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| Lost God Discussion Thread; OOC for the Lost God RP | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 11 2011, 02:18 PM (6,742 Views) | |
| Duke Smugleaf | Jul 15 2011, 05:00 AM Post #41 |
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Celestial Princess
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Come on you slowpokes! I've already gotten my app pre-approved, and that's even before it took me an extra day to write up her appearance, background, and personality. So, hurry up slackers! : P The Application of Heavenly Might and Unmatchable Awesomeness
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| Half Tooth | Jul 15 2011, 11:07 AM Post #42 |
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I'd quite like to make a sea elf character, I need to flesh out some ideas a bit though. Has much been decided for sea elves? Because I have loads of ideas. As for magic, I know you kind of covered that, but as I understand it, the persons body acts as a channel for the magic in the world around them? And the magic or 'spell' occurs because a person wills it to happen? So saying meaningful words helps focus the mind of the caster. Is that correct? Am I ok to come up with a bunch of ideas reguarding sea elf life and culture? a post will probably occur some time later this evening
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| Ambrose51 | Jul 15 2011, 11:55 AM Post #43 |
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We have nothing on Sea Elves so far, to my knowledge. As for magic, I don't believe we've agreed on a specific form, aside from the fact that magic uses mana, and are instead leaving it up to the individual. That's the system I use, personally, though. |
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But mostly? The assorted plans at play here would be going very, very wrong due to the actions of a no-name, no-count, utterly talentless Magus by the name of Shirou Emiya. He had no magic worth mentioning, no combat experience of note, and no plan for or knowledge of the War he was about to enter. He did, however, have one trait that had derailed a countless number of such grand, far-reaching schemes throughout history. You see, he really, really wanted to be a hero. -(Best description of the start of a Fate novel ever.) | |
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| Darkom | Jul 15 2011, 12:52 PM Post #44 |
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Yes, that's about right concerning Magic, Half Tooth, though like Ambrose said, it's really up to the player. And yes, please make some good stuff for the Sea Elves. All we have so far is that they are good at sailing and they are the only link humans have to trade with the Jungle Elves. You can do any kind of culture you'd like; you can decide the language if you'd like, as it doesn't need to be the same as the human one (generic Old English). That sounds great, I'm glad we're getting a good mix of characters.However, we do have two mage type characters already (one of them is a psion, sorry), so if you had your heart set on being a mage that's fine, but if you can I'd like to see some variety. I think I might make my own favorite type of character- an assassin- but again, if you really want to, feel free to make one of those too. Speaking of my character, he'll probably be kind of a freelance assassin for hire, almost like a bounty hunter, that is being paid to come along. And the heroes are going to recieve substantial rewards for doing this, by the way: gold, land, castles, fame, etc. So if you needed some character motivation, that's as good as any.
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| Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream. ~Mark Twain | |
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| Ambrose51 | Jul 15 2011, 01:12 PM Post #45 |
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The Resident Horror Enthusiast
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Here's my mage character. Spoiler: click to toggle
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But mostly? The assorted plans at play here would be going very, very wrong due to the actions of a no-name, no-count, utterly talentless Magus by the name of Shirou Emiya. He had no magic worth mentioning, no combat experience of note, and no plan for or knowledge of the War he was about to enter. He did, however, have one trait that had derailed a countless number of such grand, far-reaching schemes throughout history. You see, he really, really wanted to be a hero. -(Best description of the start of a Fate novel ever.) | |
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| Evilpigeon | Jul 15 2011, 01:25 PM Post #46 |
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Hmm I'd created a really good character for Keiji's sci fi rp and can't translate them for this one :/ Ah well, I guess I still have a couple of days to come up with something interesting... (post is mostly to confirm I'm still up for this )
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| Half Tooth | Jul 15 2011, 02:22 PM Post #47 |
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Well here's a bunch of ideas I have for sea elves, they aren't completely thought out, I'm just going to get everything down that I thought of when I decided I wanted to make a sea elf. ![]() - They aren't just elves who happen to live on islands in the middle of the sea, they are strongly affiliated with the sea. I imagine much of their lives are conducted underwater as they are above. - Due to some anciet magic a long time ago or evolution I'm not sure. I thought the sea elves might be similar to mermaids, and they have a natural ability to shape shift but only to aquatic creatures, and they have to stay mostly elf looking. For example they can't turn into a fish or a shark but they can grow webbed feet or turn their legs into a tail like a mermaid. So these abilities are mostly based on transfigeration. - I think they have underwater cities as well as cities on the islands and that their native language cant be heard above water, they have to speak 'human' to be heard and understood above water. - Pretty much anything made by a sea elf will have a watery quality to it. Sea elf clothing and fabric will run through your fingers as thought there's nothing there, their pottery and sculptures always shimmer like sunlight seen from underwater. - Their skin and hair colour is mostly variations of turquoise and blue, and they tend to be slim, toned and stronger than they look. I like the idea of elves being immortal, but that often when an elf has decided they want to pass on they can do so. I also think it suggests a very different kind of culture, children being less common and more celebrated, and schooled by all the older elves... etc - I thought the sea elves would be kind of at one with water. They work with water, and water works with them. They don't exactly worship it but it plays a huge part in their day to day life, their children are brought up to respect it, to learn from it and behave with the same qualities that water has. I do have more but I'll add it later
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| Darkom | Jul 15 2011, 02:29 PM Post #48 |
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Looks good, Ambrose. Thanks for posting it up. And yeah, sorry Evil, not sure what happened to that RP. I've never been a big Sci-Fi person myself. Good to hear you're still interested though. If you're looking for ideas, though, we don't have any combat oriented characters yet. Two mages, a sneaky assassin type, and whatever Half Tooth's Sea Elf ends up being is all we've got so far. ![]() EDIT: Sounds great so far, I like the idea of them being more than just good sailors. My own fantasy world that I wrote Innocente in has an aquatic race as well; they are somewhat similar to what you're suggesting. Seems like most of the transformation and breathing underwater bits could be explained with magic- the shapeshifting is a magic they have natural affinity for, and they could have been doing it for so long that they simply developed gills. Also, if you want, it would make sense if they have a natural talent at water element spells. Underwater cities are always fun, especially if the Sea Elves are a "secretive" people. And the language thing could be interesting, especially if it gives them a difficult to understand accent. Or perhaps even a lilting, siren-song quality to their voices, like mermaids. Your decision of course, I just thought I'd contribute to the brainstorming a bit. The Elven goods being so distinctive is great, seeing as how they human nobles would probably buy it at ludicrous prices. It'd be funny if the human kings buy such decorations, considering them grand and eloquent, only for it to turn out to be a peasant's possession by Sea Elf standards. Similar to how Europeans bought Chinese silk for such grandly inflated prices, way back when. Things like corals and pearls would probably be prominent, as well as underwater greenery, like kelp, and perhaps even clothing made from fish scales. Oh, the possibilities! ![]() As to their affinity with water, you may even be able to take it a step further and go for the whole ocean. Respect the fish and whatnot. Give that generic Elven respect for nature to all things aquatic. Then when things like rain or strong waves happen on our trip, the Sea Elves would hold an intriguing, mystical reverence for it. Or imagine if a whale passed by? I'm certain your Elves would have a certain respect for such a large, yet peaceful creature. Sorry if I'm stepping on your creative toes, I just get excited about worldbuilding things like this.
Edited by Darkom, Jul 15 2011, 02:44 PM.
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| Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream. ~Mark Twain | |
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| Duke Smugleaf | Jul 15 2011, 02:55 PM Post #49 |
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For the Sea Elves, I'd just like to input one thing: Despite being elves, they're not particularly scholarly and don't possess much affiliation with magic. What's more, the physical demands of sailing a ship have made them generally strong and fit, meaning that in combat, most of them tend towards warriors and fighters. It helps prevent magic from becoming too over-saturated, and it also serves to subvert the most common of all elven clichés. |
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| Ambrose51 | Jul 15 2011, 03:02 PM Post #50 |
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I would support the above post. Although, one thing I would find really fascinating is that, perhaps, when they die, they do a ritual during the funeral that turns the body of the deceased to water. Would give a new meaning to the term "buried at sea."
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But mostly? The assorted plans at play here would be going very, very wrong due to the actions of a no-name, no-count, utterly talentless Magus by the name of Shirou Emiya. He had no magic worth mentioning, no combat experience of note, and no plan for or knowledge of the War he was about to enter. He did, however, have one trait that had derailed a countless number of such grand, far-reaching schemes throughout history. You see, he really, really wanted to be a hero. -(Best description of the start of a Fate novel ever.) | |
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| Duke Smugleaf | Jul 15 2011, 03:19 PM Post #51 |
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That's certainly unique. I like it. |
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| Half Tooth | Jul 15 2011, 06:48 PM Post #52 |
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I'm liking all these ideas Particularly the one about performing a ritual when they die.I had hoped to have a magic using elf, but certainly not as strongly magical as the so far suggested characters. But I'll think some more about my character over night, I was hoping to make someone who has extended their natural elven abilities into magic based around water really. Here are some mroe ideas: - In response to the idea of sea elves being well built in order to sail ships, That does make sense but I thought that because of the way the ship is built, and the elves natural magical abilities, their ships generaly sail themselves although obviously need a crew. - The Sea elves are a very balanced people, they understand there is a balance in the land and the sea and that this balacne should not be upset. However with the Godess of light now gone, the sea is becoming unbalanced, their ships are vanishing, some that swim too far have just not come back. With the balance so upset chaos is upon the ocean and the thing they work most of their lives around is now harming them sending monsters and storms to get them. The sea slves are deeply troubled by this and desperately need balance restored ![]() Of course this, would be a gradual thing as the RP went along, not just sudden chaos. - Reguarding their magical abilities, I do agree that they shouldn't be so scholarly. I imagine them to be extremely good at taking whats around them and changing it, but they're generally rubbish at all other kinds of magic. They could learn of course, it just doesn't come naturally to them and many of them have no need or interest in learning. - I think a sea elf would be extremely unhappy in a place where there is no water nearby. For them it is like air, without water they cannot do so many things and so for an elf to live on land they are only half the person they would be if they were in the sea. - The key thing about these elves is that they are just as capable of living on land as they are of living underwater. - Amongst the elves they don't have any strong 'rankings', not in the same way humans do anyway. In that the differences between poor and rich are barely noticable. They regard each other as equals, just as they regard all sea creatures worthy of resepct, and most of them as equals. Given their lengthy lives their society doesn't work the same way. I thought that there would be a lot of elves, but considerably less than the amount of humans, and generally all elves know of pretty much every other elf, or at least know of them. - They do have leaders, and a king and queen but the king and queen don't live any differently from everyone else. Their word is law though, but given the generaly peaceful nature of the elves this has never proved to be a problem before. - In the cases where a human and a sea elf hhave produced a child, the child just gets a general mix of traits from both races and has a longer life spac than an average human but much shorter than an elf's. The only things I need to think of now is a good name for the elves to call themselves, like dunmer or altmer... but better :p Should probably also think up a few key words or names. Is everything I've suggested so far ok? I also thought, maybe the jungle elves are fairly similar to the sea elves except that jungle elves live in the tree tops, and all the buildings and bridges are like grand treehouses with lots and lots of walkways. Perhaps they can also morph into rainforesty type creatures... Or maybe they should be more 'human' I'm not sure. EDIT: Hmmm I just thought, their ships shouldn't be made form wood, they should be made form some kind of material only found deep underwater, that no other race can get to and thats one of the things that makes their ships so fantastic! :p Edited by Half Tooth, Jul 15 2011, 06:53 PM.
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| Darkom | Jul 15 2011, 07:10 PM Post #53 |
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All excellent points once more, I'm glad to see you've put such thought into this. Adding depth to both the elven races will really help once we get started with the RP. I like the idea of things becoming steadily more chaotic as the Dark God gains more sway over the world; adds a kind of ticking clock to the background, to keep us motivated. I agree with your idea of having them be skilled at just their transformation magic and water control (which I am assuming is how they power their ships, along perhaps with tamed sea creatures? Speaking of, everyone loves a good dolphin mount. ). I've always been a fan of alternative societies, where class or wealth isn't as large a factor as it is in human culture. Puts an interesting perspective into play.Well, if you're trying to name them, I would suggest deciding on what they call themselves in their language, then translating it as best you can into "human". For my own races, I pick a culture distinct to them, then form their racial name based on the language. For instance, my own aquatic people have a very strong Indian influence, and as such speak a combination of Hindu and Urdu, depending on where they live (the underwater variety tend to lean more to Hindu, while the amphibious land ones use Urdu more). Their name for themselves is the Aqalmalog, meaning Wise (Aqalmand) People (Log), which is shortened by other races to Aqalm. The humans of my world, however, are Latin-Italian derived, and as such called them Maresofos (Mare - Sea; Sofos - Wise) in classical times (when they spoke Latin), which has been been shortened to Marés in modern times. So, unless you just want to pick a cool sounding name, I'd figure out what you want their underwater language to be based on. Then pick some words that describe them and phonetically switch it to Old English. When I did that, I usually used similar sounding familiar syllables to replace strange ones, like homophones. Switch a ph with an f, a k for a c, qu to k, etc. Depends on the language you choose, really. Hope that helped a little. ![]() As to the Jungle Elves, I like the idea of treetop homes, that always looks cool. And of course they shouldn't be more human! The stranger and more fantastic the better! Perhaps we could even make them have wings! Ah, my apologies, I should stop imposing my own fantasy world on this one. Though if you guys like the idea... We can flesh them out more as we get near them; maybe lay down some ground stuff now, while we're on it.As to the ship material, I agree plain old wood is too boring. I'm not sure of anything at the bottom of the ocean that would work for ship material, but perhaps something special that the grow on their islands. Keep in mind they are mostly volcanic, so perhaps some of that floating, porous rock that forms on volcanic islands. Or something else entirely; it doesn't have to occur in our world to exist in theirs. ![]() PS I will not be having my main character (the freelance assassin) join our group until we are about halfway through our sea voyage east. Until then, I will be making a character sent by the King of Wellay to lead our party. Once my other character joins, I will decide what to do with my leader guy. Death, perhaps, or simply desertion, or maybe he'll stick around, who knows? Either way, it will be a surprise- one of many that lies on our path, hopefully.Speaking of, if you have a side plot that involves your own character, like going on a personal vendetta, or revealing some dark secret in their past, please contact me via PM. Similar to the companion quests in Mass Effect and Dragon Age. I'm sure we can work it in, especially since those always prove so entertaining due to the characterization it gives, which in turn allows for more interaction.
Edited by Darkom, Jul 15 2011, 07:27 PM.
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| Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream. ~Mark Twain | |
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| Duke Smugleaf | Jul 15 2011, 07:22 PM Post #54 |
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Eh, I'm not sure about this whole "balance" thing. It just doesn't seem to fit, and doesn't do enough to separate them from the jungle elves. I'd say that the jungles elves believe in a general balance of land and sea while the sea elves believe in aquatic superiority. After all, they don't really need the land for anything, so why would they hold it as being of equal worth? Also, we should give them more not so perfect traits. So far, they're looking a lot like a race of Mary Sues to me. |
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| Half Tooth | Jul 15 2011, 07:38 PM Post #55 |
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I definately meant they belive in a balance, but perhaps just a balance of the sea. And personally I really hate the idea of the elves thinking they are far superior. I thought that would be more content with their underwater world, but not exactly hateful to everyone else. I expect some of them would be, but as a race I would hate for them to be thought of like that. If this makes sense to everyone else then they should be that way. Personally I really hate that idea :( EDIT: I do think they need some mroe flaws though, I like the idea of no matter how nice a sea elf is, you can't trust them because they'll just change their mind or their agenda like the tide. I think they should be an unstable people, but in the same sense as water. How about, we also go with the siren/mermaid thing, and that the sea elves will happily eat a human just the same as they would eat a fish. So stories have spread, and young children are told scary tales about how if they venture out to sea they'll be taken by the sea elves and eaten alive? I wouldn't say the elves hunt humans really agressivelythough, otherwise there would be a war. Edited by Half Tooth, Jul 15 2011, 07:54 PM.
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| Duke Smugleaf | Jul 15 2011, 07:53 PM Post #56 |
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And I hate Mary Sues. Everyone has to have negative traits. You can't have a race that is totally and completely perfect. It just cheapens the entire experience and makes the world more one dimensional. People need flaws, and a feeling of superiority is probably the best possible way to make the sea elves flawed. |
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| Half Tooth | Jul 15 2011, 08:11 PM Post #57 |
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I have no idea who Mary Sue is... lol I just thought I'd say I was got a bit carried away, and what I meant is I don't think the sea elves should think of themselves as a superior people, but that they perhaps love themselves and their culture so much. So they are aware of the fact that their ships are better, and the traders like to remind the human traders of this... often. They like their own armor, weapons and sculptures so much that they believe the only weapon/sculpture/amor worth having is an elven one. Tey think their sculptures are far better because of the watery sheen...etc... So essentially they are so wrapped up in themselves and sea. Perhaps that since they only like their own stuff, they are stupidly difficult to trade with. They are unwilling to part with their own elven made items, maybe even considering any human that has one as a thief? And they are also unwilling to buy anything the humans have to offer since they feel they don't need it. Although that does sort of contradict their need for trading ships, so I don't know. |
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| Duke Smugleaf | Jul 15 2011, 08:19 PM Post #58 |
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Mary Sue is a rather distasteful trope. Sooo...they don't have a sense of superiority but, instead, have a sense of superiority? Yeah, I wouldn't do that. Their entire purpose in this world is trading between the humans and elves. That is their niche. I'd say it's more the opposite. They like trading because they feel it's their responsibility to trade their superior goods to the humans so that the humans can have such fine things. |
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| Darkom | Jul 15 2011, 08:50 PM Post #59 |
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I like how you're using the sea metaphors to describe their personality, Half Tooth. Their minds can change like the tides and whatnot, it offers some very poetic descriptions of them, even in a negative light. Though it makes anything said about them sound like an old sailor was saying it. "Her eyes were as blue as the deep, and her heart as cold. Aye, laddy, she be a foul temptress."As to the balance of good and bad traits, I'd have to agree that they need at least something to even out their abilities. Like how their longevity is kept in check by the small number of children they have. Their population wouldn't be large enough to field an army, for instance, but for their niche as traders they are without equal. With their superiority complex, I would draw on historical examples again and say give them a good dose of ethnocentric attitude. The Chinese had this in spades (still do, really), and for good reason. For thousands of years they produced the best goods and ideas, which naturally led to them not accepting anything Europeans or even Muslims made or said as being as good as something Chinese. This backfired, however, with the European Renaissance, when the West outstripped China in navigation and weapon making. So, for the Sea Elves, I would say that their natural pride for their race (including their skills, art, and goods) is a double edged sword. Yes, they are great sailors, but in their haughtiness they disrespect the landbound humans, who have by this point made the Sea Elves almost dependent on them for livelihood. They are traders, but without humans to buy Elvish goods, or the natural resources found only on land, the Elves have no one to trade with. Their own population isn't enough to really turn a profit, since everyone lives so long they already have everything they need, and most of what they want they can find or make themselves. They can survive by eating fish and aquatic vegetables (farming kelp and the like for consumption), but they need trade for the same reason humans do: without it there can be no improvement of culture. If they kept completely to themselves, cutting the humans off entirely, they wouldn't have enough material wealth to maintain their wonderful cities, which means their art would be severely limited. They would trade for the same reason the Chinese did: because the Europeans had plenty of gold and other natural resources they were willing to send East in exchange for Chinese goods. The Chinese wouldn't buy European cookware, art, or anything else for that matter (besides guns, drugs, and clocks, of course), but they'd gladly take their gold. The same with the Elves: they don't want crude human art or disgusting human food (bread gets soggy underwater), but gold and gems are desired by all people. Greed is a natural condition, something I would much rather leave the Sea Elves with. Therefore, they still have a desire to trade; such is their desire, in fact, that they have become almost exclusively traders. I would think silver would be a good the Elves would be particularly interested in, given the "sheen" on all their art. Of course, even with that problem solved (unless you guys disagree), they might need a few more negative traits. Cannibalism is always fun, for humans or even other elves; fish can't be picky, afterall. In fact, I would go one step further, and say they are almost devoid of morals- at least in the human sense. They have their own code of ethics, which is based on the sea, but don't believe in things like charity. The ocean is unforgiving and unbiased; perhaps Sea Elves could be very self serving, always looking out for number one, the rule of survival and all that. That could be a deep thing in their personalities, that they are naturally mistrustful, and will betray someone without a second thought for such human concepts as "honor". Similar to the Vulcans from Star Trek, like Spock. ![]() Of course, that doesn't mean they don't respect the balance of the natural world. They won't go out of their way to ruin someone or destroy a thing, but they won't stop it either. They observe, they do not judge. If a fish sees another fish get eaten, it won't go try to help the smaller fish. It'll stay out of the bigger fish's way. It might seem amoral to humans, but to Elves it makes complete sense. Why endanger their lives for someone else? That would also explain why the Sea Elves have never posed a great military threat to the humans; they can never get an army together of such selfish people. Not to mention their lack of numbers. So while they're great at one thing- sailing- the humans best them in most everything else. Art is subjective of course, so you could claim they're better at that, but it can't be proven. So just like a very specialized mage is devastating when using their talent, they are powerless to face anything without it. A Sea Elf on dry land would be at a substantial disadvantage indeed. Not to mention the character possibilities with all of this. Trying to make a Sea Elf stick with a band of humans would be a very interesting story of itself. Perhaps your character could even begin to question the cold, calculating morality of the sea after seeing how much humans can love and trust one another. A basic shift in personality like that would make for a very intriguing character, if you'd be interested in something of that nature. ![]() Of course, all of this is, again, up to you to decide, Half Tooth. If you're planning on making an Elven character, the final decision rests with you. I just thought I'd throw my two cents in again. ![]() Apologies for the post length, by the way. I warned you I get excited when stuff like this is brought up.
Edited by Darkom, Jul 15 2011, 08:56 PM.
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| Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream. ~Mark Twain | |
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| Duke Smugleaf | Jul 15 2011, 09:03 PM Post #60 |
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The real killer for that is actually that the lack of the trading of ideas would keep their culture stagnant, like with Japan up until the 20th century. That sounds great. I'd get rid of the cannibalism, though. That's kind of going too far. That's true, but there still is a common measure of cultural advancement. For example, while both the Middle Ages and the Renaissance had art, most everyone would agree that the Renaissance art was "better," or at least more culturally developed. I'd say, considering the fact that elves are individually long-lived, their cultural development is very slow. New ideas come from new generations, and if they don't have new generations often, new ideas will be hard to come by. Usually, fantasy worlds avert this by having the elven race as a whole hundreds or even thousands of years older than humans, but if the two are born at the same time, the humans will quickly advance their culture far past the elves. |
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2:39 PM Jul 11