What's Xan's age?

[ZFR]

Can any of the more DnD and Forgotten Realms knowledgable members give me an estimate of Xan's age? Based on looks or whatever other info the game offers. Or tell me if such an estimate is at all possible.

Second, at what age do elves reproduce? Is it like humans? Does it last longer since they live longer? Does it start later? I'm actually asking about two things here (a)at what age range are they able to reproduce physically (b) at what age do they actually reproduce (according to the way they live, customs, traditions... etc). (like for example humans can physically reproduce from early teens to mid-late 50s, but in normal societies it's usually 17-45)

Thanks

[thecarrotdude]

the thing that didnt make sense to me in lotr is that there weren't a lot of elves, but shouldn't there be such a large population that there wouldn't be any food to sustain them.

[Firestormalpha]

I don't recall food shortage being an issue for the elves. Of course in LotR the elven nation is at the tail end of a mass exodus into the westlands (IIRC), far across the ocean. Which would be why you don't see so many.

However, I am of the opinion that the elves of Middle Earth and the elves of Forgotten realms follow slightly different rules of existence.

As for Xan's age, I'm not sure. I checked on wiki, but they give no information about him that you couldn't learn simply by having him in your party in BG1. In many cases the ages of elves will be listed simply as unknown, though I'm willing to bet Xan is over 100. As for the reproductive habits/age, I'm not sure anyones gone into that much detail for elves. Even less detail for dwarves. Of course, this is all only as far as "my" limited knowledge on the matter goes.


Just to throw it out there, here's a wiki page on mythological elves if anyone is interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elves

[Legolas]

Elves in DnD are counted as mentally mature at either 100 or 125 years of age. Physically, I've heard 18, 25 and 50.
Actual reproduction probably comes much later though, as most of them like to spend many decades developing the bond we'd count as marriage with their one life-long partner before worrying about offspring.
As for Xan, he's definitely an adult with a good few years of wizardly training besides. Old enough to be weary but too young for the wisdom which says that's a pointless life perspective. I'd guess at early 200s.

[Dragonshadow]

I think in NWN, Linu hints at elven childhood being 90 years or so...
I'd guess Xan is mid 150 - early 200s.

[ElfBane]

Tolkien kinda sorta sez Elves are immature until 50, at which time I presume they start their adolescence. I would 'guess' adolescence would last until 70-75. They go through long courtships and marry for life. They are immortal, but can be slain. They also can die of grief and some diseases.

D&D sez Elves live to be approx. 700 years old. When you meet Xan he is already a L2 or 3 magic user and he has gone thru the "moonblade" rite of passage.

So, using these two 'sources', I would guesstimate Xan is somewhere between 100-200 years old, probably unmarried, and is considered mature and level headed enough to be assigned quests by his leaders.

I have no idea about the details of reproduction, but since Elves and Humans are close enough to mate, I assume the process is....ahem....similar.

[SixOfSpades]

Not all Tolkien Elves mate for life: Finwe (1st High King of the Noldor, I think it was Finwe) is one famous exception. And while most Elves (of both sexes) rarely have more than two or three children, again there are exceptions: Feanor had seven sons (and possibly one or more daughters as well). But by and large, Elven population growth is an extremely slow process.

As for Xan, we pretty much have to take him with a grain of salt: He's a Greycloak, and wields a Moonblade--both accomplishments that (almost always) require years of notable merit to achieve, and he was judged worthy to undertake a solo journey into a foreign land to uncover the cause of a dangerous mystery . . . . all this, and he's only Level TWO. With unavoidable inconsistencies like that, I can see why BioWare didn't bring him back for the sequel, despite his kickass personality. But given these factors, I'd be okay with him being about 100 years old.

[ZFR]

Thanks all.

The reason I'm asking is this: In Icewind Dale you find Erevain's journal, who mentions Xan as being his cousin.

IWD according to manual takes place in 1281. BG takes place some 20-odd years after Times of trouble which would place it around 1380, meaning the 2 games are about a 100 years apart. It would seem then strange that Xan who is 100-150 now would be a cousin of someone who was grown up a 100 years ago. So either

a)Although Xan is Erevain's cousin he is much younger than him (which is why I asked you about about reproductive habits of the elves - is it possible to have two cousins so far apart in age?). Back during IWD time, Xan was still a kid by elves' standards.
b)Xan is actually much older than what he appears to be in BG.
c)Contrary to what RPG games seem to impress upon you it is actually possible to have two different people of the same name. They are 2 different Xans and it just so happens that both of them are slightly pessimistic.