This does not seem to be conflict, but rather the natural progression of nature. They are not dead set against change at all. They allow people to chop down trees--just not too many. They don't war against beavers. They don't war against insects, unless they are about to destroy too many trees.
> In a healthy elf forest, this conflict might be managed peacefully,
> just as the Orlanthi generally manage the conflict between farmers
> and warriors peacefully. For example, the elves of later stages might
> voluntarily die or move, leaving room for the young and mature-stage
> groups.
Correct. They know they will be back later, when one of those old trees falls down and the cycle begins anew.
> However, there might be deviant forests where the consensus breaks
> down, and is resolved by uglier means.
If we are going to talk about deviant circumstances, that is an entirely different matter. This discussion has been, from my perspective, about the "normal" Aldryami from the start.
> For example, the elves of
> David Dunham's Vralos are associated with earlier stages of the
> forest succession. Something, maybe damage by the God Learners, might
> have led them to stop peacefully negotiating a balance with the later-
> stage forest, and instead start using human-caused fires to settle
> disputes in their own favor.
With deviant circumstances, anything is possible.
--
Sincerely,
Greg Stafford
Issaries, Inc.
1942 Channing Way, #204
Berkeley, CA 94704
Powered by hypermail