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“What is magic, you ask me? I can only tell you what I know. I know magic is my life, my path, my friend, my art.

That is something any of The People would tell you, because that is the truth about magic. Humans- and please don’t take this as an insult- use magic only as a tool, but they never feel it. History shows how “mighty” human empires that abused of magic were destroyed not by outside enemies, but by themselves, due to their hubris by believing themselves above gods.

For us Elves, magic is different, since before we are born, we are already connected to its source. Yes, we can blast our enemies with powerful evocations. I am a good example of this, because I study Air Magic in all its shapes, both offensive and defensive. The difference is that we only do it when the need is dire. It’s the most important lesson of wielding the Art, when not to cast a spell. Learn it and you will be on the right path to become a great wizard.”

-Alediran Tir’ent of Evermeet, DR 1371, Year of the Unstrung Harp

Someone I once knew said that, while Humans only use the Weave, we are the Weave. In a way, he was being metaphorical. But, at the same time, he was telling the truth. We Tel’Quessir are linked to the magical Weave of Faerûn.

Most Human wizards I have encountered in my travels over the centuries see magic as a tool. They use it to unlock doors when they need to. They use it to blast enemies, when they need to. They use it to alter events more to their liking, when they need to. To them, magic is simply an instrument that is used as an end to a means.

Magic is something much more personal to the Tel’Quessir. Magic is our being. Magic is our sustenance. Magic, simply, is what we are. We are one with the Weave, and because of such, have such an understanding of it that most other wizards can only dream about. Just as a peasant can only dream of attaining such heights as a wizard, most wizards can only dream about attaining such closeness with the Weave as we Elves have.

I have lived for over four centuries, and I know of no Elf who has never touched the Weave, and cast at least a single cantrip. Because we all share the same understanding of magic, we all have a healthy respect for it. Wizards are respected for their ability to touch the Weave, and High Magi are nearly revered, for their understanding of the magical Weave is

unparalleled. Many other cultures look down upon those who shape the Weave, especially those that espouse martial abilities. The Tel’Quessir, however, have a great deal of respect for those who follow the Arcane path.

With the use of magic, we Elves have created some of the most famous, and most powerful cities and nations on all of Toril. Magic was responsible for the many wonders of Cormanthyr. Magic is responsible for the beauty that is Evermeet, the Green Isle. In the past, magic was responsible for cleansing blights, protecting the land, feeding and healing the people, and creating the many marvelous structures that are synonymous with Elven culture.

We Elves are responsible for some of the greatest feats ever accomplished with magic in part because we were the first to use it. It is a well-known fact among the Tel’Quessir that we taught most other races how to feel the Weave, and draw power from it.

Many, to this day, regret that decision, made thousands and thousands of years ago, because most “short-lives”

wield the power irresponsibly. The Netherese, who

learned magic from the Tel’Quessir, overused, overtaxed and abused the Weave of Mystryl. Karsus, the greatest Arcanist of Netheril, went so far as to temporarily steal the divinity of Mystryl, and nearly unraveling the Weave. Fortunately, Mystryl sacrificed herself so that Karsus’ spell would end, and the Weave would be preserved.

Like wizards of any other race, we study as apprentices before we can be considered wizards. Until recently, when the traitor Kymil Nimesin attacked Evermeet, we studied for years in the Towers of the Sun and Moon. Because of our extended lifespan, however, we often apprentice for decades- far longer than most other races. It is because we study the basics of arcane knowledge for so long that we have such an understanding of magic, and use it wisely.

That is not to say, however, that there were never times in our long history where we Tel’Quessir abused our power. Long ago, during the Elven Crown Wars, High Magic wrecked destruction across the world. The Mormhaor’Sykerylor, The Killing Storm, ravaged Miyeritar. The Uaul’Selu’Keryth, The Sundering, literally shattered the world. Other legends speak of spells that could turn air into fire, and spells even more destructive.

Unlike most Humans, we learn from our mistakes. Never since those ancient days have spells so potent been unleashed upon the world. Most of these spells have been intentionally forgotten, so that they may never be used again. Some have been locked away, and guarded by Baelnorn, only to be used again during the most dire of emergencies.

Humans seem to stumble over the same mistakes again and again. Ancient Imaskar reached great heights using magic, but used it irresponsibly, and eventually fell. Netheril reached great heights using magic, but used it irresponsibly, and eventually fell.

Corellon knows, in the future, yet another Human civilization will attain great heights using magic, but will use it irresponsibly and will fall.

We Elves shape magic for more modest reasons than the power hungry wizards of Imaskar, or Netheril. We create glassteel, a strong, transparent glass used in furniture and buildings. We coax plants to grow in different ways. We enchant our sea vessels to gracefully sail the seas. We enchant our spelljammers to effortlessly sail through the Outer Void. We create Mythals to protect our people and our cities. Reverie, and even the communion that we all share is a form of magic that we all tap into.

As I mentioned a few times earlier, we Elves are shapers of great magics. The greatest of our magical treasures is called High Magic. Elven High Mages, known as Selu’Taar, or ‘High Casters’, work together in groups called ‘Circles’, in which they create feats of magic unparalleled by any specific being from any culture. I myself am not a Selu’Taar, but an acquaintance of mine, Alediran Tir’ent, knows one of the Selu’Taar. When the young Elfling asked, the Selu’Taar, his own father, responded, “The first thing an Elf needs to remember, is that becoming one of the guardians of this powerful Art carries a great burden and responsibility.”

The elder Tir’ent is correct. With great power and prestige comes great responsibility. Selu’Taar are always old, even by Elven standards. When the call to Arvandor begins singing in their ears, they ignore it, and therefore do not pass west, to Arvandor. It is said that their inner longing for Arvandor is what powers their spells, and allows them to perform such feats with magic.

According to the elder Tir’ent, “High Magic, when used, is also very dangerous. Many High Magic rituals take the life of the central Mage and some, even the lives of all spell casters in the ritual.” This is the reason why no other cultures have ever had spell casters such as the Selu’Taar’Tel’Quessir. While other races fear death, and will do anything to prevent it, we Elves embrace it, for only in death will we commune with the Seldarine, in Arvandor.

We Elves, given our eldritch nature, have created many different forms of magic over the many years. Asides for mundane wizards and Selu’Taar, there are many different paths a young Elfling can follow. Arcane Archers, also known as Spellarchers, are wizards who have combined the arcane arts with the bow. El'Tael, known as Bladesingers are a special lot, who have blended martial and arcane arts into a single fighting style, known as the Bladesong. The Valantra, also known as Spellsingers, command great magics with simple song.

There are still some lesser known paths that an Elf may follow, but like many a secret, are not meant to be known by other Tel’Quessir and N’Tel’Quessir alike…

Elven Attitudes Towards the Shadow Weave

The blood and tears of Corellon Larethian and Sehanine Moonbow, it is said, created we

Tel’Quessir. As such, like our creators, we are generally benevolent creatures. Like our creators, we are generally fun loving, freedom loving creatures. For all of these reasons, and more, we Tel’Quessir tend to abhor the Shadow Weave, the dark, twisted echo of Mystra’s Weave, maintained by Shar.

Being a deity of magic himself, Corellon Larethian is allied with Mystra. While Corellon Larethian isn’t a source of magic, as many incorrectly believe him to be, he is the patron of the Elven traditions of magic and wizardry, and we Elves owe him all we know about magic. Since Corellon Larethian is allied with Mystra, he is in direct opposition of Shar, who is a bitter enemy of Shar. Therefore, we are taught by the priests and priestess’ of the Protector to do our best to look out for interests of Mystra. Drawing from the Shadow Weave is not something that does this.

More insidious and problematic, however, is what the Shadow Weave does to those who draw from it. Like Mystra with her Weave, Shar has the ability to

deny others the ability to access and cast magic from the Shadow Weave. Unlike Mystra, however, Shar is under no order to be impartial about whom she allows to draw from the Shadow Weave. In most cases, Shar demands some sort of payment before or after the Shadow Weave is accessed and used to cast magical spells. Very often, payment is simply her veneration, while in other cases, payment is a portion of the magician’s very mind! Either way, using the Shadow Weave opens a direct channel from Shar’s corruptive influence to the spirit of the caster. Inherently changing and corrupting out spirits is something that most Elves try to avoid.

Concerning many things, Drow are often the exception to the rule. While most Elves abhor violence, Drow relish in it. While most Elves abhor murder, Drow are masters of it. While most Elves abhor evil, Drow are masters of it. Concerning the Shadow Weave, however, like surface Elves, the Drow tend to stay away from it.

Lolth and Shar are not on the best of terms.

Shar, being a deity of darkness, has been making significant inroads into increasing her worship in the Underdark as of late. As such, more and more often, Shar has been encroaching into Lolth’s territory. And, the Spider Queen does not appreciate being challenged. Because Lolth believes that the spirits of Drow belong to her, and no one else, she does not permit her Drow to utilize the Shadow Weave, which draws Shar’s corruptive influence into their spirits. The Shadow Weave is practiced in Drow society, but in secret. Even in non-Lolthite societies, such as the Drow city of Sshamath, the Shadow Weave has had a hard time penetrating into public knowledge and common usage.

Elven Attitudes Towards Incarnum Magic

Incarnum is a type of magic that is practiced by many, but is known to few. In other words, many individuals who utilize Incarnum do not even realize that they are doing so, and believe their magic to be utilizing Mystra’s Weave, as other magic does. It is because of this fact that most practitioners don’t even know what Incarnum is, while many sages and scholars do.

Incarnum, itself, is an amorphous magical substance that resembles a radiant, blue mist.

Incarnum is the source of spirits, souls, and any other terms that are used. In other words, Incarnum energies are what make up the souls and spirits of sentient beings. Deities themselves, some scholars believe are composed of Incarnum energies as well, mixed with divine energy.

Among the Tel’Quessir, the tradition of shaping and manipulating Incarnum has a long and storied past. We bear no specific fears against using Incarnum. Crafting it into semipermanent items known as ‘Soulmelds’, or using it to simply imbue oneself with power is not morally reprehensible to our scholars and theologians. Utilizing and manipulating it has no ill effects on the spirits of others, or the spirits of those who are doing the actual spellcasting, so there are no stigmas against using it in Elven society.

Among the Elves of Faerûn, the Wood Elves have the most extensive Incarnum use tradition. Sun Elves and Moon Elves living on Evermeet often know of Incarnum, but do not practice it, as it is not a tradition of magic that is regularly utilized on the Green Isle.

Aquatic Elves, Lythari Elves and Avariel, they do not regularly practice using and shaping Incarnum as well, because their own magical traditions utilize other paths

of obtaining power. Star Elves do not practice this tradition, as, again, their own traditions are prominent in their extraplanar refuge. The same thing goes for the Drow of the Underdark.

Wood Elves across Faerûn have practiced shaping and utilizing Incarnum for thousands of years.

The practice, some oral histories state, can be traced all the way back to the Plane of Faerie, before the Wood Elves even came to Realmspace. In many of the Sylvan realms of the Wood Elves, nature spirits are worshipped, in addition to the Seldarine. They are seen as totem guardians of sorts.

In magical rituals, many Wood Elves have learned to take the forms of these creatures, altering the Incarnum energies within them to take these forms.

Many of these Wood Elves believe these nature spirits actually possess the Elf casters, but as a learned scholar, I cannot support such notions. Rather, reading about such rituals, it appears that these Elves alter their own Incarnum- knowingly or unknowingly- during these rituals in which they transform into or take on the aspects of their totem animals.

Elven Attitudes Towards Sanctified Magic

Sanctified Magic is a very special type of magic, and transcends what normal magicians consider

‘Good’. Some Elves completely devote their lives to doing good, and their reward comes in the form of Sanctified Magic. These spells require sacrifices from the caster, but in return, the effects of these spells are quite powerful. In other words, these powerful spells draw directly from the caster, as well as from the Weave.

Only paragons of good can utilize Sanctified Magic. Sanctified Magic is white, holy magic, and only those who are worthy of wielding such power can cast these spells. Many of the most holy and virtuous men and women who live today, I do not think, would be considered worthy of being able to utilize Sanctified Magic by the Seldarine, or whatever other cosmic entities that determine such things.

Elven practitioners of Sanctified Magic exist today, but these individuals are somewhat rare. We Elves are somewhat predisposed to good, but the standards that one needs to cast Sanctified Magic take a determined effort. Drow and Fey’ri, because of their inherent natures, are generally incapable of casting Sanctified Magic. While, in theory, it is possible to reject their evil natures, I, myself, have never heard of such a case. Among other Elves, Sanctified Magic is most common among we Sun Elves, but that is not to say that it is a common magical tradition practiced by Sun Elves, or that practitioners of this tradition don’t exist amongst other Elven subraces.

Ilyrana Moonflower, the daughter of Queen Amlauril, was said to have been a practitioner of Sanctified Magic. If so, she was probably the most notable of practitioners in the recent past. Many Elves who can indeed cast Sanctified Magic do not show off their ability, afraid that it may increase their egos, or that others might try to take advantage of them because of their special gift, or for whatever other reasons.

Evermeet is the most likely place to find Elven practitioners of this magic tradition. On mainland Faerûn, Elven practitioners can in theory be found, but as I have never met any individuals specifically, I cannot say for certain.

After the dissolution of Aryvandaar and the end of the Fifth Crown War in –9,000 DR, a

philosophical movement swept across many of the Elven realms that existed at the time, such as the Elven Court, or Keltormir, or Illefarn. It was known as the

‘Time of Penance’, and it signaled the height of Elven usage of Sanctified Magic. The philosophical movement’s goal was to atone for the sins of Aryvandaar and Ilythiir during the Crown Wars. It marked a rise in Elven who were devout and genuine enough to utilize Sanctified Magic. Like anything else, though, the movement lost popularity as time passed, and it eventually faded into nonexistence as a footnote in history.

Elven Attitudes Towards Corrupt Magic

It is no secret that many spells perform feats that most would consider evil. Casting a spell to poison another individual, I know I would consider this an evil action. Casting a spell to capture the spirit of a dead individual and force it into serving you, I know I would consider this an evil action. Casting a spell to unleash a Demon into the world, I know I would consider this an evil action. There are some spells, however, that descend into depravity even greater than these sorts of spells.

Corrupt Magic is a tradition that, thankfully, is practiced by very few. Thankfully, however, it is not a magical tradition that is practiced openly, nor is it practiced with any amount of regularity. It is a magical tradition that, historically, has a great deal of relevance, but its practice has come to a near halt.

Corrupt Magic is evil sorcerery, that channels it’s power from dark and depraved deities, or sources of power that are equally as malevolent, such as Demons or Devils. These spells often involve unsavory practices such as drug use, or cannibalism, or necrophilia. These spells, unlike other magical traditions, have no purpose other than to cause harm and suffering, and bring evil

Corrupt Magic is evil sorcerery, that channels it’s power from dark and depraved deities, or sources of power that are equally as malevolent, such as Demons or Devils. These spells often involve unsavory practices such as drug use, or cannibalism, or necrophilia. These spells, unlike other magical traditions, have no purpose other than to cause harm and suffering, and bring evil