| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 00:31:04
|
|
I've been having a good bit of confusion on this topic recently. I just read an article in Elves of Evermeet, and it said that Gold Elves have physical appearances like that of Grey Elves from Greyhawk. This goes back on other lore, stating that Gold Elves have golden coloured skin. Also, when seeing pictures of various Elves in sourcebooks for FR, I've never seen any actual golden skinned Elves. However, I've seen Elves with pale blonde hair and fair skin. Could someone help me make sense of this?
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 00:44:44
|
Sounds to me like another instance of the disconnect between imagery and text. In other words, some artists generally take a broader view with their directives on what to illustrate, which doesn't always faithfully represent what is described in the text about skin tones.
Remember the confusion over drow skin tones in 3e? The text about the drow skin tone in the Underdark sourcebook was changed because artists supposedly couldn't draw/paint/etc ebony/obsidian skinned drow.
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
 |
|
|
Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 00:50:25
|
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Sounds to me like another instance of the disconnect between imagery and text. In other words, some artists generally take a broader view with their directives on what to illustrate, which doesn't always faithfully represent what is described in the text about skin tones.
Remember the confusion over drow skin tones in 3e? The text about the drow skin tone in the Underdark sourcebook was changed because artists supposedly couldn't draw/paint/etc ebony/obsidian skinned drow.
So what does this mean? I'm still confused if they are whitish skinned or light golden skinned. |
|
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 01:14:05
|
It means that the artistic and descriptive aspects have never been consistent. So it's largely a case of them being both or neither, really, as the DM decides for his/her own campaign.
If the next lot of gold elves, say, in 5e, have the whitish hue, then with the standard "newer lore trumps old," we assume that this is accurate. If the artist draws them with the light-gold tinge, however, then we say that this is now what they are like.
It's hard to provide a specific answer to a query like this, because of the disconnect between imagery and text I mentioned earlier. They can be either skin tone, really, depending on how they are illustrated or described in text at a particular time.
It might simply be easier for you to number how many instances the gold elves are illustrated/described as white-skinned and then compare that to the number of instances they are illustrated/described as gold-skinned. The greater number of instances may be the more commonly accepted interpretation and, thus, the option you could work with. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
|
|
|
Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 01:17:28
|
| Gold elves/sun elves are bronze-skinned in Realmslore. When Elves of Evermeet p. 104 says 'Toril's Gold elves resemble that subrace known on other worlds . . . as Gray elves', it doesn't mean in terms of physical appearance -- it would be wrong if it did, since Cyclopedia of the Realms p. 42 definitively tells us 'Gold Elves . . . have bronze skins and hair of copper, black, or blonde' (3E FRCS likewise), whereas moon elves 'are much paler'. Rather, it means gold elves correspond in overall character to the gray elves (faeries) in the original Monster Manual: 'These noble elves are the rarest and most powerful of their kind . . . They are very reclusive'. |
|
|
|
Eladrinstar
Learned Scribe
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 01:19:23
|
| Ignore the artwork. It's just there to spruce things up. |
|
|
|
Kentinal
Great Reader
4702 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 01:20:58
|
| And inspire discussion about armour. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
|
|
|
Eladrinstar
Learned Scribe
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 01:39:21
|
| There is also more to physical appearance than the skin colors. Maybe they skulls of Gold Elves resemble the skulls of Grey elves from other worlds or something. Anyway, light skinned Gold Elves could have an orangish tone where light skinned moon elves have a blue tone. |
|
|
|
Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 02:27:45
|
I've always viewed it as a pale golden tone, their skin.
And now I've just read that Araushnee/Lolth originally had the black skin and read eyes of the drow BEFORE her descent and that her children looked like her, in Evermeet: Island of Elves. |
|
|
|
Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
|
|
Eladrinstar
Learned Scribe
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 03:57:33
|
Many of those elves are quite pale but their skin has warm tones, to contrast with the cold white/blue/silver tones of the Moon Elves.
And yes the Ilythiiri were dark skinned, but I'm not sure if they were the almost blue-black of the Drow, or if they had white hair yet. |
Edited by - Eladrinstar on 18 Feb 2012 04:01:07 |
|
|
|
Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3762 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 04:12:54
|
quote:
Originally posted by Erendriel Durothil
And now I've just read that Araushnee/Lolth originally had the black skin and read eyes of the drow BEFORE her descent and that her children looked like her, in Evermeet: Island of Elves.
-Given that deities are, simply put, blobs of coalesced divine energies, they have no true physical forms. As a result, they can appear however they want to, to whomever they want.
-Also note that the depictions of Araushnee, Eilistraee and Vhaeraun in Evermeet: Island of Elves is based on the legends that Danillo collected and codified as a gift for Arilyn. Legends need not be correct, and in this case, those deities need not have necessarily actually have chosen those particular forms to appear as in actuality. |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know) |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36965 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 04:32:33
|
| Vartan Hai Sylvar was a gold elf, and he was depicted with bronze skin in the comics. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 18 Feb 2012 04:32:44 |
|
|
|
TBeholder
Great Reader
2511 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 18:36:50
|
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Vartan Hai Sylvar was a gold elf, and he was depicted with bronze skin in the comics.
And gold elf skin color is always referred to as "bronze" in all FR boxes, no?
quote:
Originally posted by Eladrinstar
Many of those elves are quite pale but their skin has warm tones, to contrast with the cold white/blue/silver tones of the Moon Elves.
...of course, to think of it, there are very different sorts of bronze. 
quote:
Originally posted by Erendriel Durothil
And now I've just read that Araushnee/Lolth originally had the black skin and read eyes of the drow BEFORE her descent and that her children looked like her, in Evermeet: Island of Elves.
Unreliable lore is unreliable. Besides, those elves would die before admitting that the Fall of the Drow involved anything that can be seen as an improvement. 
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Remember the confusion over drow skin tones in 3e? The text about the drow skin tone in the Underdark sourcebook was changed because artists supposedly couldn't draw/paint/etc ebony/obsidian skinned drow.
It's a known bug, yes. The known solution is to let the artist in question draw webcomics for several years for practice. The same could solve the whole "magic = puke + fluorescence" problem plaguing D&D3 books - or, hopefully, even slightly cut back spikes&skullz ornaments and other "very artsy" additives of this sort.
If they needed a book sooner than that, there certainly are artists capable to do it. For example, the one who illustrated GAZ5: The Elves of Alfheim cover - (looking up) - Clyde Caldwell. Before there were drow in any sourcebook he without rhyme or reason painted one (this cover seems to be the earliest inspiration).
There's, ahem, a tendency toward chainmail bikinis, yes. However, mildly puerile good art is, at very least, much better than highly puerile bad art. IMHO. 
quote:
Originally posted by Eladrinstar
And yes the Ilythiiri were dark skinned, but I'm not sure if they were the almost blue-black of the Drow, or if they had white hair yet.
I certainly remember there was something about the original Ssri-tel'quessir being dark-skinned the way humans are, and becoming graphite/obsidian black as the drow. Which IMO is fine, since it came in a bundle with affinity to radiation magic.
|
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
Edited by - TBeholder on 18 Feb 2012 18:40:51 |
|
|
|
Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 19:36:40
|
| Realmslore is now stating that Gold Elves have golden skin colour (which makes a lot more sense and looks much better). Also, where Araushnee was said to be drow like, it was in the book by Elaine Cunningham, one of the very few people Ed Greenwood has said that actually understood his Realms. |
|
|
|
Eladrinstar
Learned Scribe
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 19:40:07
|
| But it was in a part of the book that was being presented as a compilation of legends Danilo Thann had put together. It might not be the reality of the situation. |
|
|
|
Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2012 : 21:28:45
|
| I've always gone by the material in Cormanthyr:Empire of the Elves. Steven knew elves and that book has pretty much the "correct" physical characteristics of elves, in my opinion. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
|
|
|
Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2012 : 00:24:43
|
I refer to sun elves as having golden, bronze, lightly tanned, etc skin tones. They do vary.
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" |
|
|
|
Lady Shadowflame
Learned Scribe
115 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2012 : 01:16:02
|
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
I refer to sun elves as having golden, bronze, lightly tanned, etc skin tones. They do vary.
Cheers
And one could always assume that instead of brown-tan like some humans get (those lucky enough to be able to tan instead of freckling...) sun elves go more gold/bronze when they spend time in the sun.
Just assume the paler ones in pictures have spent the last two decades or so mostly indoors learning something they really wanted to study? |
Save a lizard... Ride a drow.
|
|
|
|
Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2012 : 05:20:30
|
Lord Karsus and I had come up with the theory that Elves tan in reverse - that the pigments in their skin get lighter as they spend time in the sun.
It doesn't work out so good, but it was just something interesting we were tossing around for a (short) while. We were trying to work-out some of the science behind it - lighter colors reflect light, and darker ones absorb it, so perhaps it could have been some sort of evolutionary protection from over-exposure to the sun.
Unfortunately, Elves skin must also contain some form of mammalian Chlorophyll, because canonically they can derive some small amount of sustenance from sunlight itself (trying to find the source for this ATM). Ergo, their skin having some form of reflective, protective properties doesn't make much sense (which is probably why we quickly abandoned that half-baked theory).
Stuff about Elven skintones can be found on page 31 of The Complete Handbook of Elves. I forgot how much interesting stuff was in that tome. I'm going to have to check some other sources to find the thing about sunlight. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
|
Edited by - Markustay on 19 Feb 2012 05:36:21 |
|
|
|
TBeholder
Great Reader
2511 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2012 : 16:12:53
|
quote:
Originally posted by Erendriel Durothil
it was in the book by Elaine Cunningham, one of the very few people Ed Greenwood has said that actually understood his Realms.
Yep. Specificaly, it was in Danilo's narration. And "actually understanding the Realms" explicitly involves?..
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
I've always gone by the material in Cormanthyr:Empire of the Elves. Steven knew elves and that book has pretty much the "correct" physical characteristics of elves, in my opinion.
Also, counts as a specific source vs. generic ones. Appearance
Skin: Bronze, amber
Hair: Copper, golden blond, black; rare: red
Eyes: Gold, silver, black; rare: copper, hazel
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Unfortunately, Elves skin must also contain some form of mammalian Chlorophyll, because
...there was a great scarcity of the "wood elf" jokes as it is, clearly. 
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Stuff about Elven skintones can be found on page 31 of The Complete Handbook of Elves. I forgot how much interesting stuff was in that tome. I'm going to have to check some other sources to find the thing about sunlight.
It's interesting, but just a generic drop in the ocean that won't necessarily cover even what one can meet on the deck of a single EIN ship, let alone be obligatory appliable to every given world in full. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
|
|
|
Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2012 : 22:06:18
|
Unfortunately, since that tome covers the FR Elven groups specifically, and even what little detail we have on the Zakharan ones, then we have to assume that the book is indeed Realms canon (else, why even bother including case-specific info for the Realms and Zakhara?)
However, setting-canon does take precedence over D&D canon, and its pretty clear that our Gold Elves are the 'Grays' (Eladrin in 4e) from other settings (I believe it even says that in tCHoE -can't check now, on my way out the door). This means that our (FR) elves are somewhat different then the generic ones, color-wise - and our Grays have a LARGE admixture of non-Gray blood, because of the events related in Elaine's novel, which could account for why our 'haughty elves' look more like the sylvan elves from other settings.
Just thought of something - what skin-tone do Eladrin have? It should be the extremely pale coloration of Gray Elves (except in FR). |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
|
Edited by - Markustay on 19 Feb 2012 22:08:52 |
|
|
|
Icelander
Master of Realmslore
1864 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 01:17:22
|
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Unfortunately, Elves skin must also contain some form of mammalian Chlorophyll, because canonically they can derive some small amount of sustenance from sunlight itself (trying to find the source for this ATM). Ergo, their skin having some form of reflective, protective properties doesn't make much sense (which is probably why we quickly abandoned that half-baked theory).
While I don't have all the sources in front of me, it seems to me that elves are likely to be drawing sustenence from the magic inherent in sunlight, not through a process precisely analogous to that of chlorophyll. The sun of Abeir-Toril was most likely created when Selune threw a fragment of her divine essence at Shar and thus shares an origin with Mystryl.
Given that assumption, it isn't really any less likely that the process of drawing magical energy from sunlight and converting it to sustenence draws some of the pigmentation away from the surface of the skin than assuming that elves tan as humans do.
I'd probably rule that only using* the sun's energy to replace food, i.e. going without food (partially or wholly), results in this lightening. Thus, elves who either do not receive much sunlight or who are content to get their nourishment entirely through more 'traditional' means** will tend to have stronger skin pigmentation.
I'd also say that on all worlds where elves live, the sun emits some magic as well, enabling elves to derive a part of their nourisment from it if they wish. On Toril, however, the direct connection of the sun to the Goddess of Magic results in the magical content of sunlight being stronger than in most other places.
This is why Torilian elves are larger and more long-lived than elves elsewhere in the multiverse. They are better fed and course with more magic. Canonically, elven lifespans grew shorter as the Weave was damaged, so it is likely that the first elves born on Toril lived even longer. Of course, post-Sundering, only those places on Faerun that had not been made inhospitable to the elves by that miscast magic allowed them the benefit of this, explaining why the trend of the majority of Torilian elves over time has been toward the norm elsewhere in the multiverse, but with those who live in the mystical elven homelands are excempt.
This also neatly explains the general coloration of the subraces, as well as the variations within each. The sylvan elves, both wild and copper, appear to have a more hedonistic attitude toward life, with a genuine enjoyment of nature's bounty, not merely in a spiritual sense, but to an almost human degree in some of them, for the fruits of nature. They are therefore likely to hunt and gather actual, physical food. The energy gathered from sunlight they most likely expend in powering their innate gifts useful for survival, their 'infravision' or 'night vision'*** and tolerance for extremes of temperature, or it gets used in rebuilding their skin to remove scars from their more active lifestyle.
Other elves might have concerns that are more cerebral and spiritual, eating more sparingly. Aware of the life that pulses everywhere and their stewardship for nature, these elves must be balancing their need and the sensual joy of eating against the harm done to individual plants or animals. While it is possible to harvest a great deal of bounty from a verdant forest without causing it harm, a code which accords every berry, acorn or leaf its own value independent of the use to which it might be put, it is not hard to see why these elves consume only as much as they need and no more.
This sounds like the moon elves and it might also explain a lot of the lighter-skinned copper, wild or gold elves.
Why then are most of the gold elves so vibrantly hued? While gold, bronze or amber are fairly light colours, they are still not the fair white skin of Gray Elves seen around the multiverse. And gold elves are, if anything, even less concerned than moon elves with earthy things. The pleasure of eating will not weigh heavily with most of them and they are far removed from the cycle of predator and prey.
On the other hand, the daily activities of most gold elves are such as to, ironically, expose them to less sunlight than perhaps any of the other surface elves except those in the deepest forests. Political intrigue, magical research, artistic creation and intense craftmanship may theoretically be possibly pursued out of doors, but the required conditions or tools are more often found in specialised structures. They, therefore, might spend less time out of doors than their cousins, even if they usually enjoy nature more than urban humans ever do.
Gold elves also have a more stratified society than other elves and a desire for social status and power that seems almost human. Ambition could result in them using the power derived from the sun more to power workings of Art than mundane sustenence and a stratified society with the gold elves at or near the top provides them with an alternate option for sustenance, i.e. having the commoner elves**** provide them with plentiful food. So, their skin pigmentation is not lightened as much as with the 'lesser' elves, if it is for different reasons.
*As opposed to letting it dissipate naturally or using it to power minor acts of magic, either of which must be a possible alternate use, since elves who spend a long time in the sun while also being adequately fed appear not to accumulate infinite stores of energy that can allow them to go without food for centuries.
**From a mammalian and reptilian perspective, at least.
***It is actually vision based on life, magic and the innate connection between these, with seeing heat a byproduct, largely because it is both major feature of the sun and a common attribute of biological life and therefore important in the lifecycle.
****For commoner gold elves, read 'other elves of even lower status'. Commoner gold elves are still likely to be craftsmen or other 'middle-class' professions, able to trade their work to the food-producing 'lower-class' elves of other subraces. As always, exceptions abound, this is simply a generalisation founded in the description of the subraces. |
Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela!
Forgotten Realms fans, please sign a petition to re-release the FR Interactive Atlas
|
|
|
|
Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3762 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 04:35:09
|
quote:
Originally posted by Icelander
[quote]While I don't have all the sources in front of me, it seems to me that elves are likely to be drawing sustenence from the magic inherent in sunlight, not through a process precisely analogous to that of chlorophyll. The sun of Abeir-Toril was most likely created when Selune threw a fragment of her divine essence at Shar and thus shares an origin with Mystryl.
-In EoF I tied it simply to nature, and that it wasn't as physical as it was mental or psychological (which then has physical repercussions). Elves have a natural affinity with nature, and nature can only exist (generally speaking) with sunlight. A lack of sunlight for prolonged periods has negative psychological consequences (an extreme form of cabin fever, you could all it), which in turn has negative physical effects. In the sun, they feel (psychologically_ connected to the rest of nature, to the rest of Elvendom, to life itself. Deprivation results in feeling ripped apart from all of that, which has very negative mental and physical consequences on Elves. |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know) |
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36965 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 05:31:17
|
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
quote:
Originally posted by Icelander
[quote]While I don't have all the sources in front of me, it seems to me that elves are likely to be drawing sustenence from the magic inherent in sunlight, not through a process precisely analogous to that of chlorophyll. The sun of Abeir-Toril was most likely created when Selune threw a fragment of her divine essence at Shar and thus shares an origin with Mystryl.
-In EoF I tied it simply to nature, and that it wasn't as physical as it was mental or psychological (which then has physical repercussions). Elves have a natural affinity with nature, and nature can only exist (generally speaking) with sunlight. A lack of sunlight for prolonged periods has negative psychological consequences (an extreme form of cabin fever, you could all it), which in turn has negative physical effects. In the sun, they feel (psychologically_ connected to the rest of nature, to the rest of Elvendom, to life itself. Deprivation results in feeling ripped apart from all of that, which has very negative mental and physical consequences on Elves.
And in the real world, sunlight helps people generate vitamin D. It's not unreasonable to assume that elven physiology has some quirks that do something similar to this, but in a way that provides some sustenance. It doesn't have to be magical or psychological, though it's certainly possible. Or it could be some combination of the three. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
|
Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 14:24:42
|
I wouldn't give gold elven skin a true metallic sheen. That's too StarTrek 'Data'-like to me. An Ar'Tel-Quessir shouldn't look too artificial.
Their 'golden skintone' is indicative of a tendency to tan more easily than the other elves breeds on Fearun. Apart from the vibrant Wood Elves of the Shaar (or other sun soaked regions), who are often chestnut brown, Gold Elves are born usually of lighter skintone just like the Grey Elves of other multiversal worlds, and depending on the season/climate/activities they aquire their tan.
I like the theory that they have mingled with the other elven subraces and therefore aquired this skintrait. Elaine's Evermeet kinda supports this, as the few gold elven families that arrived on Faerun (seemed like the first settlers where not more than a couple hundred gold elves and a single moon elf) are unlikely to have produced the meriad of gold elven houses currently active on Toril.
|
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
|
|
|
Lord Karsus
Great Reader
USA
3762 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 17:57:22
|
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And in the real world, sunlight helps people generate vitamin D. It's not unreasonable to assume that elven physiology has some quirks that do something similar to this, but in a way that provides some sustenance. It doesn't have to be magical or psychological, though it's certainly possible. Or it could be some combination of the three.
-That was it, Vitamin D. I was drawing a blank, and could only think of 'Cabinfever' making people physically sickly, but is more psychological than physical. But, yes, that.
quote:
Originally posted by Bladewind
I like the theory that they have mingled with the other elven subraces and therefore aquired this skintrait. Elaine's Evermeet kinda supports this, as the few gold elven families that arrived on Faerun (seemed like the first settlers where not more than a couple hundred gold elves and a single moon elf) are unlikely to have produced the meriad of gold elven houses currently active on Toril.
-Going against that is the fact that Elves do not evolve, per se, and breed true- a Moon Elf and Sun Elf having a child is either going to be a Moon Elf or Sun Elf (stats wise). Physical traits, there's more leeway, but were that the case, after some 25,000+ years of Sun, Moon, and Wood Elves living amongst each other in various settlements across the planet (and not on the planet at all!), you'd of eventually gotten one smorgasbord medley of traits that all three possess, and the distinctness of each kind of shoots that down. |
(A Tri-Partite Arcanist Who Has Forgotten More Than Most Will Ever Know) |
Edited by - Lord Karsus on 20 Feb 2012 18:03:09 |
|
|
|
Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 18:37:24
|
I have always doubted that elves don't evolve, but yeah, the distinctive features of the elven subraces elves kinda prove that they don't. Especially moon elves that all began with that Moonflower chap (Sharlarian ?).
Still, I think there should be an explanation why the supposedly "Gray Elves" of Faerun surrounding the Durothil family came to differ from their multiversal counterparts. Perhaps it was the specific avatar of Corellon that watched Realmspaces elves changed/blessed the Ar'Tel-Quessir of Faerun in a special way because he had plans for them later on? The creation of Evermeet does seem to give elves on Faerun a privileged position. |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
|
|
|
Aryalómë
Senior Scribe
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 21:26:23
|
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Karsus
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And in the real world, sunlight helps people generate vitamin D. It's not unreasonable to assume that elven physiology has some quirks that do something similar to this, but in a way that provides some sustenance. It doesn't have to be magical or psychological, though it's certainly possible. Or it could be some combination of the three.
-That was it, Vitamin D. I was drawing a blank, and could only think of 'Cabinfever' making people physically sickly, but is more psychological than physical. But, yes, that.
quote:
Originally posted by Bladewind
I like the theory that they have mingled with the other elven subraces and therefore aquired this skintrait. Elaine's Evermeet kinda supports this, as the few gold elven families that arrived on Faerun (seemed like the first settlers where not more than a couple hundred gold elves and a single moon elf) are unlikely to have produced the meriad of gold elven houses currently active on Toril.
-Going against that is the fact that Elves do not evolve, per se, and breed true- a Moon Elf and Sun Elf having a child is either going to be a Moon Elf or Sun Elf (stats wise). Physical traits, there's more leeway, but were that the case, after some 25,000+ years of Sun, Moon, and Wood Elves living amongst each other in various settlements across the planet (and not on the planet at all!), you'd of eventually gotten one smorgasbord medley of traits that all three possess, and the distinctness of each kind of shoots that down.
Elves of Evermeet said that there are also Gold Elves that did not mingle with anyone. |
|
|
|
Eladrinstar
Learned Scribe
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2012 : 21:36:34
|
| Well, just because a child of a sun elf and a moon elf may be one or the other doesn't mean it takes no traits at all from its other parent. A deeply bronzed gold elf and a white-as-snow silver elf could produce a golf elf child who nonetheless has a warm-toned but light-skinned appearance (and keep in mind there is more in appearance than coloration). |
|
|
|
Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2012 : 00:05:17
|
quote:
Originally posted by Erendriel Durothil
Elves of Evermeet said that there are also Gold Elves that did not mingle with anyone.
True.
But I wonder if these early interloper elves arriving from Faerie had already diverged from other Gray Elves into Ar-Tel'Quessir. It's quite suspicious that Faeruns Gold Elves differ from Gray Elves of Oerth and Mystara by having the bronzed skin that typically is shared by the multiverses more rugged elven subraces, like Oerths Sylvan Elves or Athas' desert elves. The Sun Elves did encounter scattered pockets of wild elven settlers (that were originally Sylvan Elves scouts from Fearie) that have bronzed skin too.
It's curious that Moon Elves are mockingly known by the name of Grey Elves by the Sun Elves, the subrace that actually resemble Gray Elves more. What do they mean? Is it that Teu-Tel'Quessir are 'mongrel' descendants of actual Gray Elves? - Moon elves do share physical traits with Gray Elves more that Sun Elves do - |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Gold Elven Physical Appearance Confusion
