High Elf

High Elves, also sometimes known as Eladrin, were graceful warriors and wizards who originated from the realm of Faerie, also known as the Feywild. They lived in the forests of the world. They were magical in nature and shared an interest in the arcane arts. From an early age they also learned to defend themselves, particularly with swords.
Occasionally the term "noble eladrin" was used to denote more powerful variants, who had become so infused with the magic of the Feywild that they took on the characteristics of natural phenomena such as seasons.

Description

High elves were roughly of Human height, standing from 5′5″‒6′1″ (1.7‒1.9 m) on average, but were lighter, weighing from 130 to 180 pounds (59 to 82 kilograms). Even exceptionally strong high elves looked rather slim compared with other races, looking athletic rather than muscular. Most high elves were fair-skinned, though sun elven skin was a hue darker than that of the star elves or moon elves. Dark elven skin, in contrast, was dark brown. Most high elves had black hair, with silvery hues common among moon elves and star elves while blond or copper hues were more common among the sun elves. This hair was often worn long and loose. High elven eyes were most commonly green, with sun elves commonly possessing golden eyes and moon elves commonly exhibiting blue hues. Violet eyes were also not unheard of, though rarer. Unlike moon elves or sun elves, high elves native to the Feywild lacked pupils and had eyes that appeared to be solid orbs of colour while more common varieties of high elves exhibited eyes of normal color except for the gold-speckled appearance of moon elf eyes.
High elves, like other elves, grew at a decelerating rate throughout their lives. Very young high elves matured at a rate comparable with humans but during adolescence slowed to a near stop until about 110 years of age, at which point high elves were considered mature. Elves then remained vigorous and active until the middle of their third century. Even so, after this, most high elves suffered few of the infirmities of old age that plagued other races, remaining full of life until the end.
Common to all high elves was the fact that they didn't sleep. Instead, they entered a trance, also known as a “reverie”, for four hours a day. During this time they meditated on recent events.

Personality

Due to their longevity and strong ties to the otherworldly magic of the Feywild, high elves had a detached view of the world outside of their sphere. High elves as a whole had difficulty believing that the events occurring over mere "years" affected them in any major way, with the exception of major tragedies such as the Twin Cataclysms. High elves instead looked at things from a much longer perspective, unconcerned with anything that had consequences that stretched over anything less than decades. However, while some high elves were content to seclude themselves, others stalked the lands as champions battling the evil just outside of a high elven city's magical wards. This detached view of the world could make some high elves seem distant and intimidating, not to mention haughty and arrogant. Furthermore, the powerful fey nature of high elves might frighten less magically talented races. High elves, however, took friendships quickly to heart and could react with rage when their compatriots are threatened. Combined with their general intelligence, bravery, and arcane power, this loyalty to friends made them formidable allies and dangerous enemies.
Though perhaps haughty in their view of it, many felt a need to explore the world around them and were curious, particularly in their youth. However, the Great Migrations checked this adventurism to an extent and many high elves retreated into their strongholds where magical wards held off the evils around them.

Abilities

High elves were graceful, intelligent beings, with a greater capacity for intelligence than most humanoid races while also possessing an agility comparable with their elven kin. High elves were also unusually strong-willed and had a natural resistance to the effects of enchantment spells. High elves also had no need for sleep in the same way most humanoids did, instead going into a trance. While in a trance, high elves remained fully aware of their immediate surroundings. Furthermore, high elves needed only rest for four hours to get the same effect that most other humanoids got from eight hours of sleep.

History

The high elves were present in the lands east of the Crystalmist Mountains for uncounted centuries prior to the rise of the first human kingdoms there. Slowly driven from open country to more secluded and better defended strongholds by the growing strength of both human and nonhuman folk, high elves still held a number of forest and upland realms at the time of the Twin Cataclysms. The invading humans, orcs, and others pressed them further, until some prominent elven realms made military and political alliances with dwarves, gnomes, and halflings, and even with certain major human tribes (usually Oeridian). Today, elves are dominant in Celene, Sunndi, Highfolk, the Vesve Forest, and the Lendore Isles.

Lifespan

Usually up to 750 years

Average Height

5′5″‒6′1″ / 1.7‒1.9 metres

Average Weight

130‒180 lbs / 59‒82 kg