Elven Burial Customs

Lerytha · Post by **Lerytha** » Fri May 28, 2004 2:27 pm

Ah... another question from the oh-so annoying Lerytha. Hello. I was just wondering if elves have any particular burial customs? I have absolutely no idea about this, and I was just wondering how my alt (ranger) should react/deal with fallen enemies.

Would one of the wood elves respect a fallen drow?

How would a moon elf be buried? (ditto for the rest of the sub-species)

Do elves bury orcs, or leave them to rot?

Just tiny little things, which I am not sure about. I would be grateful if anyone answered some of these questions...

Thanks.

Glim · Post by **Glim** » Sat May 29, 2004 3:31 am

Hmm....these are just what I beleive.

Elves utterly hate orcs and drow, they beleive them monsters and evil so they have no respect for them, living or dead.

Im not sure how you mean how would a moon elf would be buried. I suppose like any other elf. I think elves bury their dead in tombs if they can, cairns if they cant.

Im sure someone more knowledgeable could give you a more complete answer (*hinthint*Andreas or Penryn*hinthint*).

But hey, its your character, you can RP him/her like you wish to. Things arent always set in stone.

Twyrnea · Post by **Twyrnea** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 6:30 am

Elves are flexible about their funeral rituals. The burial is not usually seen as a sacred passage, as far as I can tell...more like a formality. It is the passing of the elf's spirit which is emphasized in death, and the body is seen as a sort of shell. Many elves also prefer burning to return the corpse to the earth.

From the second edition Complete Book of Elves:

Since most elves pass on to Arvanaith, their passing is not mourned for long...while the elf may be missed for a while, others know that their companion has passed on to something better.

The ceremony surrounding each elf funeral varies even from village to village. Some gather with great pomp to watch the body be interreted in the ground, with speakers expounding on the merits of the deceased. Others bury the body with dispatch; they regaurd it as a mere husk from which the life force has departed. After ridding the shell, they celebrate the spirit of the elf that once resided there. Still others believe that burning is the only way to truly rid the spirit of its earthly ties; not only does it free the spirit for Arvanaith, it prevents anyone from using the body for nefarious purposes. Each burial is typically related to the nature of the elf, so that the burial is personalized and the point made that the spirit has left the body.

I hope that helps!