View source for Elf

[[File:Elves.jpg|thumb|200px|right| Elves]]
<includeonly>::''For details see [[Elf]]''

</includeonly>Long ago, the [[Elf|Elves]], also known as the Fair Folk, welcomed the younger [[Race]]s of [[Middle-earth]] and allied with them when the need was great, but centuries of war, betrayal, and hardship have made them fiercely protective of their seclusion.

Tall and strong, fair and graceful, Elves have keen senses and a deep affinity for the beauty of the natural world. Throughout the ages, the deeds and struggles of the noble races of Elves have been entwined with the history of Middle-earth. Elves do not grow old as other races do — there are Elves abroad in Middle-earth today who still remember their youth in the [[First Age]]. They remember all too well the devastation caused by the tides of evil that once darkened the land — a shadow that threatens to do so once again. In ages past, the Elves divided into many different groups, and settled throughout Middle-earth, primarily in the ancient forested realms where they still live.

'''Playable [[Class]]es''': [[Brawler]], [[Burglar]], [[Champion]], [[Guardian]], [[Hunter]], [[Lore-master]], [[Minstrel]], [[Rune-keeper]], [[Warden]]

'''Starting Area''': [[Edhelion]] / [[Ered Luin]]

'''Starter Quest''': [[Quest:Instance: The Refuge of Edhelion| The Refuge of Edhelion]]
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===Elf Names===
With rare exception, the Elves of Middle-earth have Sindarin names.
* Common Male Prefixes: Adan-, Aeg-, Am-, Aran-, Bara-, Beleg-, Celeb-, Curu-, Dag-, El-, Fela-, Fin-, Gal-, Gil-, Hal-, Ing-, Lin-, Mal-, Pen-, Tar-, Thurin-, Ul-
* Common Masculine name Endings: -adan, -aran, -bor, -born, -dir, -dor, -had, -ion, -las, -moth, -or, -phant, -phor, -randir, -ras, -rod, -rond, -ros, -thalion, -thir, -uil, -we
* Common Female Prefixes: Adan-, And-, Ar-, Bel-, Breg-, Celeb-, Dol-, Edhel-, El-, Fan-, Find-, Galadh-, Gil-, Hir-, Ior-, Ir-, Lal-, Mel-, Mor-, Nim-, Rod-, Sael-, Tinu-
* Common Feminine name Endings: -anor, -dal, -dis, -el, -eth, -iel, -il, -gil, -los, -raen, -reth, -riel, -rian, -rien, -uilas, -uilos, -wen, -wing

===[[Elf Titles|Elf Origins]]===
{{:Elf Titles}}<noinclude>

===Passive [[Skill]]s===
{{:Elf Skills}}

===Elf [[Traits]] and [[Deeds]]===
{{:Elf Traits}}

=== Elves of Lore ===
[[File:Antheron.png]] [[Antheron]]
<br>[[File:Arwen.png]] [[Arwen]]
<br>[[File:Celeborn.png]] [[Celeborn]]
<br>[[File:Elladan.png]] [[Elladan]]
<br>[[File:Elrohir.png]] [[Elrohir]]
<br>[[File:Elrond.png]] [[Elrond]]
<br>[[File:Galadriel.png]] [[Galadriel]]
<br>[[File:Glorfindel.png]] [[Glorfindel]]
<br>[[File:Haldir.png]] [[Haldir]]
<br>[[File:Legolas.png]] [[Legolas]]
<br>[[File:Narmeleth2.png]] [[Narmeleth]]

===History===
The Elves were made by the will of Eru Ilúvatar, to be his children. They would be known as the Quendi, The Firstborn, and the First Children of Ilúvatar. They awoke beneath the stars by Cuivienen, a great lake which ceased to exist after the War of Wrath, and there Oromë the huntsman found them, and persuaded them to come with him. They were comprised of three clans, the '''Minyar''', which would be later known as the '''Vanyarin''' Elves, noblest and the "Highest" of the High Elves; Their company was numbered at fourteen, and they were the first to come to Valinor; The '''Tatyar''', who later became the '''Noldorin''' Elves, lovers of great craft and skill; Their company comprised of fifty-six, and were the second to reach Valinor; And the '''Nelyar''', eventually known as the '''Teleri''' Elves, who were numbered at seventy-four, the largest of the clans. At first, believing the lies of Melkor, the Elves were distrustful of Oromë, and they sent three ambassadors to Valinor to report back to them what they had seen. All of the Minyar, most of the Noldor, and some of the Teleri then set forth on the Great Journey, they are known as the '''Eldar''', ''The People of the Stars''. However, there were some Elves who remained at Cuivienen, and refused the summons; They were later known as the '''Avari''', meaning ''The Unwilling'', because they refused the summons of the Valar. This event was known as the '''First Sundering of the Elves'''.

The Elves endured many hardships during the Three Ages of Arda, part due to the rebellion of the Noldor, the sundering of the Teleri, and the War of Wrath, caused by Melkor and his lieutenant, Sauron.


===Tribes of Elves===
[[File:Elven_Kindreds.jpg]]

====Eldar====
These were the Elves who came with Oromë on the Great Journey to Valinor. Their name means "People of the Stars". Most of the Eldar were called the '''Calaquendi''' or '''Amanyar''', Elves of the Light, because they beheld the light of the two trees. There were also the '''Úmanyar''', the Elves who came along on the Great Journey but ultimately stayed behind in Middle-Earth.

* '''The Minyar Clan''' became the '''House of the Vanyar'''. These were the first Elves to reach Valinor. They typically had Golden Blonde hair and stood higher than most other Elves.
* '''The Tatyar Clan''' became the '''House of the Noldor'''. These were the second Elves to reach Valinor. They had dark hair and grey eyes, except those descended from the Vanyar.
* '''The Nelyar Clan''' became the '''House of the Teleri'''. These were the last Elves to reach Valinor, after some problems and hardships faced during the Great Journey. They typically had Dark to Silvery Hair and Blue Eyes. However, they were divided after the Second and Third Sundering of the Elves.
** The '''Falmari''' were the Sea Elves who reached Valinor.
** The '''Sindar''' were the Grey Elves who stayed behind to look for their kinsman Thingol.
** The '''Nandor''' were the Valley-Elves who refused to cross the Misty Mountains and stayed behind in the Vales of Anduin. They split into two groups:
*** The '''Laiquendi''', Green Elves who came to Beleriand.
*** The '''Silvan Elves''', the Wood-elves who stayed behind in Rhovanion.


====Avari====
These were the Elves who refused the summons to Valinor, and stayed behind in Middle-Earth even through the Fourth Age. Their name means "Unwilling" in [[Quenya]]. They were also called the '''Moriquendi''', Elves of the Darkness, because they never saw the light of the two trees in Valinor. There were Six clans of the Avari, of which little information is given.
* The '''Kindi'''.
* The '''Cuind'''.
* The '''Hwenti'''.
* The '''Windan''', who settled by the Sea of Rhûn.
* The '''Kinn-lai''', who settled in the Jungles of Harad.
* The '''Penni'''.

=== Notes ===
The Kinn-lai are only mentioned in the non-canon [https://www.merp.com/ Middle-earth Role Playing] game and are not official Tolkien lore. (See Mark R. Feil (1997), Hands of the Healer (#2026), p. 18)

[[Category:Elf|*]]
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