Editing 23a:Elf

{{CreatureInfo|name=Elf|symbol=E|color=3:0:0|butcher=no|

biome=* In their retreats, usually in {{L|forest}}s}}

{{av}}{{Quality|Unrated}}

'''Elves''' are intelligent {{L|humanoid}} {{L|creature}}s who live in {{L|Map legend#Sites|forest retreat}}s. They are one of the races playable in {{L|Adventure Mode}}. Their retreats have no buildings, but the {{L|tree}}s in the area are named.  They love nature and are ready to defend it, typically with {{L|bow}}s. They may invade a fortress which violates their tree-cutting limit.

Elves are a {{L|trading}} race and send small {{L|caravan}}s without {{L|wagon}}s in {{L|Calendar|spring}}, bringing L|cloth}} and various {{L|plant}}s.

They are very picky about what they will accept in return: Elves will not accept anything made from or decorated using a previously living creature (bone, shell, leather, or meat), {{L|wood}} (including {{L|ash}}, {{L|lye}}, {{L|potash}}, {{L|pearlash}}, clear and crystal {{L|glass}} items, and {{L|obsidian}} short swords), or dairy products ({{L|milk}} and {{L|cheese}}){{verify}}.  Even offering them something wood-related will make them unhappy, potentially causing them to immediately pack up and leave.

{{L|Metal}} items are acceptable, even when {{L|charcoal}} is used in their production. Items made from {{L|silk}} are acceptable, as are all non-wooden plant-based products such as {{L|plump helmet}}s, seeds, and ☼Dwarven syrup biscuits[45]☼. You can also transport your goods to the {{L|trade depot}} in a wooden {{L|bin}}, as long as you do not try to sell the bin. In order to sell food and booze, however, your {{L|barrel}}s will need to be made of metal. Living {{L|animals}} are acceptable, as long as the {{L|cage}} or {{L|trap}} is not made of {{L|wood}}. <!-- They also no longer mind purchasing blood-soaked items. - did they actually object to blood-soaked items in 23a? -->

Although {{L|tower-cap}}s are giant mushrooms, they are considered {{L|trees}} by the elves and thus are not acceptable.

Once the {{L|Baron}} {{L|noble}} arrives in your fortress, an elven {{L|diplomat}} will accompany the caravan. If you have cut down lots of trees (which is rather likely on a standard map) he will first warn you and then try to negotiate an annual quota on your woodcutting activities. Note that growing tower-caps does not exempt you from the woodcutting quota; evidently, elves don't like you cutting down giant mushrooms, either. Your remaining quota is viewable on the {{K|c}}ivilizations menu; select the elves, and hit tab a few times to cycle through the available information. The quota counts down towards zero as you cut more trees.

Elven forest retreats are represented by yellow symbols in {{L|forest}}s on the world map. They do not have any {{L|shop}}s, but they seem to have a great amount of elite marksmen to recruit. The leader and quest giver of a retreat is called the "druid", who can be found wandering the forest floor with the other elves.

Elven characters start with a wooden {{L|weapon}} and a set of basic wooden {{L|armor}}. This limitation often leads to a quick death. They do have some advantages, however: they're one {{L|size}} larger than {{L|dwarves}}, which makes them hit harder and absorb more damage, though they also have a natural armor penalty which causes them to take slightly more damage than normal. Their main redeeming quality is their speed, being roughly 20% faster than the other playable races.

{{23a Creatures}}