Homebrew Abyssal Elf Species Details
Though most Half-elves are born from individual unions of elven and human parents, some have formed whole societies and can trace their lineage back to indiscretions of a far more terrible nature. The Abyssal Elves of the Unseen Lands are one such example. Tracing their bloodlines to the Warlocks and Sorcerers of the Elun-Vor, High Elves who sought power to counter the threat of an ancient Cataclysm, those Abyssal denizens who aided them wanted only one thing: A permanent place on the material plane. A hundred generations later, and the children born from these demonic unions are a culture all their own, not so backbiting as the Drow, but certainly no less sinister.
But not all of these strange Half-Elves hear the call of their bloodlines, and instead seek to make their own way in the world. Many slip free from the hold of the Unseen Lands as a part of their duty, and come to find the outside world holds to much wonder to deny. Some follow a wanderlust once prevelant in all elves before their people were fractured, and others reject the sinister goals of their elders outright, and live in fear of their own kind until their last days.
Almost Elven
Abyssal Elves look for all the world like a High Elf might, and draw their wide range of physical charactaristics from their Elven parentage, save for a few oddities that might draw attention from the observant. An Abyssal Elf has red eyes, violet blood, and somewhat sharp incisors. They may also have other random, minor features, such as scales on an odd part of the body, horns that can be hidden under hair, or a birthmark in the form of demonic text. While the Elves of the Hidden Lands interbred with demons only for a short time, the power they hold runs deep, and though they can often pass for Elves (even without magic), they must remain careful or risk discovery.
Impossible Wanderlust
When the Elves of Elun-Vor realized no power the Demons had offered could save the Elven people from the Fracturing, they shielded themselves away in the Unseen Lands, and used that power to save themselves. The cost was the very essence of who they were, for their children would be corrupted versions of themselves, tainted by demonic blood and left without the grace they had so desperately wished to preserve.
And yet, in some ways, the Abyssal Elves that are their descendants are the purest elves of all. While the Fracturing cut deep into the heart of the Elven people when it split them apart, the Abyssal Elves still retain that original spark of passion and sense of adventure that used to drive the elves of the world to an uncontrollable wanderlust. For this reason, almost all Abyssal Elves leave the Unseen Lands once they come of age, and while the elders focus this desire to explore into clandenstine missions to serve their larger purpose, more and more of their young people disappears into the world and never look back.
This too, is their downfall in the outside world, for while they might be able to hide much about who they are, explain away a drop of oddly colored blood or eyes, it is hard for them to excuse their often impulsive and bon vivant nature, one that often runs counter to all but the most evil of their elven cousins.
Abyssal Elf Traits
Abyssal Elves are very similar to most Half-Elves, and have the following traits:Ability Score Increase
Your Charisma score increases by 2, and two other ability scores of your choice increase by 1.
Age
Abyssal Elves reach physical maturity at the same age as humans, but are often not considered adults among their kind until they each the Age of Enlightenment, at age 50. An Abyssal Elf may live as long a thousand years or more, and does not begin to show advanced age until the last quarter of it's life.
Alignment
The chaotic nature of elves has only been amplified by abyssal blood, and many Abyssal Elves have chaotic alignments. Evil or Neutral alignments are also common, but those who slip free from the control of their elders may do so because of moral differences, and so Abyssal Elves may be of any alignment.
Size
Abyssal Elves are about the same size as elves. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision
Thanks to your elf blood, 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.
Fey Ancestry
You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Abyssal.
Demonic Magic
You know the friends cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the faerie fire spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the misty step spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.