Homebrew Arkos Empyrean Elf Species Details

"The grace and poise I have seen here in these towers lends itself to all those tales of fae that were beyond mortals and even dragons before the Ascension. However, the Empyrean Elves lack the mirth that those stories oft mentioned. They are a grave sort of people and terribly secretive; though they have not outright lied to me I have noted how their wordplay is a master craft of weaving the listeners attention wherever they should wish and oftentimes that is away from all the mystical objects and feats for which they are known. I am sure of it, because they have not bid me entrance to the Trisslegen Araignee nor do they long allow me to speak of it. In supplication they have instead given me a gift of a priceless value. A large bolt of double-woven spider-silk, just as strong and as beautiful as the stories speak of.

Though I may never speak to the great spiders who I see pass with their entourage in the halls, nor will I see the great weaving of silk that supposedly connects the stars and all their stories, and though I may never have my prophecy read by the Empyreal Coven, I will still be grateful to have received something that could save my sweet Annika from one of the worse fates a dragon can face: permeant grounding."

— The Great Chronicler 

 

Regal and Refined

Just as Aether intended Empyrean Elves are embodiments of the heavens and all the heavenly bodies held within. Empyreans typically are extremely tall, rivaling the Orcs and even Urgal, when it comes to a purely vertical representation of stature. They range anywhere from six feet to eight feet tall, though the higher ends of six feet and lower ends of seven are their average. Unlike the fire forged Orcai Empyreans are incredibly slender, spindly even, like the spiders they call friends. Empyreans move with slow unearthly grace and have minds oftentimes thought to be beyond the comprehension of other races. With thoughts never leaving their sky charts and prophetic web weaving, they rarely leave the towers of Iluvia nor do they often accept outsiders in but whenever they do it is always with great purpose and intent. They often live about half a millennium.

Empyrean Elves’ coloration ranges from the pale moonlit white to the twilit of atmospheric grey to the darkest black of the deepest night. Their hair is typically silver like starlight but occasionally there is an Empyrean elf born with hair that gleams like a river of fire. These "comet born" elves typically herald change in the world, at least to the Empyreans, and it is always said that on their coming-of-age comet showers will rain across the night sky almost all year. Besides their coloration and stature what will mark an elf as an Empyrean from a distance will also be their spider-silk clothes which sparkle with a delicate iridescence, like the stars and all their colors have been trapped in the threads. Some of the most beautiful and wondrous clothing comes from the towers of Iluvia, spun by the giant spiders that live in those towers as the elves beloved companions. 

 

Woven Web and Woeful Prophecy

The Empyreal Coven is a ruling court made up of four individuals of royal bloodlines. These rulers are known as "Voyantes" or seers. Each Voyante has their own title to represent the heavens; there is the Lune Voyante, the Soliel Voyante, the Astre Voyante, and the Noir Voyante. Mostly the leaders of Iluvia are historically female, there have only been three Voyants or male seers in all of their recorded history. It isn't concrete as to why the Empyrean Elves only ascend females into the highest ranks, but some elves claim that the women of these ancient bloodlines are oftentimes the only ones born with potent enough gifts. An even rarer rumor is that it is because the Sortara or Mistress of Webs- the ancient spider who spools the thread which makes up the Trisslegen Araignee- does not tolerate males willingly.

These gifts after all are extremely important, they are how the Coven knows where to guide their people's future. As one of the longest lived sinescale race Empyreans are always aware of how their actions will change the future and often lay the groundwork of machinations that will not bear fruit for them but for future for generations. Ever since the Ascension their reclusive and secretive nature has only grown in potency. It is whispered that the Empyreans have an understanding of what happened over a thousand years ago with the mist and are working to harness whatever they have discovered for themselves. Kinder folk claim that they might have the key to returning Arkos to an elemental balance and should be left alone to carry out their plans. 

Either way it is common for Iluvia to send out messengers whenever the ruling Coven has a particularly important prophecy. They otherwise do not try and guide the rest of the sinescale which is for the best. There was one point in history when the Empyrean Elves believed it their duty to rule the world and bring about the best future for everyone, but that ideology has since fallen out of favor, whether because of the culling of their people that happened in ancient times due to that belief or because they foresaw how that possible future would play out and decided to abandon it is unknown. 

 

Aura Senses and Arcane Airs

Empyrean Elves are capable of reading Auras and claim that each soul has a multitude of colors that are its own signature pattern. If they speak with another for longer than ten minutes, they can begin to read the soul aura and gain advantages to insights against that individual. This innate ability can be canceled out by mind shielding however as it seems to block the natural escaping of one's aura from their physical form. Thus, Riders get a wisdom save against this ability as long as they are shielding. It is a flat DC 13 that one need make to stop the outward flow of their aura. 

As natural as aura reading comes to many Empyreans so too does the ability to twist their forms into air and back again. These elves have unique gifts from Aether, unlike their more physical brethren the Wild Elves, Empyreans air-based abilities are in their magics. They have the power to "Winnow" or twist their bodies into air and soar over great distances in the blink of an eye, essentially teleporting. Though unlike teleporting air must be able to pass through to wherever they wish to go. 

 

Sworn Vows and Starflights

When Empyrean Elves come of age they must go before the Empyreal Coven and have their star freckles read. No matter how sparse, these elves all have freckles across their body that look like stars sparkling atop their skin. Empyreans must bear these freckles to their rulers so their future can be read and proclaimed to them. Afterwards are when they are finally recognized as adults and can choose a career path. If the elf is born with arcane gifts, it is then that a spider companion chooses them to guide. 

When an Empyrean's dragon comes of age, they too step before the coven and have their future foretold but afterwards, they take part in a solo spiritual journey called the Starflight. This is when a dragon flies out just before sunset with their rider, climbs as high into the sky as they can manage and lock their wings to "soar through the stars" while they slumber, their rider ever watchful for threats or any complication with the flight so they can alert their dragon, pulling them from sleep. The dragons claim that they see secrets needed for the betterment of society and often commit themselves to a specific task they see as the accomplishment of their lifetime. 

 

Empyrean Elf Names

These elves are typically named after preferred virtues, constellations, or specifically named stars. (Elvish is loosely based on the French language in this setting)

Female Names: Clair (Bright), Leste (Nimble), Lyra (Constellation), Sage (Wisdom), etc.

Male Names: Altair (Star of the Aquila Constellation), Polaris (Northern Star), Serux (Dependable), Vif (Keen), etc.

Arkos Empyrean Elf Traits

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

Wind Weave

Empyreans can shift into a gaseous form as a bonus action and fly instantly to a location within 40 feet before being forced to immediately shift back.

Age

Empyrean Elves typically live around 500 years, they are the longest living sinescale race and come of age around 60. 

Size

Wild Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and typically have slender, muscled builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit jungles 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.

Instinctive Mystics

You are proficient in Arcana. 

Air Sprite Ancestry

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

Aura Reader

While focusing on an individual and holding conversation with them for five minutes the Empyrean can see their aura and detect delicate shifts in its colors for an insight on the persons thoughts or feelings. While concentrating you have advantage of insights against this individual. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Elvish and one other language. 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.