Elf Culture
The technology level of elfin tribes varies. Wolfriders and similar
tribes are hunter-gatherers, while the Sun Folk, and Gliders
are comfortably into the Bronze Age, due to the isolated nature of their
existences and the metalshaping magic of several of the Gliders.
Due to their lack of forging abilities, elves should not expect to
have metal blades or metal-tipped arrows or spears unless they got them from
trolls, or unless they are from a tribe with metalshaping magic. Still, despite
the lack of hard metals available to them, many elf tribes have developed
weaponry unique to their cultures (e.g., the talon whips used by the Glider
Chosen Eight). The Go-Backs have claim to the fine armor forged for them and
the Wolfriders by Two-Edge during the Palace War; other elf tribes must make
do with thick furs or leather hats and bracers to protect themselves.
Elves in most tribes can make music with simple pipes, flutes, and
drums. The Glider, and Sun Folk elves have probably developed more
complex instruments (such as harps), though quite probably nothing that could
not be reasonably expected to exist in the equivalent time frame of Earth's
history. Singing is similarly basic; few elf tribes if any have any conception
of musical subtlety, though fine elfin musicians are not at all impossible
(the comics speak of the "rare and subtle music of the Gliders").
Some tribes also tell stories via dance, and the Wolfriders have a
gathering called a Howl wherein they share lore or honor tribesmembers or
bond-wolves who have died. At their Howls, Wolfriders make use of dreamberries
to enhance memory.
Like humans, elves are aware of the concept of "symbol-making",
and the use of basic, stylized art to record lore. However, only the more sedentary elves tend to use their shaping magics or carving abilities to
decorate their homes; nomadic elves are more prone to restrict decoration to
their clothing. No elf tribe has invented writing, nor are they likely to
due to elfin longevity and the traditions of passing down lore via speech and
sending.
Elf tribes all share the same language, although individual groups
may use different words for different concepts. For example, the Wolfriders
use "turn of the seasons" to denote a year, but the Sun Folk simply use the
word "year". Similar tribal differences can be found in the naming of
seasons and of the cardinal directions ("east" and "west"
versus "Sun-Goes-Up" and "Sun-Goes-Down"). The more advanced elfin tribes
are more prone to use words familiar to the player, while the more primitive
ones are more likely to use unique words and phrases.
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