Inesdar wrote:
Me like. Awesome Liz, completely awesome. I wonder, what if the original elves were connected to dragons somehow?
I kinda like that idea as well 
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| Proposal for Original Elves https://archive.holyworlds.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1033 |
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| Author: | Lady Eruwaedhiel [ September 21st, 2010, 4:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Proposal for Original Elves |
I have been disturbed by all of the stereotypical fantasy races that all of the popular literature of that genre seems to employ these days. Even Eragon fell into that trap. So I have made my races more original in hopes of evading cliche. Raechal. Sivanis. Tulirans ... but still, something nagged at the back of my mind. Aha! Elves. Those of you who know me know that I use Elves extensively. Two of my three MCs are Elves. I'm not saying that they cannot be used in an original and productive way, but mine were just like all the others ... which really troubled me, especially since I had come up with something unique for all the other races. Last week, Friday about 3 PM to be precise, I had an idea of sorts, but discarded it because of all the problems it caused. The idea was to have the Elves made more reptilian, with a flexible crest from the top of their head following their spine down to their lower back. Their culture was shaped around this; their emotions were displayed by what position the crest stood in (flat, frightened, straight up, angry and so on), they wore low-backed tunics to compensate, etc. Problem was, I have written over two thirds and more like four fifths of my story and some of the things my Elves did would be restricted by this trait. I discarded it. Then Friday about 8 PM I had another thought. This one ties into a bit of my world's history. Around a thousand years before when my novel is set, there was a war between the Elves and the Humans over the heir to the throne. Things progressed rather rapidly to a very ugly level. It came to the point where each race was killing the other on sight without cause or provocation. Desperate, each of the sides scrambled to create an advantage. The Humans had strength and greater numbers, the Elves had precision in arms and heightened senses. So here's where the magic gets involved. A highly powerful group of Human magicians constructed transportation devices called Portals, fed by Elven blood and energy. As in, you would spill Elven blood on the activating area, go through, and have your passage paid by the energy of the Elf involved. No one cared about the brutality of this invention; they simply cared about getting where they wanted to go and about killing more Elves. My idea was that at this point, the Elves were in their original reptilian form (with the crest) and were not called Elves, but [insert cool name here]. In retaliation, the Elves devised a magical disguise that hid their crest and almost everything that betrayed them as not being Human. Three things remained; pointed ears, their tall slender build, and their lower pain tolerance. There was possibly some other physical trait that is yet to be decided, like patches of scales/scaly skin in certain places. The disguise was successful for a while, but when caught, the Humans, bewildered at this strange Human-like creature who was decidedly not Human, dubbed them Elves. When they were found out, the Elves were weakened and forsook the war, fleeing behind a magical barrier. For over a millennium they stayed there, so used to their magic-induced form that they relied on their older, more animal form less and less. Eventually, all Elves except certain small groups forgot how to break the magic restraining their old form and accepted the name and shape the Humans gave them. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Would it be too weird? Lady E. |
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| Author: | Arias Mimetes [ September 21st, 2010, 6:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
That is a really cool idea, actually. |
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| Author: | Yehoshua [ September 21st, 2010, 6:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
I like it! I think your modification (that one that came at around 8:00 PM) makes it that much better. Lately, I've thinking about how mixing familiar with originality can actually be a very potent combination. Likewise, that combo seems very popular right now. So, having elves that look like normal elves but not really may turn out to be better for your story. |
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| Author: | Lord Kieren Mimetes [ September 25th, 2010, 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
Reptilian elves. This forum is just full wacky, awesome ideas! I tried to go against the stereotype by not using elves, but this is even better! I like the idea of the crest especially. Just curious, is there still enmity between elves and humans? |
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| Author: | Lady Eruwaedhiel [ September 26th, 2010, 12:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
Still? As in, the time period where the story is set? The few Elves that have ventured beyond the Boundary Forest are Dragonriders, and they are not that troublesome of a lot. Also, the Humans from that era have died out and the Elves have been generally forgotten. The Elves, however, have not forgotten the Humans and the sorrow they caused, especially the older ones (upwards of 200yrs). They only ventured out of Laecla recently, at need, because of risk of an attack on Carseld. The Humans are amiable enough, but the Elves are cold and generally want nothing to do with them. |
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| Author: | PrincessoftheKing [ September 26th, 2010, 12:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
Great idea, Lady E! I love how original your idea is! |
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| Author: | Airianna Valenshia [ September 28th, 2010, 9:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
Nice twist Lady E. I too use elves, but twist and subvert their original origins. I think you’ve got a good start. How about calling them… Elvarians. It has an elf origin (so you can add in that the humans derived the elf name from the reptilian elf’s original name) but adds the “ian” ending of reptilian. Just an idea. I like names I can pronounce without difficulty (Arianna Valenshia for example), so most of my names aren’t extremely elaborate. Use it if you want, I’ve named all my stuff except one stinky little Diegose who refuses everything I try to label him with. |
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| Author: | 6stringedsignseeker [ October 16th, 2010, 5:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
Inesdar wrote: Me like. Awesome Liz, completely awesome. I wonder, what if the original elves were connected to dragons somehow? I kinda like that idea as well
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| Author: | Kiev Shawn [ October 16th, 2010, 5:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
Cool! They sound interesting. Do you think I can meet one?
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| Author: | Lady Eruwaedhiel [ October 18th, 2010, 11:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
I like, Inesdar! Good thought. That would make sense. Meet one, Shawn? Hmmm. I dunno. Let's see if I can come up with one to bring into Character Intro. 
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| Author: | Ciela Rose [ November 6th, 2010, 2:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
Aha, finally found this thread. Now I see what you were talking about. You remember that the crest made certain things impossible (like Aaron getting flogged). What if, a) The crest is shortened, like only coming to the middle of the shoulder blades or to the base of the neck? Or b) Previously injured elves could end up sporting adventurous cuts or nicks in the crest? Add a little bit of roguish dash there.  But I love that idea, I think it's highly original. You should use it in your writings.
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| Author: | RedWing the Purple [ November 6th, 2010, 8:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Proposal for Original Elves |
Oh, goodness. This is an awesome idea, Lady E.
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