Elves

Tens of thousands of years ago, the elves of the distant continent of Xen’drik rose up against the giants who ruled over them. This rebellion is the defining event in elf history. As the ancient war progressed, the magebreeders of the giants bound magic into the elves who remained loyal to them, forming the drow — assassins bred to prey on their other kin. Ultimately, the elves fled from Xen’drik and settled the island nation of Aerenal, where they split into two distinct cultures: the introspective Aereni and the warlike Tairnadal. Thus, a war nearly forty thousand years ago established the pattern of how elves live today. Neither the Aereni nor the Tairnadal (which include the elves of Valenar) have much interest in human activities, but small numbers of elves have immigrated to Khorvaire over the centuries and have more or less integrated with the cultures of the Five Nations. The drow, though, are virtually unknown on Khorvaire.
As a whole, elves are driven by tradition and respect for the past. Where humans value innovation, elves strive to master and perfect the techniques of their ancestors over the course of studies lasting centuries. Elf society has changed little over the last five thousand years, while Khorvaire is constantly evolving. Whatever the origin of your elf character, consider your relationship with the past: Do you value the traditions of your ancestors? Or do you fear that your people are too mired in the past, and need to find a way to adapt and move forward?

The Aereni

For thousands of years, the island nation of Aerenal has been ruled and protected by the godlike power of the Undying Court, a council of undead high elves. The greatest heroes of the Aereni join the Undying Court after death, joining their heroic ancestors in immortality.
The Aereni are isolationists who have little interest in the world beyond their island. The Five Nations are a place of chaos and war, so why would any sensible elf venture into that madness? As you make an Aereni elf character, decide what has caused you to leave your island home and the protection of the Undying Court in order to wander the world. Are you in search of a power that could earn you your place in the Undying Court? Have you been given a quest by one of your own deathless ancestors? Or are you an exile, banished from your homeland for some crime against your people’s rulers?
Consider your character’s personal and family history. What is your family known for, and how can you prove yourself to be a master of these skills? Do you have ancestors in the Undying Court, and if so, what’s your relationship with them? Do you find it challenging to deal with the short-lived races, or are you patient with them?

The Tairnadal

Tairnadal elves dedicate themselves to the arts of war. The greatest heroes of the Tairnadal’s many wars — against giants, dragons, and the champions of Dhakaan — live on after death, becoming the patron ancestors of the Tairnadal. Upon reaching adulthood, a Tairnadal elf forms a bond with one of these ancestors and strives to follow in the footsteps of this ancestor, living as the patron did. In this way, the champion comes to embody their ancestor, allowing the dead to live on.
The Tairnadal have three distinct lines: the Draleus Tairn, the Silaes Tairn, and the Valaes Tairn. All three lines roam the northern plains of Aerenal, having left the forest long ago, but the Valaes Tairn now reside mostly in Valenar, being the Tairnadal most often encountered in Khorvaire. Despite sharing a homeland with the Aereni, the Tairnadal have distinct religious traditions, revering their patron ancestors rather than the Undying Court.
In creating a Tairnadal character, including a Valenar elf, think about your patron ancestor. Most Tairnadal pursue the same class as their patron, so if your character is a wizard, your ancestor was likely a legendary archmage. Was your ancestor a famous blademaster, a stealthy hunter, or a war chanter? Were they chivalrous or merciless? Bold or clever? Whatever their path, it is your duty to follow their example. Is this something you proudly embrace, or do you resist it? Do you know another elf with the same patron ancestor, and what’s your relationship to that character? Do you know an elf whose patron ancestor was a bitter rival of yours?
Also consider why you are traveling with a group of player characters (who are presumably not also members of your war band) instead of serving with the Tairnadal. Do you experience visions of your patron ancestor driving you on a particular course? Are you pursuing an epic quest that mirrors your ancestor’s legendary deeds? Are you seeking vengeance for the death of a friend or ally? Or have you turned away from your people, either by choice or because of the actions of a rival?
Related:

• Weapon: Double-bladed Scimitar
• Feat: Revenant Blade

Elves of the Five Nations

Throughout history, elves have occasionally migrated to live among the other peoples of Khorvaire. On rare occasions, entire families have relocated (as House Phiarlan did, almost three thousand years ago), but more often wanderers and exiles have come to Khorvaire and made their way there. Many of the finest wizards and most renowned artisans in the Five Nations are high elves. Wood elves are found among the rangers and druids of the Eldeen Reaches and stalking the darkest alleys of Sharn.
As an elf born and raised in Khorvaire, your character has grown up among the shorter-lived races. You might not be as concerned with history and tradition as the Aereni and Tairnadal; you could even live your life entirely in the moment, with no care for your family or your legacy. Or you could be fascinated by the history and traditions of your ancestors and try to relearn the ways your family has forgotten.
Consider also whether you’ve outlived human friends and how that might affect you. Did you know the parents or grandparents of another member of your party? Are you trying to repay a debt or fulfill a promise to that long-dead friend, or are you trying to recapture some spark of the friendship you felt years ago? Do you remember a time before the Last War? Did you fight in the war?

Elves in Sharn

The elvish population in Sharn is smaller than those of humans, dwarves, goblins, and gnomes. Roughly 1 in 10 elves live in Shae Lias, a neighborhood in Upper Northedge, though few have any connection to the University. Shae Lias is known as a quiet neighborhood of elegant taste, and is a popular shopping destination for those seeking artistic items and fine woodwork, including furniture. House Phiarlan has a small headquarters in Dragon Towers, with another several hundred elves attached to it. The rest of the elves live in integrated neighborhoods, though they tend toward upper-middle class status.

Possible Origins

City

A group of elves moved to the continent of Khorvaire three millennia ago, integrating into communities across the continent. A city elf raised in Breland identifies far more with their fellow Brelish citizens than they ever would a cold and regal elf from Aerenal.

Aereni

When elves settled on the tropical islands of Aerenal southeast of Khorvaire, they found powerful manifest zones to Irian and Mabar. In time, their necromancers created the first of the Undying, giving the greatest of the Aereni immortality of sorts by turning them into undead powered by positive energy. The Undying Court offers wisdom and guidance to those that yet live. Aereni elves focus on perfection in a way shorter-lived races struggle to comprehend, and while Aerenal is ruled by noble families, they are selected based on merit, rather than blood.

Tairnadal

Most Tairnadal live on the mountainous isles of northern Aerenal, dedicated to ensuring the immortality of their greatest ancestors by emulating the deeds of these patron spirits. Each Tairnadal is selected by a patron spirit upon reaching adulthood, and live the rest of their life seeking to to emulate them; for example, if one’s patron spirit was a mighty warrior, they would seek worthy foes and great conflicts. A large group of Tairnadal, the Valaes Tairn, immigrated to what was once southeastern Cyre. They served as mercenaries during the Last War before annexing the territory, now known as Valenar.

Bloodsail

The Bloodsails of the Lhazaar Principalities are the descendants of elves exiled from Aerenal for practicing Mabaran necromancy. After founding the Bloodsail principality, they continued to practice their faith, exalting undead sustained by negative energy. Vampires receive special honor, and Bloodsails hope to earn the right to become one themselves in death.

Dragonmarked

The Mark of Shadow is carried by elves with the blood of House Phiarlan in their veins. However, not all elves with the Mark of Shadow are part of House Phiarlan. Nearly three decades ago, the Shadow Schism split the house, and the Thuranni family formed their own rival house. Phiarlan has claimed the western half of Khorvaire, while Thuranni has its most powerful holdings in Karrnath and the Lhazaar Principalities.

Character Stats

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
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.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Trance. Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) 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 a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish.

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High Elf

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Training.
Aerani: An Aereni elf can choose one skill or tool proficiency. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses this chosen proficiency.
Tairnadal: A Tairnadal elf gains proficiency with the scimitar, double scimitar, longbow, and shortbow.
Normal Elf: You have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.
Cantrip. You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.
Extra Language. You can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice.

Wood Elf

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Training.
Aerani: An Aereni elf can choose one skill or tool proficiency. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses this chosen proficiency.
Tairnadal: A Tairnadal elf gains proficiency with the scimitar, double scimitar, longbow, and shortbow.
Normal Elf: You have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.
Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.
Mask of the Wild. You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena.