Villtálfar

One of the more unique types of sapient being found in the Wild are the Villtálfar. These beings do somewhat resemble the elves found on other planes and the common cityfolk frequently shorten the name to simply Álf so there is something of a linguistic correlation as well. It would however be a mistake for the planar traveler to presume any details about the Villtálfar as they are unlike most elven folk of other planes. In truth much of what I have learned of them was sourced from the accounts of others as the Villtálfar were exceptionally hostile toward me when approached directly. I was able to learn a great deal from the Skuggaálfar dwelling near the cities, but I question the reliability of such sources. To prepare you as best I am able, dear traveler, I will share what details were corroborated across my various sources.

The Villtálfar are descendants of the Aldnir and are considered more similar to their ancient ancestors than the Skuggaálfar. Records claim that the Aldnir were crafted by mages long ago from mud, wood, bone, and blood using magical techniques lost to time. They were meant to be servants to the mages, acting as masters of nature who would enable the mages to bend the Wild to their will. It should be no surprise then, given the state of the plane today, that the ancient mages were insufficient to master the Aldnir, much less the Wild itself. These ancient ancestors of the Villtálfar instead became instruments of the will of the Wild, butchering the mages and alongside the beasts they commanded destroying all aspects of civilization they encountered.

After long generations and the schism which led to the departure of the Skuggaálfar, the Villtálfar have developed a culture of their own yet are still very much a part of the greater whole that is the Wild. My contacts described it as more of a spiritual connection between the Villtálfar and the living world around them rather than any form of mental domination or hivemind. I attribute this more to tales spread by those who claim to have directly interacted with the Villtálfar than to any real insight, as no firsthand experience with this connection exists in or around the cities. These same suspect sources describe shelters akin to animal dens, which while colored by obvious bigotry may yet have a nugget of truth. When I attempted contact with the Villtálfar I did note a number of camouflaged shelters crafted from natural materials yet beyond the capabilities of any beast I've yet encountered. I believe these likely the work of Villtálfar hunters serving as both temporary shelter and blind rather than permanent residence as there were no signs of long-term occupation. My limited time in the Wild did not afford me a glimpse of any village or such, if indeed the Villtálfar even require such organized environments given their connection to the Wild.

My Skuggaálfar contacts did have more details to share. They described Villtálfar as spending most of their time in family units and primarily subsisting off hunting and fishing supplemented with wild forage. These family groups are primarily parents and children, but some of my informants described larger groups suggesting some variance in composition. Interestingly there appears to be little or no sexual division with all Villtálfar learning the skills necessary for survival and defense. Likewise, my contacts suggested no clear age of maturity, with adulthood being more determined by skill and accomplishment than any physical development.

One trait which was universally agreed upon was the expert craftsmanship of the Villtálfar. While they lack the metallurgy common in the cities, their textiles, tools, and weapons are of incredible quality and durability. There is a thriving trade among the cityfolk of recovered items attributed to the Villtálfar, though most I saw were easily identified forgeries.

Tragically, I was unable to determine any examples of art crafts or music, though a number of sources and documents claimed both were important aspects of Villtálfar culture. These sources were mostly disparaging, referring to the Villtálfar as "primitive" and "wild people" despite what seems to be a thriving if deeply xenophobic people. Given the violence and disdain of the cities, such isolation and defensive behaviors are more than understandable but I do wish I'd gotten the opportunity to engage with the Villtálfar peacefully. It is however my duty to offer the best recommendation for you, the prospective traveler, regarding encounters with any threat for which the Villtálfar certainly qualify. They are deadly skilled combatants, swift and powerful, and have the capacity to turn the ire of the Wild against intruders. The safest course of action would be to remain near the cities and respect the Villtálfar's desire for privacy. If one is able to make connection with the Wild, perhaps a peaceful meeting is possible, but as a being of arcane design myself such connection was impossible for me.

Moving along the next natural discussion then is regarding the Skuggaálfar, a people tied closely to the Villtálfar yet in many ways wholly unlike their kin.