Ancestry: Elf
Anthropoid |Elf | Fey
Classic
The Elf |
Elf Mindset |
You Might... |
- Carefully curate your relationships with people with shorter lifespans.
- Adopt specialized or obscure interests simply for the sake of mastering them.
- Have taken adornments or clothing from the various places you visited or people you've met, blending in with an almost supernatural uncanniness.
Others Probably... |
- Focus on your appearance, either admiring your grace or treating you as if you're physically fragile.
- Worry that you privately look down on them, or feel like you're condescending and aloof.
- Assume you practice ancient, 'traditional' rituals, or that you've perfected some kind of fine art or craft.
Description |
Physical Description
While generally taller than humans, elves possess a fragile grace, accentuated by long features and sharply pointed ears. Their eyes are wide and rounded, featuring large and often vibrantly colored pupils that make up the entire visible portion of the eye. These pupils give them an alien look and allow them to see sharply even in very little light. Elves gradually adapt to their environment and their companions, and they often take on physical traits reflecting their surroundings. An elf who has dwelled in primeval forests for centuries, for example, might exhibit verdant hair and gnarled fingers, while one who's lived in a desert might have golden pupils and skin. Elves reach physical adulthood around the age of 20, though they aren't considered to be fully emotionally mature by other elves until closer to the passing of their first century. A typical elf can live to around 600 years old.
Anything Special?
Elf Mechanics |
Ancestry Statistics |
Base Stats
- Age. Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.
- Size. Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.
- Associated Traits. Elf, Fey, and Anthropoid (means Humanoid)
- Traditional Attribute Spread. Traditionally, Elves are known for their dexterity no matter where they’ve called home, though this flexibility and fluidity can easily translate to combat strength or mental prowess.
- Language(s). Common, Elvish Sylvan, (+1 per your positive Cha Mod when starting the game, list here)
- Base Movement / Speed. 25 ft
- Senses. Low-Light Vision
- Starting HP (HP per level). 6 (+1)[/tooltip]
Ancestry Talents
| Elven Origin | Your elvishness affects many things you do. From your eyes, to your very soul, and how you may rest. You become trained in in the Perception primary skill and the Appraise Secondary Skill. Additionally, for every 3 Character Levels you have, you gain an additional Ancestry Talent for Elves. Finally, you gain the Trance ancestry talent for free. This Talent cannot be swapped. |
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| Trance | You may enter a meditative state, remaining semiconscious but somewhat asleep, for 2 hours a day, which just so happens to also be a Short Rest. 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 everyone else does from 8 hours of sleep. You may only use this talent once per day. This Talent cannot be swapped. |
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| Resistance of the Fey | Your fey connection to fae worlds lets you resist effects that would cause you to lose control of yourself. You have advantage on saving throws against being Compelled or Enthralled, and magic can’t put you to sleep or force you Unconscious while you still have Hit Points. |
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| Hyperdiversity | Diversity is your strength. You may raise two of your starting Attributes by 1. This talent allows you to raise a stat up to +5 at level 1. Alternatively, you may swap this talent out for any Skill Talent, in addition to any Ancestry Talents you qualify for. Once this talent is swapped, this trait cannot be gained again. |
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Heritage Choice |
Variant Ancestry Talents |
Deeper Lore |
Settings
Golarion
BaseElves are a tall, long-lived people with a strong tradition of art and magic. As an ancient people, elves have seen great change and have the perspective that can come only from watching the arc of history. After leaving Golarion in ancient times, they returned to a changed land, and they still struggle to reclaim their ancestral homes. Elves value kindness, intellect, and beauty, with many elves striving to improve their manners, appearance, and culture. Their studies delve into a level of detail that most shorter-lived peoples find excessive or inefficient. Elves are often rather private people, steeped in the secrets of their groves and kinship groups. They're slow to build friendships outside their kinsfolk, as elves who spend their lives among shorter-lived peoples often become morose after watching generations of companions age and die. These elves are known as Forlorn among their fellow elves.
The inborn patience and intellectual curiosity of elves make them excellent sages, philosophers, and wizards, and their societies are built upon their inherent sense of wonder and knowledge. Elves hold deeply seated ideals of individualism, allowing each elf to explore multiple occupations before alighting on a particular pursuit or passion that suits her best. Elves bear notorious grudges against rivals, which elves call ‘ilduliel,' but these antagonistic relationships can sometimes blossom into friendships over time. An elf keeps their personal name secret among their family, while giving a nickname when meeting other people. This nickname can change over time, due to events in the elf's life or even on a whim. A single elf might be known by many names by associates of different ages and regions. Elven names consist of multiple syllables and are meant to flow lyrically—at least in the Elven tongue.
Names
GolarionAerel, Amrunelara, Caladrel, Dardlara, Faunra, Heldalel, Jathal, Lanliss, Oparal, Seldlon, Soumral, Talathel, Tessara, Variel, Yalandlara, Zordlon
Alignment and Faith
GolarionElves are often emotional and capricious, yet they hold high ideals close to their hearts. They prefer deities who share their love of all things mystic and artistic. Desna and Shelyn are particular favorites, the former for her sense of wonder and the latter for her appreciation of artistry. Calistria is the most notorious of elven deities, as she represents many of the elven ideals taken to the extreme. Popular Edicts: Find beauty in nature and art, explore things others would keep hidden, demonstrate superiority to your rival Popular Anathema: Abandon your own path, force another creature to do something
Trivia
yExamples of Elves |