Homebrew Altmer Species Details
The Altmer, also known as High Elves by the denizens of Tamriel, by the archaic term Salache, or as the self-titled "Cultured People", are a tall, golden-skinned elven race hailing from the Summerset Isles. They regard themselves as the direct descendants of the Aedra—primordial divine spirits who sacrificed part of their essence to create Mundus—and as the purest, most unaltered heirs of the Aldmer, the ancient elven race who first arrived on Tamriel from the mythical lost continent of Aldmeris.
The Altmer are renowned as one of the most intelligent races, and their exceptional innate aptitude for magic makes them the most gifted in the arcane arts. This magical affinity is further enhanced by their naturally long lifespans, which range from several centuries to as much as a thousand years—though few ever reach this upper limit due to external factors—a trait that places them among the longest-lived races in Tamriel. Some of the most ancient and powerful Altmer mages have extended their lives far beyond this natural span, in some cases enduring for millennia through the application of highly advanced magical disciplines. In addition to their magical prowess, Altmer possess natural resistances to disease and paralysis, though they are noted to be somewhat vulnerable to elemental forces.
Altmeri society has been shaped by millennia of scholarly refinement and is deeply hierarchical and tradition-bound. The Altmer have long pursued an ideal of cultural perfection, venerating their lineage and striving to preserve the traditions, knowledge, and practices of their ancient ancestors. This ideal continues to shape all aspects of Altmeri life, from education and governance to art and daily conduct. The Sapiarchs—a prestigious council of scholars and sages—are entrusted with preserving knowledge, overseeing education, and maintaining cultural continuity.
High Elves are often perceived by other races as proud, aloof, or even arrogant. These perceptions are reinforced by centuries of cultural insularity and the perceived superiority of their customs, ancestry, and intellectual traditions. The Altmer, for their part, consider themselves Tamriel's most civilized people: the continent's common tongue is derived from Altmeri speech and writing, and much of the Empire's art, law, architecture, and scholarship can trace its roots back to Altmeri tradition.
Elf Traits
Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 5–6 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet
Altmeri Spellcasting
You are part of a lineage that grants you supernatural abilities. Choose a lineage from the Altmeri Spellcasting table. You gain the level 1 benefit of that lineage.
When you reach character levels 3 and 5, you learn a higher-level spell, as shown on the table. You always have that spell prepared. You can cast it once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast it in that way when you finish a Long Rest. You can also cast the spell using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for the spells you cast with this trait
| Level 1 | Level 3 | Level 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Elf | Choose between Prestidigitation, Fire bolt, and Resistance cantrips. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can replace that cantrip with a different cantrip from this list. | Choose between Magic Missile, Shield, and Color Spray Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can replace that spell with a different spell from this list. | Choose between Counterspell, Water Breathing, and Fireball Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can replace that spell with a different spell from this list. |
Altmer Heartiness
You have Advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the [Tooltip Not Found] condition.
Keen Intellect
You have proficiency in the Arcana skill.
Magical Affinity
You gain the [feat]Magic Initiate[/feat] feat
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