Condensed to 'Only the best should survive' and 'Everything is reborn', Aelfar philosophy tends to be as harsh as their world. The Aelfar believe that only the fittest should bring children into the world (the Aelfar are of course automatically found fit before they are allowed to have children - it is every other being that must be tested). This hard view is tempered with the deep-held religious belief that every living thing has a soul, which upon the death of its body is reborn. Unlike the Varati belief, the Aelfar do not believe that they will come back as human, and nor do they believe that their souls go for judgement and are assigned something appropriate to their deeds in their last life. Instead, they are of the opinion that each life brings a lesson to be learned and each soul has a path mapped out before it. This belief in Fate, or Wyrd, is not an acceptance that things cannot be changed; a man's Wyrd presents things to him, which he must face in his own manner, rather than being a set road into the future. It is a man's Wyrd that causes his steed to fall beneath him - whether he falls with it or jumps clear is his own choice. In a similar manner, an Aelf's Wyrd shows the Gods what form his soul should take next, but what he does with that form is up to him.

These twin views, held together, lead to a race intent on implementing their 'only the fittest shall survive' philosophy and more or less uncaring about their own fates. Funerals are after the fashion of wakes; for three days, friends and relatives gather around, hold a party and remind each other of the friend who has moved on. It is commonly held that for the duration of the wake the soul stays around to share the fun, with the Raven coming for them at the end. Births are similar to deaths in that another soul has made a transition, and as soon as it's sure the babe will survive, the Court throws another party to welcome the new soul into their midst. Some Aelfar, especially those who show wisdom young, are said to be old souls; they are accorded a great deal of respect, and most become Derwydd.