Homebrew Aquatic Elves Species Details

Aquatic Elves, also known as Sea Elves and Alu'Tel'Quessir in their own tongue, are elves that long ago developed the natural characteristics to live below the waves, and have dwelt there ever since.

Adapted to the Ocean. Aquatic Elves have gill slits on the side of their necks that allow them to breath water as well as air. They have excellent swimming ability, thanks to their elongated and webbed feet and hands. Their skin is also colored in shades of blue and sea green to provide camouflage in their submarine environment.

Submarine Homes. Aquatic Elves typically would rather live apart from other races, (though they do not necessarily think less of them), and therefore live in communities isolated even from other ocean-dwelling races, such as Tritons and Merfolk. They live in underwater villages, often in or near coral reefs. These villages are led by a few noble families, although their political system is very loose. However, when the need arises, they will join together into one powerful civilization, appointing a temporary council of leaders.

Aquatic Culture. Creativity, music and art are highly valued in Aquatic Elf culture. In an environment where instruments can't generally be used, the bards among them typically rely on their voice alone, singing without an instrument accompaniment. Their songs have an eerie, otherworldly feel, even to those that are accustomed to speaking and hearing elvish. In their society, families are important and close-knit, with multiple generations living together.

Gods of the Alu'Tel'Quessir. Though they recognize Corellon Larethian and the other elven deities, Aquatic Elves generally worship Deep Sashelas, elven god of the ocean, knowledge, and creativity, and his consort goddess Trishina. However, those that live outside their native civilization sometimes worship Istishia, the god of elemental water. Clerics of Deep Sashelas follow the knowledge or tempest domains, while clerics of Istishia usually follow the tempest domain.

Sahuagin War. For as long as any can remember, Aquatic Elves have been locked in a struggle with the monstrous, fish like Sahuagin and their shark diety Sekolah. The two races never coexist peacefully, and battles between them have been long, and bloody. Aquatic Elves and Sahuagin have an ingrained hatred for each other, though none know the source of it.

Aquatic Elf Traits

Your Aquatic Elf character has the following traits, result of the millennia your race has spent below the waves.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity, Wisdom, and Charisma scores all increase by 1

Age

Aquatic Elves have a lifespan similar to their land-dwelling cousins.They reach physical maturity around 20, but don't claim adulthood until around 100. They can live to be around 750 years old.

Alignment

Aquatic Elves value of freedom and creativity leads them to be usually good and more often than not, chaotic.

Size

Aquatic Elves are slender and usually stand between 5' 6'' and 6' 6''. Your size is medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Your webbed feet and hands give you a powerful swimming ability, and you have a swim speed of 40 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to life below water, you have superior vision in dark and dim 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.

Amphibious

You can breath air and water.

Affinity for Dolphins

You can communicate telepathically with dolphins within 60 feet of you. In addition, dolphins are friendly towards you and your companions and will assist you and perform tasks for you, accepting up to a moderate risk to themselves.

The Ocean Within You

You can cast Create or Destroy Water as a 1st level spell once with this trait. You regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a long rest.

Aquatic Elf Weapon Training

You have proficiency with the Javelin, Spear, and Trident. You can treat these weapons as though they had the finesse property when applying the ability score modifier for attack and damage rolls

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. Your Elvish has a strange, otherworldly quality to it, sounding as though it has undertones of whale song. This does not hinder its intelligibility.

Aquatic Elves Traits

Your Dexterity, Wisdom, and Charisma increase by 1