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StM
Acolyte
Italy
3 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 11:33:26
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Hello everyone,
I've noticed that over time, star elves haven’t had much exposure in stories or sourcebooks, and I'd love to dive deeper into understanding them. As a D&D 3.5 player, my main reference for them is Unapproachable East.
I have a few questions regarding their aesthetics, culture, and magical abilities:
- Aesthetics: The Unapproachable East describes star elves as being very similar to moon elves, with "sometimes gold flecks." However, in the illustrations, they are depicted with a strange light or glow on their foreheads, which isn't mentioned in the written description. Is this light an inherent trait of star elves, or was it purely a design choice by the artist?
- Culture and Politics: From what I’ve gathered, there’s little detail on the societal and political structure of star elves. Given their prolonged isolation, I would expect their society to have evolved into something quite unique—perhaps akin to how the drow have diverged from surface elves. Has there been any detailed exploration of star elf culture, or is it left intentionally vague?
- High Magic: As a 3.5 player, I might be missing some information from later editions, but I find it curious that star elves aren't mentioned alongside sun elves, moon elves, and wood elves when it comes to wielding High Magic. Considering that their realm, Sildëyuir, is a demiplane they actively conceal and protect, wouldn't they naturally be proficient in such powerful magic? If there’s any lore or explanation for their exclusion, I’d love to know more.
I appreciate any insights or sources you can point me to. Thanks in advance for your help!
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lordsknight185
Learned Scribe
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 18:02:28
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| They were introduced in 3.5 and not mentioned much elsewhere. The ball of light is actually attached to their headbands so I assume it is a purely design choice for the artist and the star elves. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11825 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 19:08:35
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| They were explored a little in some of the novels. The Last Mythal series at one point had some elves go to their hidden city. I want to say there was a star elf in the Windwalker novel, but the role was relatively minor and unexplored and I can't even recall their actions. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Galuf the Dwarf
Senior Scribe
USA
616 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 20:14:09
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| They apparently got some mention in 5th Edition as well, according to the wiki, purportedly in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. |
Galuf's Baldur's Gate NPC stats: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8823
Galuf's 3.5 Ed. Cleric Domains: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14036
Galuf's Homebrew 4th Edition Races: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13787
Galuf's Homebrew Specialty Priest PrCs: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14353
Galuf's Forgotten Realms Heralds and Allies thread: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8766 |
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StM
Acolyte
Italy
3 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 20:20:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
They apparently got some mention in 5th Edition as well, according to the wiki, purportedly in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.
Yes, I saw that they were mentioned at the: Chapter 3: Races of the Realms, Page: 106
quote:
Star Elves: The star elves, or Ruar'Tel'Quessir, look much like tall moon elves. They dwell on the demiplane of Sildëyuir near the Feywild. A conflict with the nilshai, a race of wormlike sourcerers from the Ethereal Plane, forced some star elves to leave their home and come to Faerûn.
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Galuf the Dwarf
Senior Scribe
USA
616 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 22:53:15
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quote:
Originally posted by StM
quote:
Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
They apparently got some mention in 5th Edition as well, according to the wiki, purportedly in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.
Yes, I saw that they were mentioned at the: Chapter 3: Races of the Realms, Page: 106
quote:
Star Elves: The star elves, or Ruar'Tel'Quessir, look much like tall moon elves. They dwell on the demiplane of Sildëyuir near the Feywild. A conflict with the nilshai, a race of wormlike sourcerers from the Ethereal Plane, forced some star elves to leave their home and come to Faerûn.
Other than the Last Mythal trilogy as mentioned before (which I have yet to read, honestly), there's virtually no mention of them. I remember reading Windwaker but there was no mention of them in that. A shame they're such an obscure subrace of Elf.  |
Galuf's Baldur's Gate NPC stats: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8823
Galuf's 3.5 Ed. Cleric Domains: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14036
Galuf's Homebrew 4th Edition Races: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13787
Galuf's Homebrew Specialty Priest PrCs: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14353
Galuf's Forgotten Realms Heralds and Allies thread: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8766 |
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StM
Acolyte
Italy
3 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 22:58:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
quote:
Originally posted by StM
quote:
Originally posted by Galuf the Dwarf
They apparently got some mention in 5th Edition as well, according to the wiki, purportedly in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.
Yes, I saw that they were mentioned at the: Chapter 3: Races of the Realms, Page: 106
quote:
Star Elves: The star elves, or Ruar'Tel'Quessir, look much like tall moon elves. They dwell on the demiplane of Sildëyuir near the Feywild. A conflict with the nilshai, a race of wormlike sourcerers from the Ethereal Plane, forced some star elves to leave their home and come to Faerûn.
Other than the Last Mythal trilogy as mentioned before (which I have yet to read, honestly), there's virtually no mention of them. I remember reading Windwaker but there was no mention of them in that. A shame they're such an obscure subrace of Elf.
Yes, really a sad thing that they are so little mentioned. I find this subrace very interesting. |
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Galuf the Dwarf
Senior Scribe
USA
616 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2024 : 23:23:59
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My advice, and this coming from a guy who's notable for trying to fill the gaps where the official lore trails off? Just wing it and take your own spin on the lore you're looking for.  |
Galuf's Baldur's Gate NPC stats: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8823
Galuf's 3.5 Ed. Cleric Domains: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14036
Galuf's Homebrew 4th Edition Races: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13787
Galuf's Homebrew Specialty Priest PrCs: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14353
Galuf's Forgotten Realms Heralds and Allies thread: forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8766 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31771 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2024 : 01:02:08
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Elaine Cunningham featured Sharlarra in her novel Windwalker -- though we didn't have an appropriate reference source at the time to determine what Sharlarra was when Windwalker was published bcause Unapproachable East had not been released yet. She explains -
"First, I'm a little puzzled by the comments that star elves were "finally" recognized in a novel, as this subrace was introduced in a fairly recent game product. Second, I did not openly state that Sharlarra was a star elf because this game product had not yet been released when I was writing Windwalker. I obtained a copy of the manuscript from WotC and read it for continuity, and also for ways to tie the novel more closely with the new lore. Because of the timing, I was trying to avoid NDA restrictions, not to mention territorial issues--I don't imagine game designers would be pleased to see their new creations unveiled elsewhere. A small matter of professional courtesy.
But I had no doubt that Sharlarra would be recognized for what she is. I've fielded quite a few questions about her race, some on the WotC message boards and some in email, and quite a few people made the connection without any trouble." |
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 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11825 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2024 : 15:35:09
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Elaine Cunningham featured Sharlarra in her novel Windwalker -- though we didn't have an appropriate reference source at the time to determine what Sharlarra was when Windwalker was published bcause Unapproachable East had not been released yet. She explains -
"First, I'm a little puzzled by the comments that star elves were "finally" recognized in a novel, as this subrace was introduced in a fairly recent game product. Second, I did not openly state that Sharlarra was a star elf because this game product had not yet been released when I was writing Windwalker. I obtained a copy of the manuscript from WotC and read it for continuity, and also for ways to tie the novel more closely with the new lore. Because of the timing, I was trying to avoid NDA restrictions, not to mention territorial issues--I don't imagine game designers would be pleased to see their new creations unveiled elsewhere. A small matter of professional courtesy.
But I had no doubt that Sharlarra would be recognized for what she is. I've fielded quite a few questions about her race, some on the WotC message boards and some in email, and quite a few people made the connection without any trouble."
Thanks Sage. I knew there was one in the novel, but damned if I could remember details. She was apparently in a short story as well involving Liriel the dark elf. Link below has more details. Apparently she was also involved with Khelben and Laeral.
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sharlarra_Vendreth
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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bloodtide_the_red
Learned Scribe
USA
302 Posts |
Posted - 05 Oct 2024 : 21:17:01
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The novel Stardeep has star elves and powerful star elf magic.
Really, we know every little about them. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31771 Posts |
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Star Elves questions
