Descriptions
Every character looks like something. They have distinctive features and clothing that differentiates them from other players. On Elendor, these features are made visible by your description. Every player needs to have a description and the following help files will serve as a guideline to help you determine what your character should look like as a member of the Galadhrim.
What is a Description?
The easiest definition of a description, as it pertains to your Elven character, is a brief narrative that discusses, either vaguely or in great detail, what your character would look like to someone else.
Every character has a unique look about them. Some characters are taller than others. Some have distinguishing characteristics or unique clothing that sets them apart from everyone else. Your description helps give a visual impression of who your character is or what your character is about to your fellow role players.
Generally speaking, your description should only include visible features (i.e. hair and eye color, build, relative height, clothing, etc.). You should refrain from using your description to instruct others in how they should "feel" or "think" in your presence; each individual is unique and should be left to their own interpretations of how to act based upon your description.
What Elves Look Like
Tolkien Elves are described as being, in general, slender creatures of fair complexion who were slighlty taller than the humans of Middle-earth. Their body builds were consistent with those of most Middle-earthern humans.
Very little is actually described within the texts found in NEWS CANON that discusses specifics of Elven description. However, there are a few aspects of Elven physiology and morphology that have been discussed and are important pieces of information when considering what your Elven character should look like.
Ears
It has been speculated that Elves have very pointed ears. However, there is nothing explicitely documented within The Lord of the Rings or within The Silmarillion that Elves indeed have pointed ears. However, in letters Tolkien sent to illustrators for The Hobbit, he alludes to Elven ears as being pointed while describing his vision for Bilbo stating that Bilbo's ears should be shown as "only slightly pointed and elvish." In The Lost Road and Other Writings (summarily corrected in Vinyar Tengwar issue 45), Tolkien states that "the Quendian [Elvish] ears were more pointed and leaf-shaped than Human [ears were]."
One must assume, however, that these differences were miniscule and subtle due to the repetitive instances where Elves were mistaken for Men. The most notable of such mistaken identities is Túrin Turambar.
Hair Color
It is a common misconception that all Elves had blonde or light color hair. In reality, the coiffure of the Eldar can be one of several different colors and shades.
In general, the Vanyar had blonde hair, the Noldor, Sindar and Avari had darker hair while some of the Teleri sported silver tresses. As a matter of point, the two fairest of all Elves, Luthien and Arwen, were both described as having dark hair.
While, generally, the above holds true there have been instances where non-Vanyar Elves had blonde hair due to genetic mixing. There have been some occurrences of Elves with red hair (Amrod and Amras) and an extremely rare silver-mix, usually found within the royal house of the Sindar (evidenced by the descriptions of Thingol, Cirdan and Celeborn).
For purposes of your Elven description, any common, natural hair color will be acceptable.
Eye Color
Tolkien does not spend a great deal of time discussing the eye color of Elves. When he does mention them, he generally describes them as being grey. Luthien and her descendants were described as having grey eyes as were members of the Noldor. There have been a few examples of Elves with different eye colors (Maeglin had dark eyes and Olwë had blue eyes) but these appear to be exceptions. You should try to keep your eyes towards the grey scale if possible.
Body Builds
In many fantasy realms, Elves have slighter builds than humans, however Tolkien never specifically stated that Elves have smaller builds than humans do. It can, therefore, be safely assumed that Elves were equal or greater in stature to Men and slightly taller. Elves are also, almost unilaterally, described as being slender in stature. Obesity does not appear to exist within the Elven species.
How a Description is Set
There are a couple of different ways that you can set a description on your player character. The following two ways are the most highly recommended and most commonly used:
@DESCRIBE
The @DESCRIBE command will allow you to set a permanent description on your character as it is held in the DESCRIBE attribute. This command will take text as you enter it and make that text what everybody sees every time they look at you. There is a global help file for this command found by typing HELP @DESCRIBE. The syntax is: @desc me = (your description, with paragraph breaks substituted with %r).
WARDROBE
Elendor has a coded wardrobe system that will allow you to create, store and retrieve several different descriptions. These descriptions can be full descriptions, discussing your character from head-to-toe, or they can be partial descriptions, concentrating on only a certain part of your appearance. This system allows you to then mix and match your descriptions to create a unique appearance for a variety of needs.
This system also has an individual help file system found by typing HELP WARDROBE.
Often times looking at a few descriptions of Galadhrim players will inspire you when writing your own. The +DISPLAY command will allow you to look at a player's description whether you are in the same room as the player or not. HELP +DISPLAY will show you how to use this command.
