He points out that the vale of flowers (is it really the only examp. of
Genertelan coexistance? -- outside of the Troll woods;-)) IS an elf
woods, and that the elves can survive there for that reason. I wonder
whether the Troll woods might not actually be an elf woods too? An
unusual elf wood, to be sure, but then trolls living in a foreset
(outside of Palmaltela) is equally odd.
In defence of Troll Wood as elf wood too: (I'm gunna have to defend this
no?)
1) The Forest is still standing after (at least) 1600 years of troll
occupation. If there were no elves in the forest, I am convinced that
the uz would have slowly destroyed it, and had to retreat to the
mountains by now.
2) Who (outside of the Kitori Matriarchy) would know? The elves would
be utterly isolated from the outside world. I don't imagine that they
would care much, as long as their Trees remain unmolested. And Ulg
Average Kitori might not even be aware that there are hundreds
(thousands?) of tasty morsels inhabiting the treetops -- he just knows
that the Queen will have his head if he chews on a tree.
3) The trolls and Elves DO need each other. The trolls have no caves,
and would be utterly exposed without the trees, and quickly driven away.
The Elves, well, they wouldn't like to be without the trees either ;-).
Both comunities would be destroyed if a Full-scale war broke out, and
the rulers of both are fully aware of it.
4) even if the troll rank and file realize that there are elves about,
they are not likely to get too worked up if they never/rarely SEE the
elves (ie the elves stay in the canopy, the trolls stay on the ground)
How many RW Humans Demand that their House/Apartment be torn down
because there Might be cockroaches in the walls someplace? We only care
when we actually SEE the vermin, and roaches aren't even vital to
holding the roof up.
5) The troll wood was most likely populated during the first council
when elves and Trolls were actively cooperating. During times of racial
tension, the Kitori Rulers simply deny the presence of elves, but
require the trees to be unmolested "because Mom says so." The elves
realize that they would loose a full out war, but believe that if they
just wait long enough, the trolls will die out (either defending the
forest from humans(!) or just due to breeding difficulties) and they
will be able to return to the forest floor, and defend against all
comers. Elves take the looooooong view.
6) Killing each other helps no-one (except the dirt-scratching humans
who would love to be rid of the Forest AND the Kitori). Ignoring each
other benefits everyone. Elf and Uz don't HAVE to commit mutual suicide
every time they come into contact. They just tend to...
I'm not at all convinced that we can just assume that the "Troll Woods" isn't really the "Troll (ElfWood)s."
danm.
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