Thread: Roleplay tips for those who play Quendi (Elves)

Well, I'm reading Morgoth's Ring, and I picked quite a few things that might interest you:

- Growth: In about 1 year they learn to walk, talk and dance, because their wills come soon to the mastery of their bodies. They reach full adult stature in 50 years, which means that they stay as children for much longer time than Men.

- Pregnancy: About 1 year long.

- Marriage: Elves have one spouse and their bond is for life. Marriage is not only an union of the two spouses only, it's an union of their houses as well, and the betrothal or wedding ceremony reflects it. The spouses may not live together at all times, but it doesn't mean that they still don't feel a lot of affection towards each other.

- Betrothal: Elves choose their spouses quite early in their life, especially in the time of peace. Their parents would have to approve the marriage. The wedding can be called off, but it's quite rare, because they seldom mistake of their choice of spouses (though under Shadow this can change). Houses are being invited together, and the future spouses would give each other silver rings.

- Wedding: Happens at least one year later. The houses are called together once again, and the Elves would then have a great feast. After the feast the bride and groom stand up, and mother of the bride and father of the groom join the hands of the pair, and bless them. Varda is named as the witness by the mother and Manwë by the father. The name of Eru is also spoken, though it's seldom done in another time.

The couple then receives back the silver rings from each other and treasure them, and they're being replaced by slender golden rings, worn on right index finger. In troubled times, they can also marry each other without ceremony or witness.

- Divorce (better known as "disunion"): Only possible if the other Elf spouse dies. The spouse that lives can take a new husband or wife, but only in the condition that the spouse in the Halls of Mandos agrees to it, and the fact that he or she can never leave the Halls and have a new body.

- Male roles are usually: Warrior, smith, woodworker, tinker

- Female roles are usually: Healer, musician, tailor, gardener

- Both genders are equal, and they can turn tables if needed: For example, females can make valiant warriors, and males can make effective healers. Though dealings with death can weaken their ability to heal (which makes the minstrel class actually quite accurate with the War Speech, and also the rune-keeper).

I hope this helps.

Shouldn't this post have been made in the Roleplaying Forum?

Right, I can do that, thanks. But all the same it's also lore, so...

Here's the post in roleplay forum.

It should be noted that the material found in The History of Middle-earth, of which Morgoth's Ring is but one of twelve volumes, was not finalized during Tolkien's lifetime. Tolkien often wrote many versions of the same story, sometimes greatly altered. For instance, in the original tale of Beren and Lúthien the former was not a Man but a Noldo, and the character that eventually became Sauron was originally Tevildo, the Prince of Cats. Therefore, the material found in HOME should be treated very carefully.

Elves choose their spouses quite early in their life, especially in the time of peace. Their parents would have to approve the marriage

A generalization, to be sure. For instance, Elrond and Celebrían were married in the year 109 of the Third Age. Elrond, who was born in year 532 of the First Age, was approximately 3600 years old at the time of their union. While he is not an Elf but a Halfelf, he did live according to the customs of the Elves. While I'm sure that Celeborn and Galadriel approved of their daughter's choice of partner, Elrond's parents--Eärendil and Elwing--were quite inaccessible.

Divorce (better known as "disunion"): Only possible if the other Elf spouse dies. The spouse that lives can take a new husband or wife, but only in the condition that the spouse in the Halls of Mandos agrees to it, and the fact that he or she can never leave the Halls and have a new body.

Of course there was only one case of this occurring, and that was Finwë and Míriel. It is posited that perhaps Fëanor's fall was attributible to Finwë's marriage to Indis, his second wife. For instance, Fëanor did not care for his half-brothers, Fingolfin in particular, upon whom he drew a sword and falsely accused of plotting to usurp him. In any case, I would not use a one-time instance of an event that occured in Aman and had special circumstances as a guide to roleplayers whose characters are in Middle-earth.

Female roles are usually: Healer, musician, tailor, gardener

This is not supported in The Silmarillion where the noted musicians are Maglor and Daeron, although Lúthien sang and danced before Morgoth, and sang to Manwë. It is Finrod Felagund who picks up a harp and sings in the camp of Men that he comes upon. In The Lord of the Rings it is Elrond who is the renowned healer among Elves.

Then of course theres Eol who didnt take no for an answer, elves like men dont conform to a set of rules.

Well, not really trying to generalize on purpose of course. And while reading History of Middle-Earth it's good to remember that some of the ideas were later abandoned. But still their habits are interesting read.

I also understood that the resurrection of an Elf is due to happen through child birth. The mother of the reborn might not always be the same, but the reborn does get the same body, the same gender and the same name. The reborn do relive their childhood and might not remember everything from their previous life at once, but it does return to them little by little. Usually their spouses are first ones to recognize them, and when the reborn is fully grown again, they would also hold a new wedding ceremony (this is again explained by differences of fëa and hröa).

A spirit can return to the body it departed from, but only if the body is not too damaged, and in Aman, which makes it extremely rare.

No Elf is forced to be reborn or even to come to Mandos, though most answer the summons of Námo at once and most do choose to be reborn, especially because they want to be rejoined with their loved ones, especially their spouses. Summons to Mandos simply gives them the easiest way to choose how they may. Thus Fëanor's notion "jail crow of Mandos" isn't exactly a fair one, and he did answer the summons in the end as well.

However, those who don't choose to answer the summons remain without body. Sometimes it's the sign of a taint caused by Morgoth, so all of them may not be in the side of good anymore. While other fëar of the Elves can meet people and teach them lore and wisdom, the others might try to take their bodies by force, possessing them ("fell spirits" in the game, I think). If the original spirit in the body is not ejected, the body might at least be damaged in the struggle.

It's also said that Dark Lords and their servants do have the ability to teach the tainted fëar that skill.