Player > Ancestry > Elf
6
Medium
30 feet
Dexterity
Intelligence
Free
Constitution
Common
Elven
Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier
(if it’s positive). Choose from Celestial, Draconic, Gnoll, Gnomish, Goblin,
Orcish, Sylvan, and any other languages to which you have access (such as
the languages prevalent in your region).
Elf
Humanoid
You can see in dim light as though it were bright light, so you ignore the concealed condition due to dim light.
As an ancient people, elves have seen great change and have the perspective that can come only from watching the arc of history. After leaving the world in ancient times, they returned to a changed land, and they still struggle to reclaim their ancestral homes, most notably from terrible demons that have invaded parts of their lands. To some, the elves are objects of awe—graceful and beautiful, with immense talent and knowledge. Among themselves, however, the elves place far more importance on personal freedom than on living up to these ideals.
Elves combine otherworldly grace, sharp intellect, and mysterious charm in
a way that is practically magnetic to members of other ancestries. They are
often voraciously intellectual, though their studies delve into a level of detail
that most shorter-lived peoples find excessive or inefficient. Valuing kindness
and beauty, elves ever strive to improve their manners, appearance, and culture.
Elves are often rather private people, steeped in the secrets of their groves
and kinship groups. They’re slow to build friendships outside their kinsfolk,
but for a specific reason: they subtly and deeply attune to their environment
and their companions. There’s a physical element to this attunement, but it
isn’t only superficial. Elves who spend their lives among shorter‑lived peoples
often develop a skewed perception of their own mortality and tend to become
morose after watching generation after generation of companions age and die.
These elves are called the Forlorn.
If you want a character who is magical,
mystical, and mysterious, you should play an elf.
While generally taller than humans, elves possess a fragile grace, accentuated
by long features and sharply pointed ears. Their eyes are wide and almond-shaped,
featuring large and vibrant-colored pupils that make up the entire visible portion
of the eye. These pupils give them an alien look and allow them to see sharply
even in very little light.
Elves gradually adapt to their environment and
their companions, and they often take on physical traits reflecting their surroundings.
An elf who has dwelled in primeval forests for centuries, for example, might
exhibit verdant hair and gnarled fingers, while one who’s lived in a desert
might have golden pupils and skin. Elven fashion, like the elves themselves,
tends to reflect their surroundings. Elves living in the forests and other wilderness
locales wear clothing that plays off the terrain and flora of their homes, while
those who live in cities tend to wear the latest fashions.
Elves reach physical
adulthood around the age of 20, though they aren’t considered to be fully emotionally
mature by other elves until closer to the passing of their first century, once
they’ve experienced more, held several occupations, and outlived a generation
of shorter-lived people. A typical elf can live to around 600 years old.
Elven culture is deep, rich, and on the decline. Their society peaked millennia
ago, long before they fled the world to escape a great calamity. They’ve since
returned, but rebuilding is no easy task. Their inborn patience and intellectual
curiosity make elves excellent sages, philosophers, and wizards, and their societies
are built upon their inherent sense of wonder and knowledge. Elven architecture
displays their deep appreciation of beauty, and elven cities are wondrous works
of art.
Elves hold deeply seated ideals of individualism, allowing each elf
to explore multiple occupations before alighting on a particular pursuit or
passion that suits her best. Elves bear notorious grudges against rivals, which
the elves call ilduliel, but these antagonistic relationships can sometimes
blossom into friendships over time.
Elves are often emotional and capricious, yet they hold high ideals close to their hearts. As such, many are chaotic good. They prefer deities who share their love of all things mystic and artistic. Desna and Shelyn are particular favorites, the former for her sense of wonder and the latter for her appreciation of artistry. Calistria is the most notorious of elven deities, as she represents many of the elven ideals taken to the extreme.
An elf keeps their personal name secret among their family, while giving a nickname when meeting other people. This nickname can change over time, due to events in the elf’s life or even on a whim. A single elf might be known by many names by associates of different ages and regions. Elven names consist of multiple syllables and are meant to flow lyrically—at least in the Elven tongue. They so commonly end in “-el” or “-ara” that other cultures sometimes avoid names ending in these syllables to avoid sounding too elven.
Aerel, Amrunelara, Caladrel, Dardlara, Faunra, Heldalel, Jathal, Lanliss, Oparal, Seldlon, Soumral, Talathel, Tessara, Variel, Yalandlara, Zordlon
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