The Alphaville Herald

Elves!

by Alphaville Herald on 13/02/05 at 12:17 pm

by Miravoir Psaltry

Elf Clan leader Wayfinder Wishbringer

Many have seen them, pointy-eared and with an otherworldly beauty, but so little is known about them, these elves. What are they like? What is their focus and what are their goals? How are they like the other subcultures in SL? I gathered together a few of these folk to find out. My talks with elvenfolk Wayfinder Wishbringer, Forcythia Wishbringer, and Astary Pendragon helped me paint the following portrait of the elven people.

Elf Queen Forcythia Wishbringer (is that Ellror Gullwing behind her?)

From their estimate, there are roughly 200 elven folk within SL who participate in the groups. Wayfinder is the leader of the group known as “Elf Clan” and Astary is the leader of the group known as “Celtic Elves.” Wayfinder stated that most of the leaders of the Elven groups belong to other groups as well, and there is a pact of cooperation within the clans. This amount of elves within SL, then, is a rough estimate.

According to Forcythia, the focus of the elven groups is largely of an artistic bent. They revel in swordsmanship and archery, poetry, building, and grandiose balls. She added that there are many elven merchants that make some of the finest items in SL for others. Creativity is highly feted within this subgroup, along with lore and magic. Wayfinder said that technology and sciencefiction is avoided by the elves as they feel it ruins magic. Magic, Arts, and Dancing – these are the sensitive folk of SL, it seems.

I then asked them how the people of these groups compare to some of the other subcultures of SL. What are they like as a people? Many groups in SL have a rather sensual bent to their membership, however Wayfinder said, “Many people cater to their sexual and sensual sides. People are sexual creatures. But when we focus on that as a center, we miss all else that life has to offer.” Forcythia added “Do you know, Miravoir, Most of the elves that I know are not “into” the more mature themes, at least while in elven gatherings.” When they compared themselves to humans in general, humans got something of a short stick. Wayfinder was the most vocal with his comparison of elves to humans, ” Humans do not respect nature, Elves do. Humans thrive on technology, the elven on the natural. Humans hate, elven love. Humans seem bent on self-destruction. The elven find themselves trying to prevent that.”

Elves, according mostly to Forcythia, concentrate on being kind, honorable people that have loyalty and integrity. They have a high regard for life and respect. They also have fun and laugh a lot. They are farsighted dreamers that want fantasy in life with an emphasis on nature. She feels that most people, from the SL perspective, accept the elven kind because they have a known history and are understandable and easily identified with, generally, as a group.

So if you are ever traveling through the elven sim of Darkwood and like what you see, drop Wayfinder Wishbringer a line. He is the leader of a poetry group, and Elf Clan. Or, if you wish, drop Astary a line to join his group if the life of an elf suits you too.

The Elven Grand Counsel: Ishjra Psaltery, Astary Pendragon, Wayfinder Wishbringer, Forcythia Wishbringer, Elror Gullwing