Elves

Elvenkind is a large, diverse family of fey humanoids. They are Verden's indigenous people and still make up the majority of the population. Elves are divided into the following subgroups: Eladrin, Hylians, High Elves, Wood Elves, and Drow.

Player Information

Hylians

• Ability Score Increase. Two different ability scores of your choice increase by 1.
• Age. Hylians age at much the same rate as humans, reaching adulthood at the age of 20. They live up to 200 years.
• Size. Hylians are more or less the same size as humans, ranging from 5 to 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Enhanced Hearing: You have better than average hearing, such that even whispers and quiet conversations are completely audible to you. You have a proficiency in Perception.
• Languages. You can read, speak, and write Common and Elven.

You may then choose either Heroic or Goddess Ancestry.
Heroic Ancestry

• Preparedness. You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice among Acrobatics, Athletics, Stealth, Investigation, Animal Handling, Survival, or Intimidation.
• Indomitable Bravery. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
• Natural Skill. Even without any training, you have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.

Divine Ancestry

• Telepathy. You can speak telepathically to any creature you can see within 60 feet of you. You don’t need to share a language with the creature for it to understand your telepathic messages, but the creature must be able to understand at least one language or be telepathic itself.
• Goddess Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed.
• Learned. You have a proficiency in Insight, Medicine, History, Religion, Arcana, or Nature. You can read, speak, and write one additional language.

All Other Elves

Consult official D&D resources for all non-Hylian elves [Eladrin, Drow, High Elf, Wood Elf].

Civilization and Culture

History

The oldest ancestors of the elves lived in the feywild, a beautiful and magical plane of existence that mirrors and overlaps the world. They arrived on the continent of Verden when gods still walked the land. Their arrival was staggered between two great migrations -- each one for different reasons, and each resulting in unique traits.

Eladrin

The oldest elves, who predate the world, are known as Eladrin. Their civilizations have never left the Feywild, and they retain their full magical splendor. Their appearances, moods, and abilities reflect the seasons -- an Eladrin may remain in one "season" for prolonged periods, or they may change their season frequently. Because time moves differently to the fey, after all. Eladrin are rarely seen on the Material Plane and have no settlements on Verden. 
Eladrin on the Material Plane tend to be solitary scouts or explorers. They are most frequently encountered near the Lost Woods, where the boundaries between the Feywild and our plane are the weakest.

Hylians

In the earliest days of the world, the Goddess Hylia arrived to set time and society into motion. She personally selected companions from among the elves to join her and begin the first civilizations on the Material Plane. They became known as Hylians. They were blessed with divine gifts -- such as telepathy or the innate courage and skill to face all manner of threats. 
Hylians gradually developed shorter lifespans as they mingled with later species, especially humans, but retain their divine gifts.

High Elves and Wood Elves

High Elves and Wood Elves arrived in their own migration from the Feywild after the Hylians had already established early settlements throughout Verden. Having more recently left their original plane, they still retain exceptionally long lives (750+ years) and innate magical abilities. 
High Elves largely integrated themselves into existing cities while building a handful of private settlements in the more remote corners of the continent. Many Wood Elves did the same, but, being innately attuned to living in forests rather than urban environments, many of them maintain nomadic tribes in the woodlands of Verden.

Drow

Sensitive to sunlight, the Drow either live in the Underdark or maintain nocturnal lifestyles. Since they do not live under the sun, their skin tones are instead based on natural camouflage for caverns and nighttime environments -- shades of gray, blue, or even purple. 
Some drow have pledged their souls to the Spider Queen, a cruel goddess who seeks to war against the other elves due to ancient divine grudges. Others have pledged themselves to Lazu and make their home in the Labyrinth. Most, however, mingle freely in society and are especially popular as nighttime sentinels or scouts due to their excellent darkvision.

Lifespan

750 for most, 200 for Hylians

Average Height

5-6 feet tall

Geographic Distribution

• The Continent of Verden