I never thought I would do this...put elves into my story! lol. But it turns out I must. So here's what I have so far.

Azriel’s father was an elf. Although the elves don’t really come into this story (as planned right now anyway), it’s important to know about them to understand Azriel.

Elves are beautiful, very white with dark hair. A blond elf is generally always a pleasant surprise to the family. Their ears are not pointed. Instead you can tell an elf by his eyes. They are always at least two colors, sometimes more. Occasionally, elves have eyes swirled with all the colors of the rainbow.

All elves have two different personalities. Usually, they are very cold and calculating—minds working all the time behind beautiful poker faces. But at certain times, when they are roused, they become fiery passionate and volatile. When this happens they think completely differently from humans. There is no antithesis, not much logic. They turn almost into forces of nature, and it’s very frightening to meet an elf that way. Even when in this state though, they can be very clever liars and manipulators if it suits their purpose. Their government tends to be corrupt, but they are not outraged by this at all. Rather, it is expected. Deception does not bother them the way it does humans.

All elves love the arts and are very talented in them. The arts form much of the basis for their society. This comes out in different ways, whether it be poetry or dancing or music or something else. They also love causing mischeif and confusion.

They live in a separate country from humans, largely because they say humans are petty and boring. The only trade between the two countries is in the form of gold (for the elves have many mines) and toys. The elves love children’s toys, but for some reason do not make them themselves.

Because of this almost complete segregation, humans are very curious and interested in the elves, but half-elven children are extremely rare. When they are born, they are either shunned and thought of as monsters if born as commoners. Or they are revered if born to more educated parents. Azriel is one of these children. His birth killed his mother, but he was looked after and already has a promising political career.

Why is it that you must? Have you thought of naming the race something other then elves?

I like the idea of people with many colored eyes.

I have thought about calling them angels...but I kind of shy away from that for theological reasons.

And I don't really want to make up a name, because most of my names for races sound silly.

This puts so much of Azzy within perspective

eru

For a second I thought you were talking about me!

I like the multicolored eyes in your elves. Very unique. Having a rainbow of eye colors would be very cool.

You said that they almost turn into forces of nature. I think that is neat, but I'm also curious. What kind of forces do they become, or almost become? It sounds fascinating, and I would like to know more.

Really cool.

Do the elves look at lying as an art form?

Your right they would not be angels.

Why do you think your made up names sound silly? Maybe if you made up your own plural, other then the English "s", it would help. My elf like race I call the Vadai (which is actually the name of some Indian dish), the name has no plural (or you might say, no singular). What are really called elves in my stories are an order of demonic beings.

@Azlyn: Oops That's what Willow calls Azriel for short

eru

What I mostly mean by forces of nature, is that they become completely random and irrational and terribly powerful. So they end up with enhanced strength, agility, and speed. Both mentally and physically.

I've toyed with the idea of their being able to summon up hurricanes or control the Elements, but since I already have someone that can do that in my story, I shy away from giving that as a power to elves across the board.

Plus, if that WERE possible for them to do...the world might have been destroyed already.






They do! Although, of course, they would never admit it. The most deceitful, manipulative elves are held in highest regard.



Their government is very unstable, however when things grow too chaotic, often the warring factions and parties will exchange two children between them. And that makes things become more peaceable for a time. Those children grow up in the opposite faction and remind them of their alliance.

The punishment for killing one of these children is an extremely painful death.

That sounds like what Pacific Islanders would do! Have you by any chance read The Peace Child?

*chuckles* That is exactly EXACTLY where I got the custom from.

Fun!

I love this tidbit. I've actually considered an unusual eye combination, though mine was a little different, but they won't work for my current trilogy, so I have put it on hold for another series.

Excellent work, Willow.

Thank you.

Another tidbit on elves, I recently wrote:

Although elves and humans are closely related and can marry and have normal relationships, this is illegal in the elven country. To do so would be looked upon in a similar way as white people marrying black people was just after the Civil War only ten thousand times worse. The elves consider themselves very elite and pure, and to marry or have relations with a human is a crime against the entire elven race.

The penalty is death.

It occasionally DOES happen, but is legislated as the worst form of treason. All elves that do so are first hung (as in the Biblical form of "hung" meaning impalement/crucifixion) and then are drawn and quartered.

Interestingly, once the lawful punishment is carried out, any children that may have resulted from such a union are not looked down upon. Although, non-merchant humans without passes into the country to sell things are not allowed into the elven country, if a half-elven child were orphaned and had to come live with the elves, it wouldn't be a problem.

Elven genetics are very dominant over human ones, and there is a staunch belief and even a saying that, "Children should commit their own sins, not pay for those of the parents."

Hence, although my half-elven character was rejected by the human side of his family as a monster when his mother died, his elven family was willing to take care of him.

That is some awesome worldbuilding.

I like the idea. I can see a race that would take pity on the child of what they consider in their pride to be an abomination, rather than hating the child for his human blood. In a sense they could consider it taking pity on the Elvish blood that was wronged. I take it they do not necessarily hate humans?

I love this idea! I think it draws your concept further away from our "traditional" idea of what an "elf" is (I get the feeling from your writing that you want to avoid the "traditional" elf).




I am intrigued by this concept. I've been trying to wrap my head around the idea of lying being not only accepted but encouraged. Do they practice it in everyday life? Or is it like many of our art forms--with events to celebrate it?


This is wonderful! I can't wait to read more.

Exactly. They don't want to punish the elf that's in the kid. Elves don't have a lot of kids, and elven traits are often more visible anyway. There is a qualification though to this elven compassion and that is, that if the half-elf decides to marry a human, then they must leave. The half-elf is not punished per say, but the elven line is not allowed to continue to be polluted. If the half-elf has no interest in marrying a human, they are allowed to quietly reassimilate into elven society.

No, they do not hate humans exactly. Elves believe that humans are inferior. It's not about hatred; it's just one of the laws of life to them. Every elf has it ingrained into them that humans are weaker than they.

It's interesting though, because although elves are physically stronger, their pain thresholds are much lower. So, yes, if it were a contest of brute force than a human would be weaker, but if an elf and a human were being tortured, the elf would probably break first.



Yes, elves practice lying a lot in real life. It gets a little ridiculous actually. An elf could ask another, "Are we out of milk?" and the other elf could say, "Yes." Then the elf will go on a milk run and come back to find a refrigerator with two gallons of milk still just sitting there! And for no real reason whatsoever except that the other elf would prolly think it was funny. Silly example, but you see what I mean!

Because this gets old really quickly, and is unpractical, in matters of little importance elves will often ask each other the same question three times. It is good etiquette to lie the first two times, and then give the true answer the third time.

In matters of more important priority, such as affairs of state, elves do not ask each other questions multiple times, but instead respect the other's right to lie, and ferret out the truth themselves by other means. *grimace* Yes, it's miserably complicated.

I had NOT thought of them having lying festivals or anything like that...*chuckles* That might be interesting. Elves DO have a thing for costume parties though. They love dressing up in costume with masks and then going and staying in a different character for the WHOLE night. They're really good at it too. It's slightly creepy.

Complicated is good.

I like these ideas very much.