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Ancient Elves

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jul 17, 2004 0:04:16 Is there any published material about the ancient athasian elves. Anything about ruins or artifacts or anything like that?
#2
zombiegleemax
Jul 17, 2004 0:19:44 The only thing I can think of are the elves that live in Silvandretta. See the Mind Lords of the Last Sea about them.
#3
Pennarin
Jul 17, 2004 0:28:24 The island of Shault has an ancient elven ruin made of marble. Its about all the section of text says on the matter. See the Dragon Crown adventure, perhaps even Valley of Dust and Fire.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jul 17, 2004 0:29:50 I just remembered that the Tribe of One Series has alot of info relating to the last days of the ancient Elves.
#5
zombiegleemax
Jul 17, 2004 1:06:18 Thats what I was afraid of. Those are the only DS books i havent read, and I wanted to develop a history of the elves, but now I guess I'll have to hunt those books down...
#6
zombiegleemax
Jul 18, 2004 18:03:43 Does anyone know if the elven ruins on shult have ben discussed at length in any of the official material?
#7
Ryltar_Swordsong
Jul 18, 2004 19:55:31 Please don't rely on the Tribe of One trilogy for info about the Green Age elves. The author didn't have a firm grasp of the tone of DS, and his work reflects it. While the books aren't bad, they don't fit the setting.
#8
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Jul 18, 2004 20:52:29 Rainbows. Flowers. 'nuff said.
#9
zombiegleemax
Jul 18, 2004 21:36:33 My theory is that they were many types of elves such as high elves, junlge elves and plains elves, however, the plains elves could adopt to Athas and though natural selection, they survived, whereas the rest didn't.

Perhaps there is a far off land where jungle elves dwell.
#10
dawnstealer
Jul 19, 2004 13:52:12 I mentioned it in the Green Age post, but I'll reiterate here:

The way I figure it (taking this mostly from Mind Lords of the Last Sea and my own ideas), Elves were split into at least two subspecies: High and "Low" (although the Low Elves probably didn't call themselves that). The High Elves were the ruling class and were sedentary. They were arrogant and stayed put in their beautiful cities, content in the fact that no mere human could defeat their magics. They ruled over the Low Elves, who were the traders and muscle of their culture. The High Elves were brilliant, but not as physically gifted (high brain stats - Int, Wis, and Cha - but low physical stats - Str, Dex, Con).

Led by Corannuu, the Low Elves took the hint and left the cities behind, becoming hard-to-catch nomads as Albeorn ran ripshod over the elven cities. The High Elves were all but wiped out (except for in Saragar). Never having been on their own, the running Low Elves gradually fractured, with Corannuu running all the way to the Outer Planes (Planescape has mention of Athasian Elves living there and the legends of Corannuu presented in Elves of Athas might point in this direction).
#11
gforce99
Jul 21, 2004 13:26:19 In the Tribe of One series, it is mentioned that the Pyreen were long friends with the Elves. That the Elves were one of the strongest races that fought against the Cleansing Wars. Rajaat detroyed the Elves (or maybe the High Elves) through making the High King Alderon(spelling?) impotent. Alderon and the elven kingdoms die when civil war breaks out from rival heirs of the throne.
Aldaron gives his magical sword, Gladra to the Pyreen for safe keeping...

Hope that helps a bit.
#12
zombiegleemax
Jul 21, 2004 15:42:32
Rajaat detroyed the Elves (or maybe the High Elves) through making the High King Alderon(spelling?) impotent.

That's just an awesome little tidbit. Thanks much.
#13
gforce99
Jul 22, 2004 6:24:30 It seems the elves (or at least the High Elves) were incapable of shifting their succession rules around. Thus when Rajaat made Alderon unable to create a heir, his rivals and relatives began a great Elven Civil War that destroyed their civilization.

It makes one wonder what the Champion of Rajaat did to help further the demise of the elves, and how they ultimately failed.
#14
dawnstealer
Jul 22, 2004 7:57:42 All of that's from the Tribe of One series? Damn, now I'll have to go back and read them again. Of course, [generous] half [/generous] of the info in those books is pulled out of Hawke's arse, but so be it.
#15
gforce99
Jul 22, 2004 8:13:49 Perhaps Simon Hawke's Sorak material has some holes (actually it does have holes). But I have always thought that the over all story and effect were more important. He created some cool characters, showed us (in novel form) some things about the villachi, defilers and halflings. And he really gave us some great golden nuggets when it came to elves, avangions and the history of Athas. Sure it could have been better, but it could have been much worse.

For those on the fence, give them a read, its not that bad. And cheap too.

Good times!
#16
Sysane
Jul 22, 2004 8:14:59
It makes one wonder what the Champion of Rajaat did to help further the demise of the elves, and how they ultimately failed.

This was by no means offical, but I remember reading a monster write up from the web for the "Elf-Bane Spider". This creature was created by Andropinis to hunt down the elves. What made the spider deadly was it could run as fast (if not faster) than the elves and its poison was especialy leathal aganist them.

I always thought that was a cool idea, even though it wasn't cannon. I'm going to have to dig that up and take a look at it again.
#17
dawnstealer
Jul 22, 2004 11:58:30 For the Cleansing Wars (my side project), I had Androponis using the High Elves (ruling class) sedentary lifestyle against them. The Low Elves were not bonded to the cities as much, and left when it became clear the war was not going to go their way. Running away, that's still a part of their culture, and they've never really stopped. Whatever Andy used on them to kill them in the cities is open for debate. In a sense, he destroyed their culture, even if he didn't get 'em all.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jul 17, 2004 0:04:16	Is there any published material about the ancient athasian elves. Anything about ruins or artifacts or anything like that?
#2 zombiegleemax Jul 17, 2004 0:19:44	The only thing I can think of are the elves that live in Silvandretta. See the Mind Lords of the Last Sea about them.
#3 Pennarin Jul 17, 2004 0:28:24	The island of Shault has an ancient elven ruin made of marble. Its about all the section of text says on the matter. See the Dragon Crown adventure, perhaps even Valley of Dust and Fire.
#4 zombiegleemax Jul 17, 2004 0:29:50	I just remembered that the Tribe of One Series has alot of info relating to the last days of the ancient Elves.
#5 zombiegleemax Jul 17, 2004 1:06:18	Thats what I was afraid of. Those are the only DS books i havent read, and I wanted to develop a history of the elves, but now I guess I'll have to hunt those books down...
#6 zombiegleemax Jul 18, 2004 18:03:43	Does anyone know if the elven ruins on shult have ben discussed at length in any of the official material?
#7 Ryltar_Swordsong Jul 18, 2004 19:55:31	Please don't rely on the Tribe of One trilogy for info about the Green Age elves. The author didn't have a firm grasp of the tone of DS, and his work reflects it. While the books aren't bad, they don't fit the setting.
#8 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Jul 18, 2004 20:52:29	Rainbows. Flowers. 'nuff said.
#9 zombiegleemax Jul 18, 2004 21:36:33	My theory is that they were many types of elves such as high elves, junlge elves and plains elves, however, the plains elves could adopt to Athas and though natural selection, they survived, whereas the rest didn't. Perhaps there is a far off land where jungle elves dwell.
#10 dawnstealer Jul 19, 2004 13:52:12	I mentioned it in the Green Age post, but I'll reiterate here: The way I figure it (taking this mostly from Mind Lords of the Last Sea and my own ideas), Elves were split into at least two subspecies: High and "Low" (although the Low Elves probably didn't call themselves that). The High Elves were the ruling class and were sedentary. They were arrogant and stayed put in their beautiful cities, content in the fact that no mere human could defeat their magics. They ruled over the Low Elves, who were the traders and muscle of their culture. The High Elves were brilliant, but not as physically gifted (high brain stats - Int, Wis, and Cha - but low physical stats - Str, Dex, Con). Led by Corannuu, the Low Elves took the hint and left the cities behind, becoming hard-to-catch nomads as Albeorn ran ripshod over the elven cities. The High Elves were all but wiped out (except for in Saragar). Never having been on their own, the running Low Elves gradually fractured, with Corannuu running all the way to the Outer Planes (Planescape has mention of Athasian Elves living there and the legends of Corannuu presented in Elves of Athas might point in this direction).
#11 gforce99 Jul 21, 2004 13:26:19	In the Tribe of One series, it is mentioned that the Pyreen were long friends with the Elves. That the Elves were one of the strongest races that fought against the Cleansing Wars. Rajaat detroyed the Elves (or maybe the High Elves) through making the High King Alderon(spelling?) impotent. Alderon and the elven kingdoms die when civil war breaks out from rival heirs of the throne. Aldaron gives his magical sword, Gladra to the Pyreen for safe keeping... Hope that helps a bit.
#12 zombiegleemax Jul 21, 2004 15:42:32	Rajaat detroyed the Elves (or maybe the High Elves) through making the High King Alderon(spelling?) impotent. That's just an awesome little tidbit. Thanks much.
#13 gforce99 Jul 22, 2004 6:24:30	It seems the elves (or at least the High Elves) were incapable of shifting their succession rules around. Thus when Rajaat made Alderon unable to create a heir, his rivals and relatives began a great Elven Civil War that destroyed their civilization. It makes one wonder what the Champion of Rajaat did to help further the demise of the elves, and how they ultimately failed.
#14 dawnstealer Jul 22, 2004 7:57:42	All of that's from the Tribe of One series? Damn, now I'll have to go back and read them again. Of course, [generous] half [/generous] of the info in those books is pulled out of Hawke's arse, but so be it.
#15 gforce99 Jul 22, 2004 8:13:49	Perhaps Simon Hawke's Sorak material has some holes (actually it does have holes). But I have always thought that the over all story and effect were more important. He created some cool characters, showed us (in novel form) some things about the villachi, defilers and halflings. And he really gave us some great golden nuggets when it came to elves, avangions and the history of Athas. Sure it could have been better, but it could have been much worse. For those on the fence, give them a read, its not that bad. And cheap too. Good times!
#16 Sysane Jul 22, 2004 8:14:59	It makes one wonder what the Champion of Rajaat did to help further the demise of the elves, and how they ultimately failed. This was by no means offical, but I remember reading a monster write up from the web for the "Elf-Bane Spider". This creature was created by Andropinis to hunt down the elves. What made the spider deadly was it could run as fast (if not faster) than the elves and its poison was especialy leathal aganist them. I always thought that was a cool idea, even though it wasn't cannon. I'm going to have to dig that up and take a look at it again.
#17 dawnstealer Jul 22, 2004 11:58:30	For the Cleansing Wars (my side project), I had Androponis using the High Elves (ruling class) sedentary lifestyle against them. The Low Elves were not bonded to the cities as much, and left when it became clear the war was not going to go their way. Running away, that's still a part of their culture, and they've never really stopped. Whatever Andy used on them to kill them in the cities is open for debate. In a sense, he destroyed their culture, even if he didn't get 'em all.