Harbringer's Studies
The Evolutionary Hierarchy of the Elves, and Reactions to Outside Stimuli
Opening: A while ago I had announced that I was going on a research expedition to the Elf lands, not too deep, just slightly within their borders, to observe behavior in the outlying villages. My purpose was to observe if the social hierarchy of the elves was enforced biologically or only psychologically. My plan was to observe the village with its elder alive, dead, and the introduction of a new leader. To ensure my protection, accompanying me was Helbrey and, despite my protest, the twins Eryana and Aryana, who claimed the fact that they were elves could allow me to interact with the elves much more than I would have been able to without them.
Hypothesis:With the absence of the higher elves, who I designate as the High Elves, the follower elves who lack the gland at the base of the spine, that I shall designate as Low Elves, that the Elven kingdom will crumble in on itself from internal strife and lack of leadership.
Process: Having arrived at the village called Al’hwyn Dah (translates to Righteous Wood), I had immediately set base camp in a nearby cave network with Helbrey setting out almost the moment we had finished setting up to go hunting. The sisters had set off to gather intelligence from the village as I began to get a lay of the land and possible observation points of the village that drew little attention to myself. By the end of the day, I had a list of all the important individuals of the village, the name and schedule of their leader, who I shall name Lead A, and a large beast that Helbrey dragged back, proud of herself.
Note: Discern species of animal I consumed that day.
Process cont: Initial observations showed that Lead A made continuous rounds through the entire village, to ensure that he had contact with each villager at least once a day. Once a clear schedule was in my mind, a trap was laid to ensure Lead A’s demise at exactly noon. Trap sprung. Lead A was deceased. Cover story was that Lead A met a tragic end to the tusks of a rather large porcine creature. Will now observe effects on the rest of the village. Note: Species identified to be a very aggressive breed of dire boar, changed over time by exposure to Elf magic.
Day 1: Elves grow listless and apathetic. They are unsure of what to do. I notice several elves simply staring at their work stations and doing nothing for hours until a noise stirs them
from their stupor. The sisters note the difficulty trying to get a reaction out of any elves and they seem to be dulled to outward stimuli, including pain, as noted when Aryana threw a rock
at one elf, and he did not react for five minutes until blood obscured his vision.
Day 2: Elves continue with their lives as close as possible, with limited success. The Elves resume work, but not with the spirit they once had when Lead A was alive. Initial hypothesis
would have chalked this up to grief, but when Eryana tried to mention Lead A, the Elves give a dazed reaction as if they are unsure who she is talking about. The aim of their hunters is
off. They spotted me once; I blame myself as I was observing the different fauna that were picking at the corpse of Lead A. The hunters had a much delayed reaction, as if unsure how to
react to my presence, giving me ample time to escape.
Day 3: Attempted to make contact with village. Reaction was mild surprise. Followed by dull acceptance. Any attempt at resistance to my presence is halfhearted at best, any weapons drawn on
me batted aside, and the offending elf makes no effort to threaten me again. Other than my presence, elf life seems to resuming its normal routine. Overall morale is increasing, and
memories of Lead A are fading from all except the village militia. Likewise, reaction to my open relationship with the sisters is met with nothing more than dull surprise, and quickly
accepted, as if it was too much an effort to be disgusted.
Note: Find out what elves put in their beds. Material is much softer than anything I have experienced in TeeGee.
Day 4: Village life has all but returned to pre-death levels, the Low Elves returning to life with the oddly positive attitude observed when I arrived. My presence in the village and is
mostly ignored. Some of the children come up to me asking why my ears are not pointy. Low elves show some hospitality to me, especially when I make my request an order. This opens a
possible theory that long ago, the Low Elves were bred specifically to follow order and only be happy when they are following orders. In the absence of High Elves to issue said orders, they
seem to search for another leader to take their place. Theory supported by my placing a work order with the local smith for several swords. The Elf happily agreed to a commission price of
nothing when I made it an order that could not be turned down. The smith seemed much more happy and his work speed increased by a notable 20%.
Note: Still haven’t answered children about my ears.
Day 10: Word is heard that a new High Elf is coming from a neighboring town. Reaction is mixed. Many Low Elves, especially soldiers, are happy that a new leader is coming to guide them.
Others are not sure they want to feel that way again. Unsure of what ‘that way’ means. Decide to leave the village and hide away for the remainder of the day.
Note: Work Order complete. Will present swords to Fatwelder to gauge quality of Elven steel.
Note 2: Still did not give children an answer.
Day 16: Am informed that leader has arrived to the village. Harsh reprimands are handed out when he is informed of a human that had been living amongst them. Followed by sweep of the
forest. Two discover my cave, and I am forced to mindwipe them. Skills with mental editing are still shaky. One elf now has forgotten how to properly take their pants off to defecate.
Mental retardation accredited to head injury by elves upon return. Cover remains. Will now enter phase 2 of experiment.
Note: Still formulating answer for children.
Day 18: Plan enacted. Using mental suggestion, the mindwiped elves go ‘temporarily insane’ and murder the new High Elf, I will call Lead B for sake of organization. Reaction is much more
intense. Villagers turn on one another due to the violent death of Lead B. Family members kill each other. The men strangle the women, the soldier butcher anyone they can find. Children
roam in packs, dragging down and killing anyone they can find. Will search the village for survivors tomorrow.
Note: Never found an answer for elven children. Point now rendered moot.
Day 19: Point no longer moot. Found two survivors. The aforementioned elven children. Names were Nenothin, Gewaini and Arnen, a boy and two girls respectively. Reaction to my presence is
bewilderment. Any memories of yesterday’s events are a blur when they attempt to recollect them. The sisters have decided to adopt them as their own children. We broke camp and began to
return to TeeGee. I finally gave answer. “My ears are not pointy because they were not rubbed enough.”
Note: Still did not mention to the wives about my involvement in the massacre. Attempting to do so is becoming uncharacteristically difficult.
Conclusion: There is a discernible difference between High Elves and Low Elves. High Elves exert a dominance through some means, that may have a relation to the presence of extra organs within the High Elves. Have noted that during my stay in Al’hwyn Dah, that there is also a difference in body size to the elves. High Elves are notably taller, with a more pointed, lithe body structure. Below them are Low Elf soldiers, how are not quite as lithe, but almost as tall. The soldiers seemed to be the ones most resistant to the loss of the High Elf leaders, and reacted the most violently when Lead B was murdered. Other Low Elves are not quite as lithe, and are a full head shorter than High Elves, the tallest of them still being shorter than either Lead A, or Lead B. Also noted that when witnessing a violent death of a High Elf, all Low Elves are whipped into a violent frenzy, possibly a defense mechanism intended to kill offending threat to High Elves if such an offender manages to kill one. ‘Forgetfulness’ of such events possible another defense mechanism to ensure the Low Elf does not have any psychological damage should they survive the frenzy, as a damaged slave is much less effective than a healthy one.
Recommendation: Infiltration of the Elf hierarchy and have Leader(s) killed in full view of population. The ensuing chaos will ensure that no retaliation can be bought against us, and allow us, or any other force, to assume control of Elf Lands with minimal effort.
Note: Children adapting to life in TeeGee remarkably quick. Still have not mentioned my involvement. Now becoming near impossible to do.
-signed, Harbinger.
Addendum: Helbrey is pregnant with twins. She wanted me to announce it in my report. Brings back uncomfortable memories of that night...
The Evolutionary Hierarchy of the Elves, and Reactions to Outside Stimuli, Part Two
Following the criticism of my peers, I embarked on a second expedition, this time alone into Elf territory, going even further inwards. Previous data is corrupt by personal misconstrued views, and will attempt to see things in a more neutral perspective. Procedures will need to be more invasive to collect more conclusive data.
Current Hypothesis: All High Elves are actually male elves in possession of a ‘dominance’ gland, used to exert standing in Elven social hierarchy.
Day 1: Arrived at the outskirts of Elf town. Name: irrelevant. Beginning experiment by abduction of several Elf hunters during their rounds outside the town. Four subjects captured.
Subject 1: Male. Organ present.
Subject 2: Male. Organ present.
Subject 3: Male. Organ present.
Subject 4: Male. Organ not present.
Summary: This places contradiction to both my previous findings, and hypothesis of my peers. Will require other subjects.
Day 2: Town Alertness raised, extra guards posted at every entrance to town. Acquiring subjects was more difficult. Acquired six subjects, four females, and two males.
Subject 1: Female. Organ not present.
Subject 2: Female. Organ not present.
Subject 3: Female. Organ not present.
Subject 4: Female. Organ not present.
Subject 5: Male. Organ present.
Subject 6: Male. Organ present, but severely stunted.
Summary: Females were all either wives, or mistresses of male elves and were passive to males of higher 'rank'. While Females do show a lack of the organ, there seems to be variations in the male population, many times it is in conjunction to their position in the Elf society. Subject 4 of Day 1 exhibited timid personality and was quickly ordered about by his peers. Subject 6 of Day 2 was actually the house servant to Subject 5 of Day 2. Also noted, that in those with organs present, the gland itself was of varied size and coloration. Requires more study, and wider range of social classes. Will isolate experiment to male population.
Day 21: Nearly caught several times, Elves may or may not be aware of my position. Acquired subjects of several social classes.
Subject 1: Peace Enforcer. Organ present. Size deemed ‘average’.
Subject 2: Prisoner, designated for transport to another location. Organ not present.
Subject 3: Prisoner, designated for transport to another location. Organ not present.
Subject 4: Prisoner, designated for transport to another location. Organ not present.
Subject 5: Personal Guard. Organ present. Size ‘small’.
Subject 6: Noble, or equivalent. Organ present. Size ‘above average’.
Subject 7: Soldier. Organ present. Size ‘average’.
Subject 8: Soldier of High military rank. Size ‘average’, but slightly brighter coloration than Subject 7.
Subject 9: Trader. Organ present. Size ‘above average’.
Subject 10: Male concubine. Organ present. Size ‘below average’.
Subject 11: Unclear. Clothing suggests someone of high political rank. Organ present. Size ‘large’.
Summary: Organs present amongst majority of male population. Size, alongside gland usage(coloration), seem to be directly related to an Elf’s attitude, and how peers react to him. The largest of which was recorded in Subject 11. All subjects terminated.
Day 22: Position compromised. Canceling further experimentation.
Conclusion: Unclear. Organ does seem to have some effect on Elf population, but even then the changes appear subtle. If elves are even aware they possess this organ is unknown. Town proximity to other population centers also calls into question if this may be some isolated case for a region or if such rules apply to entire country.
Speculation: This social/biological stratum may actually be an entire subspecies of Elf that was absorbed into the greater Elf kingdom. The central government may be an entirely different species of Elf where the gland does not apply. Would require further investigation but do not possess time or resources to infiltrate that deep into Elf territory.