system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[General Fantasy] Why are the elves always "in decline"? There never seems to be a world where they're at the height of their power.

I'm referring to  Middle Earth (obviously), the Witcher, Dragon Age, Shannara, most D&D settings. Obviously there's exceptions (I can't think of any) but I'm speaking statistically.


Point is it seems to be much more common for the elves to be dying off than being the dominant species. They're always somewhat of a rarity. Why?
gpt
In most settings the elder races (usually dwarfs and elves, but often includes any extremely long lived race) simply can't keep up with younger, short lived races like humans, orcs, goblins, halflings and whatnot.

The elder races are often preoccupied with things that suit their long lives. For instance dwarf craftsmanship of such high quality that a shorter lived race could simply not hope to accomplish it in their lifetime. Or an elf pouring decades into writing a single poem or wooing a single lover because they have an eternity of time to fill without falling victim to ennui.

And then humans show up. A race that lives and dies in the blink of an eye compared to an elf. A race that needs to learn, live, love, explore, build, create, procreate and leave a legacy in the span of time that an elf might spend on a good conversation with a friend over several visits.

A race that'll spread into every direction of the wind and turn a tent camp into a thriving city within a century. Shoddily build perhaps by dwarf standards but it's there non the less. It doesn't have to last because it's inhabitants don't last either and every generation is eager for change, progress and a chance to build their own dreams anyway.

Is it any wonder that the elder races are often in decline? They are like ancient oaks standing in a forest watching as the younger races cut down the trees around them, build villages, *lose* villages, rebuild villages, villages turn into cities.

One day the oak looks around and says "remember when this was all forest?" only to find out that he's the only oak left.