Discussion: The Elven Tribes of Pristine

[KingOfChaos]

Having just watched 10,000 B.C. it brought me back to the idea of the elves of Pristine sharing similar culture with those of ancient america. If any of you have read the Ancient America series (People of the Wolf, People of the Earth, People of the Fire, etc.) by Kathleen and Micheal O'Gear, then you probably know of what I speak.

In essence, none of the 'pretty' accouterments of classical elven heritage from normal fantasy exist. Elves in Pristine are savage and uncultured, performing raids and waging war on the back of tamed giant sabertooth cats. Various tribes exist, the most prominent and feared being the Arath'i. Unlike the elves you're probably used to, the elven tribes live as nomads and no longer venerate the trees from which Shevari has thrown them from hundreds of year before. Now, they worship the stars and make their homes from animal hides they tie to their catthkin allies (the sabretooth tigers) or carry upon their backs (since only 'noble' elves or chieftains have the service of the intelligent cat creatures). The wander from land to land like gypsies, but are wanted by none. They wage war on one another as well as other races when they travel, capturing and in the cases of some tribes, consuming the flesh of the prisoners as based on their rituals.

The dark elves, the only race that somehow retained the blessing of Shevari, still live amongst the trees and perform the whims of their evil goddess. Many have acquired mutations or lycanthropy and more than once has a white haired wolf of enormous size been found ravaging the bodies of invaders into Shevari's lands. Rarely are any pure blood dark elves found amongst the populous, as most have taken on savage transformations and mutations to please the Killing Tree which they revere.

[Mechalich]

While there is much to recomend the sort of savage, feral barbarian, animistic culture to a savage fantasy setting, I'm not sure elves are well suited to that role. At least, not as normally configured via D&D. As principally statted, elves, with their weak constitutions, slow birth rates (elven pregnancy takes 2 years, which means they can never breed all that fast no matter how hard they try), and long development times, aren't really suited for it. To make elves into this kind of race (which is kind of what elves were in Dark Sun actually) you have to modify their core stats, otherwise there's no reason for them to even survive as barbarians.

[KingOfChaos]

While there is much to recomend the sort of savage, feral barbarian, animistic culture to a savage fantasy setting, I'm not sure elves are well suited to that role. At least, not as normally configured via D&D. As principally statted, elves, with their weak constitutions, slow birth rates (elven pregnancy takes 2 years, which means they can never breed all that fast no matter how hard they try), and long development times, aren't really suited for it. To make elves into this kind of race (which is kind of what elves were in Dark Sun actually) you have to modify their core stats, otherwise there's no reason for them to even survive as barbarians.

They have some modifications to the race, of course. During the divine upheaval, the elves lost their 'immortality' and their homeland to Shevari. Their creator deity was destroyed and consumed by the evil druid goddess and now the elves remain a broken race as a result. They have yet to find themselves, so they travel until they do.

[Nightfall]

Hey you know me Shawn. I like to see what you can create. Hunter gatherer elves work for me!

[sladethesniper]

So, we want barbarian elves...the con score would have to be pumped up, birth rate pumped up and they would be fairly good as barbarians, though more in the Mongol mold than the Viking mold...meaning tough and quick raiding parties that were able to seize and control territory through fear and speed of reaction. They only had a few technological advantages but were used to greatest effect by virtue of their tactics, which negated thier opponents advantages.

Reminds me of that old 2E picture of the wild elves...the ones that looked like they were going to kill a pc and then eat him

Sort of like trailer trash elves on meth?

-STS

[Nightfall]

Trailer park trash elves! Redneck elves from Deliverance!

[sladethesniper]

Just because of this post, tonight I am so going to stat up a trailer trash elf!!

I think I'll name him Zeke'elion McKoeye...shortened to Zeke...or something like that...

-STS

[The Mad Kobold]

So, in a sense, these guys are a bit like Dwarf Fortress elves. I like 'em.