a reverence for nature, especially trees and creatures. Abuse of nature saddens, sickens, and angers the elvish people.

Tomb-robbing is an act of vile evil. No theft of graves or tombs is tolerated.
Elves hate things of evil, especially undead and beings from the lower planes.

Elven culture has a 5-year mourning period after the death of a spouse before one can remarry.

Sex is an act of love in elven culture, and is thus practiced only under those circumstances. The exception is the Wood and Wild elves, who allow flirtation and love-making as a way of life and a source of fun and enjoyment.

Calling a Moon (or Silver) elf a "gray" elf is the most vicious of insults, especially if the user is an elf.

Elves can enter a one-time permanent bond with another elf who is to be a life-mate. This is called Rapport or "Aleiryid", each member of the link being the others 'aleirin". They can share some thoughts and feelings through this link. Occasionally, the linked elves can feel each others presence through their entwined lifeforces. When one dies, the other feels it. This is a deeply spiritual bond, symbolizing the deepest of feelings for one another, and a dedication to that person. Usually offered by the male, this is a deep symbol of respect and caring for the intended "aleirin". This is also the deepest of honors to the offered individual, suggesting a lifetime of companionship and caring. An eternal bond.

Elves see their wines as a sacred symbol of their people, and any show of disrespect while consuming them is a serious offense (i.e. guzzling, wasting, or spilling the wine).

The bending of one's ear, directed at an elf, is the most dire of insults, and is the equivilant of the showing of a middle finger and combining every applicable racial slurr all in one gesture.

[ 12-01-2004, 07:20 AM: Message edited by: GameGurl25 ]