Homebrew Athasian Half-Elf (Darksun) Species Details

“People are no good. You can only trust animals and the bottle.”
―Delmao, half-Elven thief

 

Unlike the parents of muls, elves and humans are often attracted to each other. Half‐elves are typically the unwanted product of a casual interracial encounter.

Personality: Half‐elves are notorious loners. Many Athasians believe that half‐elves combine the worst traits of both races, but the most difficult aspect of half‐elves – their lack of self–confidence – comes not from their mixed origins but rather from a life of rejection from both parent races. Half‐elves try in vain to gain the respect of humans
or elves.

Physical Description: Averaging over six feet tall, half‐elves combine Elven dexterity with human resilience. Bulkier than elves, most half‐elves find it easier to pass themselves off as full humans than as full elves, but all have some features that hint at their Elven heritage.

Relations: Humans distrust the half‐elf’s Elven nature, while elves have no use for their mixed–blood children; Elven traditions demand that such children be left behind. Human society gives half‐elves have a better chance of survival, but even less kindness. Half‐elves sometimes find friendship among muls or even Thri‐kreen. Half‐ elves will cooperate with companions when necessary, but find it difficult to rely on anyone. Many half‐elves also turn to the animal world for company, training creatures to be servants and friends. Ironically, the survival skills
and animal affinity that half‐elves developed to cope with isolation make them valuable beast handlers in human society.

Half‐Elven Lands: Despite their unique nature, half‐elves don’t form communities. The few half‐elves that settle down tend to live among humans who, unlike elves, at least find a use for them.

Magic: Half‐elves often take up arcane studies, because it is a solitary calling.

Psionics: Mastery of the Way often provides the independence and self–knowledge that half‐elves seek, and membership in a psionic academy can provide the half‐elf with acceptance.

Religion: Because of their alienation from society and their affinity with animals, half‐elves make excellent druids. Some half‐elves turn their resentment of society into a profession and become sullen, bullying templars. As clerics, they are drawn to water’s healing influence.

Athasian Half-Elf (Darksun) Traits

Your half-elf character has some qualities in common with elves and some that are unique to half-elves.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and two other ability scores of your choice
increase by 1.

Age

Half-elves mature at the same rate humans do and reach adulthood around the age of 20. They live much longer than humans, however, often exceeding 180 years.

Alignment

Lawful and neutral half‐elves labor for acceptance from a parent race, while chaotic ones have given up on acceptance, electing instead to reject the society that has rejected them.

Size

Half-elves are about the same size as humans, ranging from 5 to 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Low Light Vision

Half-Elves can see twice as far as a human in moonlight and similar conditions of poor
illumination, retaining the ability to distinguish color and detail.

Of Two Worlds

You gain advantage on Deception checks made to deceive others about your race.

Skill Versatility

You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and one extra language of your choice.