Homebrew Dark Elf Species Details

 To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this was once the fate of any and all dark elves, who dared to step past the boundaries of their planet and into the streets of shared cities. It has been long since then and almost all races have since let go of this prejudice, exept for elves. Now, Dark elves are just as respected in society as anyone else, achieving great accomplishments and blossoming into one of the most prosperous races of today's day and age. Now, they have a seat on the high council and were one of the founding races of the academy on Kias. Despite sharing the board with elves, they bring up important contributions to each discussion.

Elvish Bloodline

Dark elves, just as the name suggests, were once elves that split off so long ago it is merely a subject of legend now. 

The Twin Story

The elves have long since forgotten this story, but it is passed down each generation. It is said that the split began ages ago. It had begun with a single, regular elven couple. The happy parents could not wait for their beautiful, perfectly identical daughters. But just weeks before they were supposed to be born, their mother had fallen seriously ill. She could not stay awake for longer than half an hour, she turned pale and nobody could guarantee she would make it. The father, sitting by her bed all night, hoping she would wake up, had spent his time looking out of the window, praying to the sun above them, Pelor, the Dawnfather. Then, despite his best efforts, he would fall  asleep at night, without ever leaving her side. When she woke up at night, she knew he was with her. And she looked up to the shining moon above them and prayed to Sehanine, the moon weaver. Both of the deities heard their cries, and their hearts were breaking for the poor couple.

When the rays of the morning sun touched her, the wife woke up, as healthy as ever. And the day the babies were born, there was a solar eclipse, as both gods watched over the mother and her twins. The parents were so excited to meet their perfectly identical daughters. And they could not have been more wrong. The first to be born was Vespera. A beautiful child, with golden hair, fair skin already dotted with freckles and eyes that almost sparkled as she looked upon the world for the first time. And soon after her, the other sister was born as well. But she was nothing like her sister. Her hair was not gold, but as dark as midnight. Her skin was not fair, but so blue everyone was certain she must have turned blue with suffocation. And when she finally opened her eyes, the whites were as dark as the sea during a storm, her irises were big, white, and looked like the moon herself. Undisturbed by all, save for the slit pulils running throu their centers. They named her Astaria. 

The parents, though shocked at first, were infinitely grateful for their children, and both Vespera and Astaria had happy childhoods. The sisters were very diferent from each other. Where Vespera spent the entire day playing outside in the forrest surrounding their home, Astaria prefered to stay in. She went outside at night and became infatuated with the night sky. Where Vespera was good with people, her sister was good with books. She studied stars and their constelations, while Vespera made friends. And they vere both happy and content this way. Until one day, when the girls both neared reaching maturity. They have both told their parent, separately, that they were ready, not more than a week from one another. ANd so the parents decided to throw a ball, to commemorate the occasion. The celebration was held at dusk, and when the evening came, all of the town was there. All of Vespera's friends, all of their neighbors, everyone they have met their entire lives. And the girls both looked beautiful. Vespera walked out in front of the crowd first. She was dressed in oranges and pinks and golds, she looked like she was clothed in the sunbeams themselves. And as everyone cheered for her and she announced she was now to be considered an adult, the sun had slowly set. The room was magically lit with hundreds of candles, but it was not necessary. The moon, that came up in the sky soon after was bright enough to light the entire hall. Astaria walked out, and all that greeted her was stunned silence. She was dressed in blues and purples and silvers, her long black hair dotted with moonlight white pearls. She looked like night herself. She, like her sister, announced her adulthood status. Her parents cheered. The rest of the room was silent. SHe looked over at her sister, but she could not meet her gaze. She was sitting in between her friends. None of them cheered. In fact, she could see some of them snickering. Tears swelled in her eyes and she ran away before her parents could try to stop her. The sisters, despite both living to almost a thousand years old, have never seen each other again. It is said that when Astaria was running away, the moon had followed her until eventually, a tall glowing ficure blocked her path. And that it was Moonweaver herself, who whisked her away from the world of elves.

All races have long since forgotten the story. But Dark elves remember that they were born from love and hope. And that it was the Moonweaver who saved them.

Self-made heroes

Despite your current position, your ancestors had to work twice as hard to get you where you are now. Their resilience and hard work is still deep within you and you do not give up easily, no matter the circumstances. You don't get words get to you and you will fight until death. Partly because of resilience. Partly because of pride, to which you will never admit, because pride is an elvish trait.

 

Dark Elf Traits

The dark elves share most traits with elves due to their ancestry

Eyes and minds

Your cat-like eyes are trained to notice even the smallest of differences, even in the darkness you hold so dear. And your grudge against light elves makes you great at history, ancient traditions being repeated to you through everyone who raised you. We must never forget. We won't let you forget.

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score is increased by 1 and your dexterity score is increased by 2.

Age

Dark elves mature as fast as elves, reaching maturity around 90 years of age, or when they announce they have reached it. They live to be between 700 and 1000

Size

Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Your slit pupils expand to let more light it. You, as a creature of night can see further than most your companions even in pitch darkness

Midnight clarity

Knowledge is in your blood. Or more so the thirst for it. You have propably read something about this once or twice. Once every long rest you can use the cantrip True Strike to gain aditional information about your oponent.

Centuries old grudge

The elves walk around as if everyone should thank them for their presence. These self-righteous rich pricks should get a taste of real life struggles. They believe you are nothing but a common thief and they look down on you from the piedestal upon which they placed themselves. You will work with them if you must, but just because you can see how uncomfortable it makes them. Good. They should feel uncomfortable every once in a while.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, elvish and one other language.