Dark Elves

Dark Elves

The history of the Dark Elves' emergence is complex. The High Elves - and their other descendent Elven races - had always had a broad range of skin tones and complexions, but these "dark Elves" were not considered a distinct group of peoples until the March of the Darkened, which saw an outflux of Elves towards the swamps of Farenai when The Strife came to Delos'Nordan. These Elves were not dark in and of themselves, but they followed a religious heresy that abandoned the Prime Canon in favor of a mortal-god, the Dark Pariah. The Pariah's flock had a habit of ritualistically painting their skin a dark ashen grey, and when his people declared their independence from the High Elven empire, they were labeled as worshippers of demons and hedonism. This double-association of "darkness" gave the followers of the Pariah the moniker of Dark Elves, as they became a distinct ethnic group in and of themselves.
The history only gets muddier from here on out: ritualistic ashening persists to this day in Farenai, but even Dark Elves who have abandoned the practice for generations retain a distinctive silvery-dark skin. Thus, modern Dark Elves are, legitimately, dark Elves (at least in a sense - they are silvery-dark-skinned Elves; brown- and black-skinned Elves, in the sense we use as humans, are not inherently Dark Elves, and most would be considered Forest or High Elves). Two theories persist among biologists about how this fact developed: simple genetic selection arising from Farenese Elves' valuation of ashened skin, and the natural development of ashier skin as a result of a lack of exposure to the sun in the dark Farenese swamps throughout generations. Dark Elves who follow the Dark Pariah offer yet another alternative, ascribing holiness to the naturally ashen skin, and viewing it as a gift provided to them so that they may distinguish between kin and enemies.

General Information

Rarity: Common. (You may play this race without consulting the DM.)
Physical Description: Elves are tall humanoids with unearthly grace and fine features. Dark Elves tend to be on the stronger side compared to most Elves, though they are typically slightly shorter and smaller than their human counterparts. Their skin gives them their name, as it is typically dark gray, black, or otherwise shadowy, and their hair is similarly black. Dark Elves display more dimorphism than their Elven brethren, with men having facial and body hair, while women usually lack both. As all Elves, they have long pointed ears.
Family Structure: Dark Elves are a deeply communal people. They typically live in decentralized villages or ethnic enclaves wherever they are found, where all members take care of each other and all are expected to contribute duties to the community's well-being. Children are raised as a group, and they are given duties as soon as they are old enough to successfuly administer them.
Dark Elves do not typically have surnames. Some adopt surnames from the broader cultures they exist within. Dark Elves from Farenai, which styles itself as the homeland of the race, may adopt a surname if they have associations with a Saint or Prophet - honorific titles which are bestowed upon the most prestigious of community members.
Attitude Toward Society: Dark Elves prefer their reclusive enclaves to any strongly organized society, but such enclaves still tend to have a fairly clear and concrete structure even if it goes unstated. Those who neglect their communal duties, for example, will be shunned and, occasionally, outcast if they do not repair relations with their neighbors. Many Dark Elves also feel a drive to go "above and beyond," as reputation carries a lot of weight in such a system of social organization. In Farenai, this drive is canonized, as communities can honor their members by bestowing Sainthood upon them. Even more rarely, the nation can reward truly exceptional Dark Elves through Prophethood, which all Farenese strive towards.
Attitude Toward Gender: Gender is a complicated construct in Dark Elven society. It is, unlike other Elven societies, surprisingly binary, and some exalted roles, such as the feared Dread Witches, are exclusive to women. It is, however, possible for a Dark Elf to change their gender within the binary, so long as they can pass a series of rituals to prove themselves; at that point, any who mock or misgender them are considered blasphemers, which is a label one should never strive for in this Elven society. Saints and Messiahs may be of either gender, and the Dark Pariah is considered genderless.
Attitude Toward Relationships: Dark Elves typically take on a life partner, but remain open to other consorts, which aren't viewed with nearly as much significance. The gender of the one you love is hardly a factor to Dark Elves, despite their rigid gender norms, and all orientations are openly accepted by most.

Race (5e)

Dark Elves (5e)

ability score increase: +1 Wisdom

age: Dark Elves typically mature by age 20, and have lifespans of up to 150 years. Some Dark Elves claim functional immortality, and Elves which make extensive use of magic have been known to live up to four hundred years.

Size: Medium

speed: 30ft

Languages:

race features:
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.
Blood of the Pariah: You have the ability to cast darkness as per the spell once between short rests. You may treat this Darkness as non-magical for the purposes of your Darkvision.
Soul Unbound: You have advantage on all Wisdom and Stress saving throws.

Dark Elf - Variant (Spheres of Power)

Blood of the Pariah: You gain the Spare the Dying cantrip. You also have the ability to cast Darkness as per the spell once between short rests.

Ancestry (Pathfinder 2e)

Dark Elven feats emphasize their practices of painting or ashening their skin, their ability to survive in the harshest of environments, and the magic that lingers innately among many of them.

Dark Elves

Hit Points

6

Size

Medium

Speed

30

Ability Boosts

Constitution, Free

Ability Flaw

Traits

Humanoid, Mortal, Dark Elf

Languages

Human Common, Karo'rithei, additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it's positive).

Special Abilities

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Low-Light Vision: You can see in dim light as though it were bright light, so you ignore the concealed condition due to dim light.

Heritages

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Shadedweller Elf: Your family comes from the swamps of Farenai, or perhaps some other dark environment. You gain Darkvision.
Seer Elf: You have an inborn ability to detect and understand magical phenomena. You can cast the detect magic cantrip as an arcane innate spell at will. A cantrip is heightened to a spell level equal to half your level rounded up. In addition, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks to Identify Magic and to Decipher Writing of a magical nature. These skill actions typically use the Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion skill.
Resolute Dark Elf: Your ancestors have long dealt with grave dangers and turmoil, and you bear their mental fortitude. When you roll a success on a saving throw against an emotion effect, you get a critical success instead.
Cautious Dark Elf: You've learned to watch for telltale signs of dangerous sentiments to help you avoid trouble. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your Perception DC against attempts to Lie to you and your Perception checks to Sense Motive.

Ancestry Feats

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Name	Traits	Level	Prerequisites	Benefits	Details
Avenge in Glory	Dark Elf	1	-	You honor your ally’s life, gaining temporary Hit Points equal to your level for 1 minute.	Show spoiler Once per day, when an ally within 30 feet gains the dying condition, you honor their life and gain temporary Hit Points equal to your level for 1 minute. As long as you have these temporary Hit Points, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to attack and damage rolls.
Dark Elven Lore	Dark Elf	1	-	Through shared oppression and common beliefs, you are firmly ingrained in the culture of your people.	Show spoiler Through shared oppression and common beliefs, you are firmly ingrained in the culture of your people. You gain the trained proficiency rank in Occultism and Society. If you would automatically become trained in one of those skills (from your background or class, for example), you instead become trained in a skill of your choice. You also become trained in Dark Elven Lore.
Dark Elven Superstition	Concentrate, Dark Elf	1	-	You defend yourself against magic by relying on techniques derived from Dark Elven cultural superstitions.	Show spoiler When you attempt a saving throw against a spell or magical effect, but before rolling, you defend yourself against magic by relying on techniques derived from Dark Elven cultural superstitions. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your saving throw against the triggering spell or magical effect.
Faith in Shadow	Dark Elf, Illusion, Occult, Shadow	1	-	You draw shadows close to create a shroud.	Show spoiler You draw shadows close to create a shroud. When a creature attempts a flat check to target you while you're concealed or hidden due to dim light or darkness, increase the DC of the flat check by 2.
Monstrous Peacemaker	Dark Elf	1	-	Your experiences with others' prejudice and the deadly swamps of Farenai has given you a unique perspective.	Show spoiler Your experiences with others' prejudice and the deadly swamps of Farenai has given you a unique perspective, allowing you to bridge the gap between humans and the many intelligent creatures in the world that humans consider monsters. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks against intelligent beings that are marginalized in the society you find yourself in (at the GM's discretion, depending on locale). You also gain this bonus on Perception checks to Sense the Motives of such beings.
Shrouded Magic	Dark Elf	1	-	Choose one cantrip from the occult spell list.	Show spoiler Choose one cantrip from the occult spell list. You can cast this cantrip as an occult innate spell at will, heightened to a spell level equal to half your level rounded up.
Slink	Dark Elf	1	-	You can move through gloom with the speed of darkness.	Show spoiler You can move through gloom with the speed of darkness. You can move 5 feet farther when you take the Sneak action, up to your Speed. In addition, as long as you continue to use Sneak actions and succeed at your Stealth check, you don't become observed if you end a Sneak action in dim light or darkness, as long as you have cover or greater cover or are concealed at the end of your turn.
Staunchly Confident	Dark Elf	1	-	Your learned confidence makes it harder for others to order you around.	Show spoiler Your learned confidence makes it harder for others to order you around. If you roll a success on a saving throw against a mental effect that attempts to directly control your actions, you critically succeed instead. If a creature rolls a failure on a check to Coerce you using Intimidation, it gets a critical failure instead (so it can't try to Coerce you again for 1 week).
Warpaint	Dark Elf	1	-	You can mask your face with warpaint.	Show spoiler You can mask your face with warpaint, an invested magic item of negligible Bulk with an item level equal to your level and a usage of worn (mask). It has the divination trait and a magical tradition trait depending on its type. Donning or removing your warpaint requires 1 minute of work, though you don't need to Invest the mask each time. The warmask is unique to you and might signify your hold, your accomplishments, or your faith. While creating your mask, you must choose the source of your warmask's power from the options below. This source determines the mask's associated skill as well as magical tradition. Once you select this source, it can't be changed. You become trained in the associated skill, and you gain the Dubious Knowledge skill feat as a bonus feat. You can spend 1 hour performing a ceremony that costs 50 gp to attune yourself more deeply with your warmask. If you do, you gain a +1 item bonus to the associated skill whenever you wear the warmask. The Gods: Religion, divine tradition The Wilds: Nature, primal tradition The Warp: Arcana, arcane tradition The Stars: Occultism, occult tradition
Dark Elven Instincts	Dark Elf	5	-	Your keen senses let you react rapidly.	Show spoiler Your senses let you react rapidly. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception checks made as initiative rolls. Additionally, if your initiative roll result is tied with that of an opponent, you go first, regardless of whether you rolled Perception or not.
Mask of Power	Dark Elf	5	Warpaint	Your warpaint sharpens your connection to the source of your mask's power.	Show spoiler Your warpaint sharpens your connection to the source of your mask's power. During your daily preparations, choose fear, phantom pain, or true strike. Until your next daily preparations, you can cast this spell as a 1st-level innate spell once per day; the spell's tradition is determined by the tradition tied to your warmask. You must be wearing your warmask to Cast the Spell.
Mask of Rejection	Dark Elf, Fortune	5	Warpaint	Your warpaint projects a white-hot fury that attempts to vaporize the offending magic.	Show spoiler Once per day, when you fail a saving throw against an effect from your warpaint's magical tradition and you're wearing your warpaint, your warpaint projects a white-hot fury that attempts to vaporize the offending magic. You reroll the triggering check with a +2 circumstance bonus, but you must use the new result, even if it's worse than your first roll.
Strive Towards Glory	Dark Elf	5	-	Your own actions inspire your allies to great achievements.	Show spoiler Your own actions inspire your allies to great achievements. Whenever you critically succeed at a skill check, you automatically qualify to use the Aid reaction when attempting to help an ally using the same skill, even without spending an action to prepare to do so.
Supernatural Charm	Dark Elf	5	Shrouded Magic	The magic in your blood manifests as a force you can use to become more appealing or alluring.	Show spoiler The elven magic in your blood manifests as a force you can use to become more appealing or alluring. You can cast 1st-level charm as an arcane innate spell once per day.
Wrath of the Sword-Saint	Dark Elf, Auditory, Healing, Necromancy, Primal	9	-	You have a close connection to the Dark Pariah (or some other deity), and your fervor energizes you to great power.	Show spoiler You have a close connection to the Dark Pariah (or some other deity), and your fervor energizes you to great power. Once per day, you can release a mighty cry that fills you with revitalizing energy for 1 minute or until you critically fail a Strike, whichever comes first. For the duration, the first time each round you successfully Strike a creature of your level or higher, you regain Hit Points equal to half your level.
Mask of Pain	Dark Elf	9	Warpaint, expert in Intimidation	Your warpaint has grown into a manifestation of your pain, which you can release.	Show spoiler Your mask has grown into a manifestation of your pain, which you can release. When you succeed at a Demoralize check and you're wearing your warpaint, the creature you successfully Demoralized takes 2d6 mental damage, or 4d6 mental damage if you're legendary in Intimidation. The target is then temporarily immune to additional damage from Mask of Pain for 24 hours.
Pervasive Superstition	Dark Elf	9	Dark Elven Superstition	You steep yourself in superstition and practice ancient Dark Elven mental exercises for shrugging off the effects of magic.	Show spoiler You steep yourself in superstition and practice ancient Dark Elven mental exercises for shrugging off the effects of magic. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to saving throws against spells and magical effects at all times.
Silent Step	Dark Elf, Flourish	9	-	You vanish with silent treads.	Show spoiler You vanish with silent treads. You Step, then Hide or Sneak. You still need to meet the requirements to Hide or Sneak, as normal.
Mask of Fear	Dark Elf	13	Warpaint	Your warpaint burns off of your face, releasing your apprehension.	Show spoiler Your warpaint burns off of your face, releasing your apprehension. You remove the frightened condition. Your warmask is destroyed, and you can't reapply it until your next daily preparations. Special You can use this free action even if you have a condition tied to the frightened condition that would normally prevent you from using a free action, such as “fleeing as long as you're frightened” or “paralyzed as long as you're frightened.”
Elude Trouble	Dark Elf	17	-	You slip through your foe's opening.	Show spoiler When your foe misses you with a melee attack, you slip through your foe's opening. Stride up to your Speed. This movement doesn't trigger movement-based reactions from the creature that missed you.

You Might...

• Openly express sympathy for misrepresented and unfairly stigmatized cultures.
• Provide for those you hold dear and defend them from danger without hesitation.
• Maintain composure when faced with strange creatures and circumstances.

Others Probably...

• Treat you with distrust or suspicion and anticipate betrayal from you.
• Trust in your impartial, measured approach to understanding situations and solving problems.
• Recognize the deep connection you have with your family, heritage, and friends.

by PGT Creative

by PGT Creative