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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Oct 2009 : 21:19:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Lady Fellshot
Yes, I know the populations are likely small, but still... To touch on Scribe De Bie's example, no one is entirely sure if Neanderthal humans were a human subspecies or not. No one has been able to conclusively prove or disprove interbreeding with Cro-Magnons as far as I know.
I was only using the concept as an elucidation of my point. Neanderthalis is alternately described as a separate species or a subspecies--it depends on who you ask. (Kind of like eladrins vs. elves, really!)
I will say that it is canonically established (in the novels, sourcebooks) that some moon and sun elves refer to themselves as eladrin, some as elves, and the distinction confuses the heck out of non-fey on a daily basis (who are never certain how to refer to them). In the novels and in the sourcebooks--at least for now--you are going to see both terms, and both are referring to the same thing.
As I said, the distinction is primarily a 4e mechanical one. In your games, refer to them how you want!
That said, it is established in sourcebooks that "eladrin" can be things that we generally associate with the eladrin of previous editions (coure, ghaele, bralani, etc.), which would seem to support the point that 4e Eladrin are "closer" to their feywild ancestry than 4e Elves. And as I suggested, over the last century, the sun/moon elves of the Realms might have become more eladrin-y because of the growing proximity of the Feywild.
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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Snowblood
Senior Scribe
Australia
388 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2009 : 01:57:44
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| I love this thread..........(huge grin of satisfaction) |
Aryvandaar, Ilythiir, Arnothoi, Orva, Sarphil, Anauria/Asram/Hlondath, Uvaeren, Braceldaur, Ilodhar, Lisenaar, Imaskar, Miyeritar, Orishaar, Shantel Othrieir, Keltormir, Eaerlann, Ammarindar, Siluvanede, Sharrven, Illefarn, Ardeep, Rystal Wood, Evereska are all available here for download:http://phasai.deviantart.com/gallery/
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Shemmy
Senior Scribe
USA
492 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2009 : 22:52:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Caedwyr
I would say that Eldarin are to elves what Aasimaar are to humans.
Though it's worth pointing out that aasimar are not only of human descent. As a race they can be derived from any mortal race with some fraction of celestial blood, and I can think of at least one canonical aasimar that was explicitly of elven descent.
I assume you're using "eladrin" in the 4e re-use of the name. I would use eladrin to refer to actual eladrin as a species of celestials, and I really don't know how the 4e Realms handles the retconning of its outsiders to fit the 4e framework in any cohesive fashion. |
Shemeska the Marauder, King of the Crosstrade; voted #1 best Arcanaloth in Sigil two hundred years running by the people who know what's best for them; chant broker; prospective Sigil council member next election; and official travel agent for Chamada Holiday specials LLC.
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Caedwyr
Seeker
87 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2009 : 01:03:09
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| Oops, I meant Aasimon when I typed that, not Aasimar. It's been a while since I opened my 2nd edition monster manuals. |
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when is an elf not an elf????? 3rd and 4E content.
