Homebrew Avariel Elf Species Details

During the time of dragons, Toril was dominated by dragons far more powerful than those on Faerun today. Isolated pockets of territory fell under giant control, and these grew torward the end of the age. This is when the avariel, green elves, and the lythan first came to Aber Toril as immigrants from the realm of Faerie, passing through the fey crossroads and backroads.

Upon first migrating to Faerun, they found the land to be a vast, beautiful place. Unfortunately, vicious dragons ruled the skies. The newly arrived avariel were nearly all but wiped out by the dragons before the First Flowering. In their tenacity, they were able to foothold and build aeries. Of these the largest was a temple-city of Aerie, located in the star mountains at the heart of the High Forrest. By the time the 2nd wave of elven immigrants came, the terrible wars with the dragons, and had driven them to near extinction. 

The martial strength and magical powers of the elves in this second wave brought the Time of the Dragons to a close. All that is left now of this time are legendary epics and songs of elves overthrowing the slaying dragon, the giant overloads, and carving nations for themselves.

After all the Avariel went through, only one major flock and a handful of smaller flights remained. The convocation of Eagles flew east in search of a new home. It was not long before they found a surprising new home. An extensive human tribe formed an alliance with the avariel, only to betray them many human generations later, once again losing over half of their population in an ambush. Most of the females and young avoided this travesty. Before the avariel leaders death, he charged his successor with the responsibility of removing the "winged folk" from their relationships with all other human and demi-human beings. Because of his decision the avariel had yet another long and slow recovory.

 The Convocation of Eagles journeyed for many years, concealing their wings to avoid attracting too much attention. Thus they only took to the skies only when during extreme circumstances. They lived,  like other elven races, on the ground, but merely living dirty and miserable lives as nomads and scavengers. With no true sence of security or safety. What exactly happened during the intervening millenia is unclear.

In their myths the avariel claim that Aerdrie Faenya took her people to the realm of Arvandor. What ever the truth, they finally ended up in a desolate land from which no harm or betrayal could come to them. Due to this they were once again able to fly and soar in the clouds once more bringing honor back to their people. The place they now called home was cold and brutal however their main was able to adapt to such a climate allowing the avariel to adapt in turn.

For the past 500 years they have been at peace and became very prosperous. This new era gave them new hopes for their future as a proud elven race. They than re-established with their elven kin where the leaders met ending the solidarity they had to endure. 

RELATIONS

Avariel have good relationships with other "good" aligned avian races. They have very strong ties with the "Aarakkocra" as they have shared the same patron diety and share the same respect for nature. The avariel elves have also had a long nourished, respectful, and admiring bonds with giant eagles.

Malicious and most evil aligned dragon kind consider the avariel elves to be enemies and their magic as a threat.

SOCIETY

Avariel society is split into two seperate groups that coexist together in harmony. One is considered "warlike" while the other "peacefull." Young avariel elves spend time immersed in both cultures for a lengthy period of up to even decades. Due to this process each culture has a deep understanding and respect for how both culture support and in turn relies on eachother for order, survival, and most of all security. 

WARLIKE AVARIEL

Avariel warriors are geared torwards war, power, and overall physical and magical capabilities. They answer directly to the warchiefs who govorn avariel society equally with the religious leaders. They live by a complex code of honor and spend their lives defending their race from any and all threats. In combat they show no mercy often using ranged attacks from above and delivering quick precise and decisive blows. They also view surrender as dishonorable for themselves and their enemies, holding the idea that when a warrior draws blood, it is a promise to honor them by using the extent of their capabilities, and slaying them is fulfilling the promise made. They also believe to leave a defeated enemie alive is to humiliate them. Warlike usually prefer ranged weapons but are not shy to also use their wings as weapons and gain an advantage over landbound adversaries. 

PEACEFULL AVARIEL

The other side of avariel society includes scholars, philosophers, and artists. Intellectuals who believe in solving problems with diplomacy and reason over conflict. They spend most of their time researching magic, history, contemplating religion, worshiping Aerdrie Faenya, and producing art for the sheer joy creation. 

AVARIEL TRAITS (winged elves)

Ability score increases- Your Dexterity is increased by 2 and one other score by 1 of your choice. 

Darkvision, keen senses, fey ansestory, trance, and flight.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS- Avariel elves have a porcelain white to light grey skin tones. Their hair is usually white or black and their wings (white, black, or spotted)  extend between 9ft to 12ft but typically around 10ft. Avariel grow to be about the same as humans 5ft to 6 1/2ft tall and normally weigh between 120lbs to 180lbs. They are tall and slender but are physically strong and agile due to adapting to the cold harsh environment they now call home. 

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. Avariel elves live longer then most others elves reaching adulthood around 100 years and can live longer then 1000 years. 

ALIGNMENT- Avariel, like their elven kin, love their freedom none as great as soaring through the sky. They lean strongly torward the gentler aspect of chaos. They value and protects others freedom as well as their own and they are more often good or neutral. It is within their culture to protect those who don't have the ability to defend themselves. They typically have good relationships with other good aligned races.

LANGUAGES- You can speak, read, and write in Common, Elvish, and one other language of your choice. In addition, you know the unique Avariel Sign Language based on Arial movement and that is less subtle then those of non-flying races. This language can only been used between 2 Avariel elves while flying or elsewhere. 

Avariel Elf Traits

Avariel Elves

Fey Ancestry

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

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilight forrests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark 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

Trance

Elves don't need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconcious for 4 hrs a day. While meditating, you can dream after a fashion, such dreams are actually mental exercises and they have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit as a human does after 8 hours of rest.

 

Flight

You have a pair of angelic feathered wings that grant you flight speed of 35ft (only in a straight line) and you cannot wear heavy armor.

You cannot use this as your movement unless the environment can accommodate the wings when fully extended. Example- a slim corridor or halway would restrict your ability to fully extend your wings. 

 

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 1