Culture question - Moon Elves of the North. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Culture question - Moon Elves of the North. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mars2686
10-18-07, 07:45 PM Hi, November is National Novel Writing Month and I am planning on participating. I'm just going to write small novel -- I'm not a writer by any means, it's just for fun -- and I plan to set my book in the Forgoten Realms.
The extent of my FR knowledge is fairly limited. Basicly I've read all of the books in the Drizzt series up to The Orc King, the newest one (which I haven't read.) And I've played a little DnD.
Anyways, my main character is going to be a half-elf who is a direct decendant of a human and an elf so he will be from a full elven community (as opposed to a half-elf community.) It's set around Luskan so I need some information about the tribes around that area, preferably The Moonwood, unless there is a better area.
I've searched google and found little substance. Could anyone point me in the right direction? Basicly, I would like to know tribe names, any inportant people, culture etc. Salvatore decribes the surface elves as the type that like to dance and have celebrations. Is he refering to Moon Elves, or some other subrace? How would the celebrations go? Do Moon Elves hunt animals, or do they live in peace with them and eat plants. How close are the tribes? Are they a bunch of split up peoples who avoid each other. Or do they all work together for the greater good? Are there rivalries? What is the coming of age like? I know lots of this is proably unknown, but I'd like to get as much information about this as possible.

Thank you very much for your time.
Old Sage
10-18-07, 09:24 PM The Silver Marches tome and nearly every 2e tome that covers the North to some degree [there was a little tidbit about the Moonwood in Lost Empires of Faerūn tome] are the most detailed sources for the Moonwood. There's not a great deal of significant information, and most of it is spread throughout other entries on areas in the North.

Silver Marches has the most recent information [and introduces the focus on the Malarites that infest the place]. The 2e sources are pretty vague and talk about elves being present. There isn't much detail at all, I'm afraid - but great opportunities for you to do "your own thing".
Mars2686
10-18-07, 09:41 PM Thank you for your reply. I am going to research those sources.
Yea, I was planning on making up a lot of their culture. I just didn't want to blatantly go against something significant. From what I gather, they are just loose gatherings of elves. I just think I've heard that The High Forest, for instance, has a major Elf leader (although I may be mistaken.) I'd also like to include elements that give it a "Forgoten Realms feel." So if there were any significant people, or sayings I'd like to incorporate them to make it seem more "realistic." The biggest thing is if there are any naming connventions, as I'm at a loss as to what to name the tribe. Although it isn't that important, since the main character doesn't spend a significant amount of time in the woods.
There doesn't seem to a lot of direct referance material about specific towns and such on the official sites (besides major ones like Waterdeep.) I guess this is to give DM's and writers more freedom. Like I said, I was more than intending on malking up lots in regards to setting. I just wanted to keep it somewhat FR accurate.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mars2686 10-18-07, 07:45 PM	Hi, November is National Novel Writing Month and I am planning on participating. I'm just going to write small novel -- I'm not a writer by any means, it's just for fun -- and I plan to set my book in the Forgoten Realms. The extent of my FR knowledge is fairly limited. Basicly I've read all of the books in the Drizzt series up to The Orc King, the newest one (which I haven't read.) And I've played a little DnD. Anyways, my main character is going to be a half-elf who is a direct decendant of a human and an elf so he will be from a full elven community (as opposed to a half-elf community.) It's set around Luskan so I need some information about the tribes around that area, preferably The Moonwood, unless there is a better area. I've searched google and found little substance. Could anyone point me in the right direction? Basicly, I would like to know tribe names, any inportant people, culture etc. Salvatore decribes the surface elves as the type that like to dance and have celebrations. Is he refering to Moon Elves, or some other subrace? How would the celebrations go? Do Moon Elves hunt animals, or do they live in peace with them and eat plants. How close are the tribes? Are they a bunch of split up peoples who avoid each other. Or do they all work together for the greater good? Are there rivalries? What is the coming of age like? I know lots of this is proably unknown, but I'd like to get as much information about this as possible. Thank you very much for your time.
Old Sage 10-18-07, 09:24 PM	The Silver Marches tome and nearly every 2e tome that covers the North to some degree [there was a little tidbit about the Moonwood in Lost Empires of Faerūn tome] are the most detailed sources for the Moonwood. There's not a great deal of significant information, and most of it is spread throughout other entries on areas in the North. Silver Marches has the most recent information [and introduces the focus on the Malarites that infest the place]. The 2e sources are pretty vague and talk about elves being present. There isn't much detail at all, I'm afraid - but great opportunities for you to do "your own thing".
Mars2686 10-18-07, 09:41 PM	Thank you for your reply. I am going to research those sources. Yea, I was planning on making up a lot of their culture. I just didn't want to blatantly go against something significant. From what I gather, they are just loose gatherings of elves. I just think I've heard that The High Forest, for instance, has a major Elf leader (although I may be mistaken.) I'd also like to include elements that give it a "Forgoten Realms feel." So if there were any significant people, or sayings I'd like to incorporate them to make it seem more "realistic." The biggest thing is if there are any naming connventions, as I'm at a loss as to what to name the tribe. Although it isn't that important, since the main character doesn't spend a significant amount of time in the woods. There doesn't seem to a lot of direct referance material about specific towns and such on the official sites (besides major ones like Waterdeep.) I guess this is to give DM's and writers more freedom. Like I said, I was more than intending on malking up lots in regards to setting. I just wanted to keep it somewhat FR accurate.