Post by Emmarie on Jun 18, 2011 3:41:06 GMT -5
From Elven Roleplay Tips
•The single most influential aspect of elves is longevity. This fact molds everything about an Elven character.
•The second most influential aspect in the life of an elf is his or her connection to the gods. Elves are very devoted to their gods. Even Elves that follow gods of other pantheons tend to be among the most devout of followers.
•The next most influential aspect in the life of an elf is their connection to the magical weave and nature. All elves have innate magical ability to some degree, even though not all are mages. Likewise all elves have a deep seated love of nature and are very comfortable in all of nature's aspects.
•Elves are not destructive like other races. They know how long nature takes to repair the damage done by sentient races, and they go out of their way to live in harmony with nature, as opposed to the attempts to control and dominate nature by the other races.
•Elves rarely make close friends with members of the shorter-lived races because they know these folk will live for but a few decades. This can make them seem distant at times.
•Elves are patient. This patience pervades all aspects of their lives.
•Elves are difficult to provoke, being just as content to watch an enemy die of old age as to directly confront them. They have the luxury of waiting decades to get revenge on someone who has wronged them. They will never jump into a fight unless given no other choice.
•Elves love the stars, the moon, and the sea. They are more nocturnal than other races, seeing just fine under starlight. Since they can sense weather patterns better than most, they make excellent sailors.
•Since elves are more in tune with the world around them, they notice temperature and weather extremes less than others. They can be comfortable in freezing weather or tropical weather while wearing the same clothing. In fact, clothing is not always a major concern for elves. Elves are equally comfortable in groups in or out of clothing. Clothing is worn for the sake of utility and propriety, not modesty.
•Elves gather knowledge. It’s what they are best at. They try not to act on something unless they are satisfied they know everything about the subject there is to know.
•Elves tend to be arrogant and racial elitists. They lament the destructive nature of the shorter-lived races, and tend to have more accumulated knowledge and experience, which can make them seem aloof. They often believe they are better than other races. However, they also believe that all forms of life are important, and if the shorter-lived races have a serious fault it’s that they don’t share this belief and tend to destroy and manipulate other living creatures. The only exception to this is the Orc. Elves hate Orcs more then any other creature existing. Many Elves will attack Orcs on sight without a second thought. Orcs were created to bring about the destruction of the Elven race.
•Elves have a low birth rate. There’s no need to have a child every few years when you live for centuries. Elves have been known to produce children with beings of other races, however the offspring of such relationships are often looked upon with disdain or in many cases pity. They are never truly accepted into elven society as true elves. Many elves find a need to express sympathy for the unfortunate "mistake" of the child's birth. The elven gestation period is 1 year.
•Elves usually must wait a very long time before finding their soulmates, if they ever do. Once two elves do recognize each other, they bond. An elven bond is something far deeper than the typical marriages of the other races. Breaking a bond, unlike divorce, is practically unheard of. The elven bond does not mean that the elves must be monogamous, though some do practice such. Elves do not, for the most part see monogamy as necessary to a loving relationship
The Elven Bond
Very rarely, an elf will form a mystical and unbreakable bond with another being, whether elf, human, dwarf, or otherwise; as this person becomes their true mate. Some signify this bonding through the giving of gifts designed to demonstrate one's love. Others merely forge the bond quietly, without any outward signs. Whatever the process through which this bond is formed, the elves involved and their chosen can sense the strong emotions of each other. They feel the joys and sorrows of the other, their triumphs and angers as well. Should distance separate the two in this bond and one pass away, the other can feel the death through the breaking of the bond. This is a great shock to the surviving elf and elves have been known to die of the grief. This is an even stronger version of the communion ability elves share, for this is a lifelong bond and not lightly broken.
This bond can usually be formed only once in an elf's life; very rarely twice. Therefore they are very careful about who they bestow this bond on. The vast majority of elves would not consider bonding with one who is not long lived. However some consider the love they receive form a human worth the sacrifice.
Death
Death is not the end of an elf's existence. They leave the mortal realms, coming under the care of their gods and being led to the eternal home of the elves. Disease and violence bring an end to many elves mortal lives, but there is another way that elves can move on to their eternal home. If they feel they have reached the end of their lives, they may simply relinquish their mortal bodies, which vanish into mist and light while their spirits travel on.
Some elves choose not to take this path when their time is come. They petition the priests and mages, and very rarely they are granted service beyond death. Elves who choose a path of Realms-bound duty beyond death can be turned into baelnorn, and these undead defenders unswervingly protect their clan and its holdings for centuries.
More nature-oriented elves (especially rangers and druids) who wish to continue an active role in the forest beyond their normal lifespan have two options, though both end their elven nature. Female elves can become transformed into dryads or nymphs, and they are forever tied to the sites close to where the transforming ritual occurs. If a penitent elf (of any sex or subrace) is buried beneath the roots of a tree with the blessings of a particular High Magic or druidic ritual, he or she becomes a treant.
Elves could also beseech priests of their gods to become Revered Ones, elven spirit warriors who march at the bequest of their gods to defend elven nations under attack. Though they reside in the area of eternal rest, these spirit warriors are rarely at rest, and a warrior must be devoted to warcraft, as it will be his role for eternity.
The elves remember those who have fallen in quiet contemplation, in beautiful gardens surrounding memorial stones made just for this purpose. Elves are not buried in the earth as such but in tombs or crypts of stone. Some of these are large and complex, others merely simple barrow like tombs. Grave robbing and desecration of ancient elven tombs is well known, and even high born elves have taken part in searches for magical items and treasure in half forgotten elven burial grounds. However other tales refer to more simple burials, when elves are buried in the ground or under a cairn of naturally formed stones.
The idea of disturbing elves after they have passed on is anathema to elves. Resurrection goes against all their strongly held beliefs, as does calling up the spirits of the dead.
Types of Elves
Avariel, Moon, Sea, Snow, Sunrise, Wood, Wild
Avariel Elves
Avariel are exquisitely delicate elves, with tall and elegantly graceful bodies. Their creamy white skin often has a tint of blue or silver; and their fine boned, angular faces are framed in hair of silvery-white or deep black.
They have large eyes in rich greens, deep blues or occasionally a startling violet. Their bones are similar to those of a bird, air filled pockets replace most of the much heavier marrow. This means a winged elf weighs considerably less than others elves, but their bodies are fragile. Avariel are agile and graceful which allows them to ride the winds with skill, and to move dexterously and quickly on the ground.
The most noticeable feature of the winged elves is not their beautiful faces but the wide, soft-feathered expanse of their wings. These are usually white, but sometimes grey, brown, flecked or even black. An avariel's wings form a span of between 12 to 16 feet. Like their bodies winged elven clothes are delicate and ethereally graceful. They wear loose fitting, gauzy clothes that move in graceful, windblown ripples as they fly.
Avariel have finely honed senses. They are blessed with the sharp hearing of their fellow elves and like their good friends the great eagles; winged elves have incredibly keen eyesight.
Despite their reclusiveness, their wariness of others and their tragic history avariel remain light-hearted and free-spirited elves. Their greatest joy is flight, soaring far above the beautiful vistas of their beloved mountains. Unfortunately Avariel quite literally look down upon the flightless inhabitants of Faerun. Their automatic assumption of their own innate superiority has done them no favours. Fortunately time and increasing exposure to the wingless races has led individual avariel to abandon this prejudice, and this may yet become true for the entire race.
Avariel from the military caste are efficient fighters who have been well trained from their youth in the arts of warfare. Under the leadership of their war chiefs they are a truly daunting force. Their history of near annihilation and long standing warfare has led them to develop an honourable but somewhat harsh code of battle. Mercy and the concept of an honourable face-to-face duel plays no role in their combat if a foe chooses to incur their wrath then they also choose to face whatever tactics the avariel bring to bear. Winged elves fight to the death. Once a foe is blooded it causes him shame and humiliation to leave him alive.
The key to understanding an avariel's way of fighting is in their flight. By preference they soar above the enemy using ranged weapons. They may also dive down on the foe using the element of surprise and the momentum of their flight to inflict great damage with their rapiers or long swords.
The mechanics of flight make it awkward an inefficient to use a bow. Avariel have discovered that the bolus and the lasso are their most effective ranged weapons. They tend to avoid heavy armor as this greatly reduces the advantages their wings provide. Avariel choose to focus their training on either the long sword or the rapier.
Moon Elves (sometimes called Silver Elves)
Description: Moon elves are tall and elegant and often extremely beautiful. Their skin is ivory-white, often with blue tints ,with white, silver-white, sapphire blue, or black hair. Very rarely they can be blond. Their eyes are blue or green with gold flecks; and occasionally gray.
Both males and females wear their hair long - often plaited in intricate or simple braids, or pulled back into a ponytail. Moon elves prefer garb that may be simple and even rustic in style, but is exquisitely made and adorned with embroidery, bead work and other decoration. They also deck their bodies and their hair with adornment, and often use body paint and tattoos. When feasting or living in a place of comfort and safety their clothes are bright and cheerful - like the moon elves themselves.
Moon elves thrive on change and on passions, often seeming like young elves throughout their lives. They enjoy laughter and revelry and tend to be more light hearted than the other elves. Though on the surface it may seem they live for the thrills of the moment, these elves see the future of all the races grimly: they must all learn to get along, or they will all be overcome. They are keen practitioners of the arts of battle, and a moon elven warrior is a truly dangerous foe.
Silver elves love of beautiful handiwork, music and tales and their thirst for knowledge has led them to admire and adopt much of the learning, skills and music of the other races. It is this and their love of friendship and feasting that has made them closest of all the elves to the other races. They are especially close to halflings, humans and gnomes; sometimes living alongside them. Their relationship with the dwarves is a little less close but they still admire these consummate workers in metal and stone. However they have a great enmity for the evil races such the goblinkin, and they reserve a deep and abiding hatred for the drow.
Moon elves have the affinity for wizardly magic seen in the other elves, but they often lack the single minded pursuit of these arts. Moon elves often combine their wizardry with the art of the blade or the more secretive arts and knowledge of a rogue.
They tend to tolerate men the most of the elven sub-races and the majority of adventuring elves and half-elves are of moon elf heritage.
Sea or Aquatic Elves
Description: Silver-green skin, hair is dark blue to an emerald green. There are gills upon their necks and their fingers and toes are slightly webbed.
Traits: They make allies of good sea creatures such as dolphins and whales. They can survive on land for many hours, but fight best underwater.
Sea elves are either lightly clad or wear no clothes at all. Their clothes are formed from underwater plants, in blacks, browns and greens. Warriors clip their hair, but other sea elves wear it long and flowing.
Sea elves are the least magical of the elven races, although they still have as many mages as human realms. Those who are spellcasters devote their long life spans to study and become extremely skilled. They have developed a range of waterproof magical items, and a system of writing underwater.
Aquatic elven society is based on family and clan and althugh females can and do wield power they are patriarchal. Noble families rule, but in a benign and loose fashion rather than with an iron fist. Families or individuals may own their dwelling but most other property is held in common. Such communal ownership means theft is almost unknown.
The special acoustics of a watery environment lend themselves to music, and sea elves are exposed to the eerie and beautiful songs of the whales and other denizens of the deep. It is not surprising that aquatic elven bards have a range of powerful and evocative songs.
Snow Elves (sometimes called White Elves)
These elves, also known as arctic or white elves, are reclusive and seldom seen in whichever world they are found in. The arctic elves of some worlds have skin of pale blue or stark white, with eyes in varying shades and intensities of blue. Elves from other worlds have light brown or tan skin, white or pale blond hair, and silver eyes.
The appearance of the snow elves has perhaps given the other elven races reason to doubt their lineage as being truly pure. They have average life spans of 750 years (900 being incredibly ancient). Additionally, snow elves are the tallest of the elven races and generally tower above humans. Females occasionally reach 6'4", and it is not unknown for males to have grown to 7'.
Snow Elves speak their own language, and a few (10%) speak Common. Most closely related to their only ally, the valley elves, snow elves are an aloof people. Accepted by neither elves nor men, they have simply withdrawn from both and carried on their lives. They are found in isolated mountain areas and in the far north, well away from prying eyes.
They strongly favour white clothing and bone jewellery, trading for silver from valley elves. They usually dress to blend with their surroundings; wearing appropriately coloured animal hides.
Snow elves could best be described as neutral with insufferably arrogant tendencies. With the exception of the valley elves-whom they tolerate and occasionally befriend-snow elves actively dislike all races other than their own, and they go out of their way to make that fact known if given the opportunity. Drow incite a kind of madness in snow elves, and only overwhelming odds will prevent a snow elf from attacking any drow or drow ally.
Snow elven clans, while not at all interdependent, will not hesitate to aid one another in repelling invaders or raiding high-altitude settlements. Clans often come together in spring and fall for various festivals and religious holidays. A snow elf will never turn another of his kind away empty-handed, although the proud snow elf only rarely admits the need of another's assistance.
Though a snow-elf PC will, of course, travel as he likes. A snow elf NPC will seldom be encountered below the snow line. Occasionally, their clans will dwell for brief periods just below the tree line in the dead of winter. Snow elves will never be encountered in a city, and they go into the foothills or lowlands only on urgent clan business, or to raid for food.
Snow elves prize the hunt, and to a snow elf, no quarry is more prized than a white dragon. White dragon meat is always a cause for a great feast, where praises are sung to the warrior who dealt the killing blow. This warrior usually becomes one of the chief's guards. The tribe's chief can usually claim at least one such victory over a white dragon, with his stories told and retold to the entire tribe, who never seem to care that they have heard it countless times before, claiming that the story becomes more grand with each retelling.
Sunrise Elves (sometimes called Gold Elves)
They are an exotic and beautiful race with skin: of bronze or amber; and hair of copper, golden blond or black; and rarely red. Their eyes are usually gold or green and very occasionally copper, silver, black, or hazel. ...but as they value study over combat they are a little less robust than moon elves.
Gold elves dress in garments that are of simple, flowing lines in cool greens and blues, but of exotic and magnificent cut richly decorated with subtle but intricate embroidery. Likewise their jewelry is deceptively simple, but intricately and exquisitely crafted.
Gold elves are a solemn and dignified people, who place great value on bloodlines and tradition. Their society is based on the rule of noble families, and the honour of a family name. While they do not rule a majority of the elven colonies across the Realms, gold elves often take it upon themselves to act as the conservative arbiters of elven civilization, firm in their beliefs that they know what "true elven culture" is.
Sun elves are isolative and aloof, preferring to keep themselves apart from the other inhabitants... They disdain the arts and knowledge of other races, and therefore have a much narrower range of artistry and lore. However it can be truly said that in those areas the sun elves choose to work, they are consummate masters. Those who gather wizardly knowledge are held in great esteem, and sun elven wizards purse their craft with single minded intensity. The fine arts such as music, metal work and sculpture are dear to the heart of Corellon and "his" sun elves. Combat and the arts of war hold lesser value - and it may be true that in their assurance of their superiority sun elves are not truly aware of the danger posed top them by the other races and creatures.
They are highly civilized, even to the point of being entrenched in civilization, and they do not tolerate well either other races, nor even elves of other subraces. They are notoriously arrogant, the nobility of elvendom. They are nearly always blond, with amber or brown eyes.
Wood Elves (Sometimes called Copper or Sylvan Elves)
Wood Elves are reclusive and distrusting of non-elves, in particular human kind. Wood elves often have slightly darker skin then their other elven cousins (except for the Drow). Their hair tends toward browns, and blacks with occasional blondes, and may contain green highlights. Their eyes are typically green, brown, or hazel.
Although wood elves are descended from the same stock as the other elves, they are far more primitive than their kin. Sylvan elves, by their very nature, seem more prone to violence than 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.
Wood Elves do not care about the proceedings in the outer world; only when such acts impact their realm do the wood elves take interest. Even then, that interest is only in removing the nuisance and in returning to the wildlands as quickly as possible. Only other elves can break their solitude without suffering potential death.
Wood elven garb is of simple cut, in the natural shades of earth, wood and leaf. These are decorated with understated embroidery in natural designs. Copper elves often wear their leather armour, even if there is no apparent threat. These suits of armour are beautifully made, and the leather may be lovingly tooled.
Copper elves have built up a powerful affinity with the deep forest - seeing the life of the trees as more permanent that that of brick and stone buildings. Towns and cities are transitory places that will inevitably fall into ruin, but the great forests endure. Many are nomadic, eschewing all possessions they cannot carry with them. However the majority live in small but permanent villages, deep within the forest. These are built of wood, fieldstone and even the living trees themselves. They are so skilfully blended in to their surroundings even a highly skilled human hunter can pass right through a village without ever seeing it.
Wood elves value skills in combat and hunting above study. They have a great deal of knowledge about the ways of the forest, but have little book learning and little knowledge of the behaviour and culture of other races. Very few wood elves delve into arcane magic, and there are also very few clerics - which is not surprising in a culture that does not value study and learning.
Wild Elves (Sometimes called Green Elves)
Wild (or green) elves have skin of dark brown, and their hair is also brown - ranging from light brown through to nearly black. In extreme age their hair turns silver or white. They are graceful in their movements, and like Wood elves they are stockier and hardier than other elves. However as they place more value on physical fitness and prowess than learning they have less knowledge and tend to be less cerebral.
Green elves wear a minimum of clothing, especially those that live in the sweltering south. These are of simple fibres or animal skins. Unlike the other elven races they do not decorate their clothing, rather they decorate their hair and their actual skin with tattoos, body paint, beads and feathers worked into intricate and beautiful patterns.
Green elves are by far the most isolative and reclusive of the elves. They avoid contact with all outsiders - even other elves, and are seldom seen. The skills and lore of their past are long since gone, but they still retain much magic. Some enables them to remain hidden. Those who stumble into a wild elven enclave are mazed and enchanted - returned back where they came from with no dangerous memories and usually without even seeing a wild elf. Other magic is present in the form of druid spells and sorcery rather than the clerical and wizardly magics of scholarship and learning.
The hunt is the lynch pin of wild elven society, and is surrounded with ritual and festivity. The inherent joy and creativity of the elves is expressed in music and dance, which often reflects the theme of the hunt. They disdain permanent art other than tattoos, and have only simple crafts. Great value is placed in hunting skills, and green elves are adept at moving unseen through the forest while tracking their prey and are fierce fighters. Many of the tribes are nomadic, but others live in simple permanent homes - whichever is best suited to survival in their particular wilderness.
•The single most influential aspect of elves is longevity. This fact molds everything about an Elven character.
•The second most influential aspect in the life of an elf is his or her connection to the gods. Elves are very devoted to their gods. Even Elves that follow gods of other pantheons tend to be among the most devout of followers.
•The next most influential aspect in the life of an elf is their connection to the magical weave and nature. All elves have innate magical ability to some degree, even though not all are mages. Likewise all elves have a deep seated love of nature and are very comfortable in all of nature's aspects.
•Elves are not destructive like other races. They know how long nature takes to repair the damage done by sentient races, and they go out of their way to live in harmony with nature, as opposed to the attempts to control and dominate nature by the other races.
•Elves rarely make close friends with members of the shorter-lived races because they know these folk will live for but a few decades. This can make them seem distant at times.
•Elves are patient. This patience pervades all aspects of their lives.
•Elves are difficult to provoke, being just as content to watch an enemy die of old age as to directly confront them. They have the luxury of waiting decades to get revenge on someone who has wronged them. They will never jump into a fight unless given no other choice.
•Elves love the stars, the moon, and the sea. They are more nocturnal than other races, seeing just fine under starlight. Since they can sense weather patterns better than most, they make excellent sailors.
•Since elves are more in tune with the world around them, they notice temperature and weather extremes less than others. They can be comfortable in freezing weather or tropical weather while wearing the same clothing. In fact, clothing is not always a major concern for elves. Elves are equally comfortable in groups in or out of clothing. Clothing is worn for the sake of utility and propriety, not modesty.
•Elves gather knowledge. It’s what they are best at. They try not to act on something unless they are satisfied they know everything about the subject there is to know.
•Elves tend to be arrogant and racial elitists. They lament the destructive nature of the shorter-lived races, and tend to have more accumulated knowledge and experience, which can make them seem aloof. They often believe they are better than other races. However, they also believe that all forms of life are important, and if the shorter-lived races have a serious fault it’s that they don’t share this belief and tend to destroy and manipulate other living creatures. The only exception to this is the Orc. Elves hate Orcs more then any other creature existing. Many Elves will attack Orcs on sight without a second thought. Orcs were created to bring about the destruction of the Elven race.
•Elves have a low birth rate. There’s no need to have a child every few years when you live for centuries. Elves have been known to produce children with beings of other races, however the offspring of such relationships are often looked upon with disdain or in many cases pity. They are never truly accepted into elven society as true elves. Many elves find a need to express sympathy for the unfortunate "mistake" of the child's birth. The elven gestation period is 1 year.
•Elves usually must wait a very long time before finding their soulmates, if they ever do. Once two elves do recognize each other, they bond. An elven bond is something far deeper than the typical marriages of the other races. Breaking a bond, unlike divorce, is practically unheard of. The elven bond does not mean that the elves must be monogamous, though some do practice such. Elves do not, for the most part see monogamy as necessary to a loving relationship
The Elven Bond
Very rarely, an elf will form a mystical and unbreakable bond with another being, whether elf, human, dwarf, or otherwise; as this person becomes their true mate. Some signify this bonding through the giving of gifts designed to demonstrate one's love. Others merely forge the bond quietly, without any outward signs. Whatever the process through which this bond is formed, the elves involved and their chosen can sense the strong emotions of each other. They feel the joys and sorrows of the other, their triumphs and angers as well. Should distance separate the two in this bond and one pass away, the other can feel the death through the breaking of the bond. This is a great shock to the surviving elf and elves have been known to die of the grief. This is an even stronger version of the communion ability elves share, for this is a lifelong bond and not lightly broken.
This bond can usually be formed only once in an elf's life; very rarely twice. Therefore they are very careful about who they bestow this bond on. The vast majority of elves would not consider bonding with one who is not long lived. However some consider the love they receive form a human worth the sacrifice.
Death
Death is not the end of an elf's existence. They leave the mortal realms, coming under the care of their gods and being led to the eternal home of the elves. Disease and violence bring an end to many elves mortal lives, but there is another way that elves can move on to their eternal home. If they feel they have reached the end of their lives, they may simply relinquish their mortal bodies, which vanish into mist and light while their spirits travel on.
Some elves choose not to take this path when their time is come. They petition the priests and mages, and very rarely they are granted service beyond death. Elves who choose a path of Realms-bound duty beyond death can be turned into baelnorn, and these undead defenders unswervingly protect their clan and its holdings for centuries.
More nature-oriented elves (especially rangers and druids) who wish to continue an active role in the forest beyond their normal lifespan have two options, though both end their elven nature. Female elves can become transformed into dryads or nymphs, and they are forever tied to the sites close to where the transforming ritual occurs. If a penitent elf (of any sex or subrace) is buried beneath the roots of a tree with the blessings of a particular High Magic or druidic ritual, he or she becomes a treant.
Elves could also beseech priests of their gods to become Revered Ones, elven spirit warriors who march at the bequest of their gods to defend elven nations under attack. Though they reside in the area of eternal rest, these spirit warriors are rarely at rest, and a warrior must be devoted to warcraft, as it will be his role for eternity.
The elves remember those who have fallen in quiet contemplation, in beautiful gardens surrounding memorial stones made just for this purpose. Elves are not buried in the earth as such but in tombs or crypts of stone. Some of these are large and complex, others merely simple barrow like tombs. Grave robbing and desecration of ancient elven tombs is well known, and even high born elves have taken part in searches for magical items and treasure in half forgotten elven burial grounds. However other tales refer to more simple burials, when elves are buried in the ground or under a cairn of naturally formed stones.
The idea of disturbing elves after they have passed on is anathema to elves. Resurrection goes against all their strongly held beliefs, as does calling up the spirits of the dead.
Types of Elves
Avariel, Moon, Sea, Snow, Sunrise, Wood, Wild
Avariel Elves
Avariel are exquisitely delicate elves, with tall and elegantly graceful bodies. Their creamy white skin often has a tint of blue or silver; and their fine boned, angular faces are framed in hair of silvery-white or deep black.
They have large eyes in rich greens, deep blues or occasionally a startling violet. Their bones are similar to those of a bird, air filled pockets replace most of the much heavier marrow. This means a winged elf weighs considerably less than others elves, but their bodies are fragile. Avariel are agile and graceful which allows them to ride the winds with skill, and to move dexterously and quickly on the ground.
The most noticeable feature of the winged elves is not their beautiful faces but the wide, soft-feathered expanse of their wings. These are usually white, but sometimes grey, brown, flecked or even black. An avariel's wings form a span of between 12 to 16 feet. Like their bodies winged elven clothes are delicate and ethereally graceful. They wear loose fitting, gauzy clothes that move in graceful, windblown ripples as they fly.
Avariel have finely honed senses. They are blessed with the sharp hearing of their fellow elves and like their good friends the great eagles; winged elves have incredibly keen eyesight.
Despite their reclusiveness, their wariness of others and their tragic history avariel remain light-hearted and free-spirited elves. Their greatest joy is flight, soaring far above the beautiful vistas of their beloved mountains. Unfortunately Avariel quite literally look down upon the flightless inhabitants of Faerun. Their automatic assumption of their own innate superiority has done them no favours. Fortunately time and increasing exposure to the wingless races has led individual avariel to abandon this prejudice, and this may yet become true for the entire race.
Avariel from the military caste are efficient fighters who have been well trained from their youth in the arts of warfare. Under the leadership of their war chiefs they are a truly daunting force. Their history of near annihilation and long standing warfare has led them to develop an honourable but somewhat harsh code of battle. Mercy and the concept of an honourable face-to-face duel plays no role in their combat if a foe chooses to incur their wrath then they also choose to face whatever tactics the avariel bring to bear. Winged elves fight to the death. Once a foe is blooded it causes him shame and humiliation to leave him alive.
The key to understanding an avariel's way of fighting is in their flight. By preference they soar above the enemy using ranged weapons. They may also dive down on the foe using the element of surprise and the momentum of their flight to inflict great damage with their rapiers or long swords.
The mechanics of flight make it awkward an inefficient to use a bow. Avariel have discovered that the bolus and the lasso are their most effective ranged weapons. They tend to avoid heavy armor as this greatly reduces the advantages their wings provide. Avariel choose to focus their training on either the long sword or the rapier.
Moon Elves (sometimes called Silver Elves)
Description: Moon elves are tall and elegant and often extremely beautiful. Their skin is ivory-white, often with blue tints ,with white, silver-white, sapphire blue, or black hair. Very rarely they can be blond. Their eyes are blue or green with gold flecks; and occasionally gray.
Both males and females wear their hair long - often plaited in intricate or simple braids, or pulled back into a ponytail. Moon elves prefer garb that may be simple and even rustic in style, but is exquisitely made and adorned with embroidery, bead work and other decoration. They also deck their bodies and their hair with adornment, and often use body paint and tattoos. When feasting or living in a place of comfort and safety their clothes are bright and cheerful - like the moon elves themselves.
Moon elves thrive on change and on passions, often seeming like young elves throughout their lives. They enjoy laughter and revelry and tend to be more light hearted than the other elves. Though on the surface it may seem they live for the thrills of the moment, these elves see the future of all the races grimly: they must all learn to get along, or they will all be overcome. They are keen practitioners of the arts of battle, and a moon elven warrior is a truly dangerous foe.
Silver elves love of beautiful handiwork, music and tales and their thirst for knowledge has led them to admire and adopt much of the learning, skills and music of the other races. It is this and their love of friendship and feasting that has made them closest of all the elves to the other races. They are especially close to halflings, humans and gnomes; sometimes living alongside them. Their relationship with the dwarves is a little less close but they still admire these consummate workers in metal and stone. However they have a great enmity for the evil races such the goblinkin, and they reserve a deep and abiding hatred for the drow.
Moon elves have the affinity for wizardly magic seen in the other elves, but they often lack the single minded pursuit of these arts. Moon elves often combine their wizardry with the art of the blade or the more secretive arts and knowledge of a rogue.
They tend to tolerate men the most of the elven sub-races and the majority of adventuring elves and half-elves are of moon elf heritage.
Sea or Aquatic Elves
Description: Silver-green skin, hair is dark blue to an emerald green. There are gills upon their necks and their fingers and toes are slightly webbed.
Traits: They make allies of good sea creatures such as dolphins and whales. They can survive on land for many hours, but fight best underwater.
Sea elves are either lightly clad or wear no clothes at all. Their clothes are formed from underwater plants, in blacks, browns and greens. Warriors clip their hair, but other sea elves wear it long and flowing.
Sea elves are the least magical of the elven races, although they still have as many mages as human realms. Those who are spellcasters devote their long life spans to study and become extremely skilled. They have developed a range of waterproof magical items, and a system of writing underwater.
Aquatic elven society is based on family and clan and althugh females can and do wield power they are patriarchal. Noble families rule, but in a benign and loose fashion rather than with an iron fist. Families or individuals may own their dwelling but most other property is held in common. Such communal ownership means theft is almost unknown.
The special acoustics of a watery environment lend themselves to music, and sea elves are exposed to the eerie and beautiful songs of the whales and other denizens of the deep. It is not surprising that aquatic elven bards have a range of powerful and evocative songs.
Snow Elves (sometimes called White Elves)
These elves, also known as arctic or white elves, are reclusive and seldom seen in whichever world they are found in. The arctic elves of some worlds have skin of pale blue or stark white, with eyes in varying shades and intensities of blue. Elves from other worlds have light brown or tan skin, white or pale blond hair, and silver eyes.
The appearance of the snow elves has perhaps given the other elven races reason to doubt their lineage as being truly pure. They have average life spans of 750 years (900 being incredibly ancient). Additionally, snow elves are the tallest of the elven races and generally tower above humans. Females occasionally reach 6'4", and it is not unknown for males to have grown to 7'.
Snow Elves speak their own language, and a few (10%) speak Common. Most closely related to their only ally, the valley elves, snow elves are an aloof people. Accepted by neither elves nor men, they have simply withdrawn from both and carried on their lives. They are found in isolated mountain areas and in the far north, well away from prying eyes.
They strongly favour white clothing and bone jewellery, trading for silver from valley elves. They usually dress to blend with their surroundings; wearing appropriately coloured animal hides.
Snow elves could best be described as neutral with insufferably arrogant tendencies. With the exception of the valley elves-whom they tolerate and occasionally befriend-snow elves actively dislike all races other than their own, and they go out of their way to make that fact known if given the opportunity. Drow incite a kind of madness in snow elves, and only overwhelming odds will prevent a snow elf from attacking any drow or drow ally.
Snow elven clans, while not at all interdependent, will not hesitate to aid one another in repelling invaders or raiding high-altitude settlements. Clans often come together in spring and fall for various festivals and religious holidays. A snow elf will never turn another of his kind away empty-handed, although the proud snow elf only rarely admits the need of another's assistance.
Though a snow-elf PC will, of course, travel as he likes. A snow elf NPC will seldom be encountered below the snow line. Occasionally, their clans will dwell for brief periods just below the tree line in the dead of winter. Snow elves will never be encountered in a city, and they go into the foothills or lowlands only on urgent clan business, or to raid for food.
Snow elves prize the hunt, and to a snow elf, no quarry is more prized than a white dragon. White dragon meat is always a cause for a great feast, where praises are sung to the warrior who dealt the killing blow. This warrior usually becomes one of the chief's guards. The tribe's chief can usually claim at least one such victory over a white dragon, with his stories told and retold to the entire tribe, who never seem to care that they have heard it countless times before, claiming that the story becomes more grand with each retelling.
Sunrise Elves (sometimes called Gold Elves)
They are an exotic and beautiful race with skin: of bronze or amber; and hair of copper, golden blond or black; and rarely red. Their eyes are usually gold or green and very occasionally copper, silver, black, or hazel. ...but as they value study over combat they are a little less robust than moon elves.
Gold elves dress in garments that are of simple, flowing lines in cool greens and blues, but of exotic and magnificent cut richly decorated with subtle but intricate embroidery. Likewise their jewelry is deceptively simple, but intricately and exquisitely crafted.
Gold elves are a solemn and dignified people, who place great value on bloodlines and tradition. Their society is based on the rule of noble families, and the honour of a family name. While they do not rule a majority of the elven colonies across the Realms, gold elves often take it upon themselves to act as the conservative arbiters of elven civilization, firm in their beliefs that they know what "true elven culture" is.
Sun elves are isolative and aloof, preferring to keep themselves apart from the other inhabitants... They disdain the arts and knowledge of other races, and therefore have a much narrower range of artistry and lore. However it can be truly said that in those areas the sun elves choose to work, they are consummate masters. Those who gather wizardly knowledge are held in great esteem, and sun elven wizards purse their craft with single minded intensity. The fine arts such as music, metal work and sculpture are dear to the heart of Corellon and "his" sun elves. Combat and the arts of war hold lesser value - and it may be true that in their assurance of their superiority sun elves are not truly aware of the danger posed top them by the other races and creatures.
They are highly civilized, even to the point of being entrenched in civilization, and they do not tolerate well either other races, nor even elves of other subraces. They are notoriously arrogant, the nobility of elvendom. They are nearly always blond, with amber or brown eyes.
Wood Elves (Sometimes called Copper or Sylvan Elves)
Wood Elves are reclusive and distrusting of non-elves, in particular human kind. Wood elves often have slightly darker skin then their other elven cousins (except for the Drow). Their hair tends toward browns, and blacks with occasional blondes, and may contain green highlights. Their eyes are typically green, brown, or hazel.
Although wood elves are descended from the same stock as the other elves, they are far more primitive than their kin. Sylvan elves, by their very nature, seem more prone to violence than 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.
Wood Elves do not care about the proceedings in the outer world; only when such acts impact their realm do the wood elves take interest. Even then, that interest is only in removing the nuisance and in returning to the wildlands as quickly as possible. Only other elves can break their solitude without suffering potential death.
Wood elven garb is of simple cut, in the natural shades of earth, wood and leaf. These are decorated with understated embroidery in natural designs. Copper elves often wear their leather armour, even if there is no apparent threat. These suits of armour are beautifully made, and the leather may be lovingly tooled.
Copper elves have built up a powerful affinity with the deep forest - seeing the life of the trees as more permanent that that of brick and stone buildings. Towns and cities are transitory places that will inevitably fall into ruin, but the great forests endure. Many are nomadic, eschewing all possessions they cannot carry with them. However the majority live in small but permanent villages, deep within the forest. These are built of wood, fieldstone and even the living trees themselves. They are so skilfully blended in to their surroundings even a highly skilled human hunter can pass right through a village without ever seeing it.
Wood elves value skills in combat and hunting above study. They have a great deal of knowledge about the ways of the forest, but have little book learning and little knowledge of the behaviour and culture of other races. Very few wood elves delve into arcane magic, and there are also very few clerics - which is not surprising in a culture that does not value study and learning.
Wild Elves (Sometimes called Green Elves)
Wild (or green) elves have skin of dark brown, and their hair is also brown - ranging from light brown through to nearly black. In extreme age their hair turns silver or white. They are graceful in their movements, and like Wood elves they are stockier and hardier than other elves. However as they place more value on physical fitness and prowess than learning they have less knowledge and tend to be less cerebral.
Green elves wear a minimum of clothing, especially those that live in the sweltering south. These are of simple fibres or animal skins. Unlike the other elven races they do not decorate their clothing, rather they decorate their hair and their actual skin with tattoos, body paint, beads and feathers worked into intricate and beautiful patterns.
Green elves are by far the most isolative and reclusive of the elves. They avoid contact with all outsiders - even other elves, and are seldom seen. The skills and lore of their past are long since gone, but they still retain much magic. Some enables them to remain hidden. Those who stumble into a wild elven enclave are mazed and enchanted - returned back where they came from with no dangerous memories and usually without even seeing a wild elf. Other magic is present in the form of druid spells and sorcery rather than the clerical and wizardly magics of scholarship and learning.
The hunt is the lynch pin of wild elven society, and is surrounded with ritual and festivity. The inherent joy and creativity of the elves is expressed in music and dance, which often reflects the theme of the hunt. They disdain permanent art other than tattoos, and have only simple crafts. Great value is placed in hunting skills, and green elves are adept at moving unseen through the forest while tracking their prey and are fierce fighters. Many of the tribes are nomadic, but others live in simple permanent homes - whichever is best suited to survival in their particular wilderness.
