The DM is setting up for the Curse of Strahd, which was the first adventure module I ever learned about [thx Puffin Forest], and before even that, I knew the name of Ravenloft before I even knew it was a part of DnD, so I'm excited to get started.
With the release of Van Richten's Guide, the DM has said that we can choose to come from the Domains of Dread, and create characters with histories in the Mists. I, as I was already wanting to play an elf, have been given permission to be a Dusk Elf from Barovia. He's combining 4e lore to fill in the 5e lore gaps about them, so they were a people of Sehanine Moonbow, who showed them mercy when they chose neither Corellon or Lolth in the ancient war after Lolth's betrayal. The DM has said that my character will be from the Sword Coast after his father left the domain thanks to the help of some kind Vistani, which took him to the Sword Coast, where he tried to start a new life for himself and his child. Now, the place he tried to keep his son safe from is dragging the boy back in.
From here, I'm not really sure how to bring this character to life. What kind of name would he have, because it probably isn't like the fantastical elf names his peers would have. What subrace would express this lineage best without homebrew? And where might he have lived before returning to Barovia?
Have your DM check out Mandymod's Fleshing Out Curse of Strahd. Specifically the Character Options PDF. It includes a homebrew Dusk Elf subrace and more info on Dusk Elves to use. I included some spoiler tags in case your DM hasn't gone over that lore with you yet. I have a player that made a Dusk Elf in my current CoS campaign that I run. If you wanted to refrain from using homebrew, maybe try Shadar-kai as a race?
Dusk Elf Racials:
Age.
No dusk elf child has been born since the execution of all their women.
As such, a dusk elf character from Barovia has a minimum age of about 250 years.
Gender. All current dusk elves are biologically male and incapable of bearing children.
However, it is possible through some story means or magical fluke that a dusk elf female may have avoided the purge of their women. If your character is biologically female, speak to your DM to determine how they survived or avoided the executions.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Dusk Elf Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the hand crossbow, light crossbow, shortbow, and longbow.
Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.
Mask of the Shadows. You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks when you are attempting to hide within darkness or in heavily obscured, natural environments such as foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, and mist.
The DM is setting up for the Curse of Strahd, which was the first adventure module I ever learned about [thx Puffin Forest], and before even that, I knew the name of Ravenloft before I even knew it was a part of DnD, so I'm excited to get started.
With the release of Van Richten's Guide, the DM has said that we can choose to come from the Domains of Dread, and create characters with histories in the Mists. I, as I was already wanting to play an elf, have been given permission to be a Dusk Elf from Barovia. He's combining 4e lore to fill in the 5e lore gaps about them, so they were a people of Sehanine Moonbow, who showed them mercy when they chose neither Corellon or Lolth in the ancient war after Lolth's betrayal. The DM has said that my character will be from the Sword Coast after his father left the domain thanks to the help of some kind Vistani, which took him to the Sword Coast, where he tried to start a new life for himself and his child. Now, the place he tried to keep his son safe from is dragging the boy back in.
From here, I'm not really sure how to bring this character to life. What kind of name would he have, because it probably isn't like the fantastical elf names his peers would have. What subrace would express this lineage best without homebrew? And where might he have lived before returning to Barovia?
Insert interesting signature here.
Have your DM check out Mandymod's Fleshing Out Curse of Strahd. Specifically the Character Options PDF. It includes a homebrew Dusk Elf subrace and more info on Dusk Elves to use. I included some spoiler tags in case your DM hasn't gone over that lore with you yet. I have a player that made a Dusk Elf in my current CoS campaign that I run. If you wanted to refrain from using homebrew, maybe try Shadar-kai as a race?
Dusk Elf Racials:
Age.
No dusk elf child has been born since the execution of
all their women.
As such, a dusk elf character from Barovia
has a minimum age of about 250 years.
Gender. All current dusk elves are biologically male and
incapable of bearing children.
However, it is possible through
some story means or magical fluke that a dusk elf female may
have avoided the purge of their women. If your character is
biologically female, speak to your DM to determine how they
survived or avoided the executions.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Dusk Elf Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the
hand crossbow, light crossbow, shortbow, and longbow.
Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.
Mask of the Shadows. You have advantage on Dexterity
(Stealth) checks when you are attempting to hide within
darkness or in heavily obscured, natural environments such
as foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, and mist.