Desert Elves

Desert Elves

Desert Elves are those who inhabit the desert of Arberia, typically wandering in tribes and seeking resources for survival. They prefer to be left alone to their tribal lives, but they are amply helpful and eager to provide aid to travelers who tread too far into the wastes. While Desert Elves follow the Prime Canon, they especially worship Ah'yelan, who they believe to guard them along their travels through the desert.

General Information

Rarity: Common. (You may play this race without consulting the DM.)
Physical Description: Desert Elves are well-adapted to their wasteland homes, with tanner skin and more compact frames, and they are shorter than most humans but weigh around the same. Desert Elves of any gender may have body hair, though neither have facial hair. Their hair is typically brown or blonde. Another adaptation unique to the Desert Elves is their eyelashes, which tend to be thicker and more dense. As all Elves, they have long pointed ears. The culture of the Desert Elves within Arberia is known as Desrati, and they are some of the most effective guides and survivalists within the burning sands.
Family Structure: Desert Elves wander across the desert with their extended families and friends, in which all members typically have a close relationship. Desert Elves are among the friendliest and most harmonious of races, for petty squabbles and distaste for fellow travelers can quickly lead to death in the unforgiving environments that these Elves frequent. Some Elves may have connections outside of their tribe, but these either remain largely professional or they result in a merging of two tribes. Similarly, individuals which feel disconnected from their families, or ashamed of their actions, may leave and find another tribe to join.
Attitude Toward Society: Desert Elves can fit well into the settlements that have begun to dot the Arberian desert or beyond, but they do prefer the freedom of the road, and they do not tend to stay in such places for long. Nomadic Desert Elves have their own sorts of social norms and structures, but these are much less rigid, since all participants are close friends and allies. Still, deviants from these norms can get into quite dire situations, as their survival largely depends on participation in the group, and other groups can be difficult to find - if they'd even accept them.
Attitude Toward Gender: Desert Elves do not typically align with any gender, and most of the tribes do not have any gender norms. Those that do typically follow the standard gender rules of Elven society, keeping them alive from when they split away in times long passed. When they enter human settlements, they typically fall into portraying the gender closest to how they'd usually present.
Attitude Toward Relationships: Desert Elves have no bias towards homosexuality or heterosexuality, and whether they are generally monogamous or polygamous depends heavily on the specific tribe. Marriage is rarely a custom, however, and even most closed relationships tend to be a little more flexible as a result.

Race (5e)

Desert Elves (5e)

ability score increase: +1 Constitution

age: Desert Elves typically mature by age 20, and have lifespans of up to 150 years. Some Desert Elves remain in their tribal memories for ages, and many Desert Elves consider this on par with immortality. Elves which make extensive use of magic have been known to live up to four hundred years.

Size: Medium

speed: 30ft

Languages:

race features:
Farvision: You can see twice as far in dim light, and retain the ability to distinguish colors and detail under these conditions.
Children of the Peacock: You are blessed by Ah'yelan, and have access to the light cantrip. After you reach 3rd level, you additionally gain access to the pass without trace spell, which you may use once between long rests. The ability score for these spells is Constitution.
Desert Dweller: Your body is naturally adjusted to harsh temperatures and tough terrain, and you are not impacted by the effects of extreme heat (as described in Chapter 5 of the DMG). You ignore any drawbacks caused by desert environments such as difficult terrain or hazards. You are resistant to fire damage.

Desert Elf - Variant (Spheres of Power)

Children of the Peacock: You gain access to the Light sphere. You do not use its abilities with a casting tradition, unless you are a caster, in which case adding a magical talent to the Light sphere forces it to make use of your casting tradition. In addition, non-casters gain access to one spell point per day, which recharges after a long rest. This replaces the default version of Children of the Peacock.

Ancestry (Pathfinder 2e)

Desert Elven feats emphasize their fascination with light, their mystical practices, and their willingness to help other travelers around them.

Desert Elves

Hit Points

8

Size

Medium

Speed

30

Ability Boosts

Constitution, Strength, Free

Ability Flaw

Intelligence

Traits

Humanoid, Mortal, Desert Elf

Languages

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

Special Abilities

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Heritages

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Jewel Elf: Your family comess from one of the desert's Jewel-Cities and you are well-adapted to Arberian lore and culture. You become trained in one Lore skill and one other Intelligence- or Wisdom-based skill of your choice. At 5th level, you become expert in the chosen skills.
Farsight Elf: Your eyes have adapted to see more in less-than-favorable conditions, such as sandstorms. You gain low-light vision.
Tribal Elf: You live under the desert's blazing heat, gaining incredible resilience to warm environments. You gain fire resistance equal to half your level (minimum 1), and environmental heat effects are one step less extreme for you (incredible heat becomes extreme, extreme heat becomes severe, and so on).
Wastes Elf: Your tribe lives within the desert's wastes, where life is barely tenable. If you fail, but not critically fail, to Subsist in the wilderness, you can still keep yourself fed with poor meals. When exploring, you can Hustle twice as long before you have to stop.

Ancestry Feats

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Name	Traits	Level	Prerequisites	Benefits	Details
Desert Weapon Familiarity	Desert Elf	1	-	You have adapted to weapons which are common to the Arberian desert.	Show spoiler You have adapted to weapons which are common to the Arberian desert. You are trained with dueling spears, bladed scarves, bo staves, katanas, kamas, bolas and chakras.
Desrati Lore	Desert Elf	1	-	You’re familiar with traditional Desert Elven practices, holding tight to friendship and survivalism above all.	Show spoiler You’re familiar with traditional Desert Elven practices, holding tight to friendship and survivalism above all. You gain the trained proficiency rank in Survival and Diplomacy. 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 Desert Elven Lore.
Intuitive Cooperation	Desert Elf	1	-	You are accustomed to working alongside others, relying on each other to get by.	Show spoiler You are accustomed to working alongside others, relying on each other to get by. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to checks to Aid, and your allies gain a +2 circumstance bonus to checks to Aid you.
Irrepresssible	Desert Elf	1	-	Your trusting nature means you bounce back with prejudice.	Show spoiler Your trusting nature means you bounce back with prejudice. When you roll a success on a save against an emotion or fear effect, you get a critical success instead.
Natural Performer	Desert Elf	1	-	Entertainment comes naturally to you.	Show spoiler Entertainment comes naturally to you. You become trained in Performance and gain one 1st-level Performance skill feat.
Night Wanderer	Desert Elf	1	-	You are used to traveling the desert at night.	Show spoiler You are used to traveling the desert at night. You gain low-light vision.
Razzle-Dazzle	Desert Elf	1	-	You've spent considerable time practicing the manipulation of light, weaponizing your blade's reflection or bolstering the luminosity of magical displays to unconventional heights.	Show spoiler You've spent considerable time practicing the manipulation of light, weaponizing your blade's reflection or bolstering the luminosity of magical displays to unconventional heights. Once per hour, when you blind or dazzle a creature, extend the duration of the blinded or dazzled condition you give the target by 1 round.
Unwavering Mien	Desert Elf	1	-	Your mystic control and meditations allow you to resist external influences upon your consciousness.	Show spoiler Your mystic control and meditations allow you to resist external influences upon your consciousness. Whenever you are affected by a mental effect that lasts at least 2 rounds, you can reduce the duration by 1 round. You still require natural sleep, but you treat your saving throws against effects that would cause you to fall asleep as one degree of success better. This protects only against sleep effects, not against other forms of falling unconscious.
Boundless Expanse	Desert Elf	5	-	The desert hides little, save for its ever-present dangers. You are always on edge.	Show spoiler The desert hides little, save for its ever-present dangers. You are always on edge. When you roll initiative, you Interact to draw a weapon.
Desert Weapon Expertise	Desert Elf	5	Desert Weapon Familiarity	You have furthered your expertise with the weapons of the desert.	Show spoiler You have furthered your expertise with the weapons of the desert. Whenever you critically hit using one of the weapons listed in Desert Weapon Familiarity, you apply the weapon's critical specialization effect.
Heat Bather	Desert Elf	5	-	You have a love for extreme heat.	Show spoiler You have a love for extreme heat. You gain resistance 4 to fire. You treat environmental heat effects as if they were one step less extreme (incredible heat becomes extreme, extreme heat becomes severe, and so on).
Nomadic Camaraderie	Desert Elf	5	-	You are an expert leader, stemming from your tribe always being willing to help fellow wanderers.	Show spoiler You are an expert leader, stemming from your tribe always being willing to help fellow wanderers. While exploring, when you are leading and allies are Following the Expert, you grant a +3 circumstance bonus instead of +2 if you’re an expert in the applicable skill, and a +4 circumstance bonus if you’re a master.
Sand Song	Desert Elf, Auditory, Concentrate, Emotion, Mental	5	-	You sing a traditional song of your people, and your foes become captivated.	Show spoiler You sing a traditional song of your people, and your foes become captivated. Attempt a Performance check against the Will DCs of all enemies in a 30-foot emanation. Critical Success: the target takes a -10-foot status penalty to its Speed and is flat-footed, both for 1 round. Success: The target takes a -5-foot status penalty to its Speed for 1 round. Critical Failure: The target is temporarily immune for 1 hour.
Brightness Seeker	Desert Elf	9	-	Once per day, you can spend 10 minutes studying your surroundings in search of omens related to a particular course of action to cast augury as an innate divine spell.	Show spoiler Once per day, you can spend 10 minutes studying your surroundings in search of omens related to a particular course of action to cast augury as an innate divine spell. Unless the result of the augury was “nothing,” you gain the following reaction for the next 30 minutes. Call Upon the Brightness: when you attempt an attack roll, skill check, or saving throw while performing the course of action from your augury, but you haven't yet rolled, you gain a +1 status bonus to the triggering check, or a +2 status bonus if the result of the augury was "woe" and you proceeded anyway.
Desert Step	Desert Elf	9	-	You move in a graceful dance, and even your steps are broad.	Show spoiler You move in a graceful dance, and even your steps are broad. You Step 5 feet twice.
Desrati Hospitality	Desert Elf	9	-	You can use magic to show others desert hospitality.	Show spoiler You can use magic to show others desert hospitality. You can cast 2nd-level create food once per day and create water twice per day as arcane innate spells.
Returning Throw	Desert Elf	9	-	You have mastered the technique of arcing a projectile so that it returns to your hand after being thrown, though this requires a moment to precisely calculate the trajectory and possible ricochets.	Show spoiler You have mastered the technique of arcing a projectile so that it returns to your hand after being thrown, though this requires a moment to precisely calculate the trajectory and possible ricochets. This takes two actions. Make a ranged Strike with a thrown weapon. Once the Strike is complete, the weapon arcs or ricochets back to your hand. If your hands are full when the weapon returns, it falls to the ground in your space.
Ah'yelan's Favor	Desert Elf	13	-	The Peagod smiles upon you and your friends.	Show spoiler The Peagod smiles upon you and your friends. You can cast breath of life as a divine innate spell once per day.
Desert Weapon Mastery	Desert Elf	13	Desert Weapon Familiarity	You have spent much time with traditional Desrati weapons, and you can use them with great skill.	Show spoiler You have spent much time with traditional Desrati weapons, and you can use them with great skill. Whenever you gain a class feature that grants you expert or greater proficiency in certain weapons, you also gain that proficiency in the weapons listed in Desert Weapon Familiarity.

You Might...

• Provide comfort, necessities such as food, and a sense of kinship to those in distress.
• Hate cold and subterranean environments, favoring to bathe in the sun's warmth.
• Form strong bonds with those you travel with.

Others Probably...

• Look to you first on matters of tracking or survival.
• Admire your kindness and empathy towards strangers.
• Find the swiftness with which you bond to them admirable or off-putting.

by PGT Creative

by PGT Creative