So I haven’t done one of my essay posts on elven aging and age-culture yet, I don’t think – not in a while, at least. So here’s the basics.
We know from Anasterian’s bio that elves live at least 3,000 years, because he’s reigned that long, and was very old when he died. As a conservative estimate, I figure a 3,000 year lifespan – Anasterian was a very powerful sorcerer, so his age before taking the throne can be handwaved by being magically powerful. Whatever. 3,000 works as a starting point.
On the other end, we know Sylvanas was physically mature by age 20, implying they grow to adulthood at roughly the rate of humans, then taper off. None of this is really new.
My theory primarily deals with the culture of their aging. Since Sylvanas is already a ranger by 20, they plainly don’t consider them to be children after physical maturation. I feel, however, that they wouldn’t be fully accepted as adults, either. Sylvanas is, of course, an exception, but I don’t think it would be too far off to say that while SHE was a noted ranger already, most of those her age would have been well into their apprenticeships.
Therefore, my stages are as follows:
Birth to the end of puberty are roughly the same as a human; since it’s a very civilized society and a very wealthy kingdom, I’d imagine there’s either public schooling or State-sponsored scholarships for the talented. Either way, I’d be very surprised if any but the most isolated aren’t literate by the time they reach physical maturity. At this stage, they either pursue higher learning, begin an apprenticeship, or both.
From ~20 on up to 100, they’re in that apprenticeship stage. Some might advance to become journeymen or equivalent, but are generally still juniors of their given field. Most remain attached to their mentors. They’re also legal minors for their first century, and remain the “property” of their legal guardian, though emancipation isn’t uncommon in poorer families as the decades go on. From about forty onward, they’re roughly equivalent to a seventeen year old that’s graduated high school – there’s no real difference between them and someone who’s of legal age, but the cultural and legal distinction remains.
Their second century is equivalent to their 20s. They’re still relatively junior in their careers, but are more able to stand on their own accomplishments, and are given increasing amounts of respect and responsibility. After around 200, they’re considered “real” adults, in their prime, which lasts well into their second millennium, when the perception of middle age starts. Physically, hair starts graying anywhere from ~500 onward, and has usually gone mostly or totally white or gray by 2000. After that, they’re truly old, though they don’t become frail until their last few centuries.
I love you, Arth. This is awesome information.
Yes. Good. Approved.