Adventure:Elves

Description

Elves are rarely thought of as dangerous creatures. They are humanoids, comparable to humans but for their notably up-pointed ears, angular facial features, and their slightly diminuitive stature. Commonly believed to be from the same stuff as faeries, pixies, and dragons, the Elven race is generally respected, and many tales have been spun around their likenesses. They live very long lives and have a very thick layer of tradition settled into their culture. They cherish life and beauty, and try to live as close as possible to nature while still considering themselves civilized.

However, far more often than not, exchanges between Elves and mankind are hostile. Unlike elves, men suffer a greater moral gamut and feel more independence from their brothers. As a result, humans have trespassed on and pillaged in Elven lands, in pursuit of resources, land, and everything else that makes them wondrous. Both sides have recoiled greatly from the conflicts; Elves have confined themselves almost exclusively to their great forest, cutting off all communication with the outside world, and expertly killing any who wander too close. In response, the countries of men have all but forgotten Elves over time, diminishing them to legends and tales, warning everyone to stay away from the fae habitat. The trouble is, nobody outside of the forest knows where the forest borders truly are.

Still, tales are forgotten or dismissed, and the occasional adventurer is lured in by tell of fantastic landmarks of immortality and infinite wealth. Sometimes, it's just a matter of accidentally wandering too close; one of the main roads running south through D'hennex runs very close to the Elven forest. No matter the intention, most who enter the forest fail to return.

Purpose of Conflict

As previously described, border clashes are frequent. The Elves see the security and privacy of their home as paramount. It will often start simply enough, with someone disappearing into the forest for one reason or another. Then a search party is sent out, and when the search party disappears, the local authorities or hired mercenaries frequently become involved. Other times, people of adventurous fiber seek to explore or plunder the unknown depths of the forest. There are even a few who specifically have something against elves, and spin tales about their ferocity and heartlessness, using the disappearances and ambushes to fuel the credibility of their imagination.

But nobody ever catches the elves off guard, or out of the forest. It just doesn't happen. It's been so long since Elves have been seen outside of the forest that some even postulate that the instant they leave, they begin to die.

Still, it could be theorized that after such isolation from the outside world, with whom they have such frequent unfortunate and miscommunicated encounters, a certain youthful, curious element might have built up in Elven society. Perhaps one of them might have grown up with a certain fascination with Humans and their global freedom. Maybe said hypothetical elf would rescue an ambush victim from certain doom, as only a member of their own race could. Maybe Elf Doe falls in love with one of these outsiders, and feels the need to escape. Of course, the pointy-eared ones aren't about to just let one of their own leave and spread their secrets to the dirty Humans... And should they be forced to leave the forest on their pursuit of their entirely imaginary rogue youngling (for who better to escape from an elven ambush than an elf?), then they might just end up discovered, and at a disadvantage.

Just saying, of course. Not that that would ever happen...

Battle Strategies

Invariably, clear victory over an elven ambush is not an option. To provoke an ambush party is to provoke an entire village. To provoke a village is to provoke the entire region, and so on. They take great care to reduce their own typically minimal losses, and frequently employ measures to ensure that their prey does not escape the forest alive. Their mastery of sword, bow, and magic is second to none. To defeat one squadron of them is to stir the entire hornet's nest.

If you find yourself in an elven ambush, your only tactics should be to stay alive, to penetrate their ensnaring and bemazing magics, and to get the hell out.

Should you be so hopelessly suicidal to actually try to take on an elven attack, however, the best bet is to strike at them as a whole. Attacks against individuals merely enrage them further, and bolster their resolve. The elves fight as a tightly knit, greatly organized and coordinated team. However, as they draw strength from their brotherly bonds, they might also fall from their mutual fear of defeat. Their very, very long lives lend to a subtle ultra-conservationism. If it becomes very clear that a great many of their kind might die, in comparison to the few they wish to destroy ... well, it's possible that their steel-hard morale might shatter, and cause them to make a tactical withdrawal. Long lives also lend to very elaborate and cunning strategies, however, so if you have any brains left in that self-destruction-loving cranium of yours, you'll make your break while you can. And watch your back on your way out.