Moon Elf
For more information on all races, see: Ancestries & Races
Born of ancient elven stock yet shaped by the cold light of the Moons, the moon elves are a nomadic and whimsical people who follow the guidance of the goddess Nephinae, the Moon-Mother. Their culture is rich and vibrant—marked by a reverence for change, personal expression, and the soft wisdom found in shadows. Where sun elves build golden cities to endure for eternity, moon elves pass through the world like drifting snowflakes. They see their journey through the world as a dance beneath the twin Moons, each step a story, each encounter a thread in their ever-growing tapestry of life.
Physical Description
Moon elves are shorter than most elves, standing closer in height to humans, with slender, graceful builds. Their skin tones range from pale ivory to shimmering frost blue, and their hair is most commonly black, silvery-white, or deep midnight blue, often worn long and decorated with beads, braids, or lunar charms. Their eyes gleam with unusual hues—silver, white, starlit blue, or onyx black—and seem to shimmer subtly in moonlight. Most distinctive are their crescent-shaped ears, curved like a waxing moon rather than the sharper points of their solar kin. Moon elves favor flowing garments that move with them as they dance, fight, or travel—long skirts, sashes, and loose blouses are common for all genders. Vests, wraps, and asymmetrical cloaks are often layered on top for warmth and flair, trimmed with intricate embroidery depicting moons, stars, or personal symbols. Their fabrics are a mix of rich velvets, homespun wool, light linens, and dyed silks, often patchworked together in creative ways that show pride in resourcefulness. Accessories are deeply important: moon elves often adorn themselves with beads, bells, bangles, and small charms woven into their hair or pinned to their cloaks. Jewelry—especially silver—is worn not just for beauty, but for magical resonance and cultural identity. Many wear crescent-shaped earrings, carved bone amulets, or small chimes that jingle softly as they walk.
Culture
Nomadic and communal, the moon elves travel in caravans made of extended families, sharing stories, dreams, and destinies beneath the night sky. Their lives are shaped by the rhythms of the Moons and the seasons, guided by a deep reverence for Nephinae, the elven goddess of motherhood, love, and shadows. Magic for them is not cold calculation but soulful expression—most often drawn from belief, sometimes from nature, and rarely from doctrine. Moon elves are individualists at heart, believing that every person’s journey matters, and that understanding others enriches all. Misunderstood by many and welcomed by few, they press on with optimism, music in their steps and stories on their tongues.
Faith & Religion
Faith and spirituality in moon elf society are omnipresent, yet decentralized. Most moon elves revere Nephinae, whose influence over passion, freedom, and shadow guides much of their worldview. They see her not as a distant figure, but as a constant companion in the night sky—a quiet observer and protector. Moon elves hold no centralized temples, instead creating mobile shrines in their wagons or beneath the open sky, offering whispered prayers and offerings under the moonlight.Fortune-Telling
Among the most iconic and respected moon elf practices is the art of seeing the unseen. Moon elves are widely known as gifted diviners, able to glimpse strands of fate through ancient rituals passed down through family lines. Moonstone bones, silver-rimmed cards, or bowls of still water reflecting the night sky are common tools used in their craft. Seers are not just fortune-tellers but spiritual guides to their communities. Divination is almost always done under moonlight and often includes chanting, incense, and music to draw the attention of Nephinae. A reading might be for an individual seeking clarity, a caravan seeking guidance, or a child coming of age. Interpretations are poetic and symbolic, relying on intuition, lore, and inherited metaphor rather than strict rules.Song & Dance
Song and dance are the lifeblood of moon elf celebration and mourning alike. Every caravan has musicians—often entire families dedicated to instruments passed down over generations. Stringed lutes, hand-drums, and pipes are common, with levels of craftsmanship that would impress even a wood elf carpenter. Moon elf dances are fluid and improvisational, performed barefoot in firelight or beneath the Moons. Bells are sewn into skirts and sashes, while dancers use scarves and silver-colored ribbons to accentuate their movements. Dancing is a shared expression of joy, grief, or desire—there are dances for mourning the dead, welcoming new lovers, or calling down moonlight for blessings. Some dances are considered spells in motion, subtle rituals that channel magic through rhythm and movement.Milk
Among the moon elves, milk is far more than mere sustenance—it is a sacred symbol of life and nurturing. Revered as the celestial drink of Nephinae, a patron of motherhood, milk occupies a special place in both spiritual ritual and everyday tradition. On clear, moonlit nights, especially during full moons or celestial alignments, it is customary for moon elf families to leave a bowl of fresh milk outside their wagons or homes, placed where the moon’s light will touch its surface. This act, known as offering the first drop, is a gesture of gratitude and devotion. It honors Nephinae’s blessings of fertility, protection, and guidance—particularly for expectant mothers, young children, and those returning from travel. It is said that if the milk ripples without wind, the goddess has accepted the offering and watches over the household.More than ritual, milk is also a part of moon elf culinary identity. Most caravans raise small goats and cows for milk, which they ferment into a beloved traditional drink called sulunae, meaning "moons' breath" in the moon elf dialect of Elven. This tangy, lightly effervescent beverage is often mixed with herbs, honey, or crushed fruit, and served cold in silver-lipped cups. It is believed to settle the mind, soothe the spirit, and strengthen the bond between body and moonlight. Sulunae is a staple at ceremonies, passed around during births, name-days, partings, and returns. Drinking it communally is considered an affirmation of kinship and a moment of shared blessing, especially when paired with song. Some moon elf caravans even flavor their sulunae based on the phase of the Moons at the time of brewing, with special spices used only during eclipses or solstices.
Society
Moon elves thrive in impermanence, finding identity in shared experience, personal freedom, and connection to the mystical and unknown. Nomadic caravans, composed of extended families and trusted companions, form the heart of moon elf society. Despite their wandering ways, moon elves are deeply rooted in shared heritage and purpose.
Naming Traditions
A moon elf typically has two parts to their name. First is a given name that is chosen at birth or early childhood, often inspired by a vision, omen, or the Moons' phases at their birth. Second is their caravan name, or the name of the extended family or caravan they belong to, often used as a kind of surname. This name tends to change as a moon elf's home changes. For example, a moon elf who chooses to leave their caravan to live in an urban city might change their caravan name to that of the city's, if they are so inclined.Male Names: Caelumir, Dacirel, Lucanir, Tarenzo, Tirien, Velurin
Female Names: Ismaren, Lilaveth, Mirela, Noctira, Raluca, Sorana
Caravan Names (Common Translations): din Argenoch ("of Silver-Eye"), din Dorvant ("of Longing-Wind"), din Fumars ("of Smoke in the Cold"), din Nivcant ("of Snowsong"), din Serelunii ("of Moonthread"), din Umbraflor ("of Shadowflower")
Government & Law
Each moon elf caravan is its own sovereign entity—not a state in any formal sense, but a living, breathing community whose cohesion depends not on hierarchy, but on mutual respect, trust, and shared purpose. A typical caravan consists of a dozen or more extended families, often including several generations. While moon elves are generally individualistic in mindset, caravan life encourages interdependence and cooperation. Everyone has a role: some cook, some forage, some care for the beasts or maintain the wagons, and many perform or craft to sustain trade with the outside world. Decisions within a caravan are made communally, typically in open gatherings where all adult members are free to speak, argue, advise, and vote. These councils may happen around a campfire, within a ring of wagons, or beneath a moonlit sky, and no voice is considered lesser for its station—only its wisdom, experience, and clarity of thought. Matters ranging from the caravan’s route and trade decisions to internal disputes or the welcoming of new members are settled through discussion and consensus. The goal is rarely unanimity, but rather a harmonious direction all can accept.Despite the lack of formal titles, most caravans naturally gravitate toward a de facto leader, typically an elder or highly respected figure. This person is not appointed, elected, or granted power, but earned their influence over time through sound judgment, acts of kindness, and an even hand in conflict. When the caravan is divided or faces crisis, it is often this individual who calls a council to order or proposes the course of action. However, this respect can be lost just as it is earned—if their actions begin to fracture the caravan or stray from its values, they will find themselves no longer heeded.
Moon elf law is not written, but carried in memory, song, and story—a customary code passed down from one generation to the next. Justice is handled internally and tailored to the situation, with an emphasis on reconciliation, restitution, and maintaining harmony within the group. Theft from within the caravan is considered a grave offense, as is betrayal of trust or endangering others through selfishness. Punishments vary from enforced tasks to public apology ceremonies, and in the rarest, most severe cases, banishment—a punishment dreaded not for isolation, but for the shame of being exiled from one's kin beneath the Moons.
Despite their informal structure, moon elf caravans function with surprising cohesion. Their egalitarianism is a source of pride, and many believe that only through shared burdens can freedom be truly preserved. Outsiders sometimes see this lack of authority as chaotic, but moon elves know that their system has a rhythm all its own.
Commerce & Trade
Moon elf caravans are natural participants in trade and commerce, their nomadic lifestyle placing them at the crossroads of regions, cultures, and economies. Rather than mass producers of raw goods, moon elves are best known as skilled artisans, entertainers, guides, and traders of exotic curiosities, bringing both tangible and intangible value to the communities they pass through.Moon elves are exceptional at ornamented craftsmanship. Their goods often include intricately beaded jewelry, embroidered cloth, wood carvings, painted lanterns, and silver-inlaid tools or weapons. Each piece reflects personal and ancestral motifs, often incorporating lunar symbols and wintery themes. Their crafts are especially prized for the way they blend elven finesse with foreign techniques picked up along their travels.
They also bring a level of performance and entertainment as a commodity to the places they visit. For example, moon elves are well-known—and sometimes feared—for their diviners and seers, who offer services such as tarot-like card readings, dream interpretation, palmistry, or moon-casting (a ritual form of divination performed under moonlight). While some outsiders view this as mere showmanship, moon elves take it seriously as both spiritual practice and a way to make some coin. Additionally, caravans often travel with musicians, dancers, storytellers, and illusionists. Their performances are more than entertainment—they’re an experience: blending moonlit ambiance, illusion magic, and folk songs. Local communities sometimes pay in coin or trade goods simply to host a moon elf performance during a festival or special night.
Moon elves are also known for their fermented milk drink, sulunae, and other preserved foodstuffs, such as spiced dried fruits, salted meats, and vinegars. While simple, these goods are popular for their flavor and long shelf life. They are also known to act as traveling middlemen, trading in odds and ends, rare imports, unusual relics, or minor magical trinkets picked up from distant lands. They are particularly adept at barter, always seeming to have something strange or useful just when it is needed.
Settlements & Architecture
The heart of moon elf society is not found in cities or palaces, but in their caravans—living, breathing communities in motion. To a moon elf, they are home, hearth, and heritage all at once. It is both a practical arrangement and a cultural expression, shaped by generations of wandering under the stars. Each caravan is a miniature world unto itself: a place of shared labor, celebration, learning, and magic, rolling gently through the world on creaking wheels. Caravans are almost always accompanied by beautifully crafted wagons, each a personal statement of artistry and devotion. More than just modes of transportation, they are cherished homes, shrines to memory, and vessels of beauty that wind across the world. Each wagon is uniquely crafted, a fusion of artistry and practicality, and no two are exactly alike. Decorated with intricate carvings, painted motifs of stars, moons, and ancestral spirits, and hung with charms, bells, or shimmering glass baubles, a moon elf wagon tells the story of its family through every detail. Curtains of dyed fabric and silver-threaded lace flutter in the breeze, while the inside is often cozy, layered with woven blankets, braided rugs, and softly glowing lanterns that use phosphorescent moss. Structurally, moon elf wagons are smaller and lighter than typical merchant carts, designed for graceful mobility rather than brute capacity. Many are enchantingly warded to deter theft, weather, or pursuit, and the more magically gifted caravans will even have wagons that subtly shift their shape or glow softly at night. Folding awnings and concealed compartments allow the wagons to transform into performance stages, vendor stalls, or shaded resting areas. The roofs are often arched and reinforced with treated, flexible wood—both to withstand travel and to offer a curved ceiling ideal for hanging talismans or dreamcatchers.Transportation
Travel is constant, but not hurried. Caravans follow seasonal routes, often determined by the phases of the Moons or visions from seers and mystics, though the caravans gravitate towards the colder regions of Iolcus where moon elves are most comfortable. They may linger in one place for weeks if the omens are right or if the local population is welcoming—particularly in regions with robust trade or a friendly attitude toward elves. However, they never stay too long, guided by an old saying: “We rest where the Moons hang low, and leave before the Sun forgets us”. The pace of life in a caravan is rhythmic and communal. Each day begins with preparation for the road, from tending to animals to casting minor wards and weather-reading spells. Midday is for travel, with wagons winding in a sinuous line like a serpent across the landscape. In the evenings, the caravan halts and a temporary camp is established, complete with canvas canopies, communal fires, and the ever-present music of flutes, strings, and voices. Meals are shared affairs, and nights are filled with performances, rituals, and teaching—children learn dances, languages, swordplay, or magic from their elders by starlight.As for the animals that pull their wagons, moon elves traditionally favor mountain aurochs—broad-shouldered, dark-furred bovines that are bred for endurance and obedience. Aurochs are incredibly hardy and can weather snow and storm alike. Females are especially valued, as they provide a mobile source of milk. Some families even decorate their horns with silver caps or beads as a sign of reverence.
Magic Traditions
Moon elf magic is deeply tied to emotion, intuition, and shared belief, with occult magic being their most dominant tradition—born from the collective subconscious of their caravans and expressed through bards, witches, and dream-readers who weave enchantments from song and vision rather than study. Primal magic also plays a significant role, especially among druids and rangers who, shaped by a nomadic life, develop an instinctual reverence for nature—particularly cold, moonlit landscapes—blending elemental spells with communal rituals. Though gifted with arcane potential, moon elves approach it improvisationally, favoring illusions and enchantments learned through mentorship or experience over rigid institutions. Divine magic, while acknowledged through reverence for Nephinae, is rare and unstructured; few moon elves embrace the strict paths of clerics or paladins, instead practicing personal, symbolic forms of devotion rooted in daily life and quiet rituals under the Moons.Relations
Unlike their more isolationist kin, moon elves welcome interaction with other races, often trading goods, stories, and ideas as they pass through distant towns or foreign kingdoms. Moon elves are among the most cosmopolitan of elvenkind, feeling at home in the cities of non-elves. They see their nomadism not as rootlessness but as a sacred calling to carry elven ideals to others, forming bridges between races rather than walls. To them, non-elven perspectives are not a threat but a treasure trove of insight. They see no shame in learning from others—in fact, they see it as essential to growth. This open-mindedness makes them adept at blending cultures, adopting useful customs, crafts, or magic from other peoples while infusing them with their own mystique.
Despite their charm, artistry, and flair for trade, moon elves are not welcomed everywhere. In many structured or conservative societies, their arrival is met not with celebration, but with suspicion—or outright hostility. Whether rooted in prejudice, superstition, or bad experiences, there exists a widespread belief in some regions that moon elf caravans bring with them chaos, disorder, and theft. The nomadic nature of moon elves already places them at odds with many sedentary cultures, which prize permanence and conformity. To such societies, the moon elves’ constant movement, lack of centralized leadership, and refusal to assimilate fully into local customs mark them as unpredictable outsiders. Their love of festivals, late-night music, fortune-telling, and individual freedom are seen as frivolous or disruptive. In wealthier cities and militaristic states, moon elves are sometimes even painted as charlatans and pickpockets, falsely accused of scheming, sleight-of-hand theft, or preying on the naïve. Tales of trinkets turning to ash, livestock gone missing, or marriages ruined after a moon elf’s whispered prophecy are passed around like folk warnings—more folklore than fact, but damaging nonetheless.
Because of these suspicions, many towns and cities have laws—written or unspoken—that bar moon elf caravans from entering the city gates or camping nearby for too long. In some kingdoms, especially those with strict religious doctrines or nationalist ideologies, guards will actively escort or drive them away, sometimes with threats or violence. A few paranoid realms have even labeled moon elves as agents of unrest, spies, or anarchists. Ironically, this rejection fuels the very behavior societies fear. In areas where they are treated as criminals or vermin, younger moon elves might resort to petty crime or manipulation to survive, especially if turned away without food or shelter. In this way, the stigma becomes self-perpetuating—and deeply difficult to undo.
In broader elven society, moon elves are often seen as eccentric, unruly, or naïve—derided as lacking discipline or decorum—but moon elves do not seek validation from their cousins. They carry with them a confidence born from survival, a culture shaped by change, and a belief that even a single person can reshape the world through kindness, cunning, or courage.
Astral Elves
Astral elves and moon elves share a deep cultural affinity, rooted in a philosophical orientation toward introspection and mystery. Both peoples tend to be contemplative, curious, and attuned to the greater workings of the world around them—qualities that foster a sense of quiet camaraderie. To many moon elves, astral elves feel like kindred spirits: distant cousins who chose a more radical path, trading the quiet serenity of the night for the vast unknown of the firmament. Astral elves, in turn, often regard moon elves with a gentle fondness. While they may see their lunar kin as somewhat passive or romantically inclined toward the esoteric, they also respect their deep emotional intuition—qualities that astral elves themselves often lack. There is little political friction between the two, as astral elves rarely challenge the moon elves’ lifestyle or purpose, and both cultures tend to prize personal freedom and magical exploration over rigid governance.Dwarves
TEXTSun Elves
The animosity between sun elves and moon elves runs deep, an ancient schism etched into both blood and belief. The two cultures engage in a quiet, enduring conflict marked by subterfuge, sabotage, and political maneuvering. Their gods, Cylas and Nephinae, embody opposing philosophies, and their faithful often act as proxies in a divine rivalry that has lasted for centuries. To the sun elves, moon elves are dangerous mystics who harbor heretical ideas and consort too closely with forces best left alone. To the moon elves, sun elves are tyrants cloaked in facades, whose obsession with order masks an unrelenting hunger for control. Hostility simmers beneath even the most civil interactions. In arcane institutions, both sides plant agents to influence magical theory and policy. Moon elf agents have been known to infiltrate sun elf courts, feeding misinformation and subtly sabotaging their magical infrastructure, while sun elf inquisitors quietly root out Nephinae's influence wherever it surfaces, often with ruthless efficiency. Though they share a common ancestry, sun and moon elves regard each other less as kin and more as ideological enemies locked in a perpetual struggle for dominance—one veiled in civility but sharpened with every word, spell, and silence.Wood Elves
Moon elves and wood elves share a more sympathetic bond than either has with the sun elves, but their relationship is still marked by quiet distance and underlying divergence. Both peoples embrace a certain freedom from hierarchy and dogma, and both live in harmony with their surroundings—moon elves with the night, wood elves with the living earth. They often find kinship in their shared appreciation for beauty, fluidity, and intuition over rigidity. Cultural exchanges between the two are not uncommon, particularly in music, art, and ritual. However, the divide lies in where they place their reverence. Moon elves look upward—to the Moons and to Nephinae—believing that truth is written in the heavens. Wood elves, by contrast, look downward and inward, to Iolcus itself, believing the planet has soaked in the essence of all celestial light and now holds the truest power. To wood elves, the moon elves’ worship feels misplaced, a distraction from the world that cradles them. Meanwhile, moon elves may find wood elf beliefs dour, mistaking their quiet reverence for gloom or superstition. For all their mysticism, they often find the wood elves' flesh-borne communion too visceral, too intimate—knowledge without boundaries, memory without consent. Despite these differences, there is little animosity between the two cultures.Adventurers
A moon elf might become an adventurer not just out of wanderlust, but as part of a long-standing cultural tradition known as the Dilatati—a rite of passage in which young moon elves leave their caravan to walk the wider world, immerse themselves in foreign lands, and return bearing stories, insights, and wisdom to share with their people. This pilgrimage is seen as both a personal journey and a communal offering; the more one learns of others, the more the caravan is enriched. While some moon elves undertake the Dilatati for only a few seasons, others vanish for years—or never return at all, choosing instead to make a home among other peoples and spread their culture outward. The impulse to adventure is thus not seen as selfish or odd, but as honorable—a natural extension of their ideals of curiosity, personal growth, and the belief that understanding other societies strengthens the elven spirit. Many moon elves who stray become adventurers, traveling performers, mercenaries, diplomats, or scholars, each collecting new experiences like beads on a string before one day finding their way back to the moonlit road.
Racial Traits
General Information
Maturity
Childhood: 0 - 25 years
Young Adulthood: 25 - 100 years
Mature Adulthood: 100 - 600 years
Elderhood: 600 - 800 years
Average Lifespan
750 years
Average Height
5 ft. 3 in. – 6 ft. 2 in.
Average Weight
100 – 150 lbs.
Dungeons & Dragons 5e
Moon Elf - D&D 5e Stat Block
Pathfinder 1e
Moon Elf - Pathfinder 1e Stat Block
Pathfinder 2e
Elf - Pathfinder 2e Stat Block
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