Homebrew Aelf Species Details

Aelves are a people that see themselves as magical with otherworldly grace, living in the world but not entirely part of it. They claim live in places of ethereal beauty, in the midst of ancient forests or in silvery spires glittering with faerie light, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. Aelves love nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the good things of the world.

Aelven Appearance

Aelves are slightly shorter than humans on average, ranging from well under 5 feet tall to just over 6 feet. They are more slender than allorans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

Aelves’ 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 pools of liquid gold or silver. 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

Aelves can live well over 700 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. 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, aelves 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, aelves are flexible in the face of danger. While they claim to trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before escalating to violence, most aelves are not afraid to dirty their hands with schemes and blood if they feel their way of life is threatened. 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.

Keflanor Forest Livings

Most aelves dwell in small forest villages hidden among the trees. Aelves hunt game, gather food, and grow vegetables, and their skill and magic allow them to support themselves without the need for clearing and plowing land. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, though a few aelves make a good living by trading crafted items for metals (which they have no interest in mining). One large exception to this rule of remaining mostly independent are the major cities of the Keflanor Forest. While most other races don't settle down permanently in the Alais Theocracy, people who want to see the world often put the "land of the aelves" at the top of their list, so aelves living in the cities often have many run ins with eager tourists. The only city off limits to most people is the city that surrounds the Agos University, and that is because it holds the secrets to the bladesong way of magic, something that the aelves hold very close to themselves. Another notable exception are the Wood Hin, as they have lived alongside the aelves for as long as either of the two can remember.

Exploration and Adventure

Aelves take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. They dislike the pace of alloran society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them travel freely and set their own pace. Aelves also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes.

 

Aelf Names

Aelves 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 aelf selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each aelf’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 aelf bears a family name, typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some aelves 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)

Subrace

Ancient divides among the elven people resulted in three main subraces: agos elves, keflanor aelves, and dark aelves, who are commonly called drow. Choose one of the two subraces presented below or one from another source.

Aelf Traits

Your aelf character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of elven refinement.

Age

Although aelves reach physical maturity at about the same age as allorans, the aelven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An aelf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.

Size

Aelves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 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.

Trance

Aelves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a alloran does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Aelvish. Aelvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Aelven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Aelvish ballads to their repertoires.