Homebrew Desert Half-Elf Species Details

 

In the lands beyond, there lies a desert. Although very little grows in most of the desert, there are large cities built in and upon it where the desert elves live. While most living in the shining sandstone cities, quite a few roam the plains of the desert.

Before having settled down into the cities, the elves who lived here were known to live in tribes. These tribes are desert dwelling, semi-nomadic, and fearsome. Enigmatic, and xenophobic, little is known of those who reside in this desert, and that which is known is both awe-inspiring, and worrying.

Unlike any other elves who live in the known world, these people are known for their mastery of war, and their far-seers. While not all train for war now, many still do, and to be a warrior is considered an honor. Those who do train often train from childhood until their death, training in horsemanship. The harsh desert they reside in having shaped them into hard and resilient warriors.

A for their far-seers, these blessed people have been known to see into the future.

This society is matriarchal in nature with a governing body at the center of it all.

Of Two Worlds

To humans, half-elves look like elves, and to elves, they look human. In height, they’re on par with both parents, though they’re neither as slender as elves nor as broad as humans. They range from under 5 feet to about 6 feet tall, and from 100 to 180 pounds, with men only slightly taller and heavier than women. Half-elf men do have facial hair, and sometimes grow beards to mask their elven ancestry. Half-elven coloration and features lie somewhere between their human and elf parents, and thus show a variety even more pronounced than that found among either race. They tend to have the eyes of their elven parents.

The desert elves tend to be darker skinned, and darker haired than other elves.

 

Desert Half-Elf Traits

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

Sand Step

In the desert, or like sandy environments, you can walk across a loose sand surface without leaving any sign of your passing. This is an individual effect.

Saddle Born

You have advantage on saving throws made to avoid falling off your mount. If you fall off your mount and descend no more than 10 feet you can land on your feet if you're not incapacitated.

Mounting or dismounting a create also only costs you 5 feet of movement, rather than half your speed.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2,  and two other traits of your choosing increase by one.

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

Half-elves share the chaotic bent of their elven heritage. They value both personal freedom and creative expression, demonstrating neither love of leaders nor desire for followers. They chafe at rules, resent others’ demands, and sometimes prove unreliable, or at least unpredictable.

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.

Darkvision

Thanks to your elf blood, 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.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

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.