"Grey elves have either silver hair and amber eyes or pale
golden hair and violet eyes. The latter sort are generally called faeries."
[IMC I located the faeries exclusively in (surprise, surprise) The Faerie Kingdom of Celene while locating the grey elves proper in Sunndi.]
In Vecna: Genesis of a Legend, we have this description:
"Primaria Lafanel was born as the first Ur-Flan Tyrants proclaimed the Thaumatocracy of Heraan on the now sunken Isles of Woe in the Nyr Dyv. He was one of those rare Gray Olve with pale golden hair and amber eyes that signifies ancient Sidhe heritage and immortality."
It's interesting that this rare sort of elf combines the grey elf/faerie features into one. Immortality is also an interesting addition, given how long-lived elves are already.
Is there more information on this amber eyes/Sidhe heritage connection anywhere?
I note that the first description of Markessa in A2: Secrets of the Slavers Stockade describes her thus:
"She is a small female elf with ivory white skin, golden hair and an evil slant to her amber eyes."
I'm not sure if whoever came up with the amber eyes/Sidhe connection was nodding to this description of Markessa or if this is just a fruitful coincidence. Note also that both of the amber eyed/blonde elves we know of were corrupted by evil.
Although one of my players in my Nyrond game wanted to create a fairy for the game. I said no, but he ended up creating one anyway (by reskinning a gnome to be a leprechaun). As far as Grey Elves are concerned, I wonder if they have pronounced reptilian traits? Amber eyes are a sign of reptilian heritage. Although I bet before the Flan came, a number of grey elves became drow after being corrupted to evil.
I'll contact my friend again about this entry in the 1e monster manual. I think I have a copy on my Hard Drive. If not, I'll buy a copy today from Drivethru.
The amber eyes would be what in technical terms is called an "oopsie". I must have misread or misremembered which color eyes went with the golden hair. The intent was that Primaria Lafanel was a standard "faerie" type grey elf.
The association of "faerie" grey elves with the Sidhe, and from that being immortal, at least potentially, is purely a creation of mine. I began developing it in my "Peoples and Cultures of the Flanaess", included some notes in my "Cosmogony", and added more in my "Ancient Timeline". All of these can be found as no-frills netbooks at The Grey Grimoire website.
https://thegreygrimoire1.wordpress.com/
The short version is that modern elves were originally mere servants of the Sidhe, who have been withdrawn from the Oerth for failing at the purpose intended for them by their creator powers - primarily Ehlonna but with significant empowerment by Wee Jas. With this, Ehlonna serves as the equivalent of Titania of the Seelie Court, while Wee Jas is the Queen of Air and Darkness of the Unseelie Court.
The "faerie" type grey elves have a hint of the Sidhe power, due to the usual liasons in the past. As a result, they have also been called away. Some few are born to "regular" grey elves from time to time, and while they are not taken away immediately, after a thousand years and a dozen levels or so they increasingly feel the urge to leave. If they do not, Bad Things (TM) begin to happen.
Elements of this were intended to reconcile some less-favored elements of the canon, notably the Wars Lendore Isle incident. Other parts were inspired by various classical portrayals of elves, along with more recent sources ranging from "The Broken Sword" to "The Books of Magic". It has no basis in any other canon sources.
As for Markessa, any similarity is purely coincidental. Primaria Lafanel is inspired by, indeed intended to be related to, a specific Greyhawk NPC, but not Markessa. As it goes, that NPC is rather thoroughly evil as well. Of course, the Sidhe as I portray them have a strong inclination to evil, or at least a callous arrogance that makes them thoroughly unconcerned with the feelings of other, particularly those of shorter-lived mortals with souls. This is the key to Primaria's fall.
I will also note that Primaria being an elf and having the Eye of Vecna is based on things in the background of Vecna, namely one wielder using the Eye to kill the House of Hyeric at the Battle of a Fortnight's Length, and the PCs encountering a mad elf missing a hand and eye in Citadel Cavitius during the adventure. With no other details on either, I put the two together and created Primaria.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Canonfire! is a production of the Thursday Group in assocation with GREYtalk and Canonfire! Enterprises
