Homebrew Earth Elf Species Details

The Earth Elves, sometimes known as the Cave Elves, are a group of elves that have spent their entire lives underground. While most representation in modern culture depict them as black market traders, assassins, and brutes, they actually have a typically polite demeanor (if a bit extra wary of outsiders), and have the same or at least similar culture as their land faring kin. In fact, their transition to their new lifestyle has only seemed to make them even more powerful.

 

Origins. There are many stories about how and why the Earth Elves first left for the underground. Some historians suggest that they were driven underground by some sort of natural disaster. Others suggest they left voluntarily, or under the influence of magic or a particularly charismatic tyrant. But the general consensus is that they were all nomadic tribes of elves that found their way down by chance and any of these stories could be true. 

 

Culture. The Earth Elves have a rich culture centered around art and architecture. They have little use for things of sports as they can't really see a field and people kicking a ball, but they do have lots of theater, particularly drama, and comedy especially. Intricate architecture is also a thing you will find if you stumble into one of their cities. 

Family is extremely important to these elves, and stories are often told and passed down from parents to children. 

Cities in this culture are much more like outposts, guawrding the travelers of the paved path. If an elf finds the right city, they will settle down and start offering their services to other travelers. They will still travel, but they do so much less often and only to visit friends and family. Or an elf may choose to go to the surface, leaving the caves of their homes and becoming merchants, artists and sometimes adventurers.

 

Religion. While they do still revere other elven gods, Cave Elves mainly worship Ashun'lisvu, the god of the caves. Ashun'lisvu is the god stability, pattern, and, oddly enough theater (or maybe they just like it I don't know). They also have the council, a group demigods selected by Ashun'lisvu that represent the major resources vital for life; Crevne is for food, Revne for water, Arevne for air, Yrevne for light, and Prevne for people. They are worshipped by daily prayer, and once a year they will, if possible, go to the ancient grounds, an old ruin created by the drow, now inhabited by Ashun'lisvu and their council. In older days, they would choose a champion to go to the surface, but now it is a much more common sight to see an Earth Elf, if still not at all usual. 

 

Government. They have a democracy very similar to the U.S., where there is a face that makes speeches and announcements, and then a group of fifteen people that actually make laws. The group removes the oldest member every five years, then another is elected by the people. Then there are thirty judges that determine the moral law, basically the jury and judge in real life. 

 

Appearance. Earth Elves are descended from Wood Elves, and though they do look like them more than any other elves, they are very much unique. Their skin varies in tone from a light brown to almost pitch black. Their hair is typically short, again ranging from light brown to black, though there is the rare case of blonde or orange, and their eyes are green, black, brown or amber. They typically have a shorter stature, with bent spines and long, thin limbs. Oh dear I just described my older brother 

Earth Elf Traits

The Earth Elves have evolved to be used to a subterranean lifestyle. Your character gains the following benefits:

Ability score increase

Your dexterity increases by 2, and your constitution and wisdom increases by 1.

Speed

You have a base walking speed of 30, and a base burrowing speed of 15.

Languages

You can speak, read and write Common and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elvish literature is rich and varied, and their songs and ballads are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so the can incorporate Elvish ballads into their repertoires.

Sightless

You are accustomed to having very little sight, and you gain the following abilities: 

• You have disadvantage on sight based perception checks, and all writing looks like a bunch of scribbles if you're in bright light.
• You have Blindsight 20 feet, Darkvision 40 feet, and Tremorsense 60 feet.

Tunneler

All Earth Elves have a feeling for what underground and can tell if there's a deposit of magma, an aquifer or a secret lair underground. And not only can they tell if there are pathways in the dirt, they can also carve their own. You gain the following abilities:

• You have a burrowing speed of 15.
• You can see (picture technically) rock formations, living entities and even man made structures that are underground even if they are not producing any vibrations for 30 feet.