The Elven Life Cycle – From Egg to End

So, where do we start? I guess with the eggs… That’s kind of weird, right? Elves lay eggs!

Humans are the weird ones, I think. But I see your meaning, what is different can often look weird.

The eggs are kept in a “spawning pool” where they hatch and the tadpoles live in water for the first year. Though this is the part I don’t quite get, it seems they are cared for by a “nest-circle” and not their parents, why is that, Fiona?

At this point the mother and father are usually dead. The hatchlings are cared for by a circle who specialize in raising and educating them.

Dead? I thought the texts were a bit vague on this.

The third parent, the seer, is still alive, but they usually only take a distant role. I suspect we will get into this more towards the end.

That’s kind of sad, they don’t raise their own kids—I mean hatchlings?

Why would you want to raise them yourself? Surely you want experts that can do it much better? You wouldn’t forge your own sword, you let a proper smith do it.

I guess… But what about the love only a parent can give?

That is a very human way of looking at it. We show our love by paying for a good nest to give them the best start in life.

Surely everyone can’t afford that.

Asking your close friends or siblings to raise them is also an option. But it’s seen as a bit Low-Ward to do so. Even worse, the parents can choose to not give up their entire soul so they can survive and care for the hatchlings themselves. Of course, at the cost of giving them weaker souls.

I’m feeling as though I’ve derailed your article already, please continue with the life of the Elf hatchlings.

Elf Eggs and Hatchlings

Ah yes, where was I? The tadpole doesn’t require much attention other than feeding… But wait, how does that work if their mother is dead?

Any female or seer Elf can do it after being exposed to the pheromones the hatchlings release into the water. Caretakers regularly bathe in the pool with the eggs so they are ready when the eggs hatch.

Oh… Okay, moving on… In the crawler stage the hatchling starts to emerge from the pool and explores above the water. Now, it’s important for the caretakers to be constantly on watch, as the book puts it “crawlers are complete idiots with no regard for their own safety.” They also begin to eat other kinds of food and learn the basics of language.

In the walker stage they no longer need to return to the water. This is when their education can begin in earnest with learning proper manners and understand the world. At this point they can also be taken outside of the nest to explore and socialize with hatchlings from other nests.

I think I have seen them running around in the Low-Ward.

Yes, but free-running is much rarer in higher society.

Elf Youngsters

As the Elf grows the education becomes more specialized, and Elves from different walks of life are often brought in to teach them. During the teen years, the hatchling’s tail begins to grow narrower before finally falling off. I understand this is a sign of maturity and signals it’s time to leave their nest to find a circle to join as an apprentice.

I should note that some Elf-kin keep their tail for their entire life—like the Fiends for example—but in semi-rare cases other Elves also do. If the tail doesn’t fall off before their early 20s it will likely stay for life.

Elf Adults

The books acknowledge that these classifications are considered somewhat outdated, but traditionally an Elf is not considered an adult until they are proficient at a skill and have become a full member of a circle. This usually involved an apprenticeship of at least 20 years, but sometimes as long as 60.

So, don’t you see me as an adult yet?

Well, you just started your apprenticeship… So, kind of—but you see, Elves don’t really age like you Humans do. Beyond adolescence age doesn’t have much meaning to us. Though age has a certain attraction for Elves, accomplishments are more important. “Even fools can grow old,” as the saying goes.

It’s different for Humans, I know, but even old Humans are quite young from an Elven perspective.

So, growing up is more about what you do than how old you are?
Succinctly put, Lily.

The book goes on to say that the classifications only become more vague from that point. A master has acquired a “full understanding of the skill” and is usually the most qualified at the craft in a circle. 100 years in a field is given as a good measure to become a master, but it varies greatly depending on the field and the innate talent of the Elf.

A transcendent is said to have branched out and learned skills from other fields, combining the knowledge to create something entirely new.

Some say it requires several hundred years to reach this level, while others say the Elf should be judged purely on their skill. Needless to say, very few Elves ever reach this point.

Elf Retirement and Reproduction

After a long life many Elves feel like they have accomplished what they set out to do or have reached their potential. They come to a point where they wish to spend the rest of their time simply enjoying life. Not all Elves reach this stage of peaceful contentment and instead struggle to reach greatness to the end.

This is a great time to take up hobbies you never had time for, teach younger Elves, or simply relax. At this age it’s also common to pass on your life’s work to the younger generation.

But if I understand this right, Elves don’t have any hatchlings at this point, so to whom would you pass it on?
Commonly it would be a niece or nephew that chose to apprentice under you. But family bonds aren’t quite as important for us Elves, so it could simply be a younger member of your circle that takes your role.

Fiona, would you mind taking this next part, I’m already blushing…

You mean the reproduction? Of course, Lily, I understand that the Human shyness can get in the way of this topic. Well, it’s quite simple, really.

At the age where the fading starts to set in is the best time for the male and female to find their mate. For seers, their age doesn’t really matter, as they don’t die in the process.

Then, when the season is right, the three of them usually seclude themselves for several months, where they proceed to…

…and after the eggs are laid, the seer can perform the soul ritual.
Are you still with me, Lily? What is that blank expression you are giving me?

What? I mean, yes. Your description was just a bit more… detailed than I expected… What happens next?

The seer takes the souls from the other two parents to create the new souls for the hatchlings. Some believe the parents, in a sense, live on in their hatchlings, while others proclaim that their souls only create the seed from which new souls can grow. Either way, that is how new

Elves are made. Any questions?

Many… But let’s move on.

Conclusion – Elf Death

So, I understand the fading means the Elf is dying, but what is it really?

That’s a difficult topic, Lily. What the fading truly is remains unknown, but all Elves eventually lose the will to go on.

How long an Elf can live seems to depend on several factors. A strong soul is the largest. If your parents were long lived and gave their entire soul creating you and your siblings, you are likely also going to have a long life. Having a strong desire and clear goals seem to prolong life, as Elves who have either achieved all their goals or given up trying, both often start fading. Having control of some source of magic also possibly prolongs life, though this is hard to verify, as uncontrolled magic can have the opposite effect. But anecdotally, all Elves who had (or claim to have) extraordinary long lives have all been magic users of some kind.

Once the fading has taken over the soul or the soul has been given to hatchlings, there isn’t much one can do. Though the body remains healthy, the mind is gone. They will stare into nothing and have no will to do anything. Left alone, they will starve to death.

The faded can be coaxed to eat and walk, but it’s generally considered cruel to keep them alive longer than needed.

That sounds so sad. But what happens to them?

In the end, relatives, friends, and circle members will take them to a bone pile, usually located a short travel outside towns and cities, where the life-enders administer the last rites. This involves them living with the life-enders for a few weeks to ensure they are actually gone.

Traditions vary, but Crimson Elves here on the coast most commonly choose the guillotine for a quick end. Their body is added to the bone pile and their skull is cleaned for the family collection.

Like the skulls you keep on the wall in your room?

Exactly, many Elves with a lineage keep the skulls of their ancestors in a family tree of sorts.

I guess that concludes our article, too.