Elven Romance and Monogomy in Golarion?


Lost Omens Campaign Setting General Discussion


Hi, I am making a new character for my Pathfinder game and I wanted to know something about Elven romance and the like.

You see, He's a Taldan Wizard who taught at the Major arcane university in Absalom till the current players stopped into town and kicked up such a ruckus he decided to put on his adventuring cloak once more and go at it.

How this is relevant to the question is that I had, in my mind, the idea that he had fallen in love with an Elven wizard(ess) in his adventuring days prior to teaching and that they had both made vows to one another akin to informal mairrage. Now I had the concept of the elven lifemate sort of deal, and I was wondering if Elves were monogomous in Golarion and if it would be out the question for an elven lass to promise herself to a human until he passed away of old age.

The idea was that they had both gone down different paths, he to Absalom and she to Greengold, but that they still cared for one another and still felt promised to each other.

I just wanted a character who didn't have every person he ever cared about killed before starting the campaign and with the current happenings, having an elven 'wife' would add interesting rp possibilities as well as having a contact for information.

Shadow Lodge

I would suggest picking up the Elves of Golarion. It discusses in detail why elves fall in love with humans.


I have it. What page does it refer to that?

Shadow Lodge

"Sharing love with beautiful humans is a common enough experience in elven life that half-elves are an inevitable consequence." - page 10.

I seem to remember a more in depth explanation. I might be getting my sourcebooks mixed up. Regardless, I know there's more in there. Also, if she falls in love with a human, she's going to have to be a Forlorn.

Sovereign Court

Kaelas Rilyntlar wrote:
I would suggest picking up the Elves of Golarion. It discusses in detail why elves fall in love with humans.

You might also look into the entries for Calistria in both Gods and Magic and Pathfinder 17: Memory of Darkness for the ideals of the elven goddess of lust, as they are known to be a rather chaotic race.


Well she was also an adventurer and also a forlorn before hand.

And as for Callistra, not all elves worship her.

Dark Archive

paperbard wrote:
You see, He's a Taldan Wizard who taught at the Major arcane university in Absalom

Elves are not monolithic, and any elf could find herself moved to make a vow of this sort (perhaps one that she'll regret, as time goes on...).

A free-spirited Calistrian elf would be as likely as any to do something crazy and impulsive when her heart tugs at her, and might turn out to be crazy-mad if betrayed (or convinced that she has been betrayed) after making what, to her people, could be considered a fairly amazing 'sacrifice' to be with one person (a human at that!) for such an extended period of time. Then again, part of being sexually adventurous is trying new stuff, and even an extended period of monogamy (or even celibacy!) could be seen as 'something new' for a sexually precocious race that can expect to easily outlive a human partner.

To loosely paraphrase an old Dragon magazine comic with this exchange between a human and elven woman;
"Marriage? Are you sure, that's a huge commitment!"
"Not really. He's human, how long could he live?"

Other diety choices could also influence her choices. An elf who follows Nethys might be attracted to the human's mastery of magic, with the different traditions between human and elven arcanists merely serving to 'spice things up' as the human's magical style feels exotic and mysterious to her. A worshipper of Desna could have a 'wandering heart' and think of her partnership with a human as hitching her wagon to a falling star, which will burn half as long as an elven mate, but perhaps twice as bright. What is the difference between a human span and an elven one, when all are as dust in the dreaming eyes of the stars that shine upon both?

A devotee of the elven god Yuelral might feel that humans are more in tune with the 'natural magics' of Golarion (while her own people are more in tune with the magics of the First World), and that by putting roots down in the soil of Golarion, she is strengthening both her connection to the world, and enhancing her own magics. While this sounds mercenary (and long-sighted), she could be honestly enthralled by all things Golarion, and the solid earthly nature of men, as opposed to the more ephemeral and otherworldly nature of elves, turns her crank, so to speak.

Ketephys is a less likely choice, and isn't immediately resonating with me.

Findeladlara would seem the *least* likely choice, being a bit of an elven supremacist, but the least likely choice is often the most fun place to start coloring outside the lines. Growing up in a family devoted to this goddess, she still honors her, but feels that the churches shunning of non-elven (and particularly human) styles and innovations is stifling, and that elven architects and artists who stubbornly refuse to learn from human advances are cutting off their noses to spite their face. She's not attracted to the human as a result of her upbringing, she's attracted to him *in spite of it.* She's the 'preacher's daughter,' who ends up dating the *last* person daddy would approve of... The lingering doubt remains; does she truly love him, or is she simply revelling in flouting her parent's authority and defying tradition? When she kisses him, is she thinking of him, or merely aroused by the thought of how angry this will make her family? Was the pledge of a life-vow yet another tactic to outrage (and get the attention of) her family, one that she might abandon if circumstances change?

And that's just one minor aspect of the potential characterization. Her faith might have zilch to do with her decision. It could be impetuous, and one that she will stubbornly defend even if she secretly regrets it. It might be one made of cold consideration, as she has already mapped out her life, and allotted herself a certain amount of time for love and family, but not so much time as an *elven* lover would require. After the death of her human mate, she can continue on with her life's *other* goals without any annoying visits from the ex...

Tons of potential here!


Hm... I'd say that many wouldn't even make a vow to someone they consider a friend, because when they promise something, they keep it (until the situation change sufficiently to betray the vow's original meaning).

Of course, that's mainly to other elves! We're talking human here. Elves view time differently, to them, a human lifespan is not that long - especially for forlorns, who have seen people be born, grow up, grow old and die before they even reached maturity.

On the other hand, forlorn will be very loath to form closer bonds to those mayflies.

In the end, everyone is an individual first and foremost, and individuals are known to do things you wouldn't expect.

So it can work despite all the back-and-forths in this matter.

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Lost Omens Campaign Setting / General Discussion / Elven Romance and Monogomy in Golarion? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in General Discussion