Elves are quick. Where in the folklore can I find this information


Ancestries & Backgrounds

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Can someone point me to stories or myths to explain why Elves are faster than everyone else?

I'm genuinely baffled.

It looks like it's just a bonus given to them to separate them from, say, human. I'd think it was just a bonus but given that D&D 4th ed gave the same bonus, I'M thinking there's a real-life reason for it.

Can someone explain it to me?


Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Dude, have you seen Legolas? :)


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You're thinking there's a real life reason elves are faster than humans? What, like Jesse Owens was a secret elf?

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Well there must be a myth-related reason to say elves are fast.

And I'm trying to find a reason other than Tolkien who saw elves as "bigger, better, faster, more".

Silver Crusade

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Is there a myth-related reason why blue dragons breathe electricity, are lawful evil and specialize in illusions?

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Gorbacz wrote:
Is there a myth-related reason why blue dragons breathe electricity, are lawful evil and specialize in illusions?

That comment would be pertinent if elves had always been faster.

Since they're not, my question remains.


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Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Philippe Perreault wrote:

Well there must be a myth-related reason to say elves are fast.

And I'm trying to find a reason other than Tolkien who saw elves as "bigger, better, faster, more".

Yeah, what does he know, he's only the guy who invented fantasy elves.

The Exchange

So no reason then...

I'm glad the forum could help me with my inquiries.


Comparing fantasy elves to folklore elves doesn't really end up making sense.

For instance, folklore elves in some myths break into your house at night and tie your hair in knots, and in some myths they aren't really that different from dwarves. Hell, IIRC elf is just a catch-all term sometimes. It's like how D&D-based trolls regenerate really fast but in mythology troll is just a catch all term for various magic beasties.

As it stands, elves have been nimble and quick for a long time in fantasy things, in part due to dexterity and speed sometimes being conflated. Legolas as noted is what people think of when they hear elf, I believe elder scrolls elves are faster than humans in some games, and in Shadowrun due to how speed works the agile elves tend to be the fastest in the party (outside of minmax shenanigans involving magic and strapping hoverpads to your cyberfeet). It's like how the modern image of an elf as a skinny pretty human with long hair and pointy ears doesn't really fit the myths.


Philippe Perreault wrote:

Can someone point me to stories or myths to explain why Elves are faster than everyone else?

I'm genuinely baffled.

It looks like it's just a bonus given to them to separate them from, say, human. I'd think it was just a bonus but given that D&D 4th ed gave the same bonus, I'M thinking there's a real-life reason for it.

Can someone explain it to me?

If I recall, Darksun!

Elves were awesome long distance runners (or maybe runners in general). Note, I have not read darksun in 20 or so years (2nd edition).


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Unsure if serious or troll thread... >.>

I will note though that when I saw elves are faster than humans, my immediate reaction was "oh, that's cool, I've always pictured them that way".

Kinda like when I cracked open PF1e and saw that elves are taller than humans; D&D elves being shorter just never fit my mental image.


elves have always been faster in the lore.

Grand Lodge

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The Sidhe of Celtic Myths (Elves by a different name, and conforming to most of the tropes, but also the depowered descendants of the Celtic Gods after Christianity reached the British Isles) were described as intelligent, cunning, fast and nimble, with humans only able to catch them through trickery (except in the case of certain Heros).

Svartalves (literally "sword-elves") are one of the inspirations for Tolkiens Elves and always seemed to be pretty fast and agile in Norse Mythology. They just weren't enough to overcome the Aesir/Vanir Gods.

Finnish Mythology, yet again another source of inspiration regarding the race for Mr. Tolkien, also has fast and elusive Elves.

Tolkien has been mentioned a great deal but his influence on modern literature, particularly concerning Elves, Dwarves, and Halflings cannot be understated. Many authors of fantasy literature since Tolkien have used his layout to define these races in their own stories.

In Roleplaying, Gary Gygax pretty much lifted the races wholesale from Tolkien's stories, only changing the name of the race of Hobbits due to legal reasons. The game mechanic didn't really support the higher speed, but the improved DEX was supposed to allude to the fact.

Shadowrun has been mentioned, and many other games have also followed the tradition.

The recent movie "Bright" on Netflix also ran with the trope, showing how ingrained the idea is in pop culture today as well.

I know that there are traditions of Elves I am forgetting, but I do feel that the bulk of historical mythology and literature support fast elves.


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Culach wrote:


Svartalves (literally "sword-elves")

Svartálfar = Black Elves

from svart meaning 'black', see also: other Germanic languages, like, erm, German, where schwarz = black


Elves are in general described as more agile than humans and thinner/lighter.

As they have on average same strength as humans and are more agile and have less mass, conclusion is that they are faster.


I suspect the original source for the idea in fantasy role-playing was the same original source of many ideas in fantasy role-playing: Tolkien. The way that movement and grace of Elves is described in the Lord of the Rings novels can easily lead to picturing them as just a bit quicker than humans.


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Also, while we're bringing up folklore comparisons, I feel like mentioning one that's popular in Sweden.

The Tomte. It's basically a little gnome that looks like santa but it has freakish super strength, and sometimes a grumpy disposition. If we ever get a bonus str small race, I will probably start to conflate them.


In PF1, elves were the race that got bonus move speed as a favored class bonus. It's been a thing.


Elleth wrote:

Also, while we're bringing up folklore comparisons, I feel like mentioning one that's popular in Sweden.

The Tomte. It's basically a little gnome that looks like santa but it has freakish super strength, and sometimes a grumpy disposition. If we ever get a bonus str small race, I will probably start to conflate them.

That's a point. Surprisingly strong small races are a common thing in folklore. Despite the obvious pseudo-realism of small means weak, there's no real reason that should always be true in game any more than it always is in the lore the game is based on, whether that's actual myths and legends or fantasy literature.

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