Homebrew Ethereal Elf (Dream Elf) Species Details
Elves do not sleep the same way most races do, thus their connection to the dream plane (also referred to as the Ethereal Plane) is weaker. For this reason, most elves do not experience true dreams. A large colony of elves decided to escape the conflicts of life on the Material Plane by traversing to the Ethereal Plane instead. There, the strange energies slowly changed them, allowing their imagination to shape the home around them. Eventually, this extended to their own physiology, giving them a permanent connection to the Ethereal Plane's powers.
Ethereal Elves usually have opalescent skin, are very tall, and aberrant characteristics that other elves likely won't have. These aberrant physical characteristic could be; any number of tails, horns, extra/less fingers, eyes, teeth (fangs, canines, or molars) etc. A quality that fits a dreamlike alteration is usually cosmetic. It could depend on heritage, or place of birth.
Their skin can get very bright and varied, like an abstract painting. Or it can get dull, pale, or even monochromatic. These physical characteristics can shift at whim, though not as drastically as Eladrin. While not on the Ethereal Plane, these shifts can only be maintained for short periods of time, usually affected by their thoughts, mood, and environment. Shifts are affected by their thoughts, feelings, and even the spells they cast or the environment they're in. This is exaggerated even further if there's a lot of magic used around them. Even their hair can slightly lengthen/shorten, change color, and physicality (like from straight and thin, to thick and wavy).
While these changes aren't consistent in the same way a disguise self spell or Changeling's shape change usually are, they're a form of expression that make Ethereal Elves exceptional performers. It also makes them bad liars, with their inner thoughts coming out through their own appearance. Their charismatic outset is great for mediating personal disputes, but poor diplomats in this regard.
Ethereal Elf (Dream Elf) Traits
Your elf character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of elven refinement.Ethereal Step
As a bonus action, you enter the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, or vice versa until the end of your turn. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Ability Score Increase
Your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores all increase by 1.
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 100 and can live to be 750 years old.
Size
Ethereal Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.
Size modifier = 2d12
Height = 4 feet + 8 inches + your size modifier in inches
Weight in pounds = 100 + (1d4 x your size modifier)
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision
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.
Deep 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; you visit the Deep Ethereal of the Ethereal Plane, the dream plane. While there, you may experience the dreams of others, and bring back some of what they've experienced with you. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Whenever you finish this trance, you learn one Cantrip of your choice that must be a Known spell of a creature who takes their Long Rest within 10 ft. of you at the same time as your Deep Trance.
Once you reach 3rd level, you may also learn one 1st level spell of your choice, following the same parameters of your chosen Cantrip. When you reach 5th level, you may also learn one 2nd level spell of your choice, following the same parameters of your chosen Cantrip and 1st Level spell. You may cast each of these leveled spells once per Long Rest, without requiring material components. You retain these spells until you finish your next Long Rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
If no creature is within 10 ft. of you during your Deep Trance, you know Dancing Lights at level one, Sanctuary when you reach level three, and See Invisibility when you reach level five.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Telepathy (30ft.). 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.
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