I tend to agree with Dusk on this one. Consider how the three Hunters, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli handled wood when they were on the edges of Fangorn in Two Towers. No chopping trees, and only gathering what the trees had "let fall." Axes and fire had been used as a "weapon of terror" against the Old Forest by the Hobbits, when the trees encroached on the border of the shire, as referred to in Fellowship of the Ring. Axes and reckless chopping were very much on tree beard's mind when he called the entmoot in Two Towers. Treebeard's eyes apparently "goggled" a bit when Gimli's axe fell out (convenient wardrobe malfunction!) when being introduced to each other at Isengard.dusk1983 wrote:I think the main thrust of the "anti-axe" argument is not so much "living in harmony with nature and all that hippy dross". At the end of the day, Athel Loren is in and of itself sentient, and if it's primal intelligence has associated the *form* of the axe type weapon and anyone wielding one as a threat then I believe that no matter how practical the weapon itself is, the Asrai wouldn't risk upsetting the delicate symbiotic relationship they have with the forest. If there was a single weapon shape that could have this kind of impact on the consciousness of the forest I think an axe would be the most likely candidate.
Then, even not including the consciousness of the forest itself, the fact that there are fully sentient treemen and dryads who have seen their brethren and their beloved forest come under attack by ignorant outsiders mostly wielding axes (albeit tree hewing axes rather than ones forged specifically for battle), some individual forest spirits could have a violent instinctive reaction to the sight of such weapons (I believe in the fluff of the current book, Durthu was scarred terribly from dwarf axes- or was that Coeddil?) just like a man mauled by a dog would have a reaction of some sort to the sound of a dog barking or growling. Again, I think the potential for misunderstanding from a diplomatic point of view would far outweigh the practical benefits.
I've always seen Athel Loren as a body, with the Asrai considered "good bacteria". If the forest instead begins identifying them as a parasite or disease, the immune system would kick in. (dryads, treemen, etc. instead of white blood cells of course)
All that said, from an aesthetic perspective I don't really care one way or another. The fluff has undoubtedly changed anyway, but I thought I'd weigh in on my two cents. Plus Bill just hit 1000 comments, so I'm feeling a bit guilty about how much I lurk but don't comment.
I do understand the celtic theme thing, and I will of course, be fine if there are axes for wood elves in the new book: its what GW has given. But if the design team had asked ME (Hahaha on that!) than I would have said they ought to stick with the historical weapons of elves: Spear, Bow, Sword.