Elf

A bad knife is worth more than a good dwarf.

— Old Elvish Proverb

Elves were once a mystical people of unworldly grace who lived in the world but were not totally a part of it. They resided in locations of ethereal beauty, such as old forests or silvery spires gleaming with faerie light, where soothing music floated through the air and lovely fragrances drifted on the breeze. Nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the wonderful things of the world were all treasured by elves. Then, Nivian arrived, and everything changed. The elves in Valine were all but wiped out, scattering across the globe. Some took refuge in The Feywild, some in the oceans, some went underground and some hid in the distant corners of the world, still unexplored to this day. In the centuries since, elvenkind has rebuilt and they maintain echoes of the people they once were, but they are inherently integrated into at least a nominal contact with the other species of the world, who they relied upon to survive and rebuild. Elves still maintain pockets of power and even hold large kingdoms where they dominate, in a political sense if not in numbers, but they were once the preeminent mortal race and, long lived as elves are, that memory is still only a handful of generations old.
Until the arrival of Nivian and the ensuing conflict with the Drow, elves numbered more than any other race. The majority of the remaining elves now live in small woodland towns tucked away in the trees. Elves hunt game, gather food, and cultivate vegetables to feed themselves, and their ability and magic enables them to do so without having to clear and plough land. They are skilled artisans that create carefully crafted clothing and artwork. Outsider interaction is largely limited, though a few elves make a living by trading handcrafted goods for metals (which they have no interest in mining).
Elves appear to be extremely beautiful to members of many other races with their serene grace and their fine features. They range from just under 6 feet up to 7 feet in height on average, slightly taller than humans. They are a slender species, weighing around 120-190 pounds. The men and women are around the same height with only a marginal difference between men and women.
Elves have a the normal Valinian range of coloring and also skin tones that include copper, bronze and almost bluish-white skin. Green or blue hair and eyes like pools of fluid gold or silver are not uncommon. Elves have little body hair and no facial hair. They favor elegant, colorful clothes and enjoy simple but beautiful jewelry.
Elves can live for up to 300 years and have a clearer view of events that could deepen the worries of the shorter-lived races. They are more intrigued than enthusiastic and curious rather than greedy. They are usually aloof and unflinching in the face of small occurrences. However, if they are pursuing an objective, whether it is adventurous or simply learning new skills or art, elves can be obsessively focused. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and they forget them even more slowly. They respond with disdain to small insults and with retaliation to serious insults.
Elves are flexible in the face of threats, like the branches of a young tree. Diplomacy and compromise are their go-to in resolving differences before violence escalates. Those that remain in more traditional elven homes continue to simply wait out invaders, retreating from intrusions into their forest homes, hiding behind enchantment and illusion. But where the need arises, elves show a polished martial face, exhibiting ability with sword, bow and strategy.
In much of Valine, traveling minstrels, artists, or sages are common types of elves encountered outside their own lands. Nobles compete for the services of elf instructors to teach their children swordplay or magic.
Despite their haughtiness, elves are generally kind, even to those who fall short of their lofty standards, which includes most non-elves. Nonetheless, they can discover the good in almost everybody.
Elves are drawn to adventure because they have a strong desire to see the world. They can spend decades exploring and discovering since they live so long. They despise the accelerated pace of Human society, which changes over mere decades, therefore they seek out occupations that allow them to roam freely and at their own leisure. Elves also like testing their martial skills or earning greater magical power, which they can do through exploration. Some may join up with anti-oppression rebels, while others may become champions of moral causes.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, which occurs sometime after their fiftieth birthday, and they are given juvenile names until then.
When an elf declares maturity, he or she chooses an adult name, though people who knew him or her as a kid may continue to call him or her by the child name. Though it may mirror the names of revered individuals or other family members, each elf's adult name is a one-of-a-kind creation. There is little differentiation between male and female names; the groupings below are merely indicative of broad trends. Every elf also has a family name, which is usually a mix of several Elvish terms. Some elves that wander among humans change their family names to Common Tongue, while others keep their Elvish names.
Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall
Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis
Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia
Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir(Gemflower), Amastacia(Starflower), Galanodel(Moonwhisper), Holimion(Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir(Gemblossom), Liadon(Silverfrond), Meliamne(Oakenheel), Nailo(Nightbreeze), Siannodel(Moonbrook), Xiloscient(Goldpetal)

Aquatic Elf and Conclave Initiate by Rob Taylor

Aquatic Elf

Genetic Descendants

• Dwelf
• Half-Elf

Lifespan

300 years

Average Height

6-7 feet

Average Weight

120-190 lbs.

Related Ethnicities

• Aquatic Elf
• Drow
• Fair Folk
• Shadow Elf
• Sylvan
• Wild Elf

Elf

Ability Score Increase +2 Dex

Size Medium

Speed 30 ft.

---

Elf Traits

---

Darkvision

---

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
Keen Senses

---

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Fey Ancestry

---

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Trance

---

Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Elven Ethnicity

---

Ancient divides among the elven people resulted in six main ethnicities. Choose one: Sylvan, Wild Elf, Drow, Fair Folk, Aquatic Elf, Shadow Elf

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires.

Do unto others more intelligently than they have done unto you.

— The Elven Golden Rule