Answers to FAQ's about Recognition

Preserver's Note: There have been a lot of discussions on the subject of Recognition that recur over and over on the forums. ElfTanner has posted the following information right from the horse's mouth (i.e, Elfquest's authors) which has also been quoted in part here and there throughout the discussions. For those of us who don't have the EQ reference materials, this is a good place to view the "official" scoop. - KRWordgazer


Below is the definition of Recognition as stated in the Big ElfQuest Gatherum and the Wolfriders Guide.

This comes from my EQ Information Website. They are shortened versions of the books, but all the important info is included.




Why do the elves recognize?

It starts with the "Coneheads". They were immortal and essentially telepathic. With immortality came great reductions in the urges, both physical and social, to bear young.
With telepathy came the ability to know another mind on as deep a level as the sender and resiever desired.
The need for something that would turn into recognition began after the Coneheads turned (shapechanged) into the elves or "Highones" and their Palace crashed on the World of Two Moons. They were unable to change or escape and were stuck.

In the innermost part of the brain is the "reptilian layer" responsible for territorial and reproductive urges. (for a deeper explanation see the big Elfquest Gatherum) Elves may be farther along evolutionary wise then humans, but they started out the same way. The "want sex" urge was not silenced by the massive conscience mentation of the rest of their brain, just reduced to a whisper, and the Coneheads were telepathic.
When the ship crash landed they were trapped in their elfin forms they took on before the accident that stranded them. They were scattered to the four corners of the compass by the primitive humans and were forced to attempt survival in a hostile environment. Even though they were still immortal, they soon discovered there were plenty of ways to die on this world, and deep down in the basement of their minds, the reptiles were remembering what the minds had forgotten: the one insurance against death is progeny.
If they weren't telepathic nothing would have come about from the reptile deep in their mind yelling at them to get it on or die, but they were, and they managed to relearn what sex was all about by watching the animals and the humans and began to experiment. Being telepathic the reptiles "pirated" some of the communication between individuals and hastened the experimentation. The male "reptile" called to the female "reptile" and the two Highones who probably had not thought about sex in centuries, rediscover the joy inherent in trying to create little highones.

Natural selection takes a hand in recognition as well. some "reptiles" either had stronger "voices" or were able to cast them out onto a telepathic "carrier wave" , whatever the method those stronger "reptiles" were able to get their host bodies to participate more often and produce more offspring, which thereby had the effect of concentrating the reptilian ability to shout "I want sex!" and be heard by a receptive mind. Which made the shouting louder and the receiving easier, and so on.
Eventually things would have gotten to the point that the reptiles, while still operating on a subconscious level (though loudly to each other) would be able to communicate more then just the desire for sex. They would have some kind of understanding of the genetic make up of their hosts. At some point it would have ended up like a personals column in a local swingers newspaper. and it began creating elves with increased genetic potential.
From that point it's only a small step to recognition as it is known in the Elfquest saga.

The reptile brains became more and more communicative, constantly shouting their genetic make up and requests into the telepathic ether, competition and natural selection would continue to favor those who would make the best connections the fastest. Eventually the reptiles would stop "asking" and start "demanding"
The overall result has been to strengthen the elven race on the World of Two Moons.

In short - Recognition is a genetically specialized form of love at first site that takes place between two genetically ideal elves, binding them together in an intense, irresistible fashion for the purpose of producing extraordinary offspring. Once recognized, the two elves can not refuse each other, for if they do not mate, they will become deathly ill without each other.

-Richard Pini The Big Elfquest Gatherum and the Wolfriders Guide


What is Recognition and can it happen more then once?

Recognition creates in a pair of afflicted elves a strong urge to mate with each other; the imperative is so powerful that to deny it is to court sickness or perhaps even death. Also, Recognition ensures that a mating will result in offspring (elf children are quite rare otherwise) and further, that those children will express the best genetic qualities of both parents.

Recognition does not mean two elves need to stay together, just so long as the sexual and genaritives are attended to. Dewshine and Tyldak are a perfect example. She didn't like Tyldak so they did what they had to do then went their separate ways. Lifemateing is a decision of choice, whereas Recognition is imposed. After a suitable period of time an elf can experience recognition again with a different partner. If one of the elves dies before recognition is consummated, the survivor will not die, but will experience the "sickness" that comes from the unfulfilled urge, then recover. It is not the function of recognition to kill elves.

It is a devise to create high quality Elf children.

-Richard Pini The Big Elfquest Gatherum

Interesting! Thanks for digging that up, Elftanner.

I've been wondering about it myself. There is a whole thread on it.

-Freefootgirl

Neat! Now we know where to direct all Recognition queries. :)

I don't mind digging stuff like this up for people to see. That is why I created my ElfQuest information Website. It has answers to all kinds of questions on it and gives you the chance to ask me something that hasn't been answered yet. I use the books, novels and comics to find my answers. I like to help people understand the elves they love so much a little better.
I know there is a whole thread on this subject, That is what got me going to write this. It drives me crazy to see people so confused on recognition. Anyway, I am glad you two like it. If you have any other questions, visit my site - http://moonbrook1981.tripod.com/ - it has info on anything and everything, including family trees.

Hey!

I just checked out your website. It was very interesting! I really appreciate that you take the time to clear up some verrrry confusing things for us!

Thanks,

-Freefootgirl

You are very welcome my dear. :D

This is a controversial question: If a normal Elf recognized another Elf who was basically evil, and the first Elf refused to cooperate, would it be possible for the evil Elf to force the act upon an unwilling partner?

If the elf was human levels evil, I think it would.
Funny you bring this up. Half an hour ago, I had character that wondered if she should just knock out and tie up her Recognized and resisting partner and be done with it.

Quoting Strongbow (OQ #5) refering to Cutter and Leetah:
"I say he should just take her! And to the Humans' cook fires with what she wants!"

Sounds for me like the answer to your question would be: Definitely YES!

Actually, I was thinking about that sending from Strongbow, as well a one or two rather agressive fanfiction stories I've seen elsewhere. Wolfriders do have sexual morals; Clearbrook was revolted when she saw Winnowill using sex as a means of manipulation. It would be hard for me to believe Strongbow was serious, had he said this aloud. But he sent it, and in sending there is only truth.

There is one "excuse" and a possible explanation for the obvious difference in Strongbow's and Clearbrook's reaction.

Stongbow referred to a Recognition. It always occured to me that Recognition was one of the most valued things for the wolfriders (at least at this time).
Recognition is good. Recognition does not misfire. You cannot deny Recognition.
For Strongbow it was probably unthinkable that Leetah could deny Recognition for some REASON. He might have seen her reaction as a cruel game she is playing.

Winnowill was just using secuction and sex to manipulate - disgusting in Clearbook's eyes.

That makes sense. For Strongbow, the call of Recognition always had positive results: his first two children, and the depth of his relationship with Moonshade. To deny Recognition was to callously tamper with "the way", and to deny the conception of much-desired offspring to either tribe.

I just have to say that by saying that, Strongbow has suddenly become rather interesting. 8]