Elf

Elves are a magical people of otherworldly grace, living in the world but not entirely part of it. They live in places of ethereal beauty, in the midst of ancient forests or in silvery spires glittering with faerie light, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. Elves love nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the good things of the world.

Personality

Elves can live well over 700 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, elves can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.
Like the branches of a young tree, elves are flexible in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They have been known to retreat from intrusions into their woodland homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, elves reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and strategy.
Although they can be haughty, elves are generally gracious - even to those who fall short of their high expectations - which is most non-elves. Still, they can find good in just about anyone.
Elves commonly possess strong but swiftly passing passions, being moved easily to laughter, anger, or misery and as quickly calmed. They are known for their impulsive behavior and, as a result, many races see them as flighty or impetuous. However, elves are not as flaky as others might interpret them to be, and they are typically responsible despite their almost whimsical nature. Partially due to their long lifespan (though not entirely, since many long-lived races acted differently), elves have difficulty taking some matters as seriously as other races, but when threats they recognize do arise, elves are strong friends and allies to those they are loyal to.
Elves tend to make strong and uplifting friends. Most elves love simple joys such as dancing, singing, footraces, or contests of skill. They have a natural aversion to that which they see as uninteresting tasks and are fun-loving by nature. However, despite how unpleasant some things such as war can be, elves become grimly serious if a threat to their friends, family, or livelihood make such actions necessary.
Elves take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. They dislike the pace of most societies, which are regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them travel freely and set their own pace. Elves also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes.

Basic Information

Anatomy

With their unearthly grace and fine features, elves appear hauntingly beautiful to members of many other races. They are slightly shorter than other humanoids on average, ranging from well under 5 feet tall to just over 6 feet. They are fairly slender creatures, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.
Elves' coloration encompasses the normal range and also includes skin in shades of copper, bronze, and almost bluish-white, hair of green or blue, and eyes like pools of liquid gold or silver. Elves have no facial and little body hair, though do possess large, pointed ears.

Genetics and Reproduction

In evolutionary terms, elves' rate of reproduction is much too slow to allow the continuation of the species. But with magic all things are possible. Elves rarely have sex, sex rarely results in fertilization and pregnancy, and even when an elven child is born there is an exceedingly long maturation period. All of these factors together balance out the incredibly long lifespans elves are privy to, keeping them from overpopulating Edras.

Growth Rate & Stages

Elves mature at roughly the same rate as other humanoids, though they are not usually considered past adolescence until they have  reached 110 years of age. Unlike most humanoids, elves do not age dramatically as their lifespan comes to a close, with the most obvious changes being a change in hair color, alternatively graying or darkening. Most elves remain healthy and full of life up until their death, which, if age-related, is usually between seven and nine centuries.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, elves have superior vision in dark and dim conditions.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the hundredth birthday, and before this period they are called by child names.
On declaring adulthood, an elf selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each elf's adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every elf bears a family name, typically a combination of other Seldruin words. Some elves traveling among humans translate their family names into Eolian, but others retain the Seldruin version.
Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall
Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis
Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia
Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Nailo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal)

Beauty Ideals

Many elves prefer clothing that is at once beautiful and understated, with subdued colors like blue or green favored over bolder hues. Most elves decorate themselves with gold or mithral embroidery in subtle patterns woven into the design of their clothes and which adds to the beauty of the clothing without seeming flashy or showy. Similarly, most elven jewelry is simple in appearance, but in fact exquisitely complex both in construction and design.

Common Dress Code

They favor elegant clothing in bright colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Elves organize their society along firm and hierarchical traditions. Communities are typically run by members of an esteemed nobility, some of whom can trace their ancestry all the way back to the War of Souls. There is a difference, however, between elven and other humanoid monarchy; where a gnome king, for example, typically accumulates influence through the ownership of land or command of soldiers, an elf noble commands authority through the prestige of their family name or the magical power they hold at their behest, a power they often demonstrate through the grandeur of their home.

History

Elves are the children of Caighreadhug, Mother of Nightmares and served as scouts and bearers of terrible fey magics in the war against the Deities. They were stolen from Caighreadhug during the War of Souls by Arhah, King of the Wilds.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Elves have a high opinion of themselves, even in comparison with other notoriously haughty Soulborn races. As a result, they tend to have fairly strained relations with any race they deem to be uneducated, brutish, or poorly mannered. On the other hand, they are quite found of halflings, humans, sylvari, and merfolk.
Of all the races in the world, however, the one that elves hold the most open hatred for are the dark elves. They view the dark elves as a blasphemy incarnate and make it a policy to kill any dark elf they meet on sight.

Origin/Ancestry

Caighreadhug, Mother of Nightmares

Lifespan

750 years

Average Height

Male: 4′7″‒5′5″ Female: 4′7″‒5′5″

Average Weight

Male: 87‒157 lb Female: 82‒152 lb

Founding Emanation

Corellon, Coronal of Arvandor & Angharradh, Queen of Arvandor

Patron Deity

Arhah, King of the Wilds

Racial Stats

Elf, High

Elf (High)

Ability Score Increase +2 Dex, +1 Int

Size Medium

Speed 30ft

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Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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. If you meditate during a long rest, you finish the rest after only 4 hours. You otherwise obey all the rules for a long rest; only the duration is changed.

Elf Weapon Training⁠

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 choosing.

Languages. Eolian, Seldruin, and one other of your choice

Elf, Wood

Elf (Wood)

Ability Score Increase +2 Dex, +1 Wis

Size Medium

Speed 35ft

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Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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. If you meditate during a long rest, you finish the rest after only 4 hours. You otherwise obey all the rules for a long rest; only the duration is changed.

Mask of the Wild

You can try to hide when lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena.

Elf Weapon Training

You have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.

Fleet of Foot

Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.

Languages. Eolian and Seldruin

Elf, Eladrin

Elf (Eladrin)

Ability Score Increase +2 Dex, +1 Int

Size Medium

Speed 30ft

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Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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. If you meditate during a long rest, you finish the rest after only 4 hours. You otherwise obey all the rules for a long rest; only the duration is changed.

Fey Step

Once per short or long rest you can cast Misty Step. When you reach 3rd level, your Fey Step gains an additional effect based on your season; if the effect requires a saving throw, the DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier:

Autumn Immediately after you use your Fey Step, up to two creatures of your choice that you can see within 10 feet of you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by you for 1 minute, or until you or your companions deal any damage to it.

Winter When you use your Fey Step, one creature of your choice that you can see within 5 feet of you before you teleport must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of you until the end of your next turn.

Spring When you use your Fey Step, you can touch one willing creature within 5 feet of you. That creature then teleports instead of you, appearing in an unoccupied space of your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you.

Summer Immediately after you use your Fey Step, each creature of your choice that you can see within 5 feet of you takes fire damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 damage).

Languages. Eolian and Seldruin