Kahvi (Elfquest)

Kahvi is a character in the Elfquest series of graphic novels, published by WarP Graphics.

She is chieftess of the Go-back tribe, a primitive and warlike tribe of elves. The Go-backs inhabit the frozen northern mountains of the World of Two Moons, and, as of their first meeting with the Wolfriders, are in a constant state of warfare with the neighboring trolls of King Guttlekraw. The object of their dispute is the Palace -- The Ancient vessel which brought both the trolls and elves to that world.

Kahvi is one of the more ruthless protagonists who Appear in the Elfquest series. She is a tough and uncompromising leader, quickly angered, and a fearsome warrior. While at first she can appear cold and heartless, she is merely accustomed to life in an unforgiving environment and has adapted accordingly.

Over her long life Kahvi has borne many children and taken many lovemates:

• Her adult daughter Vaya was killed in the War for the Palace.

• Kahvi had a relationship with Rayek of the Sun Folk, which eventually produced one child (Venka). The two lovers parted ways when Kahvi convinced Rayek that Venka had died at birth. (In reality, Kahvi suspected Rayek's egotism and power-mongering nature might have an adverse effect upon the child's upbringing. She wished to drive Rayek away so that he would not contaminate her daughter's young mind.)

• During the orgiastic dance their two tribes shared on the eve of the War for the Palace, Kahvi also had a [...] encounter with Cutter. Later, during the centuries-long period after Cutter's lifemate Leetah and their children had been abducted to a future time by Rayek in the Palace, Kahvi became one of Cutter's regular lovemates. Ultimately it proved an unfulfilling relationship; Kahvi wanted a reciprocal partner, but Cutter was too deeply affected by the loss of his lifemate. Her attempts at a third encounter, this time to conceive a child by Cutter in order to help genetically replenish the Go-Back tribe, were similarly unsuccessful.

• Eventually, Kahvi begins a highly unconventional liaison with the winged elf Tyldak of the Gliders.

In later issues it was revealed that Kahvi not only has Wolfrider blood, but in fact is the estranged daughter of the long-ago Wolfrider chief Two-Spear, one of Cutter's ancestors. An ancient dispute with her father caused her to be driven from the tribe and suspended for many years in a pool of the High One's magic. By the time a band of renegade elves found and revived her, Kahvi had forgotten her own history and origins. The group later became the Go-Backs.

Kahvi has a passion for hunting trophies. Initially it was the great Palace itself. After its destruction, Kahvi sought the smaller replica Ekuar had created for the Sun Folk out of the same substance as the Palace. Later she sought the Egg of Six Spears (created by the Glider Aurek), but was thwarted by Tyldak.

Her current status and whereabouts are currently unknown. After the Djun war, her daughter Venka is joined by Two-Edge, Aroree and the Go-Back tribe, who set off on a quest to find her. The story of this quest has yet to be written.

It is strongly implied in the "Recognition" comic that Kahvi is the mother of Ember's lifemate Teir and was killed by the human warrior Lehrigen.

Trivia

The word Kahvi is Finnish for coffee.