Elf

A High Elf, Wood Elf, and a Pain Elf

**Elves** are a humanoid race with fey ancestry. They are known for having long lifespans, pointed ears, and slender builds.

## Description

### Appearance

Elves are similar to humans in many respects, though they are first identified by their long, pointed ears. Elves often have an almost supernatural beauty about them, a hint at their fey origin. Elves are slightly shorter than humans, ranging from less than 5 feet tall to just under 6 feet tall. They tend to be lighter than humans weighing around 110 pounds, though there are exceptions.

Elven skins varies depending on their subrace. For example, a Crimson Elf, High Elf, and a Sun Elf would all have skin tones akin to a human, whilst a Lunar Elf with have more pink or purple hued skin. This is also similarly reflecting in their hair colours.

### Personality

An elf in their younger years is quite likely to have a personality more akin to that of a shorter lived species, however as they get older and the years begin to pass with less and less new knowledge to come by, or events to experience, elves have a tendency to become less concerned with the day-to-day problems and excitements in life, and more focused on longer term goals. This often results in them being perceived as arrogant or unconcerned.

## Origins

The elves are considered to have been one of the first races created by the gods on Eld'Pyre. It is speculated, although unconfirmed, that elves were originally humans who settled regions with a naturally thin barrier to the Feywild, which resulted in their fey ancestry and longer life span.

## Society

### Karandor

Elves, specifically High Elves at the time, were the first race to settle Karandor and create multiple nations. As they spread, disaster seemed to befall most of the newly created nations. These nations are documented as being the Alus, which was succeeded by the Principality of the Dual Lake, the Crith Union, who later became Sun Elves, and the Neavae Realm, which was succeeded by the Dark Elf Union after their corruption. Additionally, large portions of their population left to settle many of the forested areas around the continent, becoming modern day Wood Elves over time.

Another High Elf colonization effort was made in the First Era, forming the city of Quel at the base of Blackrock Rise. However, their expansion awoke the slumbering Red Dragon Akkanix, who enslaved the city. After several decades of servitude, the High Elves of Quel turned to the city-state of Galdrin for aid. Galdrin refused to help directly, but taught one hundred High Elf wizards a blood magic ritual, which would empower their people and enable them to overthrow the ancient dragon. Using this magic, they empowered themselves and slayed Akkanix; however, the ritual left them and the surrounding land forever changed. The High Elves now relied on the innate mana found in all life, but stronger within spellcasters. Old stories insinuate that these elves were some of the first vampires of the land. Looking to rebuild, the now Crimson Elves built the Mana Well and renamed their city Mana'Quel.

## Elves in Other Planes

It is a widely known fact in Elven society that elves have an ancestral connection to the Feywilds. This is reflected in the existence of the Eldarin, more commonly referred to as Fey Elves. Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that Elves have colonized or at least ventured, to other planes of existence too. The Shadar-kai, who have a deep connection to the Raven Queen, originate from the Shadowfell.

## Powers, Abilities, and Subraces

Despite the various differences in subraces, all elves have many traits in common. Elves are renowned for their dexterity and keen senses, capable of seeing within dim light and even darkness. Due to their fey ancestry, elves are resistant to being beguiled, and magic cannot put them to sleep. In fact, elves do not even require sleep, instead needing only to meditate in a trance for four hours.

### Crimson Elf

Main article: Crimson Elf
   Crimson Elves, or *"Faer'San Quessir"* in Elvish, are reliant on feeding on what they call 'mana', the life force of all living creatures, and have an innate connection to blood magic, even the most unmagical of them cast boil someone's blood. Due to the transformation they underwent, there are a variety of physical alterations that make them standout from High Elves. Firstly, they have solid glowing eyes. These can be bright blue, fey green, yellow, purple, black, red, white, or brown. Their skin tones consist of a normal variety for a human, however some can have very pale near-white skin whilst overs have black skin or shades in between. Crimson Elf ears are considered larger and more pointed than other elves. Their hair colours naturally range from a fire-red, to shades of brown or blonde, to blues or purples.

### Drow Elf

Main article: Drow Elf
Drow, *"Myrk'alfen"* in Elvish, are often charismatic. Due to living in the Underdark, they have superior darkvision compared to other elves. However, they are unused to the light of the sun, and have difficulty seeing outside on sunny days. Drow have some natural magic ability, being able to create dancing orbs of dim light that fly under their control. More powerful Drow Elves are able to unleash a spray of these lights at their enemies to mark them as targets, and can also create pockets of magical darkness.

### Eldarin (Fey Elf)

Main article: Eldarin
Eldarin, also known as Fey Elves, are native to the Feywilds, and some of them are considered fey. While they can be associated to one of the four seasons, changing their appearance to reflect it, even the more mundane-looking can have an otherworldly air that sets them apart from their Eld'Pyre kin.

### High Elf

Main article: High Elf
Known as *"Lyren'alfen"* in Elvish, High Elves tend to be studiously minded. Many High Elves, regardless of what profession they wish to take up, train themselves with some basic wizardly magic. High Elf societies are often quite reclusive and not fond of outsiders.

### Lunar Elf

Main article: Lunar Elf
    *"Tidahri"* in Elvish, the Lunar Elves are a subrace of Elves only found in significant number on Karandor, as they originate from the Luna Woods. Like all Elves, they are slightly shorter and slenderer than Humans, however carry the beauty of the moon upon their faces. Lunar Elf skin is pale, often with an icy blue or a pink or purple hue, however a small portion of Lunar Elves are born with regular Human skin colours. Their hair colour ranges from shades of green to blue, purple to pink, and shades of grey to white, however Human colours of hair are not unheard of, just extremely rare. Lunar Elf eyes are usually a slightly darker colour than their skin, with a white iris at the centre. Many are born with luminescent glowing tattoos covering various parts of their body and face that gleam in the pale moonlight or the gentle dim light of a fire or other source of light. The more of these tattoos that a Lunar Elf is born with, the higher they are regarded by their peers, and the more that is expected from them.

### Pain Elf

Main article: Pain Elf
Pain Elf, *"Avae'mhaor Yr"* in Elvish, are infused with the otherworldly powers of Loviatar, the goddess of pain, who manipulated their ancestors into servitude for her sick and twisted pleasure. They are at home in the midst of battle, inflicting as much damage to their enemies as fast as possible. They tend to have either black or pale white hair, and greyish skin tones. Pain Elves are capable of shooting a bolt of shadowy energy at their enemies.

### Shadar-kai (Shadow Elf)

Main article: Shadar-kai
Shadar-kai originate from the Shadowfell and are servants of the Raven Queen. Whilst in the Shadowfell, they look withered, almost corpse-like, with wrinkled skin and swollen joints. However, when a Shadar-kai travels to another plane of existence they appear more youthful and traditionally elf like, except their hair is often pale, or black, and their skin has a deathly pallor. Often Shadar-kai prefer to wear cloaks and veils with masks of metal or wood to cover their features. Personality wise, they are seen to be mournful and joyless.

### Sun Elf

Main article: Sun Elf
Sun Elves, also known as gold elves, or *"Ar’Tel’Quessir"* in Evlish, have a reputation for being arrogant and self-important. Recalling and emphasizing the glorious aspects of their history, sun elves subscribe to the principle of “elven excellence” - no matter how interesting, exceptional, heroic, or noteworthy other races’ accomplishments might be, there is an inherent superiority to all things elven. Sun elves have bronze skin. Their eyes are black, metallic gold, or metallic silver, and their hair is black, metallic copper, or golden blond.

### Wood Elf

Main article: Wood Elf
Wood Elves, referred to as *"Syn'alfen"* in Elvish, tend to be the wisest of their kind. Elves of the wood are fleet of foot and train themselves to remain hidden in the natural environment.

## Notable Elves

### Campaign One: Silvered Fates

#### PCs

* Daramas Hawthorne: A Lunar Elf Blood Hunter / Rogue, and member of the Silvered Fates.
* Io Aldermoon: A Lunar Elf Ranger, member of the Watchers of the Moonsilver Grove and the Silvered Fates.

#### NPCs

* Fel'anyr Styllmist: A High Elf wizard, she was court wizard of Lichendeep.
* Madam Ziener: A withered High Elf who had dedicated her life to Savras, and was unable to move or speak for herself.
* Narithel Sunblade: A Crimson Elf wizard, and a member of the Black Bastion.