Homebrew Dargonesti Species Details

 

Who are the mysterious masters who imprison the in their underwater city?

No soul has encountered the fabled Dargonesti or visited the city of pearl marble that rises from the sea floor - and lived to tell the the tale

— Paul B. Thompson & Tonya Cook, Back cover of The Dargonesti 

 Dargonesti elves are one of the two primary types of sea elves that are also known as the deep elves. Like their cousins the Dimernesti elves, they originally hail from the ancient land elves, but were altered by the Graygem and leapt into the depths of the seas in the early ages of Krynn.

Slender and Graceful

The average male Dargonesti elf stands at seven feet tall, whilst females normally stand at six feet in height. Considerably taller than their elven cousins on land, they are slightly bulkier than their land cousins, however they are still more agile and slender than the typical human.

The Dargonesti bear dark blue skin that is compared to the deep blue of the ocean, and have long webbed hands and feet that allow them to glide through the water. Dargonesti can breathe air easily enough, however they also possess small-feathered gill slits below each ear that allows them to breathe underwater with ease. Hair colour for Dargonesti elves ranges from dark green to pale gold, and a few rare deep elves have been known to have black or silver hair. The deep elves have large eyes with small pupils that range in colour from blue-green to deep indigo, and a small few sometimes have either yellow or black pupils.

A Timeless Perspective

Dargonesti elves are considered adults when they reach 40 years of age, and the average Dargonesti can live up to 1000 years of age, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply.

Dargonesti are extreme isolationists. Sometimes they interact with sentient marine life, but keep to themselves mostly.  They are scornful of the Dimernesti, the other race of sea elves. They also harbour distaste for Silvanesti and Qualinesti, who considering both races of sea elves arrogant, for leaving land and going to the sea. They are more friendly to Kagonesti. Non-elven races are interesting to the Dargonesti, known to save ships containing them, with the exception of minotaurs and draconians, who they would rather let drown.

Dargonesti value freedom of choice, but can be lawfully aligned. Most sea elves are good, because any evil ones are exiled as dark elves.

The Deep Blue

 

When first entering the sea, the deep elves founded the great kingdom of Watermere, and then spread outwards across the sea floor, where they established other settlements. Near the Dragon Isles are located the two mighty Dargonesti cities of Darthalla and Dargonest and southwards of Ansalon is the Dargonesti city of Urione. They keep small well equipped fortresses throughout the kingdom. These are often occupied by the Dargonesti clans.

In the depths of the ocean, Dargonesti wear very little, usually only bits of seaweed or the occasional bit of clothing crafted from sea plants. Above the waves, they tend to wear cloaks or robes that hide their blue skin from the eyes of strangers. The Dargonesti are devoutly religious and worship three main gods. Most deep elves worship either Abbuku the Fisher (Habbakuk), Kisla the Mother of the Sea (Chislev) or Zura the Maelstrom (Zeboim). The deep elves also revere the three gods of magic, as they recognise that the three gods even control all magic under the waves.

Dargonesti elves possess the traditional elvensight that all members of their race have, allowing them to see twice as far in the dark as humans. Sea elves also possess seasense, which allows them to sense differences in the water, alerting them to pollutants, changes in pressure or depth. The deep elves also have the gift of being able to polymorph themselves into a dolphin up to three times a day, a form that they can maintain indefinitely.

 

 

Elf Names

Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the fortieth birthday, and before this period they are called by child names.

On declaring adulthood, an elf selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every elf bears a family name, typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some elves traveling among humans translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Elvish version.

Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall

Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis

Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Naïlo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal)

 

Dargonesti Traits

Your elf character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of elven refinement.

Sea Shape

The deep elves also have the gift of being able to polymorph themselves into a dolphin up to three times a day, a form that they can maintain indefinitely, unless they drop to 0 hit points, at which point they revert to their original forms.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 40 and can live to be 1000 years old.

Size

Elves range from 6 feet to 7 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Trance

Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

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