Age

The AGE verb gives you information about your character's aging and any age modification that is currently affecting him. Most of the options available are informational, though you may also choose from the natural life cycles that are available for your race.

Age in DragonRealms is a role-playing consideration only. None of these options will affect how your character performs on any skill or statistic contest.

ICly, all characters eventually succumb to old age, but OOCly, player characters cannot die of old age. This is a business decision on the part of Simutronics, and as far as your character knows, he will die.

Syntax

Options:

• AGE: A quick readout of your character's apparent age, life cycle and age modification.
• AGE CYCLE: Information and options for selecting among the natural life cycles available for your race.
• AGE INFO: Extended information about aging in DragonRealms.

Age Cycle

Due to the proliferation of magic and other supernatural forces on Elanthia, not every character goes through the conventional life cycle of his race. Some modifications to the life cycle are so common that they are considered natural. You may select from them here.

Options:

• EMPATHIC LONGEVITY: Many adventurers and the wealthy enjoy longer lives than the average denizen of the Five Provinces. Better living conditions play a part in this, but the greatest effect comes from continual exposure to empathic healing. Characters who enjoy this advantage live approximately a hundred years longer than other members of their species.
• FIT SENESCENCE: While overexposure to healing often results in entirely slowed aging, that is not the only possibility. Some characters in this situation continue to visibly age like a normal member of their race, but the supernatural aid keeps them at peak fitness regardless of appearances. Like their more fortunate brethren, characters who enjoy fit senescence gain an extra century to their lifespan.

DR-ARMIFER: Please note that Fit Senescence does nothing to your visible age over keeping the Normal life cycle . . . . It's there for story reasons, to distinguish between the RP'd stances of "My PC ages and dies normally" and "my PC wants to be Gandalf when he grows up." Nothing more.

• NORMAL: The vast majority of people in the Five Provinces cannot afford or don't have access to enough healing magic to affect their life cycle. Even some adventurers find that their bodies are resistant to healing's more subtle therapeutic effects. Characters who work under this life cycle live and die as the Immortals intended.

You may select a life cycle by typing AGE CYCLE [OPTION]. This is meant to be a permanent choice, but you will be allowed to change it once per calendar year. Please see AGE INFO for a more detailed discussion of aging on Elanthia.

Age Info

Gameplay Considerations

To begin, it is important to make a distinction between how aging functions as a gameplay mechanic and how it functions in the fiction of DragonRealms as a role-playing setting.

Simply put, age has no mechanical function. Senescence never hinders your character's skills, and your character will not be deleted when he reaches some cut-off age. Your character can be a thousand years old and will still be available when you want to log in.

This effective immortality is a gameplay consideration only: while DragonRealms is a role-playing game, we recognize not everyone enjoys the same level of immersion in the environment. For our role-players, it's important to realize this is not reflected in the setting. Characters on Elanthia grow up, grow feeble, and then eventually pass on. Magical longevity and immortality exist, but they are rare prizes to be fought for rather than a simple given.

Aging in Elanthia

For the most part, aging on Elanthia works much as you would expect it to. While the life spans of many races differ from the Human norm, none of them is exceptionally odd. Everyone begins life as an infant, matures into adulthood, and then slowly succumbs to senescence. The following list describes how each race differs from the Human norm.

Dwarves

Dwarves can live naturally up to five centuries, though to outsiders they spend much of that time looking old. They appear like a Human in their mid-50s by their 100th birthday. Then their visible aging slows drastically. They are not slowed much by senescence, leaving grey-bearded Dwarves frightfully spry and sturdy.

Dwarves

Normal	Longevity	People See
0 to 14	0 to 14	a child
15 to 40	15 to 40	young
41 to 100	51 to 100	an adult
100 to 180	100 to 180	mature
181 to 260	181 to 285	patronly/matronly
261 to 340	286 to 390	distinguished
341 to 420	391 to 475	ancient
421 to 500	476 to 600	an elder
501+	601+	archaic

Elotheans

Elotheans can live to be 350 years old. They mature at a slightly slower pace than Humans. Then their visible aging slows considerably once they reach their physical prime. Unlike Dwarves or Elves, the full weight of senescence eventually claims Elotheans; it is merely delayed.

Elotheans

Normal	Longevity	People See
0 to 14	0 to 14	a child
15 to 29	15 to 29	young
30 to 49	30 to 49	an adult
50 to 99	50 to 129	in his prime
100 to 149	130 to 209	middle-aged
150 to 199	210 to 269	mature
200 to 229	270 to 304	venerable
230 to 249	305 to 329	elderly
250 to 279	330 to 364	aged
280 to 299	365 to 389	wizened
300 to 329	390 to 424	venerated
330 to 350	425 to 450	one of the Wise
351+	451+	archaic

Elves

Elves have the same life span as Dwarves but appear much younger. By the end of an Elf's life, he appears to be no older than a Human in his mid-50s. While Elves develop physically and mentally in step with Humans, they are not sexually mature until their 40s. Ancient stories claim that Elves "fade away" with old age, but this is merely an echo of old social conventions rather than biological fact. An Elf who dies of complications of age leaves a corpse.

DR-ARMIFER: They cannot reproduce until much later (at least 40, usually in their 100s), because Elves suck at this whole propagation thing. If evolution is involved, Elves are in serious danger of becoming a failed species.

Elves

Normal	Longevity	Elves See	Others See
0 to 17	0 to 17	a child	a child
18 to 60	18 to 60	young	young
61 to 134	61 to 154	an adult	young
135 to 208	155 to 248	mature	an adult
209 to 281	249 to 336	patronly/matronly	in his prime
282 to 354	337 to 424	distinguished	in his prime
355 to 427	425 to 512	ancient	mature
428 to 500	513 to 600	an elder	mature
501+	601+	archaic	mature

Gnomes

Gnomes are another long-lived race, sometimes living to 300 years. Like Elotheans, their longevity drags out senescence without substantially altering it from the Human norm.

Gnomes

Normal	Longevity	People See
0 to 14	0 to 14	a child
15 to 30	15 to 30	young
31 to 59	31 to 89	an adult
60 to 88	90 to 148	mature
89 to 116	149 to 186	patronly/matronly
117 to 144	187 to 224	distinguished
145 to 172	225 to 262	ancient
173 to 200	263 to 300	an elder
201+	301+	archaic

Gor'Togs

Gor'Togs have a minor edge over Humans in longevity, sometimes living to the age of 115. They develop and succumb to senescence at a steady clip, devoid of the rapid growth spurts or periods of slow visible age common to other races.

Gor'Togs

Normal	Longevity	People See
0 to 14	0 to 14	a child
15 to 20	15 to 20	young
21 to 34	21 to 34	an adult
35 to 44	35 to 57	in his prime
45 to 54	58 to 80	middle-aged
55 to 64	81 to 103	mature
65 to 74	104 to 126	venerable
75 to 84	127 to 148	elderly
85 to 94	149 to 170	aged
95 to 104	171 to 192	wizened
105 to 115	193 to 215	ancient
116+	216+	archaic

Halflings

Halflings share the Human life expectancy of up to 100 years, though they age remarkably well. A Halfling in his early 30s can still look much like a Human teenager, and Halfling senescence never quite catches up. Halflings have no more years than a Human, but they're better equipped to enjoy them.

Halflings

Normal	Longevity	Halflings See	Others See
0 to 14	0 to 14	a kneebiter	a child
15 to 20	15 to 20	a tartsnatcher	young
21 to 34	21 to 34	a whippersnapper	young
35 to 44	35 to 64	a daydreamer	an adult
45 to 53	65 to 94	a hairyfoot	in his prime
54 to 62	95 to 112	a pipesmoker/a longbraids	middle-aged
63 to 70	113 to 130	a porchsitter	mature
71 to 77	131 to 148	a grayroot	venerable
78 to 86	149 to 166	a grayhair	elderly
87 to 93	167 to 184	a talespinner	aged
94 to 100	185 to 200	a naptaker	wizened
101+	201+	archaic	archaic

Humans

While Humans are below the average for longevity, Simutronics uses the "Human norm" as the standard for development and senescence, since it is the one that players and staff are most familiar with. Humans on Elanthia can live naturally up to 100 years old.

Humans

Normal	Longevity	People See
0 to 14	0 to 14	a child
15 to 20	15 to 20	young
21 to 34	21 to 34	an adult
35 to 44	35 to 64	in his prime
45 to 53	65 to 94	middle-aged
54 to 62	95 to 112	mature
63 to 70	113 to 130	venerable
71 to 77	131 to 148	elderly
78 to 86	149 to 166	aged
87 to 93	167 to 184	wizened
94 to 100	185 to 200	ancient
101+	201+	archaic

Kaldar

Kaldar live longer and develop slightly more slowly than the Human norm, living up to 135 years. Other than their development's being a touch slower, they develop and decline in the same pattern as Humans.

Kaldar

Normal	Longevity	People See
0 to 14	0 to 14	a child
15 to 25	15 to 25	young
26 to 44	26 to 44	an adult
45 to 59	45 to 80	in his prime
60 to 70	81 to 116	middle-aged
71 to 81	117 to 136	mature
82 to 92	137 to 156	venerable
93 to 103	157 to 176	elderly
104 to 114	177 to 196	aged
115 to 125	197 to 216	wizened
126 to 135	217 to 235	ancient
136+	236+	archaic

Prydaen

Prydaen develop and age along the Human norm, though outside observers often have trouble gauging a Prydaen's age. This typically makes Prydaen appear younger than they are, though only in the sense that outsiders cannot pinpoint the signs of aging until they become prominent.

Prydaen

Normal	Longevity	Prydaen See	Others See
0 to 14	0 to 14	a tail-chaser	a child
15 to 20	15 to 20	a mouse-catcher	young
21 to 34	21 to 34	a moth-stalker	young
35 to 44	35 to 64	a bird-hunter	young
45 to 53	65 to 94	a hyena-stalker	young
54 to 62	95 to 112	a wind-catcher	young
63 to 70	113 to 130	a shadow-prowler	elderly
71 to 77	131 to 148	a sun-lounger	elderly
78 to 86	149 to 166	a scar-bearer	elderly
87 to 93	167 to 184	a dream-stalker	elderly
94 to 100	185 to 200	ancient	elderly
101+	201+	archaic	elderly

Rakash

The Rakash are the only playable race with a life span shorter than Humans, living no more than 90 years. Except for their decreased life span, they develop and suffer senescence along the Human norm. (When Rakash are in moonskin, it is difficult for outside observers to estimate their age.)

Rakash

Normal	Longevity	Rakash See	Others See (Human)	Others See (Moonskin)
0 to 14	0 to 14	a cub	a child	a child
15 to 20	15 to 20	an underdog	young	young
21 to 32	21 to 32	a a cub-herder	an adult	young
33 to 41	33 to 61	a pack hunter	in his prime	young
42 to 48	62 to 90	a pack beta	middle-aged	young
49 to 55	91 to 107	a pack alpha	mature	young
56 to 62	108 to 124	a den watcher	venerable	elderly
63 to 69	125 to 141	a a grizzled elder	elderly	elderly
70 to 76	142 to 158	a pack historian	aged	elderly
77 to 83	159 to 174	a forerunner	wizened	elderly
84 to 90	175 to 190	ancient	ancient	elderly
91+	191+	archaic	archaic	elderly

S'Kra Mur

S'Kra Mur develop and age in step with the Human norm, though like the other bestial races, their age is often hard for outsiders to estimate.

S'Kra Mur

Normal	Longevity	S'Kra Mur See	Others See
0 to 14	0 to 14	a child	a child
15 to 20	15 to 20	young	young
21 to 34	21 to 34	an adult	young
35 to 44	35 to 64	in his prime	young
45 to 53	65 to 94	middle-aged	young
54 to 62	95 to 112	mature	young
63 to 70	113 to 130	venerable	elderly
71 to 77	131 to 148	elderly	elderly
78 to 86	149 to 166	aged	elderly
87 to 93	167 to 184	wizened	elderly
94 to 100	185 to 200	ancient	elderly
101+	201+	archaic	elderly

Longevity and Immortality

With rare exceptions, everyone on Elanthia dies. Immortality is so rare and prized that it is regarded as a divine attribute: the gods of the Five Provinces are, after all, the Immortals. However, unnatural longevity that stops short of immortality is accessible to the wealthy.

The most common form of longevity is supernatural healing. Alchemical herbs, empathic powers and necromantic healing magic all combat the complications of senescence. The aches, pains, and diseases that shorten the lives of most people can be avoided if you can afford it, allowing anyone with the means to live a full, healthy life.

When supernatural healing is employed frequently (seen among adventurers and the truly rich), this can even extend the subject's life span beyond its normal limits -- but only to a point. The first axiom of Life magic is "Life cannot defeat life," referring to the inability of Life magic to disrupt the cycle of life and death on a metaphysical level. Empathic and alchemical solutions can extend a character's life for about a hundred years before the natural cycle refuses to be delayed further.

Necromancy, unbound by this restriction, provides powerful alternatives. Necromantic life extension can keep someone alive for centuries and is the classic choice for magicians who decide to meet the Immortals on their own terms. However, even necromancy can only push a body so far before death is unavoidable. True agelessness is reserved for liches: powerful Necromancers who turn their talents inward and become self-animating undead. Some Necromancers speak of Transcendence, a living immortality stolen from the gods, but no one has come forward to prove that it exists.

Grimly, necromancy provides the only source of reliable and potent life extension on Elanthia. Most Necromancers start their descent into blasphemy and madness by chasing the dream of eternal life.

The final option rests in the gods themselves, but it is never a sure bet. The Immortals have the ability to keep someone on Elanthia for as long as she proves useful, but the supplicant never has any say in the matter. For each tale as there are of ageless champions serving the gods through the millennia, there is one of a luckless, formerly blessed man who falls dead the moment his divinely appointed task is completed.

Nature of Age Shifting

Empaths can make a character appear to be older or younger (one year at a time). Age shifting only affects a character's apparent age. His actual age and date of birth (as displayed in INFO) remain unchanged.
Those characters whose ages were shifted before the June 18 update retained the cosmetic effects of their shifts, but their ages and dates of birth were restored to their actual, original values.

The fact that the old shifting mechanics worked on birthdays was just a kludge. Shifting was never intended as an OOC way to get the date you wanted to be born on.

DR-ARMIFER: Even if SHIFT AGE was not strictly cosmetic, it still cannot conceivably alter your character's birthday. It does not make your PC's father have sex with your PC's mother a day earlier. This was simply a hack from the original system creator who, for what I assume were excellent and pressing reasons, could not handle it in a more nuanced manner.

DR-ARMIFER: I think there's a tremendous IC/OOC disconnect going on here. SHIFT is not some OOC thing you do to get "the date you wanted to be born on." It is an IC, hideously forbidden act that Empaths can do to torment your character's body into some form it originally did not have. If it is part of your character's RP to lie about having underwent it, that's definitely something that falls outside both my business and the immediate concern of what I am doing.