Elven beards

Granel · Post by **Granel** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:37 pm

Principly in other fantasy worlds elven heritage dictates that elves change little in the case of facial hair. I have never seen a beared elf in Fk so I was wondering do elves tend not to grow beards?

This might sound strange but I have often pondered the case of this because it seemed strange to me, so I'm asking if anyone knows exactly why.
Thank you.

Andreas · Post by **Andreas** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:01 pm

Elves cannot grow facial hair.

Their forms were magically created and thus they skipped the evolutionary stages undergone by other races (i.e. humans) that have left such races with vestigial organs/hair growth. This is also the same reason why elves don't have canine teeth.

"I, myself, was flattered to have caught the eye of an attractive female elf warrior who seemed intrigued by the novelty of my beard and, in her words, my 'charming barbarity'" (Captain Carreigh Macumail - a human)

Elves of Evermeet, p. 22

"One interesting elven characteristic that few are aware of is the elves' lack of canine teeth. Since they sprang, full-fledged into the form they now occupy, they skipped the evolution process undergone by so many other races. Thus, although they are omnivores and their teeth are all strong, they have no pointed, canine incisors."

Complete Handbook of Elves, pp. 30-31

I seem to remember some quotes in the novels on this subject too but I'll have to look them up and post them later.

Rhelian · Post by **Rhelian** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 10:16 pm

Incase you were curious halfelves are able to grow beards due to their mixed herritage - from what I remember, as halfelves are outcasts by both elves and humans, although humans are more accepting, many halfelves grow beards if they are to live near a human settlement, to try and "humanise" themselves.

Gratey · Post by **Gratey** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 4:23 pm

allright here is another question n that region Can Elfs have freckles?

Or the teenage problem of acne?

Penryn · Post by **Penryn** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 6:24 pm

Yes but only one type have I ever found in literature that have held it.

Sy'Tel'Quessir or Wood elves are deeper of skin, rich and almond that can hold such things as freckles to their skin but even there it is a scattering and few. Remember Sy'Tel'Quessir are supposed to be very uncommonly seen and few in number.

The following do not get freckles from what I have noticed in accessories and books about elves within Forgotten Realms.

Ar'Tel'Quessir or Sunrise/Gold Elves commonly called
Teu'Tel'Quessir or Moon/Grey Elves commonly Called
Sea Elves
Avariel elves
Lythari elves

All of those seem to always have flawless skin from what I have read and can tell. I hope this helps.

sincerely,
Jeffery

Lerytha · Post by **Lerytha** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 9:11 pm

I'm not sure where else to put this, because I didn't want to start a new thread just for this little question:

Does elvish eyesight deteriorate over time like human eyesight? Would playing an elf with glasses by ICly inappropriate?

Gwain · Post by **Gwain** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 12:41 am

I would think that an elf would not be adverse to improving his or her eyesight, even if they have elven eyes, it does not mean they can't wear glasses to make it even better, though they'd probably gain the power to see through clothes up close. I can't think of any Faerunian elven examples, but I have read that Dragonlance elves do have sight deteriation in their elder years.

Ellian · Post by **Ellian** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:00 am

I found a good exerpt from Races Of The Wild:

Aging and Death
Elves are blessed with extraordinarily long life spans and a graceful, easy aging process that features none of the ravages of disease, infirmity, or atrophy that plague other folk. Time does not even begin to touch an elf until she passes a century and a half in age. For two full human lifetimes, sometimes three, she remains in the bloom of youth, her features virtually indistinguishable from those of a 20-year-old elf girl.
Elves do eventually age, but their aging takes a form not seen in other races. Their faces remain unlined, their hair remains ungrayed, and their skin remains smooth and strong, but middle-aged elves begin to develop a sort of etherealness of otherworldly quality, as their spirits burn brighter and stronger than their bodies can endure. In the course of their lifetimes, elves undergo a living transformation from beings of flesh and blood to beings of spirit and light, for lack of a better description. Physical strength, quickness and hardiness slowly fade (elves lose and gain ability score points on Table 6-5 in the Player's Handbook, just like other races), but elves suffer no pain, difficulty, or sickness in their aging. Even though their bodies grow weaker, they enjoy good health and physical beauty until the moment of death. While others may be deceived by the apparent youthfulness of an aged elf, the elf herself is not. An elf swordswoman does not spend her last decades trying to be the fighter she was in her youth. Instead, as her physicality erodes, she leaves her warrior duties for younger and more vigorous elves and moves on to different roles and responsibilities - often instructing those who follow in her footsteps, or perhaps taking up an artistic pursuit.

The section goes on but the rest of it deals with elven funeral traditions and things like that. All in all it's an interesting read though, I reccomend you pick it up if you're interested in FR elven culture. My exerpt doesn't directly answer the question of elves wearing glasses or not, but hey, it's still good stuff to know if you want to roleplay an aging elf.

Jayson

Lerytha · Post by **Lerytha** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:00 am

Thank you both.

Dugald · Post by **Dugald** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:29 am

I have a hard time picturing an elf with "reading glasses". Their eyesight is /significantly/ more finely tuned than a human's. An elf would have to swallow an awful lot of pride to turn to a human mechanism to improve his eyesight...

Kregor · Post by **Kregor** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:24 pm

Elven eyesight is much finer than a human's, which is why elves are given the innate ability to locate hidden entrances and passages in tabletop, and innate discern in FK.

Elwin · Post by **Elwin** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:44 pm

Elves get discern in FK? None of my elves have discern.

Kregor · Post by **Kregor** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 5:20 pm

The subraces since the new char gen do...

Sadly, it wasn't included in the race file for older chars, it was added to simulate 3E elf specs. I dunno if it could be added retroactively or not.

Penryn · Post by **Penryn** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 1:36 am

I would like to get it retroactively if it did happen

but ether wa it is kewl the new ones get it.

Elven beards

Elven beards

Elven Physiology

Re: Elven beards

Freckles