Elves and dwarves are two related races of fae. While in many ways they are opposites, as light is to dark, and Seelie is to Unseelie, they are also complementary to each other, two sides of the same coin.

It should be noted, however, that alignment, social norms, and cultural mores of these creatures are generalities. Not all elves are Seelie, nor are all dwarves Unseelie, for example, although these are the broad tendencies.

Cultural Analogues: Norse myth and viking societies.

A Thread of the Creation Myth

In the beginning, there was nothing but water, frozen deep and solid. Finally, the ice began to crack and melt, and from the thaw emerged two creatures, a hungry giant and a cow. The cow, named Audhumla, gave the giant, named Ymir, her milk for nourishment. While Ymir drank, Audhumla licked the remaining ice, seeking salt. What she uncovered was another being, a god named Borr. Meanwhile, from the body of Ymir, more creatures emerged. These included giants from his loins, a pair of humans from his armpits, and from his blood, piles of squirming maggots.

Borr mated with one of the giantesses, and she bore one of the first gods of the Aesir, the gods of war. His name was Odin. With help from his siblings Vili and Ve, he killed Ymir and used parts of the giant’s body to create the world. Ymir’s skull became the sky, his bones the rocks, his flesh the earth, his bodily fluids the oceans. When the gods saw the maggots swimming in Ymir’s blood, they took pity on these creatures and changed them into creatures called the alfar, the ljosalfar, the elves, and the dekkalfar, the dwarves. The young gods selected four of the dwarves (Nordri, Sudri, Austri, and Oestri) to support the skull of Ymir as it formed the heavens.

As time passed, more gods were born, and eventually they divided into two different factions, the Aesir (the gods of war) and the Vanir (the gods of fertility and agriculture). They gave the alfar each their own homelands, Aelfheim for the elves and Drekkalfheim for the dwarves. The Aesir, who gave greatest favor to the dwarves, settled in Asgard, while the Vanir, who preferred the elves, made Vanaheim their home. For a time, there was peace between the factions, but they eventually went to war. Only after many years and a great deal of bloodshed did the Aesir and Vanir come to peace again. Two conditions stipulated the peace: first, the gods would create a cauldron of wisdom together, and second, they would exchange members of each faction to live in the realm of the other. For these reasons, there is a truce among elves and dwarves, albeit an uneasy one, even as they occasionally dwell within each others’ realms in memory of the peace of the gods. 

A Collection of Interesting Rumors and Tales Surrounding the Alfar

When sealing their peace, the Aesir and Vanir created a cauldron of wisdom and inspiration. They each spat into the cauldron, creating a potion called Kvassir, which gave those who drank it visions and insight. Rumor has it that at some point, the dwarves stole the cauldron and the Kvassir, mingled the potion with honey, and divided it among their chieftains. If this is so, where is the cauldron? What have the dwarves done with the potions?

The dwarf Dvalin supposedly made a number of wondrous treasures for the gods in the ancient days. These included the spear Gungnir, the boat Skidbladmir, and the armring, Draupnir. An elf smith named Sindri (who is sometimes equated with the gods) made a golden boar Gullin-Bursti, crafted from rays of the sun itself. Are these treasures still possessed by the gods, or are they somewhere in the world? If so, what would be the benefits and risks of finding them?

The Gods of the Elves and Dwarves

The Aesir —Gods of the Dwarves

The Vanir - Gods of the Elves

Shunned Gods - Gods of Giants, etc.

Alfar Names

Alfar use their father’s name to form a second name, or byname.

To create a patronym, the suffix -son 'son' or -dóttir 'daughter' is added to the father's given name. The chart below shows how this is done.

* Names that end in -dan, -endr, -freðr, -frøðr, -gautr, -mundr, -røðr, -undr, -un(n), -urðr, -varðr, -viðr, -vindr, -þórðr, and -þróndr form a genitive with -ar:

Male Given Names

Alf, Aage, Aaric, Aegir, Aesir, Aevar, Afi, Age, Ake, Alberich, Alfarin, Alfarinn, Alfgeir, Alfrigg, Alfrothul, Alvis, Alviss, Amhlaoibh, Amund, Amundi, An, Ander, Anderson, Andvaranaut, Andvari, Annar, Ansgar, Aren, Ari, Aric, Aricin, Arick, Arik, Arild, Arkin, Arkyn, Armod, Arneot, Arngeir, Arni, Arnlaug, Aros, Arrick, Arvakl, Arve, Arvid, Asbiom, Asbjom, Asgard, Asgaut, Asgeir, Asgerd, Asgrim, Ask, Askel, Askell, Aslak, Asolf, Asrod, Asvald, Atli, Aud, Audolf, Audun, Auliffe, Avaldamon, Avang, Blyn, Bakli, Balder, Baldr, Baldur, Balmung, Bard, Bardi, Baug, Beini, Bergelmir, Bergthor, Bersi, Bifrost, Bionbyr, Biorn, Birger, Bjame, Bjami, Bjolf, Bjomolf, Bodil, Bodmod, Bodolf, Bodvar, Bolli, Bolthor, Bolverk, Booth, Bor, Borg, Bori, Bork, Bothe, Bothi, Bragi, Brand, Brander, Brandr, Branstock, Brede, Brian, Brisingamen, Brokk, Brondolf, Bruni, Brynjolf, Burnaby, Burr, Busby, Busbyr, Cadby, Canute, Carr, Cauley, Cawley, Cnut, Cnute, Cort, Cortie, Crosby, Crow Hreidar, Dag, Dain, Dana, Danb, Dane, Danhy, Darby, Davin, Davyn, Delling, Dellingr, Den, Denby, Denny, Derby, Desiderio, Digby, Dikibyr, Draupnir, Dreng, Duartr, Durin, Dyre, Dyri, Eggther, Egil, Eigil, Eikki, Eilif, Einar, Eirik, Eistein, Eitri, Eldgrim, Elvis, Enar, Eric, Erick, Erik, Erland, Erling, Erp, Eryk, Esbjorn, Eske, Eskil, Eyfrod, Eyjolf, Eystein, Eyvind, Fafner, Fafnir, Fasolt, Faste, Fell, Fenris, Finn, Finnbogi, Fjall, Floki, Flosi, Forseti, Freki, Frey, Freyr, Freystein, Fridleif, Frode, Glum, Galm, Ganger, Gardar, Gardi, Garet, Garm, Garrett, Garth, Gaute, Geir, Geiri, Geirleif, Geirmund, Geirolf, Geirrod, Geirstein, Gest, Gilby, Gils, Gimle, Gizur, Gjallar, Gjest, Gleipnif, Glistenheath, Gnup, Gram, Grani, Grenjad, Greyfell, Grim, Grimkel, Gris, Gudbrand, Gudbrande, Gudlaug, Gudmund, Gullinbursti, Gulltopp, Gungir, Gunlaug, Gunnar, Gunnbjorn, Gunnlaug, Gunnolf, Gunther, Guttorm, Gymir, Haaken, Hafgrim, Hafleikr, Hafnar, Hagen, Haki, Hakon, Hal, Halden, Halklel, Hall, Hallbjorn, Halldor, Hallfred, Hallvard, Halvard, Halvdan, Halvor, Hamar, Hammer, Hamund, Harald, Hardbein, Harold, Harry, Hastein, Hauk, Havelock, Hedin, Heimdal, Heiolf, Helgi, Hermod, Hermund, Herrick, Herryk, Hersi, Hilario, Hoder, Hodr, Hodur, Hoenir, Holmstein, Honir, Hord, Hoskuld, Hrafn, Hrapp, Hreidmar, Hrimfaxi, Hroald, Hrodgeir, Hrolf, Hrolleif, Hromund, Hrosskel, Hrut, Hugi, Hugin, Hunbogi, Hvergelmir, Illugi, Im, Ingemar, Ingemur, Inger, Ingharr, Inghram, Ingjald, Ingmar, Ingolf, Ingram, Isleif, Isolf, Isrod, Jolgeir, Jormungand, Jorund, Kalf, Kalman, Kare, Kari, Karli, Karr, Keldan, Kell, Kelsey, Kelsig, Kerr, Ketil, Kiarr, Kiollsig, Kirby, Kirk, Kirkjabyr, Kjarr, Kjartan, Kleng, Knud, Knut, Knutr, Kodran, Kol, Kolbein, Kolbyr, Kolgrim, Koll, Kolli, Kollsvein, Kort, Kotkel, Krossbyr, Kuanbyr, Kylan, Lagmann, Lambi, Lamond, Lamont, Lang, Leidolf, Leif, Lidskjalf, Lodmund, Lodur, Loki, Lunt, Lyting, Magne, Magni, Magnild, Magnor, Magnus, Mani, Mar, Mikkel, Miolnir, Mjolnir, Modi, Munin, Nagelfar, Nidhogg, Nidhug, Njal, Njall, Njord, Njorthrbiartr, Norbert, Norberto, Odd, Oddleif, Oddvar, Odell, Odin, Oilibhear, Ola, Olaf, Olav, Olave, Ole, Oleif, Olen, Olin, Oliver, Olof, Olvaerr, Olvir, Olyn, Om, Omolf, Onund, Orlyg, Orm, Os, Oscar, Osgood, Oskar, Ospak, Ostein, Osten, Osvif, Othin, Ottar, Ovaegir, Ove, Oysten, Ozur, Quimby, Radorm, Ragnar, Ragnarok, Ragnor, Rainer, Raskogr, Raud, Rauthuell, Raynor, Regin, Reidar, Reider, Reist, Riodhr, Roar, Rognvald, Rolf, Roscoe, Rothwell, Rotland, Royd, Rungnir, Runolf, Rutland, Saehrimnir, SigMt, Siggeir, Sigmund, Sigurd, Sigurdhr, Sigvard, Sijur, Sindri, Sinfiotli, Siv, Skagi, Styr, Surtr, Sutherland, Suthrland, Svaldifari, Svan, Svann, Svart, Svartkel, Svein, Svend, Sverting, Svewn, Sveyn, Syver, Tait, Tajei, Tarnkappe, Tayte, Terje, ThDrbjorn, Thangbrand, Thialfi, Thjalfi, Thor, Thorald, Thorarin, Thorbert, Thorbiartl, Thorbum, Thord, Thorfinn, Thorgils, Thorgrim, Thorhadd, Thorir, Thorkel, Thorlak, Thorleif, Thorleik, Thormod, Thorolf, Thorstein, Thorualdr, Thorvald, Thorvid, Thrand, Thrasi, Throst, Thrym, Thurlow, Tiu, Tjasse, Tor, Torald, Torgeir, Torger, Torgny, Torrad, Trigg, Tron, Trond, Trudord, Trygg, Tryggr, Trygve, Turfeinar, Turpin, Tyr, Ugbjom, Uigbiorn, Ulfmaerr, Ull, Ulmer, Uni, Ura, Utgard, Loki, Vali, Valthjof, Vandrad, Vanir, Ve, Vegard, Vegeir, Vestar, Vestein, Vidar, Vifil, Vigrid, Vili, Volsung, Wray, Wybjorn, Wyborn and Ymir

Female Given Names

Aase, Aegileif, Alfdis, Ama, Ambjorg, Amdis, Amma, Amora, Andras, Angerboda, Angerbotha, Angrboda, Anrid, Anselma, Asdis, Ase, Ashild, Ashilda, Ashilde, Aslaug, Asta, Astlyr, Astra, Astred, Astrid, Astrud, Astryd, Asvor, Asvora, Aud, Auda, Audhild, Audhilda, Audhilde, Audhumbla, Audney, Audumla, Audun, Auduna, Bera, Bergdis, Bergthora, Bestla, Bifrost, Bodil, Bodile, Bodilla, Borghild, Borghilda, Borghlide, Borgny, Botilda, Brenda, Brisingamen, Brit, Brita, Britta, Brunhild, Brunhilda, Brunnehilde, Bryngerd, Brynhild, Brynhilde, Brynja, Dagny, Dahlia, Dale, Dalla, Dalr, Disa, Diss, Draupnir, Eda, Edda, Eir, Eldrid, Elin, Elle, Elli, Ellisif, Ema, Embla, Erica, Erika, Fjorgyn, Freya, Freydis, Frida, Frieda, Frigga, Frika, Frikka, Fulla, Gala, Gale, Garthf, Geirbjorg, Geirrid, Gerd, Gerda, Gerdie, Gimle, Ginnungagap, Gjalp, Gna, Greip, Grid, Grima, Grimhild, Grimhilda, Grimhilde, Gro, Groa, Gudrid, Gudrun, Gullveig, Gunhilda, Gunhilde, Gunnhild, Gunnhildr, Gunnlod, Guri, Guro, Guthr, Gyda, Gytha, Hlif, Hakan, Haldana, Haldis, Haldora, Halfrid, Halfrida, Halla, Halldis, Halldora, Hallfrid, Hallgerd, Hallgerda, Haralda, Heidrun, Hel, Hela, Helga, Helge, Helja, Herdis, Hild, Hilda, Hilde, Hildegunn, Hildigunn, Hildur, Hiordis, Hrefna, Hrodny, Hulda, Hvergelmir, Hyndla, Hyrrokkin, Idona, Idun, Iduna, Idunn, Ingeborg, Ingemar, Ingibjorg, Ingigerd, Ingrid, Ingrida, Ingrit, Ingunn, Injerd, Jarnsaxa, Jord, Jorunn, Keki, Kelda, Kelsey, Kirsten, Kriemhild, Kriemhilda, Kriemhilde, Lene, Lin, Line, Linnea, Liv, Lofn, Lofnheid, Lyngheid, Magna, Magnild, Magnilda, Magnilde, Maria, Marianne, Meklorka, Menglad, Mildri, Mista, Nanna, Nerthus, Njorthrbiartr, Noma, Norberta, Norn, Noss, Oda, Odd, Oddfrid, Oddnaug, Oddny, Oddveig, Ola, Olaug, Olga, Osk, Ragna, Ragnfrid, Ragnhild, Ragni, Ragnild, Ragnilde, Ran, Rana, Randi, Rania, Rannveig, Ranveig, Reidun, Ricci, Rika, Rind, Rinda, Rona, Ronalda, Ronnaug, Runa, Saeunn, Saga, Sangrida, Sif, Sign, Signy, Sigrath, Sigrid, Sigun, Sigyn, Sinmora, Sissel, Siv, Skade, Snor, Snora, Snotra, Solveig, Svanhild, Svanhile, Svenhilda, Svenhilde, Swanhild, Swanhilda, Swanhilde, Syn, Thaukt, Thir, Thokk, Thora, Thorberta, Thorbiartr, Thorbjorg, Thordia, Thordis, Thordissa, Thorfinna, Thorgerd, Thorgunn, Thorgunna, Thorhalla, Thorhild, Thorhilda, Thoridyss, Thorir, Thorkatla, Thorunn, Thorunna, Thrud, Thurid, Tora, Torberta, Tordis, Torgunna, Toril, Torne, Torney, Torny, Torunn, Tove, Trine, Truda, Trude, Uald, Unn, Unne, Vaetild, Vaetilda, Valda, Valdis, Valgerd, Valkyrie, Var, Velaug, Vigdis, Volva, Vor, Yggsdrasil, Yngvild and Yule

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— Atrribution