Ancestry: Elf

Elf | Fey | Humanoid

The Elf

"The elf. Not an enome or enoblin"

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

These do not change, unless you have the corresponding Ancestry Talent. All Elves start with these.

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 Humanoid
• Traditional A.Boost 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)
• Speed(s). 25 ft
• Special Senses. Low-Light Vision
• HP (+ HP/level). 6 (+1)

Ancestry Talents

Elf Origin	You have Keen senses, and your eyes and ears are able to pick out details others cannot easily. Glasses or other eyewear only serve to aid you, rather than correct you. You have proficiency in the Perception Primary skill and the Appraise Secondary Skill. This Talent cannot be swapped.

Trance

Elves don’t need to sleep, having achieved a state of mind that allows them to rest quicker than others. You may enter 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.

Resistance of the Fey	Your ancestry gives you resistance to effects that would cause you make you lose control of yourself, stemming from your mind or soul being connected to the worlds fo the Fae at some point. You have advantage on saving throws against being Compelled or Enthralled, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Hyperdiversity	Diversity is your strength. This trait can be swapped at level 1 for any other Skill or Ancestry Talent you qualify for. If you don't you may raise two of your Attribute scores by +1 (up to a +5 at level 1) instead. Once swapped, this trait cannot be regained.

Heritage Choice

You may pick a heritage. You gain everything listed from such.

Variant Ancestry Talents

Some of your talents can swapped for the ones listed below, or be taken at a later levels via Character Progression. If your GM is using the Classic Ancestries optional rule, you can only take the talents below as you level up, after level 1.

Furthermore, due to the nature of Elves, they can gain talents available to other Ancestries who count as 'Feyfolk'. Those talents will be listed underneath their unique talents for each section below.

Here are the talents you can swap at level 1.

Here are the ancestry talents you can gain at later levels.

Unlockable at Character level 3

Unlockable at Character level 5

Unlockable at Character level 7

Unlockable at Character level 9

Unlockable at Character level 11

Note: The Origin Customization rule allows you to swap any skill proficiency gained for another you don't have, if playing with traditional or other rules.

Deeper Lore

Settings

Golarion

Base

Elves 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.

Society

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

Golarion

Aerel, Amrunelara, Caladrel, Dardlara, Faunra, Heldalel, Jathal, Lanliss, Oparal, Seldlon, Soumral, Talathel, Tessara, Variel, Yalandlara, Zordlon

Alignment and Faith

Golarion

Elves 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

y

Examples of Elves

To Come