History

It is difficult to trace out the history of a race with no homeland and no written documentation. When asked about their race’s history, Wild Elves tend to be confused by the question. They often remark that asking for their history is no different than asking simply for the history of all things, living and dead. All things are a part of but one history. When speaking with those they trust, they may mention that “history” is headed in a poor direction. The Olagot’Thalan fear history will soon be running out as the world is corrupted further with each generation.

In general, it is known that Wild Elves, like the other races of elves, descended from the Grey Elves. While many chose to inhabit different locations, forming homelands and becoming a part of their environment, Wild Elves are what became of those who chose not to settle down and instead to roam the lands in closer harmony with the flora and fauna of the world. Long ago they came to believe that the elven race and the lands were suffering due to the elves drifting from the old ways and into the greedy, lazy and corrupting ways of the civilized races.

Geography

As a nomadic race, there is much to be said when it comes to the location of the Wild Elves. Certain tribes tend to designate a stretch of land, such as ‘the forests north of the city of Berphaunt’, as their home area but these locations are vague at best. Below is a list, by no means exhaustive, of some of the more commonly known Wild Elven tribes. Major tribes are well known due to their size, relative consistency in location or occasionally their notoriety.

Major Tribes

Silver Leaf

A tribe of mystics who live in the forest north of Berphaunt’s capital, along the eastern coast. Astrologers, druids, and elementalists, these elves are often sought by the other tribes for enchantments and other magical services. The Silver Leaf tribe operate the largest druidic school of magic on Maud’Madir, known as the Academia Beltara. The tribe’s symbol is the poplar leaf.

Raccoon

A tribe of alchemists who do not believe in the use of magic in its current incarnation, outside of extreme circumstances. They firmly believe the practice of magic is a perversion of the natural order. They hope that one day the natural magic of the elves will return and in the interim focus instead on turning the bounty of the earth into weapons and tools. Living in the happy forests between Teris and Felnir, these elves spend as much time in revel as they do fighting threats to their lands.

Rising Sun

This tribe lives in the forests south of Mjoll. They consist mostly of druids and rangers. The leader of this tribe is easily recognisable by the pair of large antlers they wear on their head. They have good relations with the Einher of the north, and share in some of their traditions and seasonal rites. The rituals are altered to suit an elven perspective but the overall structure and meaning remain very similar.

Nightrunners

A tribe of Wild Elves who seem to adapt themselves to a new purpose and location every few decades. They have one goal: to protect and restore the lands through the destruction of the undead and other scourges. If something is poisoning the land, corrupting the wild, or otherwise harming nature, they bring swift retribution. They live in a constant state of war and are known for being harsher than most tribes. Some Nightrunners travel with a dire wolf companion and seem to share a sort of empathic bond with them. Little is known about the nature of the relationship between elf and wolf, and the Nightrunners are not sharing what they know.

Minor Tribes

Bone Tree

A fanatical tribe who seek to purify the race by consuming the weak and those who have lost the way of the Olagot’Thalan. They are worshipers of the dark side of Sybil and believe that the perfect hunt is hunting the most intelligent target: their own kin. The tribe is assumed to have been completely wiped out, for obvious reasons.

Cold Flame

An infamous tribe despised by most other tribes, the Cold Flame believe that only through the complete destruction of all forms of life can a cycle of rebirth begin. They seek the death of all other races, tribes, dragons, gods, and then themselves. Necromancers and those who pervert that which the Wild Elves stand for are not welcome in any lands in which they are found. The Cold Flame are found mainly in the forests of north Tiefanue.

Eye of Ll’yandra

A tribe of fanatical religious Ll’yandra worshipers. They value all life and firmly believe in harmony among the races, but also that an elven life is far more valuable than any other. The degree of fanatical behavior varies. Elders are typically more gentle and youths more likely to suffer fits of rage at the death of an elf. This tribe tends to visit the lands and homes of the other elven races for extended periods of time.

Tourmaline

A tribe of radical elves known for their indiscriminate killing of any who would so much as break a branch without just cause. They have no consistent territory they call home. Often one will only know the Tourmaline passed through by the blood left behind. It is said that the tribe’s name was inspired by a beautiful stone of the same name reminiscent of the color of blood on fresh summer leaves. This befits the tribe’s motto: “We are the blood in the forest”.

Red Stone

Split from the Red Moon tribe in the early 300s, the Red Stone are a sprawling nomadic tribe that follow the movements of the reindeer herds between the lands of Rathenoch and Doranth. They are sometimes called the Angel Killers for their rejection of the gods. While it is not unusual for the lone Red Stone Wild Elf to resort to sabotage or assassination to get their way outside of the tribe, the Red Stone teaches absolute loyalty and honesty within the tribe.

Poica

The Poica tribe is known for its hatred of humans and humanoid races as well as its tolerance for dark magic and necromancy. They are antisocial not only with those outside of their tribe but within as well, stemming from well developed paranoia. It is rumoured that their tribe chieftain was turned into a vampire and rules the tribe from deep underground near Antioch, but most Poica deny this. While Poica are not usually killed on sight, they are rarely given authority and are always kept under a watchful eye.

Storto di Coa

This Wild Elven tribe is very unusual in that it lives entirely on the sea. Also called the ‘Kraken’, these elves live permanently on a number of boats which seldom dock. The boats contain greenhouses and small, compact farms which the Kraken maintain as a food source, along with fishing. The Kraken travel in close groups of many ships, never losing sight of the other Kraken boats with which they travel. The Kraken are usually located somewhere to the north-east of the isle of Zenithstrand.

Tribes of the Lowgarryn Isles

The tribes that exist on the Lowgarryn isles are known for being somewhat different than those on the mainland continent of Maud’madir. Each tribe takes the name of its patron animal spirit and has its traditions loosely based on the traits of the creature. Although each tribe operates under its own rules, due to the small size of the isles there tends to be greater unity among the island’s tribes. A few of the largest tribes are Jhen’Lupus, or Wolf Tribe, the Jhen’Vespen, or Wasp Tribe, and the Jhen’Ursa, or Bear Tribe. There are also rumours that the Raccoon tribe of Maud’madir existed on the isles centuries ago.

Culture

Wild Elves, also known as the Olagot’Thalan, are a nomadic race of elves who do their best to co-exist with nature, believing that the land and all living creatures are important and deserve respect. Hunters and gatherers predominantly, they believe that all races, especially the Thalan, have grown distant from the old ways. The Wild Elves work to preserve and return to these ways. The driving force behind this preservation is a fear that if the understanding held by the Olagot’Thalan is lost, the sacred Arthos, the land, will be left to succumb to the poisons with which the other races plague him.

Wild Elves are simple by nature. They consider all aspects of nature and life a gift from the land and consider few crimes greater than taking more than one needs. They abhor the concept of money, wealth and status in the “civilized” sense and cannot understand why one would prefer to carry a bag of coins, stolen from Arthos, rather than what one actually needs. Wild Elves have no formal cities or homeland and tend to live in nomadic tribes. They often find themselves out of place within formal societies. While they are intelligent enough to understand the ways of civilization and industrial progress, most choose to live a life outside of it. The only thing worse than corrupting oneself with greed is to corrupt the land with pollution or impure twists of nature such as wytchcraft, necromancy, dark and corrupted nature magic.

Wild Elves strive to regain the lost connections with the Arthos and once again become like their Grey Elven ancestors. Wild Elves burn with passion and devote themselves fully to whatever they find worthy of their attention. There are innumerable Wild Elven tribes that exist and function independently of one another with different goals, yet there exists an unspoken unity between the tribes that they, and all life, are a part of the joint community of nature. In this, they share a common goal despite their different methods. It is not uncommon for members or groups of one tribe to spend time, even years or decades, living with another tribe, though they never forget where they came from. Each tribe develops their own levels of tolerance for each other’s way of life.

Tribal Life

Although Wild Elves have little respect for the civilized way of life – often taking ‘savage’ as a compliment – Wild Elven tribes usually have a very well defined structure. Wild Elven tribes, although using what others may call ranks or titles, operate as something closer to a family. Leadership is maintained not by rank or title but rather by trust and respect in the wisdom of the leader. Members of a Wild Elven tribe do not seek personal gain or status. They work to further the goals of the tribe to benefit the whole. Tribes often consist of hundreds, if not thousands, of elves and do not necessarily always travel as a single unit. It is possible for two members of a larger tribe to have never met over the course of several decades, or even centuries.

Most tribes have a single leader who speaks for the tribe. Leaders are not necessarily the eldest, the wisest or the best hunters, but rather those who are willing and able to shoulder the burden of the tribe’s safety and survival. When a leader feels that they are no longer fit to lead the tribe, they will begin to step down by appointing the next leader. The new leader will either begin immediately or work alongside the current leader until they have become fit to lead alone.

It is uncommon for Wild Elves to leave their tribe. They will leave sometimes with the intention of branching off and forming a new tribe and sometimes, rarely, with the intention of pursuing other ways of life. Different tribes have different views on this, but they are usually understanding. The creation of a new tribe is seen as something akin to a child growing into adulthood, with their own ways and desires, and, as such, the parting is almost always done respectfully and without resentment on either side. After all, to Wild Elves, all life is kin.

Trade & Commerce

Wild Elves have no need for superfluous material possessions and so are unlikely to steal. Since Wild Elves spend so much time travelling, they try to carry as little as possible. They keep only what they need to survive, and use a bartering system to acquire what they cannot obtain themselves. Wild Elves prefer a fair and equal trade on both ends, as they consider greed to be unethical. Olagot’Thalan will typically trade goods like animal skins, meat, and wood or bone tools and adornments. Raw ores and gems are seldom traded to outsiders for fear of other races exploiting the land to find more. Wild Elves will only take from the earth what may be replenished. Many Wild Elves enjoy bartering with outside races because they believe they are far more adept at it than other races. Typically, trading outside of the tribe is conducted by a leader or Wild Elf appointed to do the trading, although they are often accompanied by other members of their tribe. These elves will stand behind the elf doing the trading, for to surround or to stand behind the opposite party shows an impolite lack of trust.

Religion & Spirituality

Wild Elves are not a particularly religious race. They focus more on nature and spirituality than powerful deities and dragons. What is much more important to the Wild Elven way of life is spirituality. Their spirituality revolves around a connection to Arthos and the four elements. Earth, Water, Fire and Air represent North, East, South and West as well as Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall respectively. Wild Elves consider many, if not all, aspects of their connection to the land to be driven by these four elements.

For those who do worship gods, Dunarthos, Nature’s Father, and Sybil, the Huntress, are the most popular. Dunarthos’s self sacrifice to merge with the Tree of Life to save the world holds true to typical Wild Elf beliefs while others see Sybil in themselves as they dedicate their lives to protecting nature. There are few Wild Elves that revere the Firstborn, but a number followed the green dragon Suulazultsur before her demise. Many still believe she can be returned to the land and strive to find a way to bring her back. Ahriman, the orange dragon, and Physignathus, the turquoise dragon, also claim a small share of loyal Wild Elven followers. Wild Elves are likely to appreciate the elements, like Ahriman, though few with anywhere near as much fervour. Physignathus is frequently followed by coastal Wild Elves because she symbolizes strength and the sea, and dislikes undead.

Marriage & Mating

Mating is very important to the Wild Elven way of life as it is necessary for the cycle of life. Love is central to the mating process of Wild Elves and is never rushed. It is just as common for Wild Elves to mate in their first or second century of life as it is in their seventh or eighth. Wild Elves understand the mating practice to be a partnership for life. A widowed elf may eventually take a new mate should they love again, but the concept of divorce is foreign to them. Homosexuality is not frowned upon, but it is still expected that the next generation should continue the tribe’s lineage. Although homosexuality may be practiced in the younger years of life it is uncommon for one’s lifetime mate to be of the same sex. A couple which is unable to bear offspring is considered tragic. The adoption of an orphaned child will sometimes overcome this stigma.

Coupling practices are different for each tribe. The actual ceremony is usually simple and personal. A quiet place in the woods and a ceremony of music, storytelling, laughter and love are most common. Mating is seen as strengthening of the Wild Elven way of life which holds that all Wild Elves are one and each belongs together with their kin. Ceremonies often incorporate the cycle of the four elements and seasons. Large ceremonies are neither encouraged or discouraged. All those who feel kinship to either of the mates are welcomed to join in the festivities.

When members of two different tribes marry, there are two options. Most commonly one mate will join their partner’s tribe. This is often determined by the amount of time the couple spends with each tribe and the responsibilities of both mates within their respective tribes. The second option allows both mates to continue to call themselves members of their separate tribes, although this is uncommon since their children may only be a part of one tribe.

A peculiar mating ritual found in surprisingly many Wild Elven tribes is apple tossing. A Wild Elf tosses an apple to their intended mate to show romantic interest. If the recipient catches the apple, they are interested as well. No one knows where this came from or why it became so common, but it causes Wild Elves no end of amusement to confuse other races with it.

Education

Although they are the parent’s responsibility, young Wild Elves are raised by the entire tribe. Children are taught hunting by the hunters, magic by the druids, trading by the traders, and so on. Children are regarded not only as children of the parents’ but as children of the tribe’s. Wild Elven children receive guidance from the tribe’s leader, shaman and elders as well as their parents. Elders are very involved in the rearing of young Wild Elves.

The young are taught to think of Arthos and the tribe as being as much a part of themselves as their own body. Only in this unity is survival made possible. Due to the long lifespan of the Wild Elves it is not uncommon for siblings to be born hundreds of years apart, so many Wild Elves will grow up as essentially only children, even though they may have siblings several centuries older.

Wild Elves change over the course of their long lives. The younger elves are often brash and full of resentment towards many of the other races. The elders teach their young the horrors which the other races visit upon the Arthos, as well as the values of their tribe. The young are kept within the borders of the main camp for many years for safety and to limit exposure to the outside world. As a Wild Elf grows older and begins to understand the world, usually in their fifth decade or so, they are encouraged to venture out on their own.

This journey outside of the tribe may be taken alone or in a group and may last years, decades or in rare cases even centuries. During this period, they are still considered a member of the tribe and are always welcome. They will return to the tribe fully from their wanderings whenever they feel they have become ready to take on the responsibilities of the tribe. Through firsthand experience and observation, they are expected to learn that all beings serve a purpose in life, and this philosophy is central to the belief system of most tribes.

Elders & Funeral Rites

Older Wild Elves are soft spoken, full of patience, and not prone to the emotional intensity of the young. As an elder reaches their final days, Wild Elves believe their inner fire begins to dwindle in a process they call the “Dimming”. When an elder feels that they are beginning to dim it is common for them to seek out someone they may pass their flame to by sharing the song of their life. Tribe elders function as advisers to tribe leaders and as guides to the youth of the tribe. They are the wise, the experienced and the survivors – no simple feat for a life led in the Wild Elven style. To the Wild Elves even the gods themselves are not as knowledgeable as the elders of their tribe. Perhaps the gods shaped the world, but the tribe’s elders have walked it and seen it through the eyes of the Olagot’Thalan. In moments of uncertainty, a leader will often consult with the tribe elders. The elders will give advice to the best of their abilities, though it is the leader who must make the final decision. Older Wild Elves believe that the fire of youth is necessary in a leader, so they generally advise rather than lead.

Burial rites are tribe specific but always involve the theme of returning one’s body to the land. Burning is common as it quickly prepares the body to become part of the earth once again and ensures that the body will not be corrupted by necromancy. Many of the more secluded tribes, especially those that focus on the destruction of undead and necromancy, will sever the hands and head of the dead, crushing the skull before burning the body. This is seen as desecration to most civilized races. Bodies will not usually be buried or left unattended lest they become easy prey for necromancers or other corruptions. Ashes or remains are scattered partly out of the same fear and partly because no Wild Elf would ever want their remains trapped in the confines of a box.

Settlements & Civilization

Wild Elves are nomadic, never building permanent living structures, and always leaving the forest in a better state than they found it. Wild Elven settlements are limited to leather or fur laden tents, lean-tos or small structures made from wood or bone. They are always things that can be easily taken down and carried away or returned to the Arthos.

Wild Elves believe cities are an affront to nature, but also understand that other races seem to need them to survive because they have grown weak. The older they get, the more understanding they tend to become, but they are never truly comfortable between stone walls. They look down upon this way of living, but most will not go out of their way to destroy these structures or attack people who live this way. Wild Elves never seek to control others unless they are committing great crimes against nature, just as they cannot be controlled themselves. To the Olagot’Thalan, it is the right of all living things to be free and unimpeded just as the breeze blows and water flows.

It is common for Wild Elves to intervene against those who mine and log on a massive scale to limit the destruction of the operation. This is seen by most races as a contradicting the idea that Wild Elves will never seek to control others, but Wild Elves see it as guidance rather than control. They see no contradiction, since they are simply protecting the land, which all life is a part of, and so the interests of mortals must naturally align with the protection of the land.

It is said Wild Elves that spend any length of time in a city or trapped indoors will become increasingly irate, and eventually entirely mad. Many have their own ways of coping with this but most are put off by even the thought of such a life.

Naming Conventions

Wild Elven first names don’t follow any particular convention. Their names may have a common trend alongside their siblings, family or tribe but the overall scheme varies widely among Olagot’Thalan. Names derived from natural things such as plants, animals or time are not uncommon but are not common enough to be considered the norm.

What is consistent within Wild Elven naming convention is that at birth they are given only a single name. Their name will at some point in their life be extended to fit the personality they have grown into or to represent a great feat they have accomplished. These names are commonly given by a leader, teacher or shaman to represent that the individual has grown into herself, and these names may change with time. Earned names tend to follow the trend of using two single short words, though not all do. For example: River Walker, Black Stone or Flame Speaker.

Wild Elves do not use any titles such as sir, lord or lady, generally laughing these off as jokes. They will usually introduce themselves using their birth name or earned name. For a formal introduction, in trade or ceremony, they will introduce themselves as their birth name, followed by their earned name, then their tribe name. A Wild Elf makes no distinction between an earned name and a birth name. Both are important parts of the elf’s name. The only titles commonly used before one’s birth name are “shaman”, where appropriate, and “elder”. Elders are always given great deference and respect.

Tattoos

Each tribe has slightly different beliefs regarding their tribal tattoos. Some tribes give their children their first tattoo at birth. For others it represents a coming of age. There are several common traits that tend to exist throughout all tribes: a Wild Elf’s tattoos, or ‘markings’ as they call them, are considered sacred. It is believed that one who is unable to bear the pain of being tattooed by hand will be unable to endure the hardships of life to come. The ritual of tattooing is a joyous one, and a Wild Elf often takes a new marking following a significant event in her life. The marking ritual is generally performed by an elder, shaman, leader or another of elevated status. It is rare to see a Wild Elf take a marking from anyone other than another Wild Elf. One popular saying is that you can tell the age of a Wild Elf by the number of her tattoos, like the rings of a tree.

Common Quirks & Superstitions

Wild Elves view the world with a mixture of straightforward practical wisdom and primal superstition. These superstitions vary wildly between tribes, and even between elves of the same tribe. Superstitions often emphasize the importance of moon phases or the seasons in certain activities, like ensuring that a mating ceremony happens only under a waxing moon, or that tribal elders do not meet under a full moon in autumn. Almost every Wild Elf seems to have their own particular set of good and bad omens which they glean from the natural world around them. A clearing full of dead mushrooms might mean grave danger to one Wild Elf, or foretell the coming of an old friend to another.

Wild Elves recognize that the other races often find them quite peculiar in their superstitions, and many seem to enjoy propagating quirks and nonsense superstitions about themselves in front of other races.

Politics

Wild Elves do not approve of politics. They find it amusing to watch from the outside, but shudder at the concept of being caught up in it. Although they do have structure and leadership in their lives, they do not consider this to be politics any more than a wolf pack can be called political for following its Alpha. There are some rare instances of Wild Elves being involved in political situations but few seem to truly fit into this setting. Wild Elves rarely hold positions of authority in towns for the same reason; they simply lack interest in such things. In those instances where Wild Elves do involve themselves in politics, it is usually only to represent Wild Elven tribes in the area or to ensure that land is being protected from harmful decisions the government may make. Wild Elves take it upon themselves to speak for the land whose signs and needs the civilised can never seem to understand.

Wild Elves are rarely seen in armies. If a Wild Elf is part of an army, they are likely to be a long-range scout. They are not lazy creatures. They are simply ill at ease with the idea of blindly obeying orders and despise being controlled. They are, after all, Wild. Although Wild Elves lack military discipline, they never shirk their duties to their tribe. Wild Elves are fiercely loyal to their tribe and believe wholeheartedly in their obligations to the tribe.

It is not unusual for Wild Elves to refuse citizenship or inclusion in the formal running of a town or city. For the most part it is understood that the Wild Elf will follow the laws and give no reason for the town or city to attack them and the authorities of the town will leave them to their own devices. This is not the case everywhere, but it is more common than not since the Wild Elves in a city or town are not usually the extremist kind. Extremist Wild Elves do not remain welcome for very long.

Common Personalities & Views

Most Wild Elves raised by their tribe will share in the views and values of the tribe. Even those who have left their tribe will still be influenced by the views of those who raised them.

The Olagot’Thalan are a vigilant race. When they speak, they are matter of fact and to the point, just as animals are in the wild, not having to guess what one needs or wants. They will lend their wild wisdom when asked, or even when not, and help friends when needed. They have no fear of standing in the face of opposition. Stronger than anything else are the ties that every member of the Olagot’Thalan has with the land and with one another. It is uncommon to see a Wild Elf who is unwilling to help another member of their race.

Younger Wild Elves are typically very passionate and headstrong. As they age, they grow more accepting of the ways of other races, and adopt a more live-and-let-live attitude. Though they will still avoid living as the civilized races do, they understand that not everyone can live the life they do. Wild Elves are community oriented and unselfish. They have little interest in wealth beyond fulfilling their basic needs. They try to ensure that they leave the land better than they found it, and most consider themselves the caretakers of nature. Wild Elves are often druids, rangers, alchemists and healers, and most take up some means of defending themselves, even if they are primarily a non-combatant.

The more extremist, and often younger, Wild Elves tend to take these basic beliefs to the extreme. Most Wild Elves encountered by other races are less extreme but it is rare to find one who does not feel the same about most of the key concerns of extremists, at least to some degree, even if they are less aggressive about it. Wild Elves who are truly inflexible on these beliefs are so reclusive that they would seldom be caught dead outside of their homes. Any Wild Elf wishing to survive near civilized folk would necessarily be less narrow-minded.

While all Wild Elves consider money a waste of metal and a cause of corruption, greed and violence, many will still use it when no other means of trade is possible. Some extremist Wild Elves believe that money is the root of all the evils in civilized society.

While most Wild Elves find mining greedy and unnecessary, extremist Wild Elves consider this a direct violation of the earth and an act of extreme violence. Instead of considering cities and towns confining and unpleasant, extremist Wild Elves see them as pens to keep the civilized races from harming any more of the land with their disgusting buildings, and to keep the civilized races from spreading their dark and greedy influence.

One belief which is held by almost all Wild Elves, and every notable tribe, extremist and moderate alike, is that necromancy is a great evil. It offends their love of nature and their love of freedom. Wild Elves share the same view of necromancy as the Church of Light: its use, even when employed for the greater good, will always cause more corruption. A necromancer who raises undead to save a town from orcs will bring negative energy into the land which will cause more corruption and destruction than its use prevented. Necromancy corrupts nature, wrenching the dead from the cycle of life and preventing them from returning to the earth. Most Wild Elves seek to destroy any undead they come across, not out of violence, but out of mercy. Extremists see necromancy as corrupting even things it touches only indirectly, and one or two villages have been razed to the ground by extremist Wild Elves for simply harboring a necromancer.

Views on Other Races

It is not hard to know how at least young Wild Elves view other races. Even if their elders are quiet and diplomatically enigmatic, the youngsters are quick to speak out. Generally, the following has been observed:

Elves: All Thalan are cousins to the Wild Elves. They walk different paths, some respectable, others disgraceful. At the end of the day we are kin, even if they have strayed too far from the path. Perhaps they will see the error of their ways yet.

Dark Elves: Deceitful and live lives based on lies, wealth, and secrecy. Many of these overly decadent elves will pretend to be kind while they wait to stab you in the back. They will plot their betrayal for a lifetime if they must. Never trust them completely – after all, they live and build their homes by burrowing into the veins of the earth.

High Elves: Pitied by most Wild Elves. Wild Elves believe that human contact has made these elves haughty and arrogant, and their very spirits cannot wait to leave their bodies. Many Wild Elves view the racial drawback of the High Elves as a sign of illness and the most superstitious of Wild Elves even fear contagion.

Ice Elves: We have little contact with our frozen cousins. It is a mystery why any elf would want to live on the frozen plains and ice flows rather than in a lush forest. It also seems their cold habitat has frozen their hearts because there is no creature more vicious than an Ice Elf. These cousins fled conflict only to find it again and again in the cold north.

Fire Elves: These elves are treated with respect by Olagot’Thalan. They understand the importance of not wasting resources, and seem comfortable with a nomadic lifestyle. Wild Elves tend to find them a little too serious.

Stone Elves: The poor, poor Stone Elves. Their lives were so cold and empty, it would almost be a mercy that they are gone, if only they had gone to a proper rest. Almost. Their noble sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Humans: The great destroyers. There are few who rival the foolishness and destructive capacity of humans. They lie, cheat, steal, dig and kill without reason. Wild Elves do not always hate humans, but very few have respect for them as a race.

Savar: We feel a kinship to the Savar as they have a natural affinity to the wild ways. There are few who hunt nearly as well as us, but the Savar often come close.

Wolven: We respect the Wolven way of life. They place a similar emphasis on nature and community. It is unfortunate how they abuse metals.

Ajaunti and Einher: These are neutral for the most part. They are respected as short-lived, passionate races, with similar nomadic and tribal tendencies. They get along with most of these people, as long as they are not harming the earth on a massive scale, such as mining and logging. Their desire for wealth remains something of a mystery to the Wild Elves.

Hoblings: Seen as a friendly race of childlike people. Most Wild Elves respect the Hoblings as an adult respects an intelligent youngster. They have a simpler and kinder way of life which, although naive, Wild Elves find admirable.

Wood Fae: The Wood Fae originated as children of the earth. As such, they understand the idea behind making use out of everything and leaving nothing to waste. Their creative flare is very endearing, but their polyamorous lifestyle is foreign.

Dwarves: Wild Elves do not like dwarves for the most part because they dig into the earth to make their homes. Dwarves assault the very life blood of the earth. A dwarf must work very hard to be tolerated by a Wild Elf, and friendship is almost unheard of. There is not always open hostility, but there is certainly a rift between the two races.

Goblinoids: It is accepted wisdom among the Olagot’Thalan that Greenskins were put into the forest so that Wild Elves would have something to kill for practice. They reproduce quickly and their bodies make wonderful fertilizer. Nothing trains a young Wild Elf better than hunting a local clan of orcs. Greenskins have no respect for the world around them. They take and burn without regard for Arthos.

Gargylen: Curious creatures indeed. Rumor says that they were created by humans. Where do they fit into the cycle of life? Will they be as destructive as their creators? Most Wild Elves are reserving judgment for the time being, until the Gargylen show what they are really made of.

Fauns: These creatures come from the forest itself, and are deeply connected to nature, as we are. They are well meaning and their innocence is charming, though they are a bit flighty and strange.

Roleplaying Tips

Remember that you come from a tribal structure and try to maintain that perspective when dealing with all situations.

How does your character feel about other Wild Elves? Other types of elves? Their chosen enemy? Make these decisions and try to be consistent with them.

Do not stand idly by as nature or an innocent animal is mistreated. Your character doesn’t need to foolishly rush to her death over every noble who keeps an animal in a cage, but they will not be happy about it and may begin plotting the animal’s freedom.

Abhor tasteless and unnecessary uses of metal. It is not that metal is poison to you. Wild Elves oppose the use of metal for ideological reasons, not out of hatred for the metal itself. Metal is sacred and to be respected. This is why a Wild Elf will berate others for fashioning an entire shirt out of it or exploiting more than what can be found above ground.

You will be wearing little, if any, metal at all and certainly not any metal armor. This is not because you are allergic to it. It is because the use of such heavy, movement restricting armor does not make sense in a Wild Elven lifestyle. What armor you do wear is out of necessity. Wild Elves have no typical style of dress. Most natural materials worn out of pragmatism, not excess, will make for a great Wild Elf look. Consider how much time your character has spent with the civilized races or in towns and cities. How accepting are they of these lifestyles? Are they still confused by some or all aspects of civilized life?

Reject necromancy, wytchcraft, dark magic and corrupted nature magic. These are twisted forms of magic which by their very use or existence corrupt the lands. Your character’s level of extremity in this view is up to you but it is very rare to find a Wild Elf who doesn’t agree with this as a basic premise.

Find yourself indoors? Underground? Bound in any way? Although every Wild Elf has a different level of tolerance, there are few feelings worse than claustrophobia.

Choose which tribe your character hails from and learn its values. Remember, you are more than welcome to create a small tribe for your character that is not listed on the Wiki.