Codex

Current Year

2 ESF
Era of Shadowfells
 

Contents

Introduction
Sophonts
Regions
5E Classes
Parthenon
Legends & Myths
Artifacts & Magick

Timelines

(correct order)
Master Timeline

Maps

Map of Derelen
Map of Derelen

Elf

Guardians of nature, elves, live in harmony with the world around them. Thanks to their skills in magick, elves are capable of sensing cataclysmic events that will shape the world for better or worse.
  The elves of Derelen are are almost as common as humans. The high elves and wood elves are most common among the mainland continents, but a few small wind elves are present among the southern islands and beyond.   Elves maintain their own towns and cities, as well as their own kingdoms, but many among the islands live amongst their island neighbors. They enjoy a variety of work and often excel as artists in one form or another. Elves are one of, if not, the longest-lived races on Derelen. This longevity often means an elf is slow to make friends and enemies alike. It also means they are slow to forget them. Elves often favor diplomacy over violence, but do not mistake that for ineptitude in combat.

The Barkborn

by ang3law (pixabay)
Said to have crawled out of the trees themselves, the Barkborn were the first elves to greet the world. They were wild, impracticable, and seen as malicious when chanting songs and dancing to unheard music. Wild magick surrounded them, making their sightings that much more dangerous. Emerging from the woodlands that stretched across Derelen thousands of years ago, Barkborn have spread their stories far and wide.   Yet, the elves grew and evolved into more civilized beings, capable of living like humans with nature surrounding them. They found cultures and established a language that connects their people to the world. Though, rumors of Barkborn still exist thrive within other communities, and occasionally, stories will re-emerge from the undergrowth of Barkborn being spotted within Ridgemar Wilds, Crespond Grove, and various other forests found across Derelen.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Elves has bipedal sentient beings with two arms, two legs, torso, and a head. They have pointed ears that range from short to elongated; some ears curve up and other droop. Elves generally stand between five and six feet tall with some reaching seven feet, their slender builds designed for grace and agility.   Masculine elves have a slight bit of muscle to their build, but remain thin and wiry. If not careful enough, a male elf can be depicted as female based on the hair length alone. Most male elves wear their long, often braided and put into a bun with a hair clasp connected to their family lineage.   Feminine elves grow their hair long and adorn it with beaded or gem headpieces. They also wear rings, earrings, and necklaces with patterns and symbols related to their culture. Females are more inclined to get tattoos, but occasionally, males will get tattoos, just in less noticeable areas.   Elves have naturally flexible bodies capable of great speed and acrobatics. Their bones are often more hollow than a human, giving them the ability to tread lightly in otherwise dangerous terrain. Elves also have sensitive eyes, which take in more sunlight than their dwarven cousins.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Elven society is clan based, with each clan serving as extended family and a political or religious entity. Loyalty and honor are important aspects of a clan. Elves are rarely banished, stripped of their clan name, and cast out into the wilderness; it is a dishonor to undergo a shameful act. Those are clanless are shunned, mocked, and seen as lost and untrustworthy.   Wind elves are often artisans, taking up crafts such as jewelers, painters, writers, and musicians. They are highly sought after for their craft, earning enough pay to live a wealthy lifestyle. Many often serve as esteemed arts for nobles and royals, prized for their creative styles and eloquent voices.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Elven names are chosen once the elf has reached the age that they can speak and pick a name that defines them. An elf that has been stripped of their clan name is forbidden, by law, to never utter their former clan name or use any other clan elven name in its place.
Masculine Names
Caladrel, Halamar, Nirion, Sandir, T'karon
Feminine Names
Filaurel, Maidel, Olethea, Sarya, Valna
Clan Names
Alantar, Larethian, Miritar, Shaethe, Waelvor

Average Technological Level

Elves have designed unique styles of technologies over the centuries, discovering secretive gems and stones that resonate with high levels of magick energy. Through these materials, the elves have been able to craft a variety of waterways, transport systems, and lighting fixtures. Rune-carvers are a rare commodity of the designs, enhancing the power of the mechanisms with protective sigils and enchantments.
Sentient Flora
In most elven towns and cities, one can find an okolofungi, a semi-sentient mushroom with embedded gems on their foreheads that allow them to have sentience. Their caps are the size of a mini wagon and can fit up to three people in it. These very cute and animated mushrooms are used as a mode of transport, easily costing 1 gold piece per five miles ridden through the city or town.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Elves speak multiple dialects depending on where they are from.

Table of Contents

Lifespan
About 750 years
Average Height
Medium (5-6 feet tall)
Related Organizations

Syndra Ilnatar

(a wood elf cleric)

by Seidenperle (pixabay)


Elven Magick

Elves have a high affinity toward magick, going as far as most elves being descendants of sorcerers, warlocks, or wizards with a few exceptions of clerics in their midst.  

by GDJ (Pixabay)


Quarion Eloetin

(a moon elf barbarian)

by pendleburyannette (pixabay)

Elf Traits

As an elf, you have these special traits.
Show Elf Traits

PHB, Homebrew, MotM

Elf

ability score increase: Your Dexterity increases by 2. See subraces for an additional ability increase. Alternatively, increase one score by 2 and another by 1, or three scores 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 an live to be 750 years old.
alignment: Elves love freedom, variety, and self-expression, so they lean strongly toward the gentler aspects of chaos. They value and protect others' freedom as well as their own, and they are more often good than not. The drow are an exception; their exile to the Land Down Under has made them vicious and dangerous. Drow are more often evil than not.
Size: Medium
speed: Your base walking speed is 30ft.
Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish.
race features:

Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, 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.

Fae Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magick can't put you to sleep.

Trance. Elves 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 human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Subrace. Ancient divides among the elven people resulted in four main subraces: high elves, wood elves, wind elves, and dark elves (drow). Choose one of these subraces.

High Elf

As a high elf, you have a keen mind and a mastery of at least the basics of magic.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Elf Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.

Cantrip. You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.

Extra Language. You can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice.


 

Wood Elf

As a wood elf, you have keen senses and intuition, and your fleet feet carry you quickly and stealthily through your native forests.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Elf Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.

Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.

Mask of the Wild. You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena.


 

Wind Elf

As a wind elf, you are an excellent swimmer and fisher, with some familiarity with sailing.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.

Island Elf Weapon Training. You have proficiency with rapiers, shortswords, shortbows, and spears.

Coastal Resident. You have a swim speed equal to your base walking speed. You also gain proficiency with water vehicles and advantage on Nature skill checks when made in relation to coastal areas.


 

Dark Elf (Drow)

Descended from an earlier subrace of elves, the drow were banished from the surface world for following Zehir down the path of evil.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.

Superior Darkvision. Your darkvision has a radius of 120 feet.

Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Drow Magic. You know the dancing lights cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the faerie fire spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so after you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Drow Weapon Training. You have proficiency with rapiers, shortswords, and hand crossbows.


 

 


Cover image: by Amelia Nite (Canva)

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