Found one.
Do the elves pass their "voluntary" status to their children and their children's children? Even those who want to be dentists are condemned to a life of toymaking and singing jolly songs.
Found one.
My understanding was it’s only a volunteer force sorta like our military they did away with the draft - helped a lot that it timed about the same as the big north pole magbotics break through. Now most elves are still tending forests, snow flakes, and the seabead - though I’ve heard a few still tag with dwarves and gang up on orcs and dragons. The volunteer force has proven to be much more efficient and accurate in toy delivery systems technology over the years.