High Elf

> *“We are the chosen of the Dragons, chosen of the gods themselves. Our armies are the finest in creation; swift where our foes are slow, elegant where they are barbaric. Our culture is vibrant where our rivals’ is stagnant and feeble. Our cities shine brightly while they wallow in poverty and ruin. Make no mistake, we are the true heirs to this world.” -* quote from Cercrops, first King of the Dominion.
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High Elves are a magical people of otherworldly grace and elegance, not just living in the world but actively trying to steer its direction. They live in cities of great beauty, with sprawling squares and marble towers that glitter like a precious metal, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. High Elves take great pride in literature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, all things that stem from their culture.

## **Physical Description - Slender and Graceful**

With their unearthly grace and fine features, High Elves appear hauntingly light and elegant to Humans and members of many other races. They are slightly taller than most Humans on average, ranging from about 6 feet to 6 and a half and even, in rarer cases, 7 feet. They are more slender than Humans, resulting in them weighing less on average as well. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

High Elves’ colouration encompasses much of the ‘normal’ Human range. Most are an ‘olive’ colouration, likely a result of their climate, but there are certainly lighter and darker variations of skin colour as well. Uniquely, some High Elves have a copper-like hue to their skin. Their eyes, too, can be a bronze, silver or gold-like colour. High Elves have little facial or body hair, though they can grow it. They favour elegant clothing in bright colours and they enjoy complex jewellery and trinkets, reflective of their culture.

## **Mentality - A Timeless Perspective**

High Elves can live up to 1000 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. They are also known to be prideful and arrogant, however. Many High Elves see themselves as the objective ‘heirs to the world’ and above the other races, almost to the point of genuine xenophobia. When pursuing a goal, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, High Elves can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. Though they reply to petty insults with indifference and superiority, they reply to serious insults with an unyielding lust for vengeance.

Like the branches of a young tree, High Elves are flexible and intelligent in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and work to resolve problems before they escalate to violence. They are known to resort to their skills in intrigue, espionage and politics long before considering the military option. But when the need arises, High Elves reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow and strategy.

Although they can be haughty, High Elves are generally appreciative even to those who fall short of their high expectations - which is most outside their race. Still, they can find a good use in just about anyone.

* **Dwarves -** to an extent, High Elves look down the Dwarves. They see them as dull, oafish and brash. From their perspective it was the brashness of the Dwarves that led to the Great War. That said, they admire the Dwarves’ valour and skills in craftsmanship - rivalling even their own.
* **Imperials -** High Elves almost feel pity for the Imperials. They respect their ambition and drive to accomplish but see all these efforts as fleeting due to their short life spans. They can’t help but admit, however, that Humanity has accomplished much as a race.
* **Half-Elves -** High Elves have a lot of respect for their half-blooded cousins. They see their talents in diplomacy and the arts as reflective of their Elven half, though it is still different to how they themselves create. That being said, they are suspicious of Half-Elves that have Dark Elf or Wood Elf halves.
* **Dark Elves -** High Elves view the Dark Elves as their evil counterparts. Members of their kin that betrayed their race, culture and society. Whilst some High Elves are merely suspicious of the Dark Elves, many view them as objectively and unforgivably evil, a threat that must be dealt with immediately.

## **Society - Pinnacle of Civilisation**

Most Elves dwell in large sprawling cities, many of which are positioned on the coast or along large rivers. The High Elves are very much a maritime empire, trading in all manner of materials and items, most of which are made by High Elf hands directly. Rare gemstones, extravagant murals, powerful potions and exotic animals can all be expected to make their way through High Elf cities in some capacity. Their contact with outsiders is not necessarily limited, as many traders and merchants come to their cities, however outsiders are heavily monitored by High Elf authorities. Many High Elves happily trade in physical goods as well as currency, as there are some items even they cannot create themselves.

High Elves encountered outside their own lands are commonly travelling minstrels, artists, sages, or diplomats. Imperial nobles often compete for the services of High Elf instructors to teach swordplay, magic or the arts to their children.

## **High Elf Adventurers - Exploration and Adventure**

High Elves take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. They dislike the pace of Human societies, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them travel freely and set their own pace. High Elves also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes.

## **High Elf Names**

High Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, typically some time after their hundredth birthday. The High Elves believes this instils a naturally ingrained sense of responsibility and maturity in their children, literally giving them the mantle of responsibility when they feel ready for it.

At birth, a High Elf is given a name and is expected to carry that name with pride. They do not use surnames or family names like Humans do; High Elf names are instead a combination of both first and family name. In some cases, though, a High Elf prone to travel might adopt a family name of sorts, typically being the name of their home. Little distinction exists between male names and females names, as all High Elf names are formed based on characteristics or expected traits. Therefore, the groupings here are only general tendencies.

**Example Male Names -** Argos, Basilides, Cyncus, Lycidas, Pylartes, Tydeus, Tiro, Nikasios, Nicodromos, Menexinos.

**Example Female Names -** Kore, Danae, Monime, Polymede, Iaera, Lois, Timo, Europa, Althaia, Phaedre.

## **High Elf Traits**

Your High Elf character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of a thousand years of Elven refinement.

* ***Ability Score Increase -*** your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score by 1.
* ***Age -*** although High Elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as Humans, the Elven understanding of age goes beyond physical growth to encompass the mental and worldly experiences. A High Elf typically claims adulthood at around the age of 100 and can live to be 1000 years old.
* ***Alignment -*** High Elves value their country and society immensely, seeing it as a fundamental part of themselves. But they also treasure individual freedoms, so lean on the softer side of lawful. They value and protect others as well as themselves, and are good more often than not.
* ***Size -*** High Elves are taller than most Humans, averaging at around between 6 to 6 and a half feet. Their builds are also quite slender. Your size is medium.
* ***Speed -*** your base walking speed is 30 feet.
* ***Darkvision -*** your heightened senses grant you superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.
* ***Keen Senses -*** you have proficiency in the Perception skill.
* ***Magical Blood -*** you have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.
* ***Trance -*** Elves don't need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
* ***Elven Comat Training -*** you are proficient with the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.
* ***Magically Adept -*** High Elves are one of the most magically-inclined races in the world. You know one cantrip of your choice from the Wizard spell list. You regain the ability after a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell.
* ***Extra Language -*** you know an additional language of your choice.
* ***Languages -*** you can speak, read and write Common and Elvish. High Elf speech is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar, and those characteristics likely blend over into whatever other languages a High Elf might speak.