Homebrew Elf-Dwarf Species Details

Walking in two worlds but truly belonging to neither, elf-dwarves combine what some say are the best qualities of their dwarf and elf parents: elven refined senses, love of nature, and artistic tastes tempered by the stalwart strength, love of earth, and opposing artistic tastes of the dwarves. Some elf-dwarves live among elves, set apart by their emotional and physical differences, growing restless as they reach adulthood in the timeless elven realms, while their peers continue to live as children. Others live with the dwarves, watching friends and loved ones age while time barely touches them. Many elf-dwarves, unable to fit into either society, choose lives of solitary wandering or join with other misfits and outcasts in the adventuring life.

Of Two Worlds

To elves, elf-dwarves look like dwarves, and to dwarves, they look elven. In height, they’re on par with both parents, though they’re neither as thick as dwarves nor as slender as elves. They range from under 5 feet to about 6 feet tall, and from 100 to 180 pounds, with men only slightly taller and heavier than women. Elf-dwarf women can have facial hair, and sometimes grow beards to mask their elven ancestry. Elf-dwarven coloration and features lie somewhere between their elf and dwarf parents, and thus show a variety even more pronounced than that found among either race.

Diplomats or Wanderers

Elf-dwarves have no lands of their own, though they are welcome in elven forests and somewhat less welcome in dwarven mountains. In large cities in regions where dwarves and elves interact often, elf-dwarves are sometimes numerous enough to form small communities of their own. They enjoy the company of other half-dwarves, the only people who truly understand what it is to live between these two worlds.

In most parts of the world, though, elf-dwarves are uncommon enough that one might live for years without meeting another. Some elf-dwarves prefer to avoid company altogether, staying in the hills as miners, gemologists, smiths, or jewelers and visiting civilization only rarely. Like dwarves, they are driven by the seclusiveness that comes of their greed. Others, in contrast, throw themselves into the thick of society, putting their charisma and social skills to great use in diplomatic roles or as swindlers.

Elf-Dwarf Names

Elf-dwarves use either elven or dwarven naming conventions. As if to emphasize that they don’t really fit in to either society, elf-dwarves raised among elves are often given dwarven names, and those raised among dwarves often take elf names.

EXCELLENT AMBASSADORS

Many elf-dwarves learn at an early age to get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have dwarven stoutness without dwarven rudeness and elven grace without elven aloofness. They often make excellent ambassadors and go-betweens (except between dwarves and elves, since each side suspects the elf-dwarf of favoring the other).

 

Elf-Dwarf Traits

Your elf-dwarf character has some qualities in common with dwarves and some that are in common with elves.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age

Elf-dwarves mature at the same rate dwarves do and reach adulthood around the age of 20. They live much longer than dwarves, however, often exceeding 400 years.

Size

Elf-dwarves are about the same size as humans, ranging from 5 to 6 feet tall. 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.

Dwarven Resilience

You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.

Stonecunning

Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Dwarvish, and one extra language of your choice.