Elves

Elf

Medium-Sized Humanoid	High	Wood	Gray	Wild	Drow
Hit Dice:	Same as class	Same as class	1d8	1d8	2d8
Speed:	30ft	30ft	30ft	30ft	30ft
Armor Class:
Base Attack:	Same as class	Same as class	Same as class	Same as class	+1
Face/Reach:	5ft/5ft	5ft/5ft	5ft/5ft	5ft/5ft	5ft/5ft
Damage:	By weapon	By weapon	By weapon	By weapon	By weapon
Special Qualities:	Low Light Vision	Low Light Vision	Infravision 120 ft	Infravision 90ft	Darkvision 120ft
Abilities:	+2 Dex, -2 Con	+2 Str, -2 Int	+2 Int, -2 Str	+2 Dex, -2 Int	+2 Dex, +2 Int, +2 Cha, -2 Con
Racial Skills:	By class	By class	(2+ Int) Concentration, Craft, Knowledge (Arcana), Listen +2, Search +2, Spot +2	(2+ Int) Craft, Handle Animal, Hide, Knowledge (Nature), Listen +2, Move Silently, Search +2, Spot +2, Survival	(2+ Int) Craft, Hide, Knowledge (Dungeoneering), Listen +2, Move Silently, Search +2, Spot +2
Bonus Feat:			Focused Mind	Lightfeet
Racial Abilities:	High Elf Traits	Wood Elf Traits	Gray Elf Traits	Wild Elf Traits	Drow Traits
Saving Throws:	Same as class	Same as class	Fort +0, Ref +0, Will +1	Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +0	Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0
Alignment:	Usually Neutral	Usually Neutral	Usually Lawful	Usually Chaoticl	Usually Evil
Weapon Proficiencies:	All Simple + longsword, rapier, longbow, shortbow	All Simple + longbow, composite longbow, shortbow, and composite shortbow	All Simple + longsword, rapier	All Simple + longbow, shortbow	All Simple + Hand Crossbow, Rapier, Short Sword
Armor Proficiencies:	By class	By class	By class	By class	By class
ECL:	+0	+0	+1	+1	+2

High Elf Traits

Immunity: to sleep spells and effects

Racial saving throw bonus: +2 against enchantment spells or effects

Racial Skill bonus: +2 on Listen, Search, and Spot checks

Secret Doors: A High elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.

Automatic Languages: Common, Elven.

Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan.

Favored Class: Fighter

Wood Elf Traits

Immunity: to sleep spells and effects

Racial saving throw bonus: +2 against enchantment spells or effects

Racial Skill bonus: +2 on Listen, Search, and Spot checks

Secret Doors: A Wood elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.

Automatic Languages: Common, Elven.

Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan.

Favored Class: Ranger

Gray Elf Traits

Immunity: to sleep spells and effects

Racial saving throw bonus: +2 against enchantment spells or effects

Racial Skill bonus: +2 on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.

Secret Doors: A Gray elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.

Bonus Feat: Focused Mind

When you have the opportunity to concentrate on a task, you usually do very well at it.

Prerequisites: Elf, Concentration 2 ranks.

Benefit: When you take 10 or take 20 on an Intelligence check or Intelligence-based skill check, you gain a +2 bonus on the check.

Automatic Languages: Common, Elven.

Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan.

Favored Class: Wizard

Wild Elf Traits

Immunity: to sleep spells and effects

Racial saving throw bonus: +2 against enchantment spells or effects

Racial Skill bonus: +2 on Listen, Search, and Spot checks

Secret Doors: A Wild elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.

Spell-like Ability: Speak With Animals

Bonus Feat: Lightfeet

You have an incredibly soft step, making it difficult to track or hear you.

Prerequisites: Elf, Dex 13, Balance 2 ranks, Move Silently 2 ranks.

Benefit: You can walk without leaving behind any but the most subtle marks. The Survival DC to track you increases by 5 (or by 10 if you move at half speed to hide your traill; see the Track feat, page 101 of the Player’s Handbook).

Automatic Languages: Common, Elven

Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Sylvan

Favored Class: Druid

Drow Traits

Spell resistance: equal to 11 + class levels.

Racial Saving Throw bonus: +2 on Will saves against spells and spell-like abilities.

Spell-Like Abilities: Drow can use the following spell-like abilities once per day: dancing lights, darkness, faerie fire. Caster level equals the drows class levels.

Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds drow for 1 round. On subsequent rounds, they are dazzled as long as they remain in the affected area.

Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Undercommon.

Bonus Languages: Abyssal, Aquan, Draconic, Drow Sign Language, Gnome, Goblin.

Favored Class: Wizard (male) or Cleric (female)

Descriptions

High Elves

High Elves range between 55-65" tall for males (up to 5" shorter for females) and typically weigh between 90-120 lbs (70-100 lbs for females). They reach adulthood at 110 years, middle age at 175 years, old age at 250 years, venerable age at 350 years and may live as long as 750 years.

The most commonly seen of all elves, high elves are the most open and friendly with other races. They have an adventurous spirit with no compunction about traveling the world. Still by human standards they may seem arrogant and aloof.

High elves are known to be the most widely traveled and friendly with other races. High Elves are pale with skin the color of new cream, never tanning despite all the time they spend beneath the sun. Their hair and eyes seem to fall into two types, one fairer, usually blond with blue eyes, the other much darker ranging from sandy brown to sheerest black with intense green eyes.

High Elves prefer colorful clothes, usually in light pastel shades. Their preferred weapon is the bow, but they are just as adept with the sword. In battle, they wear gleaming elven chain mail with their famous boots and cloaks of elvenkind, which gives them an edge of stealth despite the armor.

High Elven society is appreciative of nature, never taking more than they need and striving to constantly replenish the forests and the plains they rely on. As such, game tends to proliferates near high elf communities while the earth is kept fertile. High Elves make excellent farmers and woodworkers. High Elves dwell in beautiful cities and villages, living close with, but apart from nature.

Wood Elves

Wood Elves range between 60-72" tall for males (up to 5" shorter for females) and typically weigh between 120-160 lbs (100-140 lbs for females). They reach adulthood at 100 years, middle age at 160 years, old age at 220 years, venerable age at 300 years and may live as long as 600 years.

By nature, Wood Elves seem more prone to violence then their civilized cousins. Their muscles are larger, their complexions more florid. They have yellow to coppery red hair, which contrasts with their lightly tanned skin. Their eyes are generally light brown although bright green is not uncommon. Hazel or blue eyes are exceptionally rare, cropping up only two to ten times in an entire generation.

Wood Elf clothing is much less gaudy then one would normally expect from an elf, in natural shades of green and earth tones to better blend in with their natural surroundings. Wood Elves also tend to change the color of their garments based on the season. They are probably the best hunters among elvenkind with the strongest appetite for meat.

Wood Elves are described as wild and temperamental. They are a very emotional people. They live with their hearts, not their minds as do the Gray Elves. Whatever they fell, the know is the right answer. Logic plays little part in their lives, for logic cannot cannot save one from the charging boar or the falling tree. Intuition and strength are all that counts in the wilderness.

When the summer solstice arrives the nomadic tribes gather in the center of the forest. For half moon the tribes celebrate a festival of art and music. Wood elf celebrations involve oak wine, bonfires, dancing to wooden drums and singing. The carousing is primitive, even savage, but fiercely exciting to them.

They are closer-tied to nature then high elves preferring to live further out in the wilderness in small towns and villages.

Gray Elves

Gray Elves range between 60-72" tall for males (up to 5" shorter for females) and typically weigh between 100-140 lbs (80-110 lbs for females).. Gray Elves are the longest-lived among the elves but also the slowest to mature. They reach adulthood at 120 years, middle age at 210 years, old age at 300 years, venerable age at 425 years and may live as long as 925 years.

They are grander in physical appearance than others of their race, They have either silver hair and amber eyes or pale golden hair and violet eyes. They prefer clothing of white, silver, yellow, or gold, with cloaks of deep blue or purple. Gray elves have a reputation for being aloof and arrogant, even by elven standards. Gray elves are supercilious and condescending, full of their own importance.

When arming themselves for battle, they favor shimmering suits of plate or chain mail, protecting their heads with elaborate stylized helms. They are renowned for their animal handling skills, favoring exotic aerial mounts such as griffons or hippogriffs.

While not exactly bigoted toward other races, they do believe in the purity of elven blood and are the most cruel towards half-elves. Because of their reverence for the sanctity of elven blood, Gray Elves have striven to maintain their original ideals and consider their society the purest.

Hierarchy

Gray elven settlements are ruled by a hereditary monarch (male or female) descended from Archaeos’ bloodline. Beneath this monarch is an elven council, with who can be succeeded by any of the other members of the house royal. This is subject to approval by a majority of the House Noble. The ruler must have all decisions ratified by such a majority.

Beneath those two houses are the Merchant Houses, of which the Guild Houses are a part. The House Protector is equal to the Merchant Houses. Beneath the Merchant Houses are the Servitor Houses. Beneath them are the caste-less elves, who have almost no voice in Gray Elf society.

In some cases, Gray Elves have even gone so far as to enslave other races, if not in fact, then at least in spirit. These Gray Elven ‘servants’ are repulsive to other elves.

Lands & Lifestyle

Gray Elves dwell in huge, fortified cities. Many also whisper of their rumored hordes of wealth protected by their high walls, gathered over centuries of prosperous trade with other races. They disguise the entrances to their mountain meadows and remote cities with powerful magic, ensuring that only those who are elves or those familiar with elven dweomers can discover them. If members of another race do find them they are not averse to casting a high-level forget spell to protect their privacy.

Of all the elves, Gray Elves rely the most on their intelligence. While other elves are by no means stupid, Gray Elves trust the most in their mental prowess. Their line breeds more mages then any other and also many esteemed scholars. Their entire existence is based on discovering new knowledge and they spend far less time on the pleasurable pursuits then other elves.

Gray Elves often have the most extensive libraries of anyone in the world. Such libraries are open to all elves who wish to better themselves and increase their knowledge. Since the Gray Elves value the constant expansion of their stores of books, many spend their lives in research (either magical or scientific), writing learned treatises.

Wild Elves

Wild Elves range between 60-72" tall for males (up to 5" shorter for females) and typically weigh between 110-150 lbs (90-120 lbs for females). They reach adulthood at 105 years, middle age at 175 years, old age at 230 years, venerable age at 325 years and may live as long as 725 years.

Wild Elves are the closest kin to Gray Elves, but polar opposites. Preferring the mysteries of the natural world to the arcane, and the vast domains of the wilderness to cities.

Reclusive and rarely seen, Wild Elves prefer their own company to all others. Wild elves are barbaric and tribal. Wild elves’ hair color ranges from black to light brown, lightening to silvery white with age. They dress in simple clothing of animal skins and basic plant weaves. They live primarily on fruits and grains, and occasionally hunt for fresh meat.

Wild Elven society is known for their primitive tribal nature. Their lives are geared towards the joys of simple survival and exploration of the natural world. Sophisticated art and music is not for them. They prefer the sound of the wind through the leaves, the howl of wolves and the cries of birds. Their preferred art form are tattoo’s, inspired by the ever changing cycle of seasons.

Wild Elves are fiercely territorial and do not lightly brook intruders into their forests. Anyone, even another elf who draws near to a Wild elf encampment (within three miles) will have a constant, unseen escrot of at least two Wild Elves until the intruder leaves the area.

However, unless the camp is directly threatened, the Wild Elves will leave the intruder strictly alone. Sometimes, they may make the intruder aware they are being watched. If those encroaching the encampment draw too near and evidence hostile intent the Wild Elves have no compunctions about utterly destroying them.

Wild Elves are utterly reclusive, even more than Gray Elves, and have no wish to let others expose them or their lifestyle to the harsh scrutiny of the civilized world. Thus they will go to any length to ensure their privacy is respected.

In most things, Wild Elves consider themselves strongly neutral, not out of any inherent evil qualities but because they merely wish to be left alone. They do not care about the proceedings of the civilized world, and usually only allow other elves to communicate with them.

Wild Elves associate more with the animals of nature then other beings. They usually have giant owls guarding their homes and sometimes other natural beasts.

Drow

Drow range between 50-58" tall for males (up to 5" taller for females) and typically weigh between 80-110 lbs (95-105 lbs for females). Drow are the quickest to mature among the elves, probably because of the dangerous environment and harsh society they live in underground. They reach adulthood at 80 years, middle age at 140 years, old age at 190 years, venerable age at 225 years and may live as long as 525 years.

Also known as dark elves, drow are a depraved and evil subterranean offshoot. White is the most common hair color among drow, but almost any pale shade is possible. Drow tend to be smaller and thinner than other sorts of elves, and their eyes are often a vivid red.

Cruelty, backstabbing and competition are the ruling ideals of Drow society. So much infighting weakens them as a race. That may be the strongest reason why the Drow have not conquered more of their surface kin.

History

The rise of Archaeos and the origins of the Drow – 5,000 years ago

The history of elves on Sion began in an age when mankind was still quite barbaric and primitive several thousand years ago. Archaeos was their first great leader and a mighty wizard. He used tactical genius along with spellcraft to thwart his enemies and protect his people from evil humanoids such as Gnolls, Orcs, Goblins, and worse.

Some of the enemies they battled so long ago used dark magic to great effect. Archaeos was angered that such magic was so effective against his people. He encouraged a small group of followers to take up its study in the hopes that the powers of their enemies could be turned against them. However, due to the corrupting influence of the dark magic, they formed a secret sect and started using it for wicked ends. These sorcerers would someday become the Drow…

The Founding of Archaeon – 4,900 years ago

After a hundred years of legendary deeds Archaeos was crowned king. He named his kingdom Archaeon. All was not well in his court however. The secret sect of dark magic practitioners staged a coup against him and very nearly succeeded. He ordered their arrest. The manhunt went on for many moons, but the sorcerers eluded him.

Lolth Betrays Archaeos, the HellGoblins Invade – 4,899 Years ago

Eventually king Archaeos discovered his youngest daughter, Lolth, had been tipping off the dark magic practitioners. Once he confronted her, he learned she was infatuated with their leader and the mysteries of dark magic. Enraged, he doubled his efforts to capture them and finally succeeded sealing them all in a cave.

As for his daughter who refused to repent, he disowned her and placed her in the cave with the others until they agreed to change their ways.

Seemingly by coincidence, Archaeon was invaded by an army of demonic HobGoblins called HellGoblins soon after. Things looked very grim for Archaeon. Some of the people started to cry out that perhaps dark magic was what was needed to fight the HellGoblins. King Archaeos refused to consider that option, and so the war with the HellGoblins went on for almost a century.

Meanwhile, Lolth’s hatred of her father grew each passing year she was confined in that cave, but she did not idly waste her time. Instead she grew comfortable with the creatures she found in her cave, most specifically spiders, and through them learned the use of poison. She also mastered the secrets of dark magic from the others.

Eventually she sent for her father, claiming to finally be reformed so she could lure him to his doom. As she embraced him, she killed him with the foulest, most deadly poison she could concoct. Unknown to her, the powers behind the dark magic she studied were also behind the HellGoblin invasion. Therefore, her act of patricide may have been part of a scheme to conquer the Kingdom of Archaeon, which fell soon after the death of their king.

Archaeon Falls, Archaeos Becomes Patron god of Gray Elves, Lolth is Cursed – 4,800 years ago

However in death Archaeos achieved divinity and his first act as a god was casting a terrible curse on Lolth, naming her the queen of darkness, death and spiders, banishing her and the other sorcerers from the light forevermore. Their appearance shifted to embody those traits. Their hair became white, their skin blackened and their eyes became blood red.

Lolth’s hatred of her father then spread to all surface elves who shunned her as a monster. Unknown to Archaeos however, Lolth was pregnant when he cursed her. Her first child was also the first Drider. Lolth learned to enjoy her new home underground, asserting herself as the leader of the sorcerers, using their seed to mother the first children of the Drow race.

Lolth vowed to never again allow a male to have power over her, and thus created a society where her daughters ruled over their brothers as matriarchs relegating the relatively unimportant decisions and tasks to them.

As a god, Archaeos was not entirely benevolent. He refused to tolerate the fall of Archaeon and urged elvenkind into perpetual war to reclaim it. However, regardless of how zealously they tried, their numbers did not replenish as fast as the evil humanoids they fought and their race weakened overtime from the endless campaign. Many elves renounced Archaeos’ faith in preference for other ideologies and the Kingdom of Archaeon was abandoned.

The Great Split of Elvenkind – 4,799 years ago

The schisms and splits in elven society at this time led to the formation of different subraces of elves.

Lolth becomes Patron Goddess of Dark Elves – 4,500 years ago

In time Lolth achieved divinity herself after enough of her spawn practiced her worship. She is now also known as The Spider Queen, and plots total annihilation of surface elves.

Corellon Larethian becomes Patron God of High Elves – 4,000 years ago

After the fall of Archaeon, the elven race was lost and in need of a protector. Corellon Larethian was a great High Elf warrior, a paragon of elvenkind, the first bladesinger. He defeated Gruumsh, champion of the Orcs, in single combat. He achieved divinity from this and his following spread rapidly. His divine power became so strong in fact that he had the power to create intermediate deities every millennium or so and create an entire sub-pantheon for the High Elves.

Rillifane Rallathil becomes Patron god of Wood Elves – 3,900 years ago

This renowned wood elf druid, known as The Leaflord, opposed the model of expansion of the High Elves. He was granted divinity shortly after Corellon and became the Patron Deity of Wood Elves. He has always been the voice of moderation to expansion by the High Elven, and Gray Elven, Kingdoms.

Fenmarel Mestarine becomes Patron God of Wild Elves – 3,500 years ago

Fenmarel was granted divinity for watching over the Wild Elves in disappearing woodlands, jungles, and similar environments.

Solonor Thelandira becomes a God of the Wood Elf Pantheon – 2,900 years ago

Just as Corellon planned to advance the prosperity of the High Elves with more gods, so does Rillifane seek to advance the prosperity of Wood Elves by ordaining Solonor, the Forest Hunter.

Sehanine Moonbow becomes a Goddess of the High Elf Pantheon – 3,000 years ago

This High Elf priestess of Corellon was the first granted divinity by Corellon for her efforts to thwart plots of the Drow. The Lady of Dreams actively opposes the nefarious schemes of the Spider Queen and the other drow powers. Worshippers of Sehanine Moonbow also seek out and destroy undead creatures, for Sehanine holds such creatures as blasphemous. She was the first of what would become known as the Pantheon of the High Elves.

Elebrin Liothiel becomes a God of the High Elf Pantheon – 2,000 years ago

Elebrin was the second granted divinity from Corellon. He is a master of orchards, gardens and the harvest. Essential things for the High Elf model of elven civilization based around High Elven Cities.

Erevan Ilesere becomes a God 1,500 years ago

Erevan is a High Elven elven deity of Mischief, Change, Rogues and Changelings. Erevan is a fickle, utterly unpredictable god known as the Trickster and the Fey Jester. His appearance is believed to coincide with a growing number of disillusioned members of High Elves who did not want to live by anyone’s rules. Although many consider him part of the High Elf Pantheon, his followers themselves reject that notion, as do clergy from the High Elf Pantheon.

Hanali Celanil becomes a Goddess of the High Elf Pantheon – 1,000 years ago

This High Elf goddess embodies romance, beauty, love, and joy in elven spirits. Corellon chose her to advance those emotions essential to maintain happiness in elven society.

Naralis Analor becomes a God of the High Elf Pantheon- 500 years ago

This lesser High Elf god is associated with healing, easing of pain, and death. It is argued at this point that Corellons wish to grant him divinity was premature, which is why some say he is only a lesser god. Others argue that his power is weakening and this is the last god he will create in the foreseeable future.

Vandria Gilmadrith becomes a Goddess of the Gray Elf Pantheon -50 years ago

Vandria Gilmadrith is half Gray Elf/High Elf granted divinity from Archaeos recently. An unprecedented event that has shaken the foundations of the Church of Archaeos and prompted agitation about the old class-model of the Gray Elves.

Religion

Gray Elves (or any elf who desires great power) are traditionally devout followers of Archaeos The High King, Lord of the Arcane. His youngest daughter Llolth Mother of the Drow is worshiped almost exclusively by dark evles. She seeks to destroy all life under the sun, especially surface elves. Vandria Gilmadrith, a half Gray Elf/High Elf, was recently granted divinity by Archaeos and seeks battle with all enemies of elvenkind.

Corellon Larethian is highly revered for his goodness and skill in battle as the victor against Gruumsh following the fall of Archaeon. Many argue he is the strongest of the elven deities and has used his divine power to create several other deities forming The High Elf Pantheon. Included in this pantheon is Sehanine Moonbow, a goddess of mysticism, death and the heavens who is the sworn enemy of Drow and Undead. Elebrin Liothiel, known as the Celestial Gardener, appreciated by all elves who farm or grow gardens. Hanali Celanil, the High Elf goddess of love and Naralis Analor the Healer.

The Patron deity of Wood Elves is Rillifane Rallathil the Leaflord, who also created Solonor Thelandira, the Forest Hunter.

The Patron deity of Wild Elves is Fenmarel Mestarine the Lone Wolf.

The only elven god un-beholden to any other is Erevan Ilesere The Trickster