Elseremains

Elseremains is a neologism that appears primarily in fantasy fiction and world-building discussions. The term is used to describe the remains or relics associated with elves, or with elven civilizations, and can encompass bone fragments, artifacts, ruins, and traces of magical residue tied to elven cultures. Because elseremains is not a fixed concept in any real-world discipline, its exact meaning and scope vary by author or game designer.

Etymology and scope

The word blends “elves” and “remains,” and its usage shifts with context. In some works, elseremains denotes physical remnants recovered from ancient elven sites; in others, it refers to intangible traces—glyphs, wards, or preserved magic—that survive beyond the life of elves. The term is not standardized, and different writers may treat elseremains as sacred cache, archaeological evidence, or a source of power.

In fiction and world-building

Elseremains commonly function as plot devices: quests to locate a hoard of relics, investigations that validate or debunk elven legends, or safeguards that preserve memory across generations. Settings may feature elven cemeteries, shrines, cairns, or sealed vaults where elseremains are stored, venerated, or contested by various factions.

Cultural and thematic role

The concept invites reflection on mortality, memory, and the boundary between living beings and their legacy. Elseremains can symbolize the weight of history, the authority of recovered knowledge, and the tension between myth and archaeology in fantasy worlds.

Real-world usage

There is no established scholarly term or widely cited reference for elseremains outside speculative fiction and fan communities. It is primarily a creative concept used to enrich lore and storytelling.