High elves

High elves are said to be the closest descendants of the original elves, the ones that did not break off from their origins and instead chose to continue their endless pursuit of magical power, knowledge and nobility. While the other elves are also focused on magic, they usually have a specific form of magic that they are keen on. The high elves have a balanced approach, opting to learn all possible ways to use magic in beneficial ways. Their society is formed around this idea and especially elemental magic, with the four major elements and numerous minor elements as the centerpiece of their lives. In addition to magical knowledge, the high elves are also respected historians and possess massive archives based on many different subjects. In recent times, these archives have come under much scrutiny from other civilized races and they could be sometimes seen as biased and altered to represent the views of the high elves themselves. Even still, the writings of the high elves hold much of what has been lost to the other races and their information is certainly valuable to many.

## Physical description

The high elves are quite tall, but slender. The average height for a male high elf is around 2 meters, with females being slightly shorter. Their bodies are less robust than those of humans and they generally weigh around 70-80 kilograms, with females usually weighing less. Still, the males especially have a tougher build than most other elves. They share their skin tone with light-colored humans and do not naturally have dark skin. They do not grow beards but have magnificent hair that varies from light blonde to pure black and light brown to dark red. High elves have pointy ears that seem more pronounced and sharper than those of their cousins. The currently known high elves can reach ages close to a 1000 years at best.

## Society

While the high elves have held signifigant influence and power throughout history, their numbers have been slowly dwindling since the Splitting of the Races. Their only currently known nations are the Kingdom of Renünion and New Renünion. They are essentially the same, but the elves of New Renünion are ones that have started to settle on Angotál, a large island located west of the mainland. High elves are proud and noble creatures that have grown quite xenophohic with the passing of time; their knowledge is well guarded and not easily given to outsiders. They are the least numerous out of all species of elves, but also the most long-lived. Some say that the first generations of high elves were nigh-immortal, like their predecessors, the original elves. As they lost their immortality, a number of them felt that it is because of the waning power of their creator, Enely. Their loyalty to him still holds but as the rest of the elves, dwarves and humans drift further and further away from their original father, the high elves grow more anxious. They fear that their mortality is a sign for even worse things to come and this great depression could explain why the high elves are in decline. Maybe they are just relics of the past, destined to slowly fade into obscurity, or perhaps they can still find their way and revive their race.

## Rules

* **Ability Score Modifiers:** High elves have untold knowledge and a talent for magic, but their high and mighty attitude can make them hard to work with. High elves gain +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom and -2 Charisma.
* **Size:** Medium
* **Type:** Humanoid, elf
* **Base speed:** 30 feet
* **Languages:** High elves begin play speaking Common and Elven. High elves with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following; Celestial, Abyssal, Sherdanian, Dwarven, Draconic, Sylvan, Draconian, Undercommon, Ignan, Auran, Terran, Aquan, Gnome and Halfling.

* **Elemental Resistance:** High elves gain elemental resistance 5 to one of the following; acid, cold, electricity, or fire. This choice is made at character creation, and once made it cannot be changed.
* **Elven Immunities:** High elves are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
* **School of Arcane:** High elves can attempt Knowledge (arcana) checks even when untrained and always treat it as a class skill. In addition, high elves have a +2 bonus on their Intelligence and Charisma scores when determining known spells at 1st level and bonus spells per day.
* **Keen Senses:** High elves gain a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
* **Elven Magic:** High elves gain a +2 racial bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance. In addition, high elves gain a +2 racial bonus on Spellcraft skill checks made to identify the properties of magic items.
* **Weapon Familiarity:** High elves are proficient with longbows (including composite longbows), longswords, rapiers, and shortbows (including composite shortbows), and treat any weapon with the word “elven” in its name as a martial weapon.
* **Low-Light Vision:** High elves can see twice as far as normal humans in conditions of dim light.

### Alternate Racial Traits

The following alternate racial traits may be selected in place of one or more of the standard racial traits above. In addition, high elves have access to all alternate racial traits normally available to elves. Consult your GM before selecting any new options.

* **Martial Adaption:** Some high elves might have become estranged from their own kin and as such have not been taught the ways of magic, having to focus on other aspects thanks to their innate ability to learn. High elves with this racial trait gain a +2 bonus to one physical ability score of their choice. In addition, they may swap either their +2 Intelligence bonus or +2 Wisdom bonus with one physical ability score of their choice. Both of these new bonuses must be applied to different physical ability scores. This racial trait replaces Elemental Resistance, School of Arcane and Elven Magic.
* **Flexible Mage:** A few high elves have found interest in developing their physical skills, trying to create a balance between physical prowess and mental capacity. High elves with this racial trait gain a +2 bonus to one physical ability score of their choice. This racial trait replaces the +2 Wisdom bonus, School of Arcane.