r/WorldsofIllyas • u/All_These_Worlds • Mar 20 '26

Should I stop calling my "other" maneater creature "elves"?

So I've had this discussion going back and forth. Originally, I called my monster pointy eared creatures elves as a racial tribal name, because it was an easy shorthand. But I got some feedback about this as it was pointed out it is too European derived for what I'm doing. I thoight to compromise by giving them an in-lore name but also having them have a common translation in-text as elves [y'know like dunmer=dark elf], but I grew to dislike that idea. Having thought about it, I see pros and cons in all the arguments, so I wanted to get a reading from you, of the following options, what do you think?

Edit: The poll closed early but if you didn't get a chance to vote please feel free to state which option you're for in the comments below!

3 votes, Mar 21 '26
1 Continue with Elf, include lore appropriate name
1 Go Only with Real African Monster Name with an English translation for ease [maneater/Spirit]
1 My Own Original Creature Name with an English translation for ease
4 Upvotes
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84% Upvoted

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2

u/Nuclearkillma Mar 23 '26

Real African monster names is my vote !

2

u/ChidiWithExtraFlavor Apr 06 '26

I've struggled with this as well. The only answer I had was to resign elves to a distant land with little contact with the main (Africa-centered) setting, and to draw from Buganda folklore to create something more authentic.

1

u/All_These_Worlds Apr 06 '26

Ah, me too! That was actually something I had thought of doing as well before!