You were born into a desert elf tribe and raised among one of the nomadic and proud exclusionary groups of elves in the deserts of Kahl. You have learned the ways of your tribe in how to test outsiders for their trustworthiness, you have been indoctrinated in the culture of your tribe to value the art of theft and to look down upon others who rely upon mounts or vehicles to lessen the burden of travel. As a desert elf you were born to run the sands of the Jaz-Zidan desert, con and steal from those not native to it and to protect yourself, culture and tribe from those who threaten it.
Choose a tribe or create a tribe with the DM to detail the nature of that tribe's specifics. Were you exiled from your tribe due to a failure or misunderstanding? Are you a lone survivor or one of few surviving of your tribe after an awful event or series of events? Perhaps you were sent off from your tribe to perform a special rite of passage unique to your tribe.
- Skill Proficiencies: Your life within your tribe has taught you how to deceive outsiders to your advantage as well as how to live off the land to find water, hunt for prey and discern edible plants from poisonous ones. You gain skill proficiency in Deception and Survival.
- Languages: You would have picked up on the language of an outside group your tribe regularly dealt with, learned from a texts bartered for or stolen from travelers or deciphered from an ancient tome or tablet once lost to the sands of Jaz-Zidan.
You were born into an exclusive family of desert elves on the continent of Kahl and have adopted their unique culture. Determine how this lifestyle has shaped you, whether you still hold to the values of your tribe and how these influences have impacted you. You can roll on the following table to determine your tribe, choose one that best fits your character or create one of your own.
| d10 | Tribe |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sunrunners |
| 2 | Dune Creepers |
| 3 | Silt Stalkers |
| 4 | Whispering Winds |
| 5 | Painted Elves |
| 6 | The Lost Oasis Tribe |
| 7 | Dust Dancers |
| 8 | Sunsworn |
| 9 | Shadekeepers |
| 10 | Redsands |
Years of running the sands have allowed you to develop an uncanny endurance when it comes to traveling long distances on foot. You are able to travel at a fast pace when determining your travel pace without taking a penalty to passive Wisdom (Perception) scores. In addition, when making a Constitution saving throw for a forced march, you do so at advantage.
Suggested Characteristics
Desert elves appear to be callous, dismissive and greedy by most people who do not belong to a desert elf tribe, and many of them are. But some have a set of standards and values that might appear honorable or righteous to outsiders. In any case, it is rare that a desert elf acknowledges the authority of anyone outside of their tribe and this lack of respect often leads to them actively seeking to subvert this authority, openly or discretely.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I never back down from a challenge or chance to prove myself. |
| 2 | I am rarely cautious and rely on my skill and reflexes to get out of bad situations. |
| 3 | I trust a little easier than most of my kin, allowing outsiders into my life. |
| 4 | I find other races to be untrustworthy and not worth my respect. |
| 5 | I save every bit of coin or treasure I collect, never knowing when I will come by more. |
| 6 | I have many idols within my tribe, and often refer to their achievements. |
| 7 | The list of people I've cheated, swindled or stolen from is long, so I keep a low profile in public. |
| 8 | I am overly curious of other races cultures, customs and beliefs and will often ask intrusive or invasive questions. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Respect. I respect those who have proven themselves and earned it, desert elf or not. (Good) |
| 2 | Freedom. The sands and wilds are open to all, laws are just chains to burden the weak. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Theft. If I can take it, I deserve it. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Family. What I earn, steal or kill is done for the betterment of myself, my companions or my tribe. (Neutral) |
| 5 | Cunning. If I can outsmart someone, they deserve what's coming to them. (Evil) |
| 6 | Athleticism. Where and how far I can run will determine what greatness I can achieve. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | My tribe is the only family I'll ever have. |
| 2 | I've been caught stealing once and it was humiliating. I'll never get caught again. |
| 3 | The elders of my tribe are who I strive to live up to. |
| 4 | I will lead other tribeless elves so they may once again know what it means to belong. |
| 5 | I carry with me keepsakes I've stolen from people that are close to me and lovers I've had and have. |
| 6 | I consider the desert my home and I'll fight to defend it. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm too proud to ever back down from a fight I or my companions started. |
| 2 | If I see a treasured keepsake or trinket in someone's possession, I can think of nothing else until I've stolen it. |
| 3 | I lie somewhat poorly when speaking anything other than my native language. |
| 4 | I have developed an especially bad reputation with authorities in a major city. |
| 5 | I made a mistake that caused the deaths of many of my tribespeople. |
| 6 | The only time I lower my guard around others is when I partake in ale, wine or other intoxicants. |
Although you were born to a desert elf tribe, your years spent in the city have influenced how you navigate your goals and objectives, deal with other races and how you are perceived by others. Your natural endurance gained from running days on end upon the sands is no longer needed, as cunning and knowledge are what keep you safe in the city.
If your character chooses the City Elf variant, you gain the Squatter feature in place of Distance Runner. Creeping between alleyways and abandoned buildings to navigate the safest route through the slums of the city has taught you where to find the safest places to lay low and rest. Your knowledge of slums, ghettos and the impoverished sectors of larger cities allows you to locate a suitable abandoned building for you and your companions to rest for a night.
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