[Discussion] Elves, especially High Elves, as PCs

[amajo]

Maybe this is too simplistic an analogy, but suppose someone from the 21st century was transported back in time to the medieval period with some of the technology we take for granted. To the folk living in the past that which we consider completely normal would appear magical. I think our theoretical time traveler would also seem magical and somewhat more godlike in that setting.

I totally agree with your comparison of the adult and the child.
About the quote, you don't even have to involve time travel! When I came to live in the old continent from a different one, everything seemed magical to me. And I'm not speaking about technology and objects, I'm speaking about the people, their culture, their ways of dealing with life, etc. etc. etc. 10 years later I still find many things "magical" in unexpected places.

[Stormcrow]

But if you could escape death forever, what could persuade you to risk your life? Why not dance, sing and carouse in the woods foreverer? Why not becoming one of the Wayward elves?

Because while you are timeless, the world is mortal, and all the things you love in the world pass away and are gone forever. Grief becomes an unending burden, and you long to go to a place that is as immortal as you are, so you no longer lose the things you love. That place is Valinor, the Undying Lands.

[Corvo]

But if you could escape death forever, what could persuade you to risk your life? Why not dance, sing and carouse in the woods foreverer? Why not becoming one of the Wayward elves?

Because while you are timeless, the world is mortal, and all the things you love in the world pass away and are gone forever. Grief becomes an unending burden, and you long to go to a place that is as immortal as you are, so you no longer lose the things you love. That place is Valinor, the Undying Lands.

Yeah. My comparison with the Wayward Elves was misleading: I was thinking of their attitude about the problems of Middle-earth. You effectively point out the other, more important, point: their unwillingness of going to Valinor.

Yet, we are back to the point I care about: Elves got an alternative, a place where they can "no longer lose the things you love". Men aren't given that choice.

[Majestic]

But while Elves won't die (or get old) from old age, they can die from violence, or by an accident.

[Corvo]

But while Elves won't die (or get old) from old age, they can die from violence, or by an accident.

Exactly. Crudely put, sooner or later Men will die.
But Elves... why risk your precious immortality?
As I said, every Hero need a motivation, but this is doubly true of someone who isn't going to die or wither unless they bite more than they can chew

[Stormcrow]

Elves who "die" do not leave the world; their spirits remain until the end of time. No one knows what happens to the spirits of men, so it's impossible to know whether death is an escape from burden. As the Silmarillion says, even the Valar may come to envy men for this, when the world becomes too wearying even for them.

Elves risk much less in danger than do men. They know where they will go and what will happen there, and they may come back. Men risk everything on an unknown.

[zedturtle]

Yeah, Elves are immortal. Full stop. If you're an Elf, and you die from an Orc sword, you wake up in the Halls of Mandos. You might be there for a while (especially if you're the kind of Elf who was putting themselves in front of Orc swords), but sooner or later you will be done there and ready for Valinor, or beyond (if your name is Glorfindel the Awesome).

— • —

To the point of playing an Elf... I would never deny that opportunity to my players. Yes, they are (and should remain) a bit magical and mysterious. But that's the point of playing them too. Why not see if you can get into the mentality of someone who is not only guaranteed eternal salvation, but has been to Heaven and chosen to come to Middle-earth in order to struggle against incarnate Evil? Yeah, that's a lot to ask, but hey... it's interesting and worth the challenge.

[Corvo]

You are right.
That said, tell that Valinor and Halls of Mandos thing to Anglachel: she wasn't so cool about Beleg dying