Homebrew Crimson Elf Species Details
Slender and Graceful
With their unearthly grace and fine features, elves appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly taller than humans on average, ranging from nearly 6 feet tall to over just under 7 feet. They are more slender than humans considering their height, weighing 140 to 190 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.
Elves’ coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes skin in shades of copper, bronze, and almost bluish-white, hair of green or blue, and eyes like fires of liquid Red, Pink or Orange. Elves have no facial and little body hair. They favor elegant clothing in bright colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.
A Timeless Perspective
Elves can live well over 700 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, elves can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.
Like the branches of a young tree, elves are flexible in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They have been known to retreat from intrusions into their woodland homes, confident that they can simply wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, elves reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and strategy.
Tortured Origins
Crimson Elves are a rare race of elves, the result of cruel experimentation done to them millennia ago but a Vampiric Cult, and orchestrated by a Vampire Lord. Their captors hoped to develop a greater understanding of Blood Magic and Vampirism in non-vampire test subjects. Can Blood Magic be preformed by non-vampires? Can they produce better 'livestock' through these experiments? What kind of potential might these test subjects have as vampires? The Cult hoped to answer such questions when they began their experimentation. Ultimately, they found through the deaths of hundreds of subjects that certain elves were the most malleable in regards to Blood magic, so much so that they even managed to change their race by all rights. It was a promising sign and allowed them to move on to the next stage, observing the effects of the test subjects being turned into Vampires. It marked the end of the experiments, and they only managed to convert one elf to a Vampire, the first one.
The Tyrant
Ish'aval, or Ish'aval the Crimson Eared, The Crimson Tyrant, as he came to be known in history was the elf who had been turned into a vampire. His abilities had become far more than the researchers had expected, and they found themselves unable to contain him as he slaughtered them, and freed his people. He subsequently waged a war on the Vampires and their followers and established the 'Vampire Nation of the Crimson Elves'. Earning the respect and fear of the other races, it stood prominent for Ish'aval's lifetime. It isn't known why he died, but it is believed that he died as an eventual result of the experimentation preformed on him. He remains the only Crimson Elf to have ever become a Vampire and be accepted despite that, though his existence and reign led to the perception of the many races that Crimson Elves were all Vampires for a time.
End of an Era
After the death of the Tyrant, the Nation of Crimson Elves eventually collapsed, torn apart by their neighbors who feared the Elves and condemned them as Vampires. The next several centuries were a difficult, trying time for the surviving Elves. They were rejected wherever they went, and were forced to wander as nomads or build secret hidden enclaves to seclude themselves in. Eventually, the misconception that they are Vampires waned, and they have come to be... less rejected in the modern day, though most would be shocked to meet one. They mostly still remain hidden, preferring the company of their own who don't pass judgement on them for who they are. They are easily recognized for their eye color more often than not, with most having some variant of Red, Pink or Orange eyes.
Hated Enemies
Crimson Elves are natural enemies of Vampires and their ilk, and their clans often bear traditions as Vampire Hunters. Though the degree with which they pursue the end of Vampires varies, from the fanatics to simply keeping it to self-preservation, all Crimson Elves view Vampirism as a Taboo, and hunt any of their own kind who violate that Taboo. It is an insult to their heritage, their teachings and their living people. For a Crimson Elf to become a Vampire is Slanderous to all Crimson Elves.
Elf Names
Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the 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 him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every elf bears a family name, typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some elves traveling among humans translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Elvish version.
Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall
Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis
Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia
Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Naïlo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal)
Crimson Elf Traits
Your elf character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of elven refinement.Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and you can increase your Strength or Constitution score by 1.
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 elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.
Alignment
Elves love freedom, variety, and self-expression, but Crimson Elves also value order, and so they lean towards Lawful or Chaotic. They value and protect others’ freedom as well as their own, and they are more often good than not.
Size
Elves range from nearly 6 feet tall to just under 7 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Darkvision
Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, 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.
Keen Senses
You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Fey Ancestry
You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Restless
Crimson Elves need to sleep unlike other elves, Sleeping more deeply than a Human. You need a full 8 hours of sleep to see the effects of a long rest.
Elf Weapon Training
You have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.
Controlled Endurance
Thanks to being able to exert control over your own blood, you can delay a wound from bleeding out temporarily and force yourself to move. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
Blood Sense
Crimson Elves have the ability to sense life and their flowing blood. You have advantage on Perception checks against living creatures. You can also immediately discern if someone is living if you are aware of them.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires.
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