Source
r/dragonage•
Malgraw

Elves and beards

I know from what I've played and read about the game that elves don't grow facial hair. A concept I always liked. But I'm also curious about it because I've recently heard a banter from Solas and Blackwall (on youtube, since it's near impossible for me to get it ingame) where Blackwall goes: "I've just realized, I've never seen an Elf with a beard." to which Solas answers: "You haven't seen many Elves then." There's also Yevven to think of (though I'm not sure how canon he is).

I'm not sure whether Solas was messing with Blackwall or was implying elves are capable of growing beards. But then again it might be possible, maybe a rare trait or something that they get when they achieve a certain advanced age. The Elves HAVE lost a great deal of racial traits since coming in contact with Humans, like their immortality and inborn magical talent.

Posted Jan 23, 2015, 4:04 AM UTC

912
jwchen•

could be like us Asian folks where most of us take literally days to grow a '5 o'clock shadow' and weeks to grow a little bit of something that looks sad. But about 1/100 you get one of those hairy fuckers who always parade it like it is something special.

13
joeDUBstep•

I am guilty of doing that, my hairless Chinese brethren.

5
Mroverkill21•

I always figured it was more like the natives were they believed beards to be barbaric and uncivilized and they could grow one but they preferred not to

1
beelzeybob•

Humans actually had nothing to do with elves losing their magic/immortality. What Pride had Wrought Spoiler

Most elven races in any high fantasy series are usually devoid of facial hair lol, and Dragonage is no exception.

I feel like Solas could have been messing with Blackwall, but maybe not. I also suspect that Ancient Elves may have lacked the ability to grow any hair at all, even hair on their heads... but this is just speculation. Abelas/the temple guardians/Solas were bald, and the sculptural/mosaic/painting portrayals of the gods in the elven pantheon were all depicted as bald too (even Mythal).. maybe it was weird trend, who knows.

4
MalgrawOP•

I know about that humans had nothing to do with the (spoiler) but I don't remember anything saying that continued close existence with humans was not the reason why they are no longer immortal. The magic bit is speculation on my part. The only true piece of information we have on that (that I can remember) is from the Codex: Arlathan: Part One. There was also an interview in which David Gaider said that Dalish tended to live longer lives than City Elves, and since not all Dalish have magic, one can assume it's because they live more isolated from humans than City Elves. Though I will grant you that this was just an interview and there was another writer that disagreed with this.

1
AlphaLimaMike•

I can't recall where I read it/who I heard it from in game, but I do remember learning that it was exposure to "the swift children" (humans) that caused elves to lose their immortality.

1
MalgrawOP•

It was the Codex: Arlathan: Part One. http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Codex_entry:_Arlathan:_Part_One

2
roadkill93•

Canon or not, I will always find an elf with a soul patch sexy.

2
Ellieshark•

DAMMIT. I've read that banter before and I thought Solas said "MANLY Elves" I thought Solas was just being his snarky self, that banter is significantly less funny to me now.

1
MalgrawOP•

I can see how that would make it funny haha But keep in mind none of us know if he's messing with Blackwall or not. He's been known to mess with people from time to time. Given WHO he is I wouldn't be entirely surprised if that was the case.

1
magician8•

I know this doesn't answer the question, but it's kinda funny.

One complexion option gives your elf what looks like a stubble.

1
MalgrawOP•

Yeah I noticed that. but then again, the skin complexion might come from the human male's so I'm not putting much faith on that.

1