Which are the true Elves?

Arafails · 03-11-2010, 04:42 AM

Myself, I've always considered the "Dark" in "Dark Elf" to be redundant. Elves have always, to my mind, fit the Victorian image of malevolent tricksters, allies (or possibly children) of the Fae. I consider wood/high/non-evil elves to be a perversion of this.

What's your take on it?

ncvr · 03-11-2010, 08:04 AM

Speaking as an Alsirian, neither. You're both abominations.

Storyline-wise it's the dark elves who...well, 'mutated' themselves while the wood elves remained pure (and it seems more people consider the wood in wood elves redundant as opposed to the dark in dark elves, from what I've seen).

Arkenion · 03-11-2010, 08:17 AM

Yes, I'm a Dark Elf myself and I consider Syrtis the Elf-realm, can't really tell why, maybe because we're, as Necro said, not pure, but evil, and awesome

Arafails · 03-11-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necrovarus

Speaking as an Alsirian, neither. You're both abominations.

Storyline-wise it's the dark elves who...well, 'mutated' themselves while the wood elves remained pure (and it seems more people consider the wood in wood elves redundant as opposed to the dark in dark elves, from what I've seen).

Well yes, according to the Regnum Online story, but maybe you could think outside of this paradigm?

Gideon_Slack · 03-11-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arafails

Myself, I've always considered the "Dark" in "Dark Elf" to be redundant. Elves have always, to my mind, fit the Victorian image of malevolent tricksters, allies (or possibly children) of the Fae. I consider wood/high/non-evil elves to be a perversion of this.

What's your take on it?

I think it depends on what source you take as the origin of Elves in games like Regnum.

If you go with J.R.R. Tolkein and the Lord of the Rings (1950s) as the source of it all, then there are no Dark Elves (afaik), because elves could not be corrupted by Sauron (unlike men like Saruman). Dark Elves aka "The Drow" were later introduced in the Dungeons and Dragons game (1970s).

But if you go further back to the old myths, creatures like elves were both helpful and mischievous; any deal you made with them was bound to go wrong somehow.

voyager_3 · 03-11-2010, 11:09 AM

You can say whatever you want, but we all know who the elves are...

Linuxmage · 03-11-2010, 12:58 PM

I prefer the Terry Pratchett interpretation of Elves:

“Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.
No one ever said elves are nice.
Elves are bad.”

Arafails · 03-11-2010, 02:57 PM

Of course, Pratchett was echoing Shakespeare

@Gideon_Slack: In fact, Tolkien did write on Dark Elves. They're from the days of the war with Morgoth, though. And they were not allied with Morgoth or his servant Sauron, but different again. They.... went to the east (why do they always go east?!), and were never heard from again. Apparently in Middle Earth, east is a place you don't go adventuring or something.

UmarilsStillHere · 03-11-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arafails

(why do they always go east?!)

Didnt Galadriel and her lot sail west?

Altara · 03-11-2010, 05:31 PM

Why is it an accepted fact that elves fire bows and arrows and commune with the trees? That was Tolkien's thing. Without him, elves would be just about qualified to sell Rice Krispies. He also made dwarves have braided beards and wield battle axes. Real dwarve's don't do that, they get hired by Lucas Film, or take corporate office jobs because their equal opportunities are bananza.

Are we all but children playing on the same swing set, while J.R.R. is the grumpy dad watching from the park bench trying not to get aroused?

To me a _real_ elf is what ever you want it to be :]
They are after all beings of myth

03-11-2010, 04:42 AM	#1
Arafails Baron Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Not where it looks like, to either of us. Posts: 706	Which are the true Elves? Myself, I've always considered the "Dark" in "Dark Elf" to be redundant. Elves have always, to my mind, fit the Victorian image of malevolent tricksters, allies (or possibly children) of the Fae. I consider wood/high/non-evil elves to be a perversion of this. What's your take on it? __________________ If you can't detect sarcasm yourself, please pay attention when it's pointed out to you. Arathael :: Wyrd Sceote :: Gwn M'ger — Soul Taker, Imperial Guard of Ignis

03-11-2010, 08:17 AM	#3
Arkenion Master Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Switzerland Posts: 278	Yes, I'm a Dark Elf myself and I consider Syrtis the Elf-realm, can't really tell why, maybe because we're, as Necro said, not pure, but evil, and awesome __________________ The Immortal Legends: Arkenion \| You cant see me Valhalla: Darkenion, PT caballero degollando a lechugas RA

03-11-2010, 11:09 AM	#6
voyager_3 Apprentice Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 75	You can say whatever you want, but we all know who the elves are... __________________ Stary Kapec - level 50 Nordo Hunter (quit the game; not deleted though); Electric Goat - level 50 Utghar Knight (quit the game; not deleted though) Be back when: 1. Selection system is fixed/rebuilt. 2. Phantom swings are gone.

03-11-2010, 02:57 PM	#8
Arafails Baron Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Not where it looks like, to either of us. Posts: 706	Of course, Pratchett was echoing Shakespeare @Gideon_Slack: In fact, Tolkien did write on Dark Elves. They're from the days of the war with Morgoth, though. And they were not allied with Morgoth or his servant Sauron, but different again. They.... went to the east (why do they always go east?!), and were never heard from again. Apparently in Middle Earth, east is a place you don't go adventuring or something. __________________ If you can't detect sarcasm yourself, please pay attention when it's pointed out to you. Arathael :: Wyrd Sceote :: Gwn M'ger — Soul Taker, Imperial Guard of Ignis

03-11-2010, 05:31 PM	#10
Altara Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 79	Why is it an accepted fact that elves fire bows and arrows and commune with the trees? That was Tolkien's thing. Without him, elves would be just about qualified to sell Rice Krispies. He also made dwarves have braided beards and wield battle axes. Real dwarve's don't do that, they get hired by Lucas Film, or take corporate office jobs because their equal opportunities are bananza. Are we all but children playing on the same swing set, while J.R.R. is the grumpy dad watching from the park bench trying not to get aroused? To me a _real_ elf is what ever you want it to be :] They are after all beings of myth __________________ Adelle - Volari The shadows followed by the stars have turned to gold.

03-11-2010, 08:04 AM	#2
ncvr Marquis Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 2,439	Speaking as an Alsirian, neither. You're both abominations. Storyline-wise it's the dark elves who...well, 'mutated' themselves while the wood elves remained pure (and it seems more people consider the wood in wood elves redundant as opposed to the dark in dark elves, from what I've seen).

03-11-2010, 12:58 PM	#7
Linuxmage Initiate Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Leicester, UK Posts: 174	I prefer the Terry Pratchett interpretation of Elves: “Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder. Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels. Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies. Elves are glamorous. They project glamour. Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment. Elves are terrific. They beget terror. The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning. No one ever said elves are nice. Elves are bad.”