Vala'Suun

VALA’SUUN, Kelti (elves)
As Elf, but add…
True Name: May be summoned/banished as if (Type IV) demon.
Slow Chameleon: +1/level hide in shadows, when in same environment for 1d6 months.
Cold Iron Vulnerability. “Cold” iron weapons inflict 2x damage.
PC Vala’Suun are presumed to be Kelti and can never be Solti.

VALA’SUUN, Quaili (dark elves)
As Elf, but add…
True Name: See above.
Weapon Proficiencies: As Elf, but additionally… Blowgun, crossbow, dart, and garrote.
Slow Chameleon: See above. However, most are typically dark complected, from living in the darkness of the Underworld for most their lives. Their pigment changes at a much slower rate… 2d6 years.
Supernatural Patrons: Automatic. Must be “from” the Underworld.
Cold Iron Vulnerability. “Cold” iron weapons inflict 2x damage.
Cold Iron is specially “cold forged” for the purpose of harming fae and is not standard iron. Regular iron takes time to damage elves.
Innate Darkness: At 1st level, gain the Cleric spell Darkness in addition to your wizard spells. Do not suffer the -2 spell check reduction. May perform once per day/per level. No spell burn. No corruption. Patron taint/Misfire possible.
Innate Spider Climb: At 3rd level, gain Spider Climb as an innate power. Does not count against “maximum spells.” Use once per day/per level. No spell burn. No corruption. Patron taint/Misfire possible.
Innate Levitation: At 5th level, gain Levitate as an innate power. Does not count as a spell for purposes of “maximum spells”. Use once per day/per level. No spell burn. No corruption. Patron taint/Misfire possible.
Sunlight Sensitivity: Suffer -2 to all checks made in broad daylight.
Enhanced Infravision: See out to 120’ in total darkness.
Social Pariah: Due to their accursed reputations, all PER checks made on the surface world suffer a -2 penalty. This penalty is waived if the target of the interaction is evil (chaotic) or Lentokki.
Cannibalistic Tendencies: You were raised on an addictive diet of sentient flesh. Whether or not you gave this practice up, the temptation is always there. When faced with fallen foe, you must make a DC12 Will Save, or the distraction of a potential meal lowers any attack/skill check by -2 for 1d4 rounds (until you “pull it together.”).
Luck: As Elf.
Languages: As Elf.
Secret Lore: Quaili are the youngest race in existence, born from evil Kelti elves who retreated to the Underworld after the Sundering.

VALA’SUUN, Seresti (sea elves)
Hit Points: 1d6
Speed: 30’/40’ swim
Weapon Training: dagger, javelin, longsword, short sword, staff, spear, crossbow, net, trident
Alignment: Typically lawful, as they keep order amongst the creatures of the sea.
Magic/Caster Level/Patrons: As elf, but patron is most likely “sea adjacent.”
Infravision: 60’
Attack/Action Die/Save: As Elf
Languages: Common, High Elven (Solti High Speech), Sauhaughin, Aquan (under sea Common)
Other Abilities/Detriments: As Elf
Cold Iron Vulnerability: 2x damage from cold iron weapons.
Slow Chameleon: Default - oceanic tones, +1/level hide in shadows, when in same environment for 1d6 months.
Depth Resistance: Unaffected by pressures of deep sea diving.
Amphibious: Breathe both air and water.
Speak with Sea Creatures: Limited communication (single word requests) with undersea creatures of animal intelligence.
Enmity of Evil Sea Creatures: Mortal enemies of sauhaughin and lamprey men. -2d to any social interactions. However, +1 to hit against these enemies in combat.
OPTIONAL SERESTI RACIAL BENISONS
1. Water Manipulation (Seresti Only. Costs 3 Luck). May move/shape 5 cubic feet of water/level. May use to create water wall, or water push (DC 15 STR to resist, or pushed in single direction up to 30’).
2. Manipulate Coral ( Seresti Only. Costs 3 Luck). May shape 5 cubic feet/level coral into any basic shape. May sharpen into weapons (1d6 dmg then breaks) or traps. May create wall that provides 1/2 cover per 5’ and has 1d4 hp/5’.

HISTORY OF THE VALA’SUUN UPON GOTHENYA

The Eld. The Eldreth. The Sidhe. The Vala’Suun…
They were the messengers of the gods. Their mouthpieces. They were Solti, kings amongst slaves. Hand picked from their fey homelands, from amongst the children of nobles. But to appease their royal blood, they weren’t the only Vala’Suun taken, these nobles. Along with the Solti, the Ulta captured the select children of the Kelti, the servant caste. But the ultimate trick, or perhaps you think it an irony, was reserved for their arrival upon Gothenya.
For reasons still unknown, but rumored to be “the will of the gods,” the Solti, having come of age, found themselves infertile, at least upon the verdant soil of their new world. Did the gods limit their immortal numbers to quell any possible future uprisings? Surely the Kelti would foster no such ambitions, and thus they were (fortunately?) able to breed. However this reproductive process was limited to one bizarre condition... They may only produce offspring with one of the two native “thinking peoples” of the new world; man (see below).
After The Sundering emancipated the Solti from their god-lke masters, things quickly escalated. Some men thought the Solti to have been instrumental in the downfall of Mount Celene, working through their dark elf agents who eventually became the Quaili. What did the Winter Elves promise those of the dirt? Ascension? Nobility?
The Solti were quick to dismiss many amongst the “lesser” Kelti, so jealous of their ability to breed as they were. They forced the Kelti to take a bond of loyalty, fealty to the throne of Neishmehil. These Kelti were branded, in the manner of slaves. They would be bonded through arcane means to their “masters.” Though still technically free, these Sidhe could not take up arms against their “betters,” as was the nature of the magical brands upon their skin (and brains).
You can instantly tell a Kelti of Neishmehil from the “free folk” through these azure, glowing brands, typically splayed across their very faces.
Relations between man and Vala’Suun quickly broke down in the Age of Will, with the Solti retreating entirely to their forest kingdom of Neishmehil, shunning the world and even their own kind beyond its walls. You must understand that the Solti do not see the Kelti (or even the Quaili) as members of the same species as themselves.
In fact, the Solti foster a growing, festering hatred for any lesser Vala’Suun (the free folk amongst the Kelti) that denied their “gift” of indentured servitude.
Some men believe the secret to the fate of the gods resides within Neishmehil. And indeed, if it could be easily taken, long ago it would have been. It is only on rare occasions that the Solti leave their ancestral home to parlay with the lesser species beyond the Feywood.
Do the Solti believe in racial purity or a racial purity test? One would not go that far perhaps, as they are unified amongst themselves and rarely, if ever, put the question of loyalty to each other. Do they hate man or their cousins in the greater world? Here, there is a schism amongst the Solti of the High Court. Some believe their fate is entwined with the outcast Vala’Suun, while others believe that only once the Kelti have been fully absorbed into the world of man can the Solti move beyond them. By accepting and embracing the world of mortals, the Kelti condemned themselves to the filthy “circle of life” reserved for only the lowly.
The Solti are certainly doing nothing to help man’s opinion of them. They are seen as a species, haughty at best, xenophobic and racist at worst. It is known to not expect any help from Neishmehil if the world of man is ever threatened again, as they proved their lack of loyalty in the battle of Celene. Even facing down The Sundering itself, they closed their borders to both those seeking asylum and those seeking an army to stop the blood mages of the Sanguine Order.
It is certain that the Lentokki have designs on the elven nation. Surely they must. It’s a jewel that shines too brightly to be ignored by any intent on conquest. Especially those with eyes towards cracking open the holy mountain like an egg of gold.
In fact, the only reason why Wyeth never attempted to take it has something to do with their peace with the free folk amongst the Kelti. For whatever reason, even exiled as they were, these Vala’Suun demanded that the crown turn its gaze far from the Feywood. At least, this is how it is explained away by loyalists. In fact, it is secretly held that the crown still fears the eldritch powers within the fabled city of the Vala’Suun. But do the Lentokki harbor the same fears? I think not.
It is even said, rumored perhaps, that amongst the secretive god kings of Lentokk is a Solti blood mage. Perhaps even the never-seen Xerie Palinax himself (itself?).
“Intrude not upon the lands of fey, where vala’suun sun and ancient lines ley, For those who spy the gentle ones truth, The spawn of ruin shall taketh thine youth.”
The giants of the north, the Ultima Thule, have discovered a rend or rift in the fabric of the world, an entrance point to the feylands from which they originated. The Solti may attempt some crazy gambit to infiltrate these lands in order to find this alleged gate.
Based loosely upon Beyond the Black Gate…

Even the Kelti alive today do not know that their Solti cousins were once stolen slaves of the Ulta. It is even implied that any Kelti kidnapped at that same time have all since passed away, or were murdered to keep this secret. Their murderers may still be alive. The Solti.
What would the Kelti do? What would they demand? If the truth were to be known. What of justice? Could it even be had any longer? Many Solti have died. Are the murderers amongst their ranks?

MAGES

Vala’Suun mages often have their spells tattooed upon their bodies. Further, their station and rank are likewise branded upon their flesh in the form of concentric rings and arcane sigils.

TRUE NAMES

The true names of every Solti existent upon Gothenya is known to at least one Ulta aboard Celene. Now that they are dormant, the Solti seek to end their relationship with the godlings. Perhaps, since they are still bound, they know the gods are still alive. Perhaps they seek to invade the holy mountain to “do away” with their captors, once and for all. But how would they go about doing this?
How powerful is The Staying Hand? Strong enough to keep a Solti army at bay? What do the elves really fear within the cavernous walls of Celene?
“There are demons, untold and unknown to man, greater than any presumed to exist, behind those walls.”

THE REALM OF FAERIE

Jei'suul... The native home of the Vala’Suun and all the Sidhe is not so much distant from our own world, but rather overlapping it. The Vala’Suun and the Isagorn, both taken from this realm as children, cannot (due to magical ward) return home. Other fey creatures can come and go as they please (or have access), but not the kidnapped Sidhe. There are “elves” from Faerie who may travel to Gothenya, and afterwards return home, but they have evolved along different lines and are nearly a different species. This explains the Eladrin or Eld or similar elves, specifically of Faerie.

TERMS FOR VALA'SUUN

The very term “elf” is a bastardization of “eld,” or “timeless ones.” Some think it is derived from “aelfadl” or “nightmare.” Many Vala'Suun (particularly the Solti) consider the (common human) term "elf" to be a pejorative. Others don't really mind. All in all, it's just an extension of human-centric superstitions about the Vala'Suun, stemming from the roles they play in human myths.

SLEEP CYCLE

Vala'Suun do not require sleep, as other species do. Though they still must rest. Some believe them to be in meditation during this rest period. In truth, they enter a fugue state in which they are allowed to "visit" their home world of Jei'Suul, for the duration. Some find this a joyful experience, while others are tortured by the constant reminder of exactly what they've lost.
The Vala'Suun of Gothenya are predominantly not here by choice. They were essentially abducted from Jei'Suul to act as servants to "the gods" (the Ulta). For them, there is no way back. They are trapped. Invisible chains hold them back, as real as if they were made of iron. They are bound by cosmic law.
The Vala'Suun are a lawful species, in that the natural law of the cosmos impacts every action they take. What exactly is the nature of the compact between them and the Ulta is unknown. A secret known only to the Solti. One not shared with others, including their Kelti cousins.

REPRODUCTION & THE VALA'SUUN

The Vala’Suun lifecycle is a thing of great interest to any who wish to understand the delicate ecosystem of Gothenya. Upon arriving on Gothenya, the Solti quickly found that they’d completely lost the ability to reproduce. The Kelti also found, at least initially, that they had the same restriction. However a “work around” was soon discovered, for the “low elves” are in fact able to reproduce… specifically and ONLY with HUMANS.
When a human and Kelti mate, the result is indicative of either one extreme or the other. The offspring are either fully Kelti, in the sense that they share the exact racial characteristics of their elven parent, or they are essentially human. These "humans" born of mixed parentage are called Vistraal, and are not truly accepted by either of their ancestral lines. They do share some aspects in common with their fey parent, in that their lifetimes tend to be significantly extended (though unpredictable in exact length) and they occasionally exhibit or or more other fey characteristics (such as clear vision in low light settings, occasional pointed ears, and - very rarely - a "glamour"). There seems to be no true rhyme or reason as to which way a child might be born. There have been some studies alleging that children with a Kelti mother and human father are more likely to produce a “full Kelti” child. As opposed to the reverse, which tends to lead to more Vistraal.
Some say the Solti would be able to do the same, but simply refuse to lower themselves and deign to mate with a “lesser species.” Though, in reality, they have tried (out of desperation) and it simply doesn’t work.
Regardless, no “elf” may mate with another of their own kind. This fact has sort of forced the hand of the otherwise haughty Vala’Suun, forging interactions where their otherwise may be none. It is widely held that without the biological imperative, elves would strictly hide away in their own kingdoms and never give humans the time of day.
As far as other species are concerned, childbirth seems to be a phenomenon unique to Kelti and humans, and no records of other species intermingling are known to exist.

PSYCHOLOGY

Due to their practical immortality, Vala'Suun (the Solti, in particular) have memories of untold ages floating around in their brains. Often, this is too much to handle and their psyche makes adjustments to compensate.
Though they do not age physically, the elves age "spiritually," in that their personalities change over the years. They often have bouts of irrational behavior - perhaps once every 1,000 years. This may be expressed as a madness of sorts, or just an outflow of heavy emotions. Normally, Vala'Suun are not known for their emotional candor or expressiveness. These bouts may last days or even decades. During which, if the "afflicted" elf serves on any ruling council (or other prominent committee) they may be temporarily removed. There are other Solti in the wings, prepared to take over for just such moments.
Vala'Suun also tend to reinvent themselves every few thousand years. This often entails taking new names, and "purging" themselves of old memories (something overloaded elves are able to do). They treat their old selves, now left behind, as other people who happen to now be dead. Elven society embraces these changes, and even the families of the elf in question roll with the punches. Many long term marriages are ended, amicably, through the reinvention process.