A Caraidh Iolair, an Elf Beastfriend who has forged a deep bond with a hawk.[1a]
The Caraidh, known by Men as a "Beastfriend," is an Elf of the Asur or Asrai kindreds who has established a deep connection with the animals of the forest, the domain of their patron deity, Kurnous, the Elven god of the hunt.[1a]
Humans and the other mortal races have domesticated animals by taking them out of the wild and taming them. Elves work differently. To an Elf the practice of breaking an animal's spirit to "tame' it is barbarous and typical of the Human approach to nature. They prefer to gain an animal's willing cooperation rather than force it or breed it into servitude. Humans see an inconsistency between this attitude and the Elven love of hunting, but Elves contend that their hunting is no different in terms of being "natural" than the hunting of a wild cat or a pack of wolves. Like any other wild hunter, they take only what they need to survive. Hunting is not a sport for Elves.
Out of this rapport with nature is born the uniquely Elven career of the Caraidh. All Elves have the potential for beast-friendship, some are born with it, while others may develop it during their lives. The Beastfriends develop their natural affinity for a particular animal species to an extraordinary degree. They have even been known to fight alongside Elven armies, their beasts serving with them on the battlefield, in defence of their forest homes.[1a]
Below can be found examples of the most common types of Caraidh who are defined by the particular animal species with which they can form a bond. There are rumored to be others, but these are seldom seen, even by the Elves themselves. It is said, for example, that among the High Elves of old, rare individuals from the highest nobility were born with the gift of Dragon-friendship, which could not be learned by those not born to it. These were the Beith-Caradan, Dragon-riders, thought by some to be no more than legend and believed by others to be sleeping in the deepest forests with their mounts, awaiting an appointed time when they will be needed to save the Elven race from certain destruction.[1a]
Notable Caraidh Types[]
- Caraidh Iolair - A Beastfriend with an affinity for hawks.[1a]