Role

Chapter 1

Every corner of Thera knows of the Kingdom of Darsylon and is thereby
quite familiar with the noble house from which the city gets it's name.
Many of the lower races might think that Darsylonathas is the only royal
Elven lineage, or at least the only one which demands respect. And as is
usually the case, these lower races are quite wrong.

Every Elven city has a ruling house, of course. Darsylon is merely the
only one who's rulers were as forward-thinking (or foolish, depending
upon who you ask) to open their city to visitors across Thera. And within
and around each of these cities, there are minor nobles doing what nobles
tend to do - primarily concerning themselves with appearances and implied
respect and favoritism of the ruling House.

Elithranduil is from one such noble house. Though as the youngest of five
brothers, very little was expected of young Elithranduil in regards to
protecting and advancing his family in the social graces of the Highborn.
He was, while not an outcast, certainly unimportant and therefore
overlooked by most Elves who know their way around the Palace.

Despite, or perhaps because of, his place in his family and in the city,
Elithranduil was a very head-strong and eager young Elf. He knew what he
wanted, and there was not a thing or Elf that could stand in his way. And
what he wanted more than anything else was to do something worthwhile.

What is an Elf to do who has no true role? Elithranduil answered that
question in the only way he knew how - by making up the answer himself.
He created a role for himself and declared himself the first Elven envoy
to the wicked city of Udgaard. While wise Elves would say such an envoy
was unnecessary in the best of times, and gravely foolish in the worst,
Elithranduil would not be dissuaded. He would bring to that vile place an
understanding of goodness and the Light, or at least bring back an
understanding of what they were truly capable of. In his mind, those were
the only two outcomes and either would be a victory.

Elithranduil was, after all, a sheltered young Elf and did not yet
understand the concept of Evil men, and what they were capable of. He
would soon learn.