Elves

Elves in Feyworld are a mysterious, aloof race that is often distrusted because of their secrecy and isolationism. There is only one major elven kingdom, Elarean, though there are various locales, usually heavily forested, which retain remnants of once-powerful elven kingdoms. Many humans never see an elf and believe them to be extinct or merely legend.

Personality: Elves tend to be quiet and reserved around the shorter-lived races. Being extremely long lived, they tend to be slow to act, believing that the march of time corrects most wrongs. Elves are, in fact, highly emotional creatures, though this emotion does not often show itself outside of their hidden glades. When they feel safe, elven emotions explode into song and celebration. They love all things, and their isolationism is born out of that love. They often see themselves as more mature than other races and tend to treat others as children.

Physical Description: Elves are extremely tall, averaging around seven feet in height, but they rarely weigh more than 175 pounds. Their skin tends to be pale, almost translucent and hair color tends towards red and blonde. Hair tends to be thin and wispy and most cannot grow beards. Their bodies are very slight, but also very dexterous. Elven ears, of course, are taller and sharper than human ears and they have excellent hearing.

Relations: Elves avoid other races with an almost panicky fear. Dwarves are often regarded with pity: as little more than machines who do not care to feel or love. Hobbits are usually treated with respect and when elves do relax around other races, it is often in the company of hobbits. Orcs are avoided as much as possible, and treated with severe distrust, though extremely unique individuals can befriend an elf. Humans are viewed with an almost sad pity, as if the elves themselves feel responsible for their short lifespans. Surprisingly enough, elves tend to get along with humans the best, as long as their human friends do not pry to hard into elven affairs.

Elven lands: Elves most often live in small communities in vast forests or, in the case of Elarean, an easily defended forested vale. Elven lands are heavily guarded, and it is generally assumed that any non-elf who attempts to enter them uninvited is an enemy. Elarean is known to be a virtual fortress of magic, impenetrable to all but the most powerful of non-elven mages. Inside elven lands, there seems to be little organization to their communities. There are no cities, only the periodic elven tree-house and walkways to nearby houses. Elves attempt to live without harming nature and their houses in the trees are constructed in such a fashion as to not overly burden the tree they are in.

Religion: Elven religion seems to be at the center of their mystery, and it is generally rumored among the other races that an elf who is asked of his religion is sworn to kill the inquisitive party. What is not widely known is that, though elves were the second of the High Races and a creation of Lord Ptharos himself, they converted to the worship of the Tuatha de Dannan during the First Age of Man. The Tuatha has since retired as patron of the elves and they now have their own deities, ascended through a path of philosophy given to them by the Tuatha.

Language: Elven language is unique among the sentient races in that it is sung, not spoken. Any non-elf who attempts to speak elven must have the Perform skill to properly pronounce the various subtle pitches and notes that indicate the meaning behind the words. Elven language also tends to take a very long time to communicate a specific idea. Poems composed of more than 10,000 words are commonplace to them and an entire day can be spent between two elves introducing themselves to one another. There is a shorter version of the language, known as the Battle-Tongue, which most non-elves who learn elven know. It is considered rude to use the Battle-Tongue among elves unless there is a situation of great urgency.

Names: An elf’s name is usually very long and is more a history of their lives and their heritage than a name in the traditional sense. Young elves can take up to an hour reciting their names and older elves from illustrious lineage can easily take several days of song to convey their full name. Among other races, elves usually shorten their names to one word, typically a plant that is significant to their lineage or history. There is no distinction among elves between male and female names.

Elven Names: Asphodel, Basil, Belladonna, Cilantro, Clove, Daffodil, Dill, Lavendar, Mandrake, Marigold, Nightshade, Periwinkle, Rosemary, Rowan, Saffron, Saint John’s Wort (John), Violet, Wolfsbane, Wormwood, Yarrow

Adventurers: Elven adventurers are exceedingly rare, but they do exist. Usually, they are driven by some need that cannot be fulfilled in their homeland or believe that there is a need for closer contact with the outside world. Those few elven adventurers who remain more than a decade in non-elven lands tend to form close relationships with a single adventuring company, often adventuring with the remote descendants of an adventuring company centuries after the original membership has died of old age.

Elven Racial Template

Original article: Elven Racial Template

75 points

Attributes: DX+1 [20]

Secondary Attributes: Hit Points -2 [-4], Perception +2 [10]

Advantages: Appearance (Attractive) [4], Perfect Balance [15], Telescopic Vision 2 [10], Unaging [15], Voice [10]

Disadvantages: Restricted Diet (Vegetarian) with Substitution Special Limitation [-5]

Features: Size Modifier +1

Elven Cultural Templates

TBD