When friendships are formed, elves take great value in it and will go
to great lengths to protect it, even to the sacrifice of their own
lives. Elves also have very long memories and rarely forget or forgive a
wrong done to them.
Elves mature slowly, and only after they have seen their first century
are they even considered 'adult', but age among elves is hard to judge
by appearance alone. Even the most ancient of elves rarely show more
then a few subtle hints of age in their physical appearance. It is
usually their eyes that show the often burdensome weight of time.
Elves have a long and lasting respect for life. They view killing of
any sort as distasteful and a waste. Only when stirred to vengeance for a
great wrong done to them will an elf thirst for the blood of their
enemies. Though most elves will hunt for food they are saddened by the loss
of life and yet see it as a necessary part of nature.
For more information on the various sub-races of elves also see Elven
Sub-Races.
Personality: Elves are more often amused than excited, more likely to
be curious than greedy. With such long lives, they tend to keep a broad
perspective on events, remaining aloof and unfazed by petty
happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether an adventurous mission or
learning a new skill or art, they 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.
Physical Description: Elves are short and slim, standing about 4 1/2 to
5 1/2 feet tall and typically weighing 85 to 135 pounds, with elven men
the same height as and only marginally heavier than elven women. They
are graceful but frail. They tend to be pale-skinned and dark-haired,
with deep green eyes. Elves have no facial or body hair. They prefer
simple, comfortable clothes, especially in pastel blues and greens, and
they enjoy simple yet elegant jewelry. Elves possess unearthly grace and
fine features. Many humans and members of other races find them
hauntingly beautiful.
Reverie: Elves do not sleep, as members of the other common races do.
Instead, an elf meditates in a deep trance for 4 hours a day. An elf
resting in this fashion gains the same benefit that a human does from 8
hours of sleep. While meditating, an elf dreams, though these dreams are
actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of
practice. The Common word for an elf's meditation is "reverie". More on
the elven reverie.
Relations: Elves consider humans rather unrefined, halflings a bit
staid, gnomes somewhat trivial, and dwarves not at all fun. They look on
half-elves with some degree of pity, and they regard half-orcs with
unrelenting suspicion. While haughty, elves are not particular the way
halflings and dwarves can be, and they are generally pleasant and gracious
even to those who fall short of elven standards (which, after all,
consists of just about everybody who's not an elf).
Elves have a difficult time classifying humans. Many humans are
friendly and even a little in awe of elves. Others are bigoted and unfriendly,
even downright hostile. While other races have variations in their
racial makeup and general views, none are as varied as the humans. This
means that elves will regard every human they meet with some degree of
suspicion until that human has proven him- or herself a friend.
Elves, despite their many accomplishments, are amazed at humans. Humans
are prolific producers of children, and many have incredible innate
ability. Humans have managed to convert lands elves had once thought
unlivable into homes. The elves are impressed-and perhaps a little
frightened.
Despite their constant bickering and warlike nature or perhaps because
of it, humans now dominate the world. They have accomplished in a few
short years what it took elves hundreds of years to achieve. It is
because of the humans soaring population and expansionistic tendencies that
elves find themselves retreating to the forests and secluding
themselves from the world.
The vast variance of human nature is enough that elves have no set
reaction to them. Their variety confuses elves, and they stay away from
humans as much as possible.
Elven Lands: Elves mostly live in woodland clans of less than two
hundred souls. Their well-hidden villages blend into the trees, doing little
harm to the forest. They hunt game, gather food, and grow vegetables,
their skill and magic allowing them to support themselves amply without
the need for clearing and plowing land. Their contact with outsiders is
usually limited, though some few elves make a good living trading
finely worked elven clothes and crafts for the metals that elves have no
interest in mining.
Names: When an elf declares herself an adult, usually some time after
achieving her hundredth birthday, she also selects a name. Those who
knew her as a youngster may or may not continue to call her by her "child
name," and she may or may not care. An elf's adult name is a unique
creation, though it may reflect the names of those she admires or the
names of others in her family. In addition, she bears her family name.
Family names are combinations of regular Elven words, and some elves
traveling among humans translate their names into Common while others use the
Elven version.
Male Names: Aramil, Aust, Enialis, Heian, Himo, Ivellios, Laucian,
Quarion, Thamior, and Tharivol.
Female Names: Anastrianna, Antinua, Drusilia, Felosial, Ielenia, Lia,
Qillathe, Silaqui, Valanthe, and Xanaphia.
Family Names: Amastacia ("Starflower"), Amakiir ("Gemflower"),
Galanodel ("Moonwhisper"), Holimion ("Diamonddew"), Liadon ("Silverfrond"),
Meliamne ("Oakenheel"), Naïlo ("Nightbreeze"), Siannodel ("Moonbrook"),
Ilphukiir ("Gemblossom"), and Xiloscient ("Goldpetal").
Adventurers: Elves take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Life among
humans moves at a pace that elves dislike: regimented from day to day but
changing from decade to decade. Elves among humans, therefore, find
careers that allow them to wander freely and set their own pace. Elves
also enjoy demonstrating their prowess with the sword and bow or gaining
greater magical powers, and adventuring allows them to do so. Good elves
may also be rebels or crusaders.
Elven holidays
· Yenearsira - Winter Solstice, the Elven new year. A day of rebirth.
· Sheelala - A day of games and practical jokes celebrated in early
spring.
· Ehtele'mele - Vernal equinox. A week of romance and song.
· Faradome - Summer Solstice. A celebration of the battle between
Corellon and Gruumsh One-Eye. A night of orc hunting.
· Yavieba - Autumnal equinox. A week of reflection and a time to
remember those who have left this world. Most important decisions and
judgments are made during this week.
Favorite Elven Wines
· Saerloonian Glowfire - pale wine, luminous, taste reminiscent of
pears.
· Saerloonian Topaz - yellow amber wine w/ nutty quality and bold fruit
overtones.
· Mead - sweet wine of fermented honey.
· Elverquisst - a ruby-colored liquor magically distilled from sunshine
and rare summer fruits. Utterly smooth, the liquor is nonetheless
flecked with gold and has an iridescence of both color and flavor. It is
highly prized at all times, but in the autumn rituals it is savored as if
it is the gift of one final, perfect summer day.
· Evermead - THE elven mead. The one to which all others are compared
and found wanting.
· Clarry - table wine blend sweetened w/ honey and spices.
· Arabellan Dry - fine red wine, very dry woodsy overtones and a slight
berry taste.
· Berdruskan Dark - heavy sweet and burning, almost black, HIGH alcohol
content.
· Morimatra - a spiced wine favored by the Drow.
Other Items Of Interest
· Kholiast - elven card game consisting of a 1000 card deck, dice and a
very difficult method of counting points.
· Shalaquin - long necked elven instrument, plucked or strummed string
tension is controlled by a ratcheting wheel.
ELVEN RACIAL TRAITS
· +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, -2 Strength: Elves are graceful but
frail. An elf's grace makes her naturally better at stealth and archery.
Apply these adjustments after your stats have been determined.
· Medium-size: As Medium-size creatures, elves have no special bonuses
or penalties due to their size.
· Elven base speed is 30 feet.
· Immunity to magic sleep spells and effects, and a +2 racial saving
throw bonus against Enchantment spells or effects.
· Low-light Vision: Elves can see twice as far as a human in starlight,
moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination.
· Proficient with either longsword or rapier; proficient with shortbow,
longbow, composite longbow, and composite shortbow. Elves esteem the
arts of swordplay and archery, so all elves are familiar with these
weapons.
· +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. An elf who merely
passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a
Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for the door. An
elf's senses are so keen that she practically has a sixth sense about
hidden portals.
· Favored Class: Wizard. Wizardry comes naturally to elves (they
sometimes claim to have invented it), and fighter/wizards are especially
common among them.



Sylvan elves (Cala'quessir)

Often referred to as high elves do to their mild arrogance and noble
demeanor, the Sylvani tend to be fair of skin compared to humans. Their
eyes are typically golden, silver, or black, but can also be of any
color found in humans. Sylvan elves tend to be recognized as the most
civilized of the elven sub-races. Though most elves tend to shun man-kind,
Sylvan elves are more typically repulsed by all other races, and to a
much lesser extent this would even include other sub-races of elves.

Wood Elves (Taur'quessir)

The Taurani (also called wood elves, forest elves, and wild elves) are
reclusive and distrusting of non-elves, in particular human kind. Wood
elves often have slightly darker skin then their other elven cousins
(except for the Drow). Their hair tends toward browns, and blacks with
occational blondes, and may contain green highlights. Their eyes are
typically green, brown, or hazel


Alignment: Elves love freedom, variety, and self-_expression. They lean
strongly toward the gentler aspects of chaos. Generally, they value and
protect others freedom as well as their own, and they are more often
good than not.

Language: Elves speak a fluid language of subtle intonations and
intricate grammar. While Elven literature is rich and varied, it is the
language's songs and poems that are most famous. Many bards learn Elven so
they can add Elven ballads to their repertoires. Others simply memorize
Elven songs by sound. The Elven script, as flowing as the spoken word,
also serves as the script for Sylvan, the language of dryads and
pixies.

Elven Racial Traits

+2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution: Elves are graceful but frail. An elf's
grace makes her naturally better at stealth and archery.
Medium-size: As Medium-size creatures, elves have no special bonuses or
penalties due to their size.
Elven base speed is 30 feet.
Immunity to magic sleep spells and effects, and a +2 racial saving
throw bonus against Enchantment spells or effects.
Low-light Vision: Elves can see twice as far as a human in starlight,
moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They
retain the ability to distinguish colour and detail under these
conditions.
Proficient with either long sword or rapier: proficient with short bow,
longbow, composite longbow, and composite short bow. Elves esteem the
arts of swordplay and archery, so all elves are familiar with these
weapons.
+2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. An elf who merely
passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a
Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for the door. An
elf's senses are so keen that she practically has sixth sense about
hidden portals.
Automatic Languages: Common and Elven. Bonus Languages: Draconic,
Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan. Elves commonly know the languages of
their enemies and of their friends. As well as Draconic, the language
commonly found in ancient tomes of secret knowledge.
Favoured Class: Wizard. A multiclass elf's wizard class does not count
when determining whether she suffers an XP penalty for multiclassing
(see Experience for Multiclass Characters). Wizardry comes naturally to
elves (they sometimes claim to have invented it), and fighter/wizards
are especially common among them