Sea Elf

Let me tell you about them damned ‘Sea Elves’: Over twenty of my men were slaughtered in their sleep when their damn silent craft drove naught but a small hole in the hull an’ loosed snakes drenched in puffer poison. We caught the siren, threw ‘er in the brig, and still she seduced the guards onto her dinghy and to a watery grave no doubt! More like ‘Sea Devils’, every bloody one of ‘em!”

-- Moray, Captain of the Errant Gamble

Few races of Cabochon have grown more notorious than the Sea Elves of the Catseye. Seafarers fear their vessels and blame squalls on their occult magic. Rightfully compared to the Drow, sea elves hold strong convictions to their maritime dominance by seizing islands and coastal cities. Sea elves now control much of the open sea including the strategically captured Median Island held as their capital. All are skinned in deeply muted shades of various colors, retain webbing, and heavily cartilaginous bodies with some known to have scales, fins, or octopine tentacles. Sea elves are innately attuned with marine environments and are able to consume salt water unabated. The rare sea elf raised outside of their domain or by foster parents live ostracized lives. Bereft of a home, these children tend to fall into lives of petty crime or piracy. Anyone who sets foot near the Catseye knows to stay away from the black inked sails of the sea elves or a vessel they captain. If on land for extended periods of time, sea elves contract an extreme form of vertigo until reacquainted with a watery habitat. Naturally pesceterian, an inland sea elf is never without a net and salted rations of fish. If forced to consume freshwater meat or water, a sea elf will inundate it with salt until matching the salinity they are accustomed to.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Adopting the melodic nature of Aquan and the complex intonation of elvish, sea elves names are truly pronounced pitched to the octave of most casual conversation. In the orthodox majority of sea elf culture, unpitched naming is seen as cruel and offensive as if their name does not belong in tune. Timbre and volume may be added for emphasis or deference. Aquan or elven names are employed to bestow a child with the aspirations of their parents such as Abron (bright boy), Clempe (merciful girl), Milenpe (love girl), or Valaon (zealous boy).

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Humans are not the only race that have caught the eye of wanton elves; the Merfolk that inhabit the shoals and neritic seas have often saved and consorted with early elven sailors. Their progeny, the sea elves, emerge divorced from modern civilization instead staking their claim on the whole of the ocean.
Sea elves furnish their cities out of recovered shipwrecks, repurposing flotsam and jetsam as material for their great floating domains. These domains are anchored to and often encompass small archipelagos or river deltas. Unlike other seafarers, sea elves prefer constructing small vessels which they pilot for personal transport or quiet yet overwhelming naval presence.
Although not as problematic as the Drow, the sea elves are known as religious fanatics and ambush trade vessels with little warning. Captured ships are rarely maintained and are stripped down to their base components. Only a handful of sea elf factions are friendly to outsiders and yet even those maintain trade exclusively with the pureblood elves and Merfolk in which they owe their heritage.

Common Myths and Legends

While divided into many tribes or ‘chords’ that claim different parts of the Catseye, all sea elves make an annual pilgrimage to Median Island where the Meridian Domain is affixed. This island stolen from the pureblood elves hold religious significance to the sea elves. In sea elf mythology, The Great Meridian Lighthouse near its northern coast is believed to have speared the great sea dragon, Eingana, who then birthed the ocean or ‘ein’ nearly flooding the world. The lighthouse halted the deluge with its hot gaze creating the land on which the father elves and mother merfolk are now separate.

Mermaid by Pasacalblanche

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Elf

Lifespan

~600 years

Average Height

5' - 6 ft.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Muted shades of various colors

Notable Sea Elves:
Rajjar

Sea Elf (Cabochon)

Ability Score Increase +2 Charisma, +1 Dexterity

Size Medium

Speed Walking/Swimming 30ft

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Aquatic Ancestry. Although you do not retain the amphibious breathing of their merfolk ancestors, you can hold your breath underwater for up to 3 days. While underwater, you gain darkvision and ignore any drawbacks caused by underwater environments.
Fey Ancestry. Still retaining some elven blood, you gain advantage against being charmed and magic cannot put you to sleep.
Slippery. You have advantage on Dexterity saving throws against being grappled or restrained.
Siren Spellcasting. You know the friends cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast charm person once per day. At 5th level, you can cast suggestion once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Scrounger. Your kin furnish their domains with debris and gain advantage on rolls related to woodworking. You also gain proficiency on perception checks regarding gathering flotsam and jetsam.
Sea Elf Training. You are naturally proficient with the spear, trident, light crossbow, and nets.

Languages. Elvish, Aquan

^{*The Sea Elf subrace traits featured in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes may also be used as a variant.}