AL-QADIM® Campaign World

The elves of Zakhara, the Land of Fate, are the same physically as the elves found just north in the FORGOTTEN REALMS® world. What distinguishes these elves is their attitude toward life, other races, and their creed.

In Zakhara, all races tend to adopt a more cosmopolitan perspective toward other races. It is more important, they feel, to believe in an enlightened god than to be an elf, a dwarf, or a human. What one is, inside, is more important than who one is outside. They recognize that no one can control the circumstances of their birth, that it is the actions and the beliefs that make a being truly good, rather than the race of that being.

For this reason, there is no separate elf society in Zakhara. There are certainly those bigots who prefer elves over other races, but the truly enlightened individuals make no distinction between elves and other races. In Zakhara, no one is surprised when an elf takes a job many in the other worlds would consider traditionally dwarvish.

Neither is there racial intolerance and antipathy. It is perfectly reasonable for an orc to be good friends with an elf (inasmuch as elves become good friends with anyone). Again, races are judged by their actions and their beliefs. Only in the uncivilized portions of Zakhara will one find evidence of the antipathies so prevalent in other lands.

Indeed, the elves of the Land of Fate are considered valuable members of society. Because of their ability to live to a great age and the fact that even young elves are of an age with the most venerable humans, they are sought after for their wisdom. Many of the qadi (judges) are, in fact, elves. Their lifespans give them a unique view of the world and the opportunity to serve for hundreds of years.

Many elves serve as sages for universities. Again, their age gives them an advantage. Any creature that lives hundreds of years can accumulate knowledge of nearly any topic.

None of the elves native to this area worship the gods of the elves. Like the other citizens of Zakhara, they worship the enlightened gods. Any who worship their gods through idols and icons are regarded as savages. Any gods found in Zakhara will be represented only in symbols, for there is no other way to fairly represent a god.

The Zakharan elves consider the northern elves barbarians. The northern elves continue to subscribe to the system of hatred for other races, worship through the idols of their primitive religion, and keep to themselves. It is far more likely that a Zakharan elf would side with a fellow believer against a northern elf than the other way around. They know no racial loyalty; they know only the loyalty to one's brothers and sisters in belief.

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