Wood Elf

*"I never even saw them. Neither did the others. I think they left me alive on purpose. So I could tell others."- Festus, human mercenary, the last survivor of the Southbour expedition.*

*"Those who refused to aid us in the war against the drow deserve no pity. Itisal is not for them."- Zinceran Thothan, high elf admiral, in dinner with his wife.*

*"We know the Southbour Blackwoods are not ours. They belong to the forest gnomes. And them."-Seesrin Boldskull, minotaur centurion, drilling the new recruits.*

## Physical Description:

Compared to their high elf kin, wood elves are short and slight with skin that's closer to pale or dark green or soft gold than the more traditional high elf porcelain. They have hair that tends to be darker in shade than their high elf cousins though the odd blonde or red still appears. While not all wood elves have them, many have horns like goats or antlers like deer. These particular wood elves are highly respected among their communities and often seen as a sign of the gods' favor. They dress in green or brown leather armor, trying to blend in with the forests that they call home. Paint is a popular form of decoration and self expression, both for fun and as a camouflage.

## History:

When the elvish civil war tore Itisal apart a large group of elves were disgusted at both sides. They felt elves should not spill the blood of other elves, not over politics, religion or any other reason that was claimed. Instead of taking part in the war, these elves left their island home and rejected the dichotomy of the island's leadership. The high elves had become too organized, too civilized, according to these dissenters, and had forgotten the ideals of nature. The drow were too brutal, too savage and too quick to cause suffering. Personal freedom was supposed to be the main goal of the elf society and those on the island had forgotten it. Wood elves were quite certain, the only way to maintain their way of life was in extreme isolation, away from all kinds of other elves and people. So the massive forests of Apia became the new home for these wood elves. Eventually, they grew more and more like their forest homes, hidden away from those other elves and other beings who would infringe on their ideals. Wood elves haven't had much influence on Apia since than, and are quite happy with that arrangement.

## Geography:

While many different forests are home to small tribes of wood elves, the largest population group is found within the massive Southbour Blackwoods on southern Apia.

## Personality:

Wood elves tend to be more reserved than their high cousins, which isn't to say they don't feel emotions as intensely as the other elves, they do, but they simply choose to keep them close to their chests. Wood elves are a private people who enjoy solitude, silence and living in the forest. They are hunters and gathers who try to respect nature's rules. They build elaborate homes that perfectly wind around the trees and use every part on an animal after a hunt. They live in close proximity with their immediate families and tend to stay that way. Unlike other elves, wood elves have no real desire to explore the outside world, or dive into art. They are content to try and live in harmony with themselves and nature. This value is above all other ideals and this influences their every decision.

## Society:

Wood elves carefully construct their villages in the heart of the forests, hidden from the eyes of men and elves. Their homes are built in the trees, careful to take advantage of the natural growth of the branches, without causing harm to the tree itself. Animals are hunted for food and furs with even the dung and bones used if possible. Each village is run by a druid and an elder who give orders to the tribe as a whole. Still, either of these two would be careful to avoid giving instructions to their elves that would violate their individualism and sense of personal morality. Ironically, the dissenting wood elves tend to have better hierarchies and senses of order than their high elf cousins, the better to ensure that their hidden villages and isolationist ways are protected. All wood elves are consummate archers, hunters and trackers and they aren't afraid of using violence to protect themselves if necessary.

## Religion:

While Corellon is respected as the father of all elves, most wood elves hold The Green Lord in far higher esteem and see him as their patron. It is a rare but not unheard event, where a wood elf child is born with horns or antlers, similar to a deer, ram or faun and these horned wood elves are viewed as a special blessing from The Green Lord. Horned elves often become chieftains or spiritual leaders, due to their prestige.

## Alignment:

Wood elves are neutral good. They try to maintain the duality of nature and have the goodness of elf kind within them but, unlike most of their kin, are too well organized to be purely chaotic.

## Relations:

Wood elves seek few allies, aside from the forest gnomes who share their home woods. They are friedly with centaurs in particular, as well as lucantusks, good aligned fey, leonin and other nature loving creatures. Those who harm the forests are their enemies, mostly orcs and goblinoids. Drow are seen as aggressive and, despite the wood elf attempt to avoid killing other elves if at all possible, they will use violence against the drow if there are no alternatives.

## Language:

Wood elves speak sylvan and elvish. Most also learn common.

## Adventurers:

Most wood elves remain hidden within their villages but the odd adventurer exists. Most are scouts, gathering information on mainland Apia for their hidden communities. Many of the horned wood elves in particular end up as adventurers, seeking the will of The Green Lord out in the world around them.

### Names:

Wood elf names are similar enough to mainline elf names that you can use those names without problem.

## Traits:

Identical to elves in the player's handbook with the following exceptions...

Automatic languages: Elvish, sylvan and common

Favored Class: Ranger