use a pick axe and dig under the plaza, its a safe place to drop a bed for a local spawn point. If you can get close enough to the central fire that is will count as shelter renew your rested buff too. makes for a nice spot to duck into while you recover HP/Stam. I Usually also drop a workbench, portal and chest with food and some health meads if I've made any. I've seen other players completely dig out the area under and around hte plaza, then stay under it while poking the Elder with a two handed spear and dropping campfires under it.

Drop a bunch of camp fires around the perimiter, at least a dozen or so if not more. The fires will keep any greydwarf adds away and when the Elder walks over one it will light it's barky arse on fire as well.

Use the best foods you have, I like to go a little high on the stamina side since I normally will be using Troll hide armor and sprint around a lot kiting Elder. The Troll armor gives almost the same protection as Bronze gear without the movment penalty so its easier to run around the battle field.

My strategy is to use fire arrows at range while kiting around using the pillars for protection from his ranged vine attacks and also while I regen health. Move as needed to avoid the roots the Elder will call up from time to time. I can also just duck into the shelter I dug out under the plaza, the vines and roots can't get me there :)

Once my health is back I close in to melee and hit with a torch first if it is not already burning from the campfires or fire arrows. Then go with a two handed spear (better range than an axe) and try to dodge it's footstomp AOE when ever possible.

The only weapon The Elder's is weak against is a torch of all things. Otherwise any weapon you have at that tech tier should do fine. Be ready to dodge when it tries to stomp you in Melee. Then it is just a matter of whittling down it's hit points till you win.

Good luck o7