Green Elves and Cities

I will start by clearing up the term used for my people. We are called 'Wild Elves' by Outsiders. This is a title conjured up by humans and Sun-kissed elves to better reflect how they think of us, not how we think of ourselves. We are too often considered to be animals by them.

I hope that this book will shed some light on our ways so that others can better understand the /Green/ elves.

When I first arrived in Myon, I was told often that I should leave to create a Green elf community elsewhere. There is rarely any space for Green elves in the island's elven communities, let alone space for Green elves to keep their culture.

In Myon, there have been very few Green elves in leadership and most of those that did make it did so by shedding much of their ways to adopt city ways. I understand that conformity is to be expected, even among elven societies, however I find that the compromises seem to fall solely on the Green elves and rarely on the shoulders of others. The community seldom (historically even) makes any effort to make compromises for Green kin.

I choose to believe that this is because they are ignorant rather than cruel. Green elves are loyal and reliable kin. They are an asset to any community they are in. So I will share with you our ways to better help you include us.

Survive Vs Thrive

Green elves can be found in several regions: the Forests, the Jungles, the Plains and the Mountains. Each of these provides unique problems that inform daily life.

In the Forests, while there is many resources, the space is limited and competed over by other races which can make it dangerous and reduces a tribe's territory. It tends to produce smaller tribes notorious for their isolationism even against other Green elves.

In the Jungles, the environment is as dangerous as the things that inhabit it. Kin compete with desperate neighbours for safe territory that has the most reliable food and least chance to be overcome by the climate. This tends to produce some of the most aggressive kin; hardy and very protective of their home.

In the Plains, my home, kin are nomadic. Tribes move with the seasons and follow herds. We only keep with us what is important and easy to move. There is very little place to hide in the open Plains so we rely heavily on our numbers, cooperation and being able to engage in combat at a distance (with magic or bow).

On the Mountains, kin rely on consistency. Their homes tend to be within caves and caverns and see little change. Even their seasons differ to provide stability. This offers them the most time out of all the Green kin making them very industrious.

In all examples, though the severity changes, Green kin focus on survival. Whereas city kin focus on thriving; most of the time individually. In the Wilds, kin must rely on each other and a variety of skills (instead of spending centuries on a single one).

As a result of this, Green elves mature faster than city elves because they must. You must learn your territory. You must learn all the ways to secure food depending on the season. You must learn to trust each other and yourself.

Rarely does one kin hold all the knowledge or skill for a single aspect of community life. It is taught to all those that may be adept at it so that if anything should happen to one kin, that knowledge is not entirely lost.

We think about things like this because it is necessary. Survival is the highest priority. This is not to say that we do not find time for revelry but we find time for it less often than other elven societies might. Many city kin will see this as Green elves being strict or grumpy but it is ingrained in us.

You might ask, why then don't Green elves just build cities and find stability there? The simple answer is that we do not see the cities as good. They do allow for an reliable environment but they drown in excess and pervert nature to a way that suits them with gardens and farms. Many Green kin see city ways as promoting distance between kin and laziness.

Green elves have a great affinity and respect for the Great Nature which is often absent in cities to that degree. It would be considered a great crime to lose that affinity. However, on this island, elves gather in cities. There must be a compromise where survival meets thriving so that Green elves can find a community.

Community is extremely important for us. We find our stability and joy in our kin. That said, similar to how Sun-kissed elves are tempted by the Spider and Moon-kissed tempted by the Moon, Green kin are tempted by the Wolf Spirit. We are taught so thoroughly that we can survive alone if need be. When city kin are troublesome or tiring, then Green kin may be tempted by the Wolf to leave.

This may seem unproblematic to city kin who seem to be of the belief that if you are not /entirely/ happy with where you are, you should move [Scribe's Note: I blame Moon-kissed for this behaviour as they, tempted by the Moon, will travel far and wide before ever settling on a place]. However Green kin, fed by the Wolf, will only descend into an isolated life which threatens their ability to ever be among their kin again.

City kin should remember that it is only the love of the Great Flame [Scribe's Note: Also known as the Sun Spirit, outside of the Plains] that ever lures the Wolf out of hiding. Green elves will have richer lives with a community. They should not have to be punished for being different or losing their tribe.

Segregation

Green kin order their community through various types of division; Shamans, Warriors, Archers, Seers, Callers, and so on. Much like in the cities, kin are divided up by aptitude and ability; although this happens for us much earlier in life.

The most important division is male and female. The severity of this depends on the region and the size of the tribe but often a tribe is matriarchal or patriarchal. In many tribes on the Plains, our females lead. They are taught the skills of leadership early so they can all be best equipped when they come of age.

This is not to say that the males do not learn any of these skills or that all females take to leadership. Only that it is more encouraged of them. The Spirits made us different; this difference does not go unacknowledged.

This separation is also reflected in daily life; males and females become so divided in duties that camps are designed to keep them apart. This is not because they will 'distract' one another as city kin seem to think [Scribe's Note: Green elves do not have the same hang ups about 'romance' or relationships as the seemingly repressed city elves do] or that one side is lesser or more superior; this is because certain duties require certain spaces and materials which are best organized in certain ways which result in a clear segregation.

In many cities, there is no such division which can make many Green elves uncomfortable or even 'shy' as city kin call it. Just as any kin might be made uncomfortable by a stark difference in environment, so are Green kin. This is to be expected. Instead of being needlessly offended [Scribe's Note: City kin should consider working on their frail sensibilities to grow thicker skin if such a thing offends them] city kin should consider what elements of their society they find to be fundamental and how they would feel if they were completely removed.

The Spirits

City kin have the need to make everything permanent or lasting. In doing so, they have settled on a series of 'Gods' that have been codified and distributed to ensure conformity.

Green elves take a different approach; a more personal one. Through our connection with the Great Nature and kin, we find our bond with the Spirits. [Scribe's Note: I will be including a separate book to cover this subject a little more deeply since he has a lot to say on it.]

Each region focuses on their own tribal Spirits. This is not to say that they do not acknowledge the existence of the other Spirits; merely that they do not pay them tribute. For example, on the Plains, we do not trust, approve of or consort with fey kind unlike Forest kin might. This includes the one city kin call the Trickster. We consider fey to be unlike us as much as a dragon might be and treat them accordingly; they are not entirely of this world and we cannot hope that they will think like us.

So we offer this Spirit no tribute and will often look down on those that live among us that do so. We do not do this out of spite. We simply have no use for such considerations. Much like how Mountain kin will find no need to offer tribute to the Spirits of the Forest and if one does, they might think that kin mad.

It is the difference in Spirits that often makes it difficult for Green elves of various tribes to gather. It takes us a long time to recognize a Spirit that is not of our tribe, even if we have been forced to move. This may seem unusual to City kin but I ask you to consider it as one might friendship.

If you have a friend close to you like no other and then you move elsewhere, away from this friend, will you be so open to a new friend of the same closeness immediately? I doubt it. Friendships like that take time but it is time we are willing to spend. Green elves put as much importance on their Spirits as they do their kin.

So much so in fact that many tribes expect young Green elves to go out into the Wilderness alone, for a time, to seek their connection by finding which Spirit favours them the most.

City kin will find that they will be most appealing to Green elves if they allow space for honouring the Spirits. More often than not, this is done in action as much as it is done in physical tribute. You will be able to draw Green elves to you if you share similar Spirits, even if you call them by a different, city name.

The Hunt

You will find that regardless of region, Green elves have a great love for the Hunt. It is one of the primary means of socializing. City kin should be encouraged to Hunt with Green elves if they are interested in establishing stronger bonds.

The way a kin Hunts will tell you a lot about them, if only you pay attention. It is rare that Green elves will even 'romance' [Scribe's Note: I am using this word for lack of a better one but the reader should note that romance in the Wilds is starkly different than in the city] a kin they have not gone to Hunt with. I have even see some infatuations be crushed after a thorough Hunt.

Hunts are also used for securing food, protecting territory, conducting ceremonies, honouring the Spirits and holding feasts. It is one of the single most important activities of Green kin life. City kin that find themselves chained down in their cities will struggle to contain Green kin as active citizens.

Revelry

Green elves play as hard as they work. We have many forms of revelry; we tell tales, we hold feasts, we rejoice in music and dancing, we honour each other with markings, paints, tattoos and braids. We hold celebrations for the seasons and honour the Spirits in a hundred different joyous ways.

We do this because it is important. Life is difficult enough; we should enjoy it with our kin. Too often do City kin only focus on their duty and on themselves. They rob their kin of learning what joys they have to offer by only doing constant work.

This is the way of Dwarves, not elves. I understand that City kin have the luxury of doing as they please, always, but they need to learn to cast off Selfishness [Scribe's Note: Selfishness is, in many Green elf regions, among the highest of crimes] and bond with their kin.

I would love to say that one aspect of revelry is more important than another but that is simply not true. To free your soul with music and dance is as important as taking the time to show your kin love by braiding their hair. All are paramount to a strong community and should be done regularly.

Privacy and Openness

Many City kin will struggle with this section because their societies focus too much on individuality. While Green elves are encouraged to do and be what suits their capabilities, they still must be what the tribe needs. It is dangerous and costly to shed a member of the tribe; tribes are often designed in such a way that everyone has their place. To lose even one piece of that structure can cause an imbalance that can take generations to fix.

It is exactly this attitude that forces many Green elves to conform so abruptly to City kin ways. Cities do not allow Green elves space to be themselves so they must be 'City-fied' to better assist this new tribe. This is something I am opposed but I do not judge my kin too harshly if they feel this is the only way that they can be allowed to exist actively in Arelithian elven communities (with the only other option is being forced to live with Outsiders or in isolation).

Privacy is a byproduct of the City kin need to be individuals over community members. They hide things within themselves, within their needlessly constructed mini-communities called 'Houses', within their decided 'friend groups'. It is all largely nonsense designed to keep kin apart or make others feel superior.

In a tribe, privacy is a mark of selfishness. You are expected to know all your kin and them to know you. You may not like all of them the same way but that does not mean you are not open and honest with them.

Openness is a way to ensure health, ability and happiness. If a kin is struggling silently, it may affect their abilities which will cost the tribe. It is also more than that. All elves have the responsibility to safeguard the minds and souls of their kin from corruption; distance, loneliness, sadness, anger and all the negative thoughts that a we can conjure up can harm mind and soul if they are left to run free.

City kin must learn to whittle down their need for privacy so that kin can feel comfortable leaning on them in times of need (or even in general) and that they can do the same. We have nothing else if not each other; that love is a gift given by the Spirits.

[Scribe's Notes: In conclusion, I would like to make clear that I do not agree entirely with my dear brother. This book is written out of an abundance of love that he possesses and the belief that all of our Father's Children are worthy of help. Personally I have not seen any example from Myon kin that they ever have any intention of including Green elves or allowing them to exist as themselves in the community, only outside it.

However, my dear brother is Gift of the Sky. Those outside of the Plains of Shaar might know this by a different name. Touched by the Gods? Most Favoured? Gifted? It matters not. My brother's love was bestowed upon him at birth by the Spirits themselves. One such as I cannot hope to understand the magnitude of his love for his kin. It is divine love; blessed and pure.

I hope that the reader keeps that oceanic love in mind when considering this book. It is that vast and undeserving love that brings you this knowledge; written down in a way that Green elves rarely do. That they would rarely think to do but are forced to in hopes of better futures.]

Scribed and Edited by: Bear-on-the-Mountain, Dwarf Enthusiast

Spoken by: The Father of Ash, Son of Lightning, Gift of the Sky; Shaman Wyn of the Plains and the Fair City