Homebrew Abyssal Elf Species Details

In the stygian depths of the Abyss, where malevolence weaves its dark tapestry, the Abyssal Elves emerge—a race both cursed and gifted by their twisted heritage. Their story is one of defiance, tragedy, and the cosmic struggle that binds them to their fallen father, Codricuhn, the Blood Storm.

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Origins and the Veil of Chaos

Long before the mortal realms took shape, when the primordial chaos still churned, the Abyssal Elves came into being. Their genesis remains shrouded in whispers and half-truths. Some say they were celestial beings cast down for their hubris in joining forces with Codricuhn, while others believe they are the offspring of forbidden magic. Regardless, they are creatures of paradox—beautiful yet grotesque, infused with eldritch magic.

Their skin bears the iridescence of magical sunlight and midnight, and their eyes shimmer like fractured starlight. They are both alluring and terrifying, their very existence a testament to the Abyss’s capricious nature.

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 The Chaotic Inheritance

Abyssal Elves are conduits for the Abyss’s malevolence. Magic courses through their veins, granting them innate spellcasting enhancements. They manipulate magic, summon eldritch flames, and twist fate itself. But this power exacts a toll—their minds are haunted by whispers from the Abyss, urging them toward cruelty, madness, and destruction.

Most Abyssal Elves succumb to this dark influence. They revel in pain, sow discord, and delight in the suffering of others. Their cities rise from obsidian, chains, and bones, echoing with eerie laughter and blood rituals. Their father’s prison or forgotten deities receive their worship, hungry for mortal anguish.

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The Rebellion of the Magi

Yet not all are content with malevolence. Among the Abyssal Elves, a faction known as the Order of the Magi seeks redemption. These elves yearn to free their father, Codricuhn, from his eternal prison—a body of writhing chains, shadows, and blood; climbing ever closer to the edge of the abyss.

Codricuhn, once a primordial that loved the mortal races, sacrificed himself eons ago to imprison the Seed of Evil—a source of power that threatened all existence or so the Abyssal Elves would tell you.... His fall into the Abyss bound him to its malevolence. Now, his children tread the same treacherous path, seeking to ascend the Abyss’s layers. Their goal: to reach the pinnacle where the Abyss touches the material plane and gather all of creation to defeat or release their father before the apocalypse destroys all.

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 The Desperate Ascent

The path is perilous. The Abyssal Elves face physical dangers and the relentless pull of their chaotic instincts. Some lose themselves, consumed by the Abyss’s hunger. Others form unlikely alliances with outsiders—adventurers, warlocks, and rival races—to aid their cause.

Codricuhn’s prison is both their salvation and their curse. His body, the Ever-Moving Coagulus, inches ever closer to the Abyss’s zenith. If it reaches the top, creation itself will unravel. Yet, Codricuhn’s mind remains intact—a tortured consciousness within the tempest of shadows.

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 The Fate of All Creation

And so, the Abyssal Elves navigate their existence—a tightrope between salvation and damnation. Their rebellion could alter reality. If they succeed, Codricuhn’s release may save creation—but at what cost? Will they remain true to their purpose, or will they succumb to the abyssal maelstrom?

Only time will tell. For now, they fight, hope, and fear—an echo of their celestial heritage in the heart of darkness.

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 Abyssal Elvish Names

Abyssal Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the one-hundredth birthday, and before this period they are called by child names.

On declaring adulthood, an elf selects an adult name, although those who knew them as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Abyssal Elves focus their names around colors or colored themes, like blood. Each elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. In addition, every Abyssal elf bears a family name, typically a combination of colors and themes.

Child Names: Chroma, Hemoglow, Thorn, Nihilo, Sapphire, Crimson, Obsidian, Lilith, Voidshade, Azure, Crimsona, Nyx, Umbral, Vermeil, Lazuline, Ebon, Chloris, Sangria, Zephyr, Cerulean, Vesper, Carmine, Abyssus, Iridian, Sable, Viridian, Helianthus, Inkwell, Opaline.

Adult Names: Albedo, Rubedo, Niredo, Vivido, Ebonweave, Verdant, Aurelia, Tyrian, Chiaroscuro, Chromalith, Rubicon, Nirethra, Vivara, Albedria, Tyrisol, Verdigris, Aureon, Chiaran, Ebonara, Lilithar, Thornweave, Nihilis, Hemoglen, Voidara.

Family Names: Bloodrain, Blackvoid, Crystalight, Endlessvoid, Moonshadow, Crimsonthorn, Stardust, Nyxblade, Eternalvoid, Moonshroud, Stardancer, Eternalshade, Crystalbane, Endlesswhisper, Vermeilheart, Abyssalstrand.

Abyssal Elf Traits

As an Abyssal Elf, you have these special traits.

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and a different one by 1, or increase three scores by 1. None of these increases can raise a score above 20. Ignore this feature for a 2024 character.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid. Alternatively male or female, both or neither. Elves change their sex any time they take a long rest. You aren’t confined to binary notions of gender. You are also considered an elf for any prerequisite or effect that requires you to be an elf.

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 Abyssal elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 500 and can live to be over 25,000 years old.

Alignment

Abyssal Elves, like Elves, love freedom, variety, and self-expression, so they lean strongly towards the gentler aspects of chaos. They value and protect others' freedom as well as their own, and Abyssal Elves are neutral or evil more often than not.

Size

You are Medium. Abyssal Elves range from under 6 to over 7 feet tall and have medium builds.

Speed

Your speed is 30 feet.

Void Rift

As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. 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. This appears like tarring or ripping a hole in space.

Starting at 3rd level, you also gain resistance to all damage when you teleport using this trait. The resistance lasts until the start of your next turn. During that time, you body is covered in void energy from the hole in space.

Darkvision

You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.

Fey Ancestry

You have Advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the Charmed condition.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Insight, Perception, or Survival skill.

Necrotic Resistance

You have resistance to necrotic damage.

Trance

You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep. You can finish a Long Rest in 4 hours if you spend those hours in a trancelike meditation, during which you retain consciousness.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Abyssal. You may exchange Elvish or Abyssal with one language of your choice.