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lb:elves [2025-09-02 18:06:56] – ↷ Page moved from playground:elves to lb:elves ninjasrlb:elves [2026-04-02 01:23:23] (current) – [Fae] ninjasr
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 ====== Elves ====== ====== Elves ======
-Elves are a mythological/folkloric creature that currently belongs among the most famous and infamous fantasy races. +<div subtitle> 
-{{tag>mythology}}+{{tag>elves mythology}} 
 +</div> 
 +<dfn>Elves</dfn> are a mythological/folkloric creature that currently belongs among the most famous and infamous fantasy races.
 ===== Description & Notes ===== ===== Description & Notes =====
 ==== Mythological Elf ==== ==== Mythological Elf ====
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 There's some possible overlap with Dwarfs. I'm not 100% sure about the details, but there's apparently a debate over whether the Dwarfs and Elfs are the same race or not. One possibility (and this is explicitly //my speculah//) is that ‘dwarf’ is a job title or class, rather than a race. So a particularly talented elf blacksmith might just be called a ‘dwarf’.((:fn:>This may also require me to look into Norse Mythology a bit.)) There's some possible overlap with Dwarfs. I'm not 100% sure about the details, but there's apparently a debate over whether the Dwarfs and Elfs are the same race or not. One possibility (and this is explicitly //my speculah//) is that ‘dwarf’ is a job title or class, rather than a race. So a particularly talented elf blacksmith might just be called a ‘dwarf’.((:fn:>This may also require me to look into Norse Mythology a bit.))
  
-There's also a lot of overlap with the [[lb:fey]].\\ +<div passage> 
-In fact, let's see if this doesn't sound familiar:\\+There's also a lot of overlap with the [[lb:fey]]. 
 + 
 +In fact, let's see if this doesn't sound familiar: 
 Elves are supernaturally beautiful, usually taller and don't really care about what humans think about them. Elves are supernaturally beautiful, usually taller and don't really care about what humans think about them.
 +</div>
 ==== Folkloric Elf ==== ==== Folkloric Elf ====
 This is to specifically refer to the post-Norse and pre-Tolkien elves. This is to specifically refer to the post-Norse and pre-Tolkien elves.
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 It's this elf that the Christmas Elf probably derives from. It's this elf that the Christmas Elf probably derives from.
 ==== Modern Elf ==== ==== Modern Elf ====
-I believe that the modern elf ultimately derives from Tolkien's Legendarium...but, well, ‘ultimately’. I actually think that the majority of modern elves derive from D&D and Warhammer.+I believe that the modern elf ultimately derives from Tolkien's [[lb:Legendarium]]...but, well, ‘ultimately’. I actually think that the majority of modern elves derive from D&D and Warhammer. 
 + 
 +<div passage> 
 +My reasoning is that Tolkien's elves actually look very different from modern elves. They're more angelic than arrogant immortal jerks. 
 + 
 +But this fits the elves from D&D and Warhammer.
  
-My reasoning is that Tolkien's elves actually look very different from modern elves. They're more angelic than arrogant immortal jerks.\\ 
-But this fits the elves from D&D and Warhammer.\\ 
 Even generic categorizations of elves derive more from these two, rather than the Legendarium. Tolkien //does// have High Elves, Wood Elves, Sea Elves and the //Dark Elf//...but D&D/Warhammer have the Dark Elves for example. Actually, I may need to think about this a bit more. Even generic categorizations of elves derive more from these two, rather than the Legendarium. Tolkien //does// have High Elves, Wood Elves, Sea Elves and the //Dark Elf//...but D&D/Warhammer have the Dark Elves for example. Actually, I may need to think about this a bit more.
 +</div>
  
 I realize just now that I forgot to describe the modern elf. I'll do that later. I realize just now that I forgot to describe the modern elf. I'll do that later.
 ==== Japanese Elf ==== ==== Japanese Elf ====
-The Japanese Elf is a more ambiguous case and, in all honesty, I'm not sure //where// this one comes from. My best guess is that it started with //Record of Lodoss War//...which derives from D&D, so the connection remains.\\+<div passage> 
 +The <dfn>Japanese Elf</dfn> is a more ambiguous case and, in all honesty, I'm not sure //where// this one comes from. My best guess is that it started with <cite>Record of Lodoss War</cite>...which derives from D&D, so the connection remains. 
 I think that the stereotypical elf in Japan is Deedlit. This may explain why you basically never see elves in Japan without blonde hair...or blonde-adjacent hair, while this isn't quite as rare in the West. I think that the stereotypical elf in Japan is Deedlit. This may explain why you basically never see elves in Japan without blonde hair...or blonde-adjacent hair, while this isn't quite as rare in the West.
 +</div>
  
 Overall, I'd say ‘the elf’ in Japan is way more uniform than the elves in any other setting. This may also explain why the elf seems to be treated with a unique contempt by many a Japanese story – the West has pretty assholish and generic elves, but it's not as bad as in Japan. As in, Japan has more generic elves. Overall, I'd say ‘the elf’ in Japan is way more uniform than the elves in any other setting. This may also explain why the elf seems to be treated with a unique contempt by many a Japanese story – the West has pretty assholish and generic elves, but it's not as bad as in Japan. As in, Japan has more generic elves.
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 The Japanese also like Dark elves – typically tan skin and white hair. Though they aren't usually evil. The Japanese also like Dark elves – typically tan skin and white hair. Though they aren't usually evil.
 ==== Christmas Elf ==== ==== Christmas Elf ====
-The Christmas Elf is probably derived from the Folkloric Elf. Notable because Christmas Elves are radically different from Modern Elves (though there might be some overlap considering sexy elf girls who often show up with Santa).+The <dfn>Christmas Elf</dfn> is probably derived from the Folkloric Elf. Notable because Christmas Elves are radically different from Modern Elves (though there might be some overlap considering sexy elf girls who often show up with Santa).
  
 Also, amusingly, Tolkien once wrote Christmas Elves. Also, amusingly, Tolkien once wrote Christmas Elves.
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 The Fae of the British isles were definitely influenced by the Elves of Nordic Mythology...and probably vice-versa. The Fae of the British isles were definitely influenced by the Elves of Nordic Mythology...and probably vice-versa.
  
-Read “Relation with Elves” on the Fae page.+Read “[[lb:fey#relationwithelves|Relation with Elves]]” on the Fae page.
 ==== Fairies ==== ==== Fairies ====
-Elves were syncretized into – really more like categorized as – faires at some point. This resulted in the image of the elf changing as well.\\+<div passage> 
 +Elves were syncretized into – really more like categorized as – faires at some point. This resulted in the image of the elf changing as well. 
 I think it's related to the previous syncretization/conflation with the Fae. I think it's related to the previous syncretization/conflation with the Fae.
 +</div>
 ===== Media Depictions ===== ===== Media Depictions =====
 ==== The Battle for Wesnoth ==== ==== The Battle for Wesnoth ====
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 Past the second season of SAO, I know little, so let's pivot to Progressive. Past the second season of SAO, I know little, so let's pivot to Progressive.
  
-SAO Progressive is notable for a bunch of reasons, though one of the big ones is that Kirito and Asuna have an NPC elf companion. She's a Dark Elf and has booba, which is all you really need to know.\\+<div passage> 
 +SAO Progressive is notable for a bunch of reasons, though one of the big ones is that Kirito and Asuna have an NPC elf companion. She's a Dark Elf and has booba, which is all you really need to know. 
 Also, there are some hints that she's become or becoming self-aware. Also, there are some hints that she's become or becoming self-aware.
 +</div>
 ==== Tolkien's Legendarium ==== ==== Tolkien's Legendarium ====
 Tolkien's elves are a vision of humanity without original sin, though besides that I think they actually take more inspiration from the Fey rather than the Norse Elves. Sure, the term ‘elf’ is used, but that doesn't necessarily mean Tolkien got his inspiration there (though I think he got //some// inspiration). Keep in mind that Tolkien used the term ‘fairy’/‘faery’ for basically his whole life and, in the earliest versions of the Legendarium...yeah, the elves were just fairies. Tolkien's elves are a vision of humanity without original sin, though besides that I think they actually take more inspiration from the Fey rather than the Norse Elves. Sure, the term ‘elf’ is used, but that doesn't necessarily mean Tolkien got his inspiration there (though I think he got //some// inspiration). Keep in mind that Tolkien used the term ‘fairy’/‘faery’ for basically his whole life and, in the earliest versions of the Legendarium...yeah, the elves were just fairies.
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 I know a tiny bit more about the elves that appear in Warhammer than those that appear in D&D, which is why I'm convinced most modern elves come from here. I know a tiny bit more about the elves that appear in Warhammer than those that appear in D&D, which is why I'm convinced most modern elves come from here.
 ===== Trivilinks ===== ===== Trivilinks =====
-  * I'll figure out what to put here first.+  * <del>I'll figure out what to put here first.</del> What? I don't know what I meant by this.
lb/elves.1756836416.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025-09-02 18:06:56 by ninjasr
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