Elves and Outsiders (EoA)

Elves and Outsiders
On Athas there are endless ways to die. Besides the nat- ural hardships of thirst, hunger and heat, there are the countless enemies that Coraanu Star Racer made when he ran across the sky. These enemies include halflings, humans, dwarves, half-giants, muls, thri-kreen, and the horde of lesser races and creatures struggling to survive the now. Even other elves are grouped among these ene- mies and potential enemies, for Athas makes desperate people turn to desperate means. To elves, all outsiders are potential enemies. Everyone they meet is presumed guilty of a future crime, and it falls upon the outsiders to prove their trustworthiness and friendship. Anyone not of a particular elfs tribe is an outsiderincluding other elves. The concept of racial unity means nothing to the elves of Athas. Severe desper- ation and common greed have shown them that anyone can turn on them, so they must remain vigilant and on guard whenever outsiders are around.
This view of outsiders helps form the elven code of ethics, which states that when dealing with outsiders, no code of ethics applies. Because they believe that out- siders are potential enemies waiting to take advantage of them (or worse), elves feel that it is in their own best inter- est to take advantage first. This includes lying, cheating, stealing, tricking, and swindling outsiders at every oppor- tunity. This free-for-all attitude means that everything is fair gameproperty, people, and territory.
The true dividing line in an elfs mind centers on his or her concept of equality. All members of a given tribe are equal. All outsiders are less than equal. If an elf can- not look upon someone as his equal, then he cannot treat that person with the same respect he affords the members of his tribe. To an elfs way of thinking, only the fastest, strongest and smartest can survive the hardships of the now. Those who do it best are the members of his tribe. Everyone else is less successful at surviving (sometimes despite evidence to the contrary), and it is the elfs obliga- tion to take advantage of that inequality. Of course, if an outsider can prove he is the elfs equal, then the rights afforded other members of the tribe are extended to include the outsider. Until then, there are no limits imposed on the elf, either by conscience or concern.
To an elf trader, there is no professional pride concern- ing quality of goods or guarantee of services. In fact, hag- gling a higher price than an item is worth provides enjoyment for the merchant and makes her feel success- ful. To an elf raider, all property falls into two cate-
gorieswhats hers and what will soon be hers. Outsiders have no substantial claims to the items they possess. Even artificial boundaries mean nothing to an elf. Doors, locks, walls, and fences are only as sturdy as the warriors protecting them (which is why most elf tribes pay at least outward respect to the walls of the city-states).
Only time and tests of trust can cause an elf tribe to accept an outsider. More often (though still rare as far as the number of occurrences go), individual elves will accept outsiders who have befriended them and earned their trust.