Exclaimed by Velda the elf upon encountering dungeoneer Gavin of Team 1 of Series 3.

Team 5 of Series 3 were able to summon Velda by blowing a horn that Golgarach had described as "of Elvandis". Team 9 of Series 3 had a similar experience - blowing a horn and summoning Velda for protection against the Behemoth - during which Velda again used "Elvandis!" like a battle cry.

While Velda pronounced it "ELV-an-DIS", Golgarach pronounced it "el-VAN-dis". It has sometimes been interpreted by fans as "elven death".

Dis is another name for Pluto, Roman mythology's god of the Underworld, so Elvandis could be intended to evoke a netherworld where Velda's kind dwell.

In the 2023 Knightmare fanfic Woodland Trust, Velda explains that Elvandis is one of the names of a heroic elf who '"left the world by choice. She would not be parted from the mortal she loved. Long ages have passed since then, yet her loss is still felt by all of the elven kin."'

Canadanne (Annie), author of Woodland Trust, explains that she included this detail as a Tolkien reference:

'I don't know if this was Tim Child's intention behind "Elvandis", but I could not help but notice it's an elvish female name, meaning something like "elf of the departed spirit". Which of course brings to mind the legendary Lúthien, who is not only a total badass renowned for taking on Sauron *and* Morgoth, but who also heals Beren's wound in pretty much exactly the same way Velda heals Treguard in the novella [section of The Labryinths of Fear]. So I can absolutely believe that Velda would idolise her (or a Knightmare universe equivalent) and invoke her name in battle, rather like the reader can call upon St Michael for strength in the gamebook section. I also imagine that anything once used by this beloved lost elf would be treasured, hence Velda's outrage when her summoning horn keeps finding its way into the hands of dungeoneers.'

[Earlier version: 2011-01-24 17:50:53]

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