What is the difference between a Gray Elf and a Valley Elf, and why are the Valley Elves disliked by the other Elven races?
--Ghul
Other elves consider them pariah for that reason. At one point, they even decided that if the Mage ever became a lich (apparenly a favorite occupation of high level human wizards..), then his 'servants' would have to be exterminated because they couldn't be allowed to be 'contaminated' any further.
Their update to 3E stats (in the LG Journal #2) states that, although they can be clerics, they can't serve members of the Seldarine (the elven pantheon). So, it seems they are out of favor not only with their kinsmen but also with their gods.
Given the hostility of their pantheon and race, the valley elves became increasing isolated until a mage who shared the elves insular desires and paranoid tendencies gained their loyalty.
Their update to 3E stats (in the LG Journal #2) states that, although they can be clerics, they can't serve members of the Seldarine (the elven pantheon). So, it seems they are out of favor not only with their kinsmen but also with their gods.
They ought to be able to worship Fenmarel Mestarine, god of outcast and scapegoated elves. This sort of situation seems to be primarily what he exists for.
More recently they were updated to 3.0 in the one of the Living Greyhawk Journals (LIVING GREYHAWK Journal [Volume 1, Number 2; Spring 591 CY, November 2000]).
Jaran Kriimeah (sp?), the Black One, and until 591, the Mage of the Valley, is detailed in the old Jim Ward Greyhawk Adventures 1st ed hardcover.
Hope that helps,
P.
Here is another consideration: Would you, as a DM, allow Valley Elves in your GH campaign, or are they better served as a people more clandestine and mysterious to the party? OF course it is subjective, but I'm just curious as to how others would/do approach them.
--Ghul
Given these hinderances, I can't see how the elves can become a viable character but the make an excellent mysterious clandestine organisation to slowly enfold the PCs in the web.
However, if the player was true to his character, his main goal would be to return asap to the Valley. So, unless he was very far from it and didn't know West from East, he wouldn't remain in an adventuring group for long.
Hmm, come to think of it, there is also the 'spy' alternative. The Mage of the Valley is always eager to gather info on his old enemies and current events. So, he could have sent a young elf (a rogue probably) out in the world for a five years mission to discover strange new worlds and civilizations :P
--Ghul
If you wanted to set an adventure there it should give you good info on what sort of encounters there might be but thats about the extent of its usefullness IMO.
I had the module too, it was fairly limited as an adventure, if I remember correctly, it is weighted against the party with many convenient plot devices.
However it does have a detailed map of the vale and forces, it also removed a blank spot on the overall GH map, which was why I bought it. ;)
Well there's the old Valley of the Mage module for a start.
More recently they were updated to 3.0 in the one of the Living Greyhawk Journals (LIVING GREYHAWK Journal [Volume 1, Number 2; Spring 591 CY, November 2000]).
Jaran Kriimeah (sp?), the Black One, and until 591, the Mage of the Valley, is detailed in the old Jim Ward Greyhawk Adventures 1st ed hardcover.
Hope that helps,
P.
Stats for his drow servant and some details on the Black One are also in the 2E GH Adventures hardcover.
Plus there's a Dragon article that features his spellbook and tries to reconcile and add to his history:
Dragon #241, p.75
Arcane Lore: Greyhawk Grimoires II, by Robert S. Mullin
The spellbooks of Jaran Krimea (the Mage of the Valley), Keraptis and Slerotin
I'm not sure if he's ever mentioned in Ivid the Undying...
More reference from the Zavodex:
Vale of the Archimage [KNG]
SOD - 61,62,64
Valley of the Mage {Vale of the Mage}(Pop 10,000?)[KNG]
ATG - 44
DRG#52 - 19,20
DRG#55 - 18
DRG#57 - 13
DRG#67 - 11
DRG#233 - 92
DRG#241 - 75,76
FTAA - 12,42,43,63
FTAR#2
FTAR#10
GA - 3,42-44,84,109-111
GW:ADV - 16
LGG - 48,63,126,127,128,129,142,160,IBC
LGJ#2 - 7
MMII - 60
N1 - 3
PGTG - 5,12,25,37
S4B2 - 12
TAB - 15,16,35,36
UA - 10
WG5 - 25
WGA4 - 48
WGG - IBC,7,18,23
WGR1 - 86
WOGA - 14,40,53,IBC
WOGG - 11,17,32
Valley of the Mage, Entrance to the [PLC]
GA - 3
Or try searching for "Valley Elves" or "Valley of the Mage" here: http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=Search
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SECRETS OF THE VALLEY ELVES, by Roger Moore
It is said by other elves of the Flanaess that they dislike valley elves because they work for a human wizard and a drow. This comment appears in WG12 Vale of the Mage, in The Complete Book of Elves, and in MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk appendix. This is not completely correct, but other elves will not discuss with other races the exact nature of their conflict with valley elves.
The truth (at least as I see it) is this: Valley elves are descended from a group of elves of the Flanaess who refused to support Corellon Larethian during the war with Lolth, ages ago. They also refused to take the side of Lolth, withdrawing from the conflict entirely and rejecting the elven pantheon as a whole for actions that the ancestral group of elves felt disgraced all elves. The other bright elves cast the elves who refused to take sides out of their clans, tribes, and cities, forcing them to take up residence in a great, isolated valley. The exiled elves--valley elves--live there today.
As a result, valley elves of the Flanaess will not ever worship an elven deity from the Seldarine, nor any other deity. The Seldarine would not have them back if they asked, and Lolth will not accept their worship, either. Lolth's forces have no objection to killing valley elves, as they regard them as just as bad as any other surface-world elf, and elves who are Seldarine followers also bear enormous hatred for the present-day valley elves, who--even though they are far, far removed from those past events--still believe their ancestors did the right thing in rejecting all elven gods for their ugly civil war. Valley elves are a touch self-righteous and prideful about their ancestors' stand. Other elves regard valley elves as immoral, irresponsible, unfaithful, arrogant, treacherous, and (of course) wrong. That the valley elves now work for a drow--a !--is anathema to them, totally unbelievable.
Interestingly, details on this age-old rift are in plain view for every other race to see, appearing in elven legends and lore handed down across the Flanaess among all groups of elves: gray, high, sylvan, and even aquatic and drow. However, only elves are able to recognize the oblique references and disguised remarks in their literature about the role the ancestors of the valley elves played in the Corellon-Lolth conflict. All other races miss the references entirely, and elves are still so angry about the event that they will not bother to explain it to anyone. (Not even elf player characters will have told anyone this, and now we know why.)
WG12 Vale of the Mage notes that the valley elves currently worship Ehlonna, who is a local human/elven deity of the Flanaess. I would say that this is not possible, and would discard that reference (which is not supported elsewhere, as far as I can tell). I would have it that the valley elves had no clerics at all now; no good deities will have them, and evil deities would only destroy them. The valley elves have come to reject all deities, believing only in themselves. (This has made them look only worse in the eyes of other elves, who view the valley elves now as cursed.) The valley elves are spiritually adrift, weak in wisdom, keeping to themselves and their vale. Little wonder that when the Mage appeared and offered to lead them, they jumped at the chance to have him do just that. He is, in a way, their current deity. He is a human, and they know that, but they do not care. He offered to lead, and they needed to be led. No wonder other elves call the valley elves by the Elvish words for automatons, golems, and slaves--the valley elves are dead in spirit, servants of mortal causes. That valley elves work for a human is actually meaningless, as many other elves across the Flanaess do the same thing. That the valley elves have no greater purpose in life--that is their true crime and curse.
This all explains, too, why the valley elves did not outright slay the drow Tysiln San when she appeared in the valley, instead capturing her and taking her to the Mage. Any other group of elves would have killed her instantly and done no more about it. Valley elves, however, have no grudge against drow any more than they have a grudge against other elves. Tysiln San was an intruder, and that was all they cared about. Now she's their leader, and that's fine with the valley elves, since the Mage ordered it, and the valley elves follow the Mage's every command without questioning.
Valley Elf Character Generation (AD&D 2nd Edition rules)
Use the standard information in the Player's Handbook on creating elf characters, with the following modifications:
Apply +1 bonus to initial Dexterity score, +1 bonus to initial Intelligence, -1 penalty to initial Wisdom score, and -1 penalty to initial Constitution score.
Classes: A valley elf can be a priest, fighter, mage, diviner, enchanter, or thief, with the following multiclass options: fighter/mage, fighter/thief, or fighter/mage/thief. (Note: Valley elf wizards cannot become transmuters, as per WG12, page 11; change these to diviners.) Multiclassed fighter/mages are common; single-class mages or specialist wizards are less so, and single-class fighters are less common than that. Few are trained as thieves (i.e., raiders and spies), but most of these are multiclassed, too.
Specialist wizards cannot be multiclassed. Valley elves cannot become paladins, rangers, druids, bards, or specialist wizards other than diviners and enchanters. Clerics should be neutral or chaotic neutral, and they cannot worship elven deities. The worship of Ehlonna, noted in WG12 (page 11), is unlikely; substitute Boccob (perfect for followers of the Mage) or other human deity.
Thieves are trained by individual elves in the valley to work as saboteurs, spies, and raiders in surrounding lands. They do not belong to a guild or speak thieves' cant, and they are loyal only to the Mage of the Vale and their own valley elf leaders.
Kits: Valley elf characters have no kits as such, as they are so chaotic that individuals mix useful proficiencies in an unpredictable manner. Patrols are loosely organized at best from volunteers and picked individuals with the necessary skills to accomplish all of the mission goals.
Initial Languages: Common, Elvish (Valley dialect), Gnomish (Valley dialect), Dwarvish (Barrier Peaks mountain dwarf dialect), Tree People tongue (pigeon Common with many borrowed elements).
Languages are chosen based on the character's Intelligence score (PHB, Table 4) or by proficiency slots allotted to language (modern) or read/write language (modern), converting the languages allowed (on Table 4) to regular proficiency slots, as allowed in the rules. The latter option is strongly recommended.
Typical Equipment: chain mail, shield (any size), clothing in dull natural terrain colors (greens, reds, browns, grays), weapons, backpacks or sacks, rope, clothing, flint and tinder, etc. Items are either made by the elves themselves or purchased from the valley gnomes or dwarves in the Barrier Peaks; assume purchase costs are 25% above normal for the elves because of their isolation. Bows are made by the elves from idani tree wood (WG12, page 11), which is of exceptional quality and grants a +1 to attack rolls. Nonmagical elven (or elfin) chain mail is hand-made by valley elf armorers, and all chain mail owned by valley elves will be of this type. It is given to almost every warrior for normal chain mail costs, but will not be given or sold to anyone else. Armor better than chain mail is not made by the valley elves, but magical suits of armor are sometimes worn, if found.
Shields always have the coat-of-arms of the Valley of the Mage, as depicted on the inside back cover of the 1983 WoG Guide (a rising yellow flaming comet with a red nucleus on a black field).
Magical items made and enchanted by the valley elves include and . Only elves over 1st level who prove themselves worthy of a great honor gain one or both of these items. Many magical items seized from intruders or on raids are held communally and distributed to elves prior to undertaking a mission; these items are returned at the mission's end to the guardians of the community's treasury and armory. Magical items of lesser power are allowed to be owned by individuals, but these items are subject to redistribution in emergencies.
Weapon Proficiencies: The long bow, short bow, long sword, and short sword are traditional weapons and greatly preferred to all others, resulting in the attack-roll bonus noted below. Weapon specialization is often taken by fighters with one of these weapons. The short bow is used from horseback, but valley elves rarely attack from horseback in direct melee.
Other weapons commonly seen among valley elves include broad swords, two-handed swords, bastard swords, daggers, knives, spears, and quarterstaves (for wizards and priests). Other weapons are possible but rare, and only experienced warriors are likely to have learned to use them.
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Valley elves engage in farming, domestic work, and crafts to support their lives in the valley, but all valley elves are expected to defend the valley from determined intruders. The following proficiencies are recommended for use by valley elves, particular those in the Valley Militia or who act as spies and raiders outside the valley. Sources--CRH: The Complete Ranger's Handbook; CTH: The Complete Thief's Handbook.
Bonus Nonweapon Proficiencies:
All valley elves: local history (Valley of the Mage)
Valley Militia (single- or multiclassed fighter): alertness (CRH, CTH), hunting, riding (land-based, horses), tracking
Raiders/spies (single- or multiclassed thief): alertness (CRH, CTH), camouflage (CRH), disguise (as human), looting (CTH)
Priests (not multiclassed): healing, herbalism, reading/writing, religion
Wizards (often multiclassed): astrology, herbalism, reading/writing, spellcraft
Other valley elves may receive these proficiencies, but not as bonuses. They must pay for these with proficiency slots.
Recommended Proficiencies: agriculture, alertness (CRH, CTH), animal handling (horses), animal lore, animal noise (CTH), animal training (cooshees or horses), appraising, armorer, artistic ability (woodcarving), astrology, blacksmithing, blind-fighting, boating (upper Javan River, CRH), bowyer/fletcher, brewing, camouflage (CRH), carpentry, cooking, direction sense, disguise (as human), distance sense (CRH), endurance, fire-building, fishing (upper Javan River), foraging (CRH), forgery, gaming, healing, heraldry, herbalism, hunting, jumping, languages (modern, see above), leatherworking, local history (Valley of the Mage), looting (CTH), mountaineering, musical instrument, observation (CTH), pottery, reading/writing (for languages, see above), reading lips, religion, riding (land-based, horses), rope use, running, seamstress/tailor, set snares, signaling (mirrors, CRH), singing, spellcraft, survival (mountains, esp. Barrier Peaks), survival (temperate forest, esp. Dim Forest), swimming, tracking, trail marking (CRH), trail signs (CRH), veterinary healing (CRH), weaponsmithing, weaponsmithing (crude, CRH), weather sense, weaving
Only a valley elf with the animal training (cooshee) proficiency is able to command cooshees to perform special tasks. Many cooshees live among the valley elves; these dogs have been trained to attack on command anyone who is not a valley elf or gnome, and most adult dogs know a wide variety of special tasks.
Spells: The spells carried and used by valley elf wizards are standard, though a few unusual spells have been lifted from stolen spellbooks or given to the elves by the Mage of the Valley. The DM can determine which unusual spells are allowed. New spells from Greyhawk Adventures are suggested.
Standard Elf Special Abilities:
* 90% resistance to sleep and charm spells
* +1 to attack rolls with long bows, short bows, long swords, short swords.
* Apply a -4 penalty to opponents' surprise rolls if approaching them while not in metal armor and either alone, with only other valley elves also not in metal armor, or 90 feet ahead of the rest of a party. Reduce penalty to -2 if a door or screen must be opened.
* Infravision up to 60 feet in darkness.
* Detect secret doors within 10 feet on 1-3 on 1d6 if actively looking.
* Detect concealed doors within 10 feet on 1-2 on 1d6 if actively looking, or 1 on 1d6 if not actively looking.
Valley Elf Appearance:
Valley elves are thin and have sharp, pointed features. Their hair is pale yellow in summer, turning dark gold in winter (this despite the valley's lack of seasonal weather). Eye color is purple or lavender. Garment colors under peaceful conditions are blue and green, with the garments themselves light, loose, and flowing. Cloaks and robes are common. Except for their height, they resemble gray elves to a certain extent. On Table 10 in the PHB, use the height and weight data for half-elves. On Table 11 in the PHB, use the aging data for elves.
Role-Playing Notes:
Nearly all valley elves appear to be intensely loyal to the Mage of the Valley and to their own leadership, which follows the Mage's commands to the letter. Crime is almost unknown within the community; the elves see the whole world as set against them, and so pull together all the more strongly in their isolation. The rapacious behavior of treasure-hunters and assassins who have entered the valley only encourage a close-knit community.
Thieves were trained and used as raiders prior to the arrival of the Mage, in order to gain items that the valley elves could not make, grow, or buy for themselves. The Mage expanded the operations of the raiders to also hunt for agents of the Great Kingdom that he believes mean to kill him. Raiders now search the belongings of their victims for evidence of any involvement with the Great Kingdom. Neither the Mage nor the elves would ever believe that the Great Kingdom has fallen.
Miscellaneous:
Valley elves, who are the size of humans, are also the size of normal elves from Faerun in the Forgotten Realms campaign or normal elves from Ansalon in the Dragonlance campaign. Normal Greyhawk campaign elves are markedly shorter than FR and DL elves. However, valley elves has a distinct look and would not be mistaken for any other sort of elf by an experienced observer.
Little material here is given on the true background, beliefs, or current goals of the valley elves. This should be worked out by the DM and given to players with valley elf characters. Valley elf characters are suggested only if the campaign is entirely made up of valley residents (elves, gnomes, dwarves, etc.) or if a valley elf is captured by outsiders. A renegade valley elf might defect to the outside, but this is unlikely.
So, basically, Valley Elves have the same background story as the Stone Elves (from CS's Night Below boxed set)? Both remained 'neutral' in the war. Both have no clerics. The only exception is that Valley Elves will never earn Corellon's forgiveness while the Stone Elves can.
Hmm.. I wonder if it would be possible to tie the two stories. As I am running Night Below currently, this opens up whole new possibilities...
Sounds like the Ur-Priest's PrC (from BoVD) is tailor-made for the Valley Elves :evillaugh
The valley elves have come to reject all deities, believing only in themselves. (This has made them look only worse in the eyes of other elves, who view the valley elves now as cursed.) The valley elves are spiritually adrift, weak in wisdom, keeping to themselves and their vale.
I've an issue with this. They have no gods, so they must be spiritually adrift and " weak in wisdom". Oh please!
Wouldn't it be more interesting to have them reject the gods and not have them effete, listless, spiritual vacuums latching onto to who ever can be bothered making himself Mage of the Valley. You don't just reject gods in a world where gods are real without having a strong reason. Wouldn't it be better to develop a secular philosophy for the Valley Olve - a kind of godless religion/philosophy like Confucianism or Buddhism (in its original form). Something along the lines of:
"Yes, the gods exist, but how are they different to us, except in their power and age? If mortals can become gods, why are the gods worthy of worship? Why should we be pawns in their wars when we have the capacity for godhood within ourselves? Let us forge our own fate. Let us be free and unfettered. Each one of us is as worthy of worship as Corellon or Lloth. Let us nurture that spark of divine in our mortal hearts and not forget the spark of the mortal in those our deluded brethern worship as gods."
Their name for themselves might be olven for Unfettered.
Not everyone of the Valley Olve need believe this fervently, but it's better than automatically assuming that because they have no gods, they're listless nihillists. Let them be very focussed nihillists instead.
Perhaps they don't want to venture forth from the Vale. Perhaps they have their own agenda or just want to live simple lives away from the craziness of the outside world. Anyway - if you recall that the Valley Eleves were probbaly responsible for the the theft of the Cup and Talisman of Al Akbar, they obviously aren't completely listless and insular. Perhaps they want outsiders to beleive that, but it's obvious that they know more than they're saying.
A paternalistic, "let the children make there own mistakes" type of attitude.
There is also the entry about 'tall fair elves, riding giant eagles', stealing the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar.
Personally I don't go out of my way to involve a further group of elves in my campaign, there is plenty to choose from as is. Plus my players typically seem to have a distaste for elves and rarely play them. ;)
Something that no one has mentioned here is the fact that a very large group of Valley Elves left the Vale and 'headed south from Keoland' at some point. I think that the authors of the LGG had some ideas for where they wanted to develope them based on previous canon works.
If you don't mind me asking, where is the reference to that event?
Quirriff -- that was all I knew abbout them, too, having read that small mention in the LGG. I was wondering how and why this came to be, and it seems like the module Vale of the Mage may be a good one to pick up. Looking online, however, it seems it is one of the more expensive pieces to buy. I wonder if it is available as a pdf?
--Ghul
I know about them from the 1e Unearthed Arcana, That says they can speek gnomish, and they are taller than other elves.
If you don't mind me asking, where is the reference to that event?
It's in the Geoff entry in the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. The King of the Valley Olve and a large retinue turn up in Gorna, deposit a sealed chest, whisper something in the Grand Duke's ear and then march off west into the Crystalmists, never to be seen again.
As Lassiviren says, it's not explictly stated, but it's pretty much implied that the Valley Olve stole the Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar (mentioned in the Ekbir or Zeif entry of the LGG, IIRC) and one or both of these artifacts are likely to have been in the chest given to the Grand Duke.
So they're up to something long term - but who knows what?
P.
So, basically, Valley Elves have the same background story as the Stone Elves (from CS's Night Below boxed set)? Both remained 'neutral' in the war. Both have no clerics. The only exception is that Valley Elves will never earn Corellon's forgiveness while the Stone Elves can.
Rockseer elves. Yes. And I think there was a similar affair with the snow elves - they let a drow army pass, or something, and now they're implacable foes of the drow.
FWIW, all three "neutral elf" races are human height or taller.
Cheers,
Nell.