在遥远的过去，精灵最初来自远离费伦的另一个位面，事实证明，精灵是出现在艾伯尔-托瑞尔的最成功和最具有多样性的种族之一。他们占领了陆地，海洋，甚至费伦的天空，在各个时代殖民扩张。今天，伟大的精灵王国也许已经从人类和类人种族的入侵中退却，但是精灵在世界上的影响力是普遍存在且无可辩驳的。
Originally hailing from another realm far removed from Faerun in the distant past, the elves have proved to be one of the most successful and diverse races to appear on Abeir-Toril. They have taken to the lands, the seas, and even the skies of Faerun, colonizing and expanding through the ages. Today, the great elven realms may have retreated from the encroachment of humans and humanoids, but the elven influence in the world is unmistakable and pervasive.
精灵们能够适应周围的环境并急剧变化使自身能与环境融合在一起，所以经过几代人的努力，精灵们的各个部落在外观和面貌上都变得迥然不同。尽管如此，所有的精灵都保留着某些特征，这使他们与世界上其他种族都不同。总的来说，精灵们都知道自己是泰尔’奎瑟（tel quessir，翻译成通用语，意思是“人民”）。他们把所有其他的生命都称为N-tel-quess，这个词在精灵语里表达的意思是“非人民”。
Elves adapt and change dramatically to meld with their surroundings, so through the generations the various tribes of elves have become quite divergent in appearance and outlook. Despite this, all elves retain certain characteristics that set them apart from the other races of the world. Collectively, the elves know themselves as the Tel-quessir (translated into the common tongue, this means, “The People”). They refer to all other beings as the N-Tel-Quess, a less-than-diplomatic elven expression meaning “not-people.”
精灵是优雅、轻盈而美丽的。不管他们有什么特殊的传统，他们被其他种族视为一个非常神奇且充满魔力的民族。这种敬畏和尊重导致了一个意想不到的必然结果，许多人认为精灵族是一个傲慢无理种族。产生这个结果的原因很多，包括猜疑、嫉妒和宗教仇恨。而正是因为精灵的本性才引起了他人这样的反应，因为精灵对待第一次遇到见的人的态度永远是冷淡而漠不关心的。
Elves are graceful, lithe, and beautiful. Regardless of their particular heritage, they are viewed by other races as a highly magical and wondrous people. This awe and respect has an unexpected corollary—many people view elves as haughty and shamelessly introverted as a race. The reasons for this are numerous, including jealousy, envy, and religious hatred. It is the nature of the elf to elicit such reactions from others, for it seems impossible upon first encountering the elves to react with anything resembling disinterest or apathy.
概述Overview
费伦的许多居民相信精灵只有六个不同的亚种，但实际上至少有七个。费伦最常见的精灵是月精灵、日精灵和木精灵。卓尔精灵是最臭名昭著的亚种。不为人所知的亚种是野精灵和水生精灵，他们居住在遥远、偏僻和荒凉的地区，很少有人类来访。在这六个亚种之外还存在第七个亚种——翼精灵（avariel），或有翼的精灵。在远古时代，翼精灵的最后一个部落几近灭绝，直到现在才重新与外界建立起联系。
Many of Faerun’s inhabitants believe there to be only six different subraces of elves, but there are at least seven. Most common on Faerun are the moon, sun, and wood elves. The drow are easily the most notorious. Less well known are wild elves and aquatic elves, who dwell in distant, remote, and inhospitable regions that see few human visitors. Beyond these six subraces stands a seventh—the avariels, or winged elves. Driven nearly to extinction in ancient times, the last tribe of avariels is only now rekindling ties with the outside world.
尽管各种精灵亚种的多样性令人难以置信，但所有的精灵都有许多共同的特点。也许他们最明显的特点就是他们对魔法的亲和力。魔法的使用在精灵社会的各个方面都很普遍。精灵魔法最令人印象深刻的例子是迷锁（mythals,），这是古代精灵创造的强大的魔法能量场，保护性和正面效果的魔法光环覆盖整个城市。精灵对惑控系法术有着天然的抗性，部分原因可能是他们生命中的每一刻都沉浸在这种魔法环境中。
Despite the incredible diversity of the various elven subraces, all elves share a number of characteristics. Perhaps the strongest thing they share is their affinity for magic. The use of magic pervades elven society at every level. The most impressive examples of elven magic are the mythals, powerful fields of magical energy created by the ancient elves to cloak entire cities with protective and useful magical auras. The elves’ natural resistance to enchantment spells is likely due in part to the fact that every moment of their lives is spent immersed in such magical environments.
精灵的城市，即使不算上许多常见的魔法增强，也确实是一道美丽的风景。对于一个精灵来说，一座建筑与一座山或一棵树有点不同。他们努力使自己的家和建筑与自然环境完全融合，从而增加自然美景和景观纯净和谐，而非破坏整体风格。人类建造的低矮、功能性的建筑大多让精灵们觉得荒谬和困扰。
Elven cities, even without the common magical enhancements that many carry, are beautiful sights indeed. To an elf, a building is little different than a mountain or a tree. They strive to fashion their homes and structures in such a way that they blend completely with their natural surroundings, adding to the natural beauty and purity of the landscape rather than detracting from it. The squat, functional buildings constructed by most humans strike most elves as ridiculous and intrusive.
精灵的门特别有趣。传统的精灵建筑旨在融入自然，因此进入精灵建筑的外部门通常巧妙地隐藏在一棵大树的侧面，或是一块小山边的大石头，等等。精灵的孩子们很快就能变得非常擅长寻找隐藏的门，而这种技能会一直延续到成年。对精灵来说其他种族建造的秘密门伪装的如此粗俗简直就像笑话一样。
Elven doors are of particular interest. Traditional elven architecture tries to blend into nature, and as a result external doorways into elven structures are often disguised cleverly in the side of a large tree, as a large stone on the side of a hill, and so on. Elven children quickly become quite well practiced at finding and noticing doors, and this skill follows them into adulthood. Secret doors built by other races often amuse the elves with their crude attempts at disguise.
与其他类人种族不同，精灵不会真正睡觉。一个精灵每天只需要在一种被称为冥想的恍惚状态中休息和放松四个小时。大多数精灵的“卧室”更像休息室或书房，配有各种舒适的沙发。精灵的冥想还有另一个有趣的影响：精灵城市的居民们的活动水平无论早晚似乎从未真正改变过。冥想的时间长度让大多数精灵在一天内享受接近20小时的活动时间。结合他们难以置信的漫长寿命，意味着精灵可以有足够的时间做想做的事情。如果精灵们像人类一样习惯于忙碌和今日事今日毕，那么他们就真的没什么做不到的事了。
Unlike other humanoid races, elves don’t truly sleep. An elf needs only to rest and relax in a trance known as a reverie for four hours every day. Most elven “bedrooms” more closely resemble lounges or studies furnished with comfortable couches or divans. The elven reverie has another interesting effect: An elven town never really seems to change in activity level. The length of the reverie allows most elves to enjoy periods of activity approaching 20 hours in a single day. In combination with their incredibly long lifespans, the reverie means that elves can afford to take their time with their projects. If the elves had the humans’ bustling need to complete projects as soon as possible, there would truly be no limit to what they could accomplish.
虽然精灵被认为是爱好和平的种族，但他们的种族历史上的血腥和可怕的战争能够与其他任何种族相提并论。即使在今天，所有的精灵都会接受他们传统武器的训练直至成年。一个适龄的精灵应当随时准备好用魔法和钢铁来保卫她的家园。尽管如此，精灵们即使在战斗训练中也不会追求粗鲁野蛮。他们把战斗和其他军事活动看作是自然的另一方面，同样值得他们细心的关注和尊重。因此，精灵们将战斗视为精心设计好的舞蹈。
Although elves are thought of as a peace-loving people, their racial history is filled with bloodshed and terrible wars to rival any other race. Even today, all elves spend their formative years training with the traditional weaponry of their kind. A proper elf should be ready to defend her home with magic and with steel should the need arise. Despite this, elves do not succumb to feral savagery in their training. They view combat and other martial activities as yet another face of the natural world, and no less deserving of their careful attention and respect. As a result, the elves treat combat almost as a masterfully choreographed dance.
种族历史Racial History
精灵，尽管历史悠久，但并不是真正的费伦土著。他们在二千五百万年前从仙境（Faerie）出发，经过精类位面，在漫长的无法返回的旅途后来到费伦。最先到达的精灵是塞-泰'奎瑟（sy tel quessir，绿精灵）、黎-泰'奎瑟（ly tel quessir，兽化精灵）和艾利欧-泰'奎瑟（aril tel quessir，翼精灵）。在最初的三个种族中，只有绿精灵——现在被称为野精灵——生存了下来。在远古时代与的龙族进行了许多可怕的战争后翼精灵现在几乎灭绝了。兽化精灵的变化如此之大以至于脱离他们的精灵根源，他们被大多数费伦学者视为一个有别于泰'奎瑟的独立的种族。第二批前往费伦的精灵包括斯瑞-泰'奎瑟（Ssri-Tel'Quessir，黑暗精灵，如今成为了卓尔精灵）。他们是最成功的精类，从费伦南部丛林中崛起，并迅速在他们的新家建立了伟大的帝国。同时，艾尔-泰'奎瑟（Ar-Tel'Quessir，日精灵）和忒-泰'奎瑟（Teu-Tel'Quessir，月精灵）到达了北方。不久之后，阿鲁-泰'奎瑟（Alu-Tel'Quessir，水生精灵）出现在大海上。在第二波精灵移民浪潮之后，精灵强大的军事力量和魔法力量使巨龙时代接近了尾声。
The elves, despite their long history, are not true natives to Faerun. They came to Faerun from the realm of Faerie twentyfive millennia ago, passing through fey crossroads and backroads that have long since been lost. The first elves to arrive were the Sy-tel-quessir (green elves), the Ly-tel-quessir (lythari), and the Aril-tel-quessir (avariel). Of these original three races, only the green elves, now known as the wild elves, survive in any number. The avariel are nearly extinct now, having fought many terrible wars with the dragons of the ancient world. The lythari have changed so far from their elven roots that they are regarded by most Faerunian scholars as a separate race from the Tel-quessir. The second wave of elves to travel to Faerun included the Ssri-tel-quessir (destined to become the drow). They were the most successful, emerging from the southern jungles of Faerun and quickly establishing grand empires in their new home. At the same time, the Ar-tel-quessir (sun elves) and the Teu-telquessir (moon elves) arrived to the north. The Alu-tel-quessir (aquatic elves) appeared in the Great Sea not long after. The martial strength and magical prowess of the peoples in this second wave of elven immigrants brought the Time of Dragons to a close.
随着巨龙时代的终结，优雅族裔的最初的兴盛到来了。精灵们在费伦的西部和南部定居，建立了五个主要的文明。沿着今日的剑湾出现了日精灵的艾瑞凡达（Aryvandaar）、绿精灵的伊尔法兰（Illefarn）、麦叶理塔（Miyeritar绿精灵）、日精灵和月精灵的桑塔·欧斯瑞尔（Shantel Othreier）、以及月精灵和绿精灵的凯尔特米尔（Keltormir）。在南部，有三个较小的绿精灵王国建立于今日被称作维洪海岸地区的主要森林中——塞尼塔亚（Thearnytaar）、艾伊鲁尔（Eiellur）、以及 塞佩尔（Syopiir）；还有两个王国出现在曾经覆盖夏亚的森林中——月精灵的奥利沙亚（Orishaar）与黑暗精灵的伊利斯瑞（Ilythiir）。
As the Time of Dragons ended, the First Flowering of the Fair Folk began, and the elves settled into five major civilizations along the west and south of Faerun. Along the Sword Coast rose Aryvandaar of the sun elves, Illefarn of the green elves, Miyeritar, Shantel Othreier, and Keltormir. To the south, in what is now the Vilhon Reach, rose the three green elf nations of Thearnytaar, Eiellur, and Syòpiir, while two more realms arose in the forests that once covered the Shaar: Orishaar of the moon elves, and Ilythiir of the dark elves.
这些精灵国家各自以自己的方式成长、扩张和发展。不幸的是，这些田园诗歌般的时光并没有持续下去。——伊利斯瑞的暴行、艾瑞凡达（曾被维沙安塔家族控制）的持续暴力扩张，还有另一个长久以来被遗忘的罪孽——引发了第一次皇冠战争。在接下来的几百年里，精灵国家慢慢地分裂了。正当一场皇冠战争结束时，持续不断地矛盾似乎又引发了一场新的皇冠战争。
These elven nations each grew and expanded and developed in their own ways. Unfortunately, these idyllic times were not to last. Some provocation—the emerging cruelty of Ilythiir, the continued and often violent expansions of Aryvandaar (which had fallen under the control of the Vyshaantar family), or another long-forgotten transgression—sparked the first Crown War. Over the next several hundred years, the elven nations slowly tore themselves apart. Just as one Crown War ended, it seemed that some new affront sparked a new one.
伊利斯瑞和麦叶理塔已经看到了早期皇冠战争中最糟糕的战斗，但随着第四次皇冠战争的到来，伊利斯瑞的黑暗精灵将冲突提升到了一个新的水平。很久以前，在柯瑞隆的情人阿罗诗的领导下，席德瑞恩诸神的一个派系背叛了他们的亲属，企图取代原有的席德瑞恩诸神的统治。柯瑞隆和他的忠诚亲属打败了阿罗诗和其他的叛徒，并把他们驱逐到魔网深狱中。由于无力铲除敌人，伊利斯瑞精灵犯下了一个闻所未闻的罪行：他们召唤了背叛的女神阿罗诗（现在被称为罗丝Lolth），并利用她赋予的可怕力量彻底摧毁了麦叶理塔。被毁灭的绿精灵们逃到了最深的森林里，再也没有恢复过来。有些人甚至避开了他们的亲族，变成了野精灵；另一些绿精灵和志同道合的日精灵或月精灵难民融合在一起，变成了一个新的亚种，木精灵。
The nations of Ilythiir and Miyeritar saw the worst of the fighting in the early Crown Wars, but as the Fourth Crown War dawned, the dark elves of Ilythiir raised the conflict to a new level. Ages ago, a faction of the Seldarine, led by Corellon’s lover Araushnee, turned on their kin in an attempt to displace the Seldarine. Corellon and his loyal kin defeated Araushnee and the other traitors, and banished them to the Demonweb Pits. Frustrated with their inability to eradicate their enemies, the Ilythiir elves committed an unheard-of crime: They called upon the traitor goddess Araushnee (now known as Lolth) and used the terrible might she granted to completely destroy Miyeritar. The decimated green elves never recovered, fleeing into the deepest forests. Some, hiding even from their own kin, became the wild elves; others merged with like-minded sun or moon elf refugees to become a new subrace, the wood elves.
希德瑞恩诸神对伊利斯瑞的行为感到震惊和沮丧，于是插手干预。根据柯瑞隆的命令，伊利斯瑞的黑暗精灵被诅咒，变成了卓尔精灵，并从地表世界流放到了幽暗地域。在这场大沉降后，根据柯瑞隆的裁决，精灵种族的长者们聚集到了东方的大森林中，这里成为了精灵王庭科曼索，在这个进行判决和审判的地方，对这场分裂和冲突的原因进行了辩论。在大量的辩论之后，日精灵国家艾瑞凡达的统治者瓦珊家族（Vyshaan）被认为是罪归祸首，而瓦珊塔家族在紧接着判决的第五次皇冠战争中被毁灭了。Shocked and dismayed at the actions of the Ilythiir, the Seldarine intervened. By Corellon’s decree, the Ilythiir elves were cursed, transformed into drow, and banished from the surface world into the Underdark. After this, Corellon insisted that the elven elders come together in a great forest to the east to debate the cause of the divisiveness and strife at a place of decision and judgement. This place became the Elven Court in Cormanthor. After much debate, the Seldarine found that the Vyshaantar, sun elf lords of Aryvandaar, were culpable. The Vyshaantar were destroyed in the fifth and final Crown War that followed this verdict.
在最后的皇冠战争后的十个千纪中，在“绿郁之岛”永聚岛（Evermeet）上、在艾弗瑞斯卡谷（Evereska）中、在至高森林里、在科曼索的广阔森林内、攸木林的遥远森林中，精灵文明们兴起、然后因各种原因陨落，但再未复现皇冠战争的精灵内部冲突造成的如此规模的破坏。虽然这些新的国家都在自己的时代取得了伟大的成就，但没有一个国家能与那些最初兴盛时建立的第一批国家所拥有的力量相媲美。当人类开始建立自己的帝国时，精灵们发现他们无法控制诸如扎姆达斯（Jhaamdath）、柯拉珊（Coramshan）和耐瑟瑞尔（Netheril）等不断扩张，傲慢自大的国家。面对人类向费伦古老森林的大肆扩张，精灵建立的第二批王国不得不再次面临着无休止循环战争的前景。精灵们开始谈论从人类世界撤退到他们真正能称之为自己拥有的地方。714 DR，卓诺·迷锁的消亡促使现存的精灵王国开始行动，精灵们开始放弃了他们古老的王国，向西前往永聚岛。随着越来越多的精灵变得焦躁不安，对大陆上的生活不再抱有幻想，他们开始听到了神秘的召唤的浪潮从西边的永聚岛传来。到了月落之年（1344 DR），精灵的大撤退达到了顶峰。许多精灵由于受到野蛮种族如豺狼人和兽人的迫害，或者被人类的侵略性和经常性短视的扩张所拖累，决定轻车简从的移动。事实上，精灵在费伦的大陆上的存在，已经跌落到了二千五百万年以来的最低水准。
In the ten millennia since the last Crown War, many other elven nations have risen and fallen on the island of Evermeet, in the Vale of Evereska, deep in the High Forest, in the great forest of Cormanthor, and in the distant Yuirwood. Although these newer nations all achieved great things in their own time, none of them ever equaled the might and power achieved by those first nations established during the First Flowering. As the humans began to raise their own empires, the elves found it beyond their abilities to check the rash expansion and arrogant power of lands such as Jhaamdath, Coramshan, and Netheril. Confronted by vigorous human expansion into the ancient forestlands of Faerun, the second-born realms of the elves once again faced the prospect of endless cycles of warfare. The elves began to talk of retreating from the world of humanity to somewhere they could truly call their own. In 714 DR, the fall of Myth Drannor galvanized the surviving elven realms to action, and elves began to travel westward to Evermeet, abandoning their ancient lands. As more and more elves grew restless and disillusioned with life on the mainland, they heard a mystic call from over the waves to the west to the island of Evermeet. By the Year of Moonfall (1344 DR), the Elven Retreat reached its peak. Persecuted by numerous savage races such as goblinoids and orcs, and equally put off by the invasive and often shortsighted expansion of humans, many elves decided simply to pick up and move. As a result, the elven presence on the mainland fell to the lowest levels since the arrival of the Tel-quessir twenty-five thousand years ago.
最近发生在永聚岛上的事件——尤其是卓尔人的破坏性攻击——使精灵们相信他们不能脱离这个世界，以期生存下去。大撤退现在结束了，精灵们正慢慢地开始在费伦建立一个更强大的存在。但是很明显，精灵帝国数千英里森林中扩张的日子已经一去不复返了。
Recent events on Evermeet—not least of which was a destructive attack by the drow—have convinced the elves that they cannot just turn their backs on the world and expect to survive. The Retreat is now over, and elves are slowly beginning to establish a stronger presence in Faerun as a result. But it is clear that the day of elven empires sprawling over thousands of miles of forests is gone forever.