The Evening Grove
<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-47423994-1', 'fortunecity.ws'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <center> <br> <div> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.broadcaststation.net/ads/show_ad.php?width=728&height=90"></script> </div> </center> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=135 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="elves.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NeverWinter Elven Nexus"><U><IMG SRC="1c06e700.gif" border=0 width="110" height="112" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="elves.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NeverWinter Elven Nexus"><U><B><U>Neverwin</U></B></U></A><A HREF="elves.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NeverWinter Elven Nexus"><U><B><U>ter Elven Alliance</U></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Title 54"><U>S</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#A0A0A4" TEXT="#080000"> <div> v<FONT SIZE="7" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Flat Earth Scribe" ><U>THe Evening Grove</U></FONT>v</div> <div> <A HREF="elves.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NeverWinter Elven Nexus"><U><U><IMG SRC="1c3e2520.jpg" border=0 width="482" height="338" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></U></A></div> <div> The elves are an ancient race and their existence stretches further back in time than even they can remember. Whenever their creation may have been, for whatever reason, it is generally assumed Corellon Larethian created them. </div> <div> <B>Religion:</B> Corellon Larethian is the protector and preserver of life. 'He' is also sometimes known as LifeGiver, but it is also the case some elves think of Corellon as female rather than male, as both male and female, or as neither gender. A pragmatic race, elves hardly ever have strong gender lines in their societies, and either men and women can be found in most social roles, thus the actual gender of their god is not really important to them. </div> <div> It is said the elven race sprang from drops of His blood that were shed in battle, though dispute as to which foe He was fighting still remains. Some say it was against Gruumsh, the god of the evil orcs, while others say it was against Lolth, a demonic, spider-like goddess. There are also those few who believe the drops of blood were not shed in battle after all, but deliberately, as He created the elven race from His blood in order to combat the evil in the world spawned by orcs, their eternal enemies, or other dark ones such as Lolth and Her ilk. And there are even a few who say orc and elf somehow share common ancestry, but exactly how that can be is lost to antiquity. Whatever the case may be, most elves pay at least some homage to Corellon Larethian in some form, and many worship the being of light, life, and goodness as their primary faith. </div> <div> Corellon Larethian is the god of music, poetry, dance, magical study, arts and crafts, and even combat. He is most often depicted as a male warrior with long bow or long sword dressed in azure gossamer robes over his elven mithral chainmail. Many believe His epic battles took place on lunar soil and those craters are the remnants of these epic battles. Thus, their holy days are closely tied to the moon, a three-quarter silver crescent being this deity's holy symbol. Elven places of worship are always natural formations, like grottoes, natural amphitheaters, or groves, and their ceremonies mostly occur during a full moon, new moon, or specific phase of the moon (depending on which holy day it is and who you ask). </div> <div> Finally, there is some speculation that the elves Corellon first created were immortal and perfect. As such, they would live forever, unless killed, or until Corellon called their spirits home to him across the waters before reincarnation. But over the millennia the elven bloodlines have become mixed with other races. Historically when, where, and why is not remembered, but each time such a major union takes place, it is believed the longevity of the elven races decreases. Ancient records suggest not so long ago when the oldest of elves typically lived past 2 millennia, even if no living elf personally recalls this fact, but now few will make it as far as 7 or 8 centuries. Many purest amongst the elves wish to quell further degradation of their bloodlines and frown upon mixed marriages, but most admit such unions are inevitable and over time the elves will meld into the human race, hopefully the end product enjoying the best both races have to offer. </div> <div> Humans might think the elves regret losing this fantastic longevity in such unions, but elves often rejoice in such unions since each time it happens, their love produces children with greater frequency. Elven birth rates, you see, are quite low, and when an elven child is born it is quite an occasion for celebration. (Modern elven birth rates are about 6 times lower than human birth rates, but elves live about 6 times longer, so populations remain balanced). In the meantime, as the total blending of elf and human will not happen for many thousands of years and hundreds of elven generations to come, the elves hope that they, the humans, and most other races will try to live in harmony and with nature as best they can. But in case they don't, the elves are always ready on their never-ending vigil against evil, which they believe was the purpose of their very creation in the first place. </div> <div> To that end, most elven cultures devote their long lives to practicing many martial arts. In particular, swordplay and skill with bow and arrow is a must, and such practice is a never-ending part of their incredibly long lives. </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>