Elven Shoes

Elven Shoes are powerful magical items in the Clarkwoods Literary Universe, though each pair is uniquely powered and uniquely limited. Notable examples include the Silver Shoes of Oz, the Glass Slippers of Yesterland, and the footwear of the twelve dancing princesses.

Construction

The magic necessary to create elven shoes is as ancient as the desire to walk for long distances without twisting one’s ankles. Any pair of sandals, brogues, or loafers may be enchanted, though the creations of elvish cobblers are noticeably easier to bewitch.

Abilities

The supernatural abilities of elven shoes vary from pair to pair. Anything from Stilettos of Stomping to Boots of Walking is possible. The one constant is comfort. Regardless of whatever other abilities they may possess, each pair of elven shoes is undoubtedly the most comfortable pair the wearer will ever own—no matter how painful they may appear to be to passersby.

Cost

The wearing of elven shoes makes all other footwear pale in comparison. And so, for many, the purchase or procurement of a pair of elven shoes comes with the hidden cost of abandoning all other kicks one might have in one’s closet. After all, elven shoes want to be worn.

Limitations

Once a person steps into a new pair of elven shoes, the shoes may not be worn by anyone else—not until after the death of the wearer, that is. The wearer may take them off at their leisure, the shoes may fall off by accident, or they might be yanked off by some ne’er-do-well or another, but the shoes remain loyal to one owner for life.

This is why the glass slippers lost by Ella of the Ashes as the famous Yesterlandian Ball could be used to identify her without fail. And this is why, when Elavaris the Wicked tried stealing the silver shoes of Baccata the Blasphemer, they wouldn’t fit and she abandoned her pursuit (until the shoes were claimed by someone she felt more certain she could best in combat).

Each pair of shoes is also bound by an individual “catch.” The silver shoes, though capable of taking the wearer anywhere in Eden, fell off if one tried to escape that place. The glass slippers could transform their wearer’s clothes into any ensemble they could imagine, but only until midnight—after which the same outfit could never be conjured again. And the shoes of the twelve dancing princesses made them the life of every party they attended, but they would not let the princesses take even one evening off dancing the night away.