Elves, High, 5th Variant (3.5e Race)
From D&D Wiki
High Elves
Personality
Like many, and most races, High Elves encompass a broad variety of people with different jobs, strengths, and weaknesses. High Elves are normally very condescending and cocky, but sometimes not. Many High Elves retreat to studies, libraries, or their working positions to further themselves to become more knowledgeable, wise, and better at what they do and learn about. "Knowledge is power" is a very common proverb for the High Elven people, and it holds utmost truth in their eyes. With great minds, a silver tongue, an attractive body, adventure in their hearts, and an aptitude for greatness, High Elves have come to be very significant players in the Elven and global communities. Skilled Craftsmen with calloused hands and blistered feet. Fine, seasoned, high quality soldiers and guardsmen. Frightening, powerful, and magnificent wielders of magics of all types, whether it be Arcane, Natural, or Divine. Shrewd and convincing diplomats and speakers. Master enchanters and alchemists commonplace and for the good of the High Elvenkind. And last but not least, glorious, honorable, and virtuous leaders and divine paladins of holy and knightly orders. Residing in high places and rich quarters most of the time, High Elves have a love of music, comfort, relaxation, a good read, and some quality wine. But like every race, there are those that settle for less, and live off the simple life.
Physical Description
High Elves have the common pointed ear characteristic that all elves share as brethren. They have vivid eyes, of blues, greens, violets, reds, aquamarines, teals, and the rare snow white, and black as void irises. Most stand tall and slender, or mighty, Males between 5'10" and 6'7", and females between 5'9" and 6'5". They always have white, not flushed, and not blemished skin, and most have a very, very slight yellow tint due to the sun. They fashion black, blonde, or snow white hair, young or old. Males are described as witty, intimidating, muscular, cordial, influential, and statuesque (pretty much means tall and dignified). Females are described as slender, provocative, seductive, voluptuous, soft-spoken, and gracious. High Elves never technically "Grow Old" as they live forever unless they are slain.
Relations
High Elves having a condescending nature doesn't exactly help their position with other races. They are normally regarded as so. Most other elves look up to high elves, or just see them as brethren. But hatred exists between High Elves and some other kinds of elves, such as Drow. Drow being dark and far underground makes them the complete opposite of the upright, towering, and high city dwelling High Elves. High Elves have average relationships with humans and mankind. High Elves believe humans expand and reproduce too fast for their own good, and don't believe they see or enjoy the world the same way elves do, especially High Elves. High Elves enjoy the presence of Halflings and Gnomes for their comical appearances and pleasant companionship. High Elves strongly dislike Half-Elves because they believe they are hybrid scum and an insult to the elvenkind, even Drow. High Elves feel similarly about Orcs, thinking they are overly-stupid and worthless, and nothing better then slaves and fodder for elven armies. Combine the two, and that's how they see Half-Orcs. But, High Elves have a special, deep kind of animosity and malevolence for the Dwarven kind. They treat Dwarves like the trash of the realm, and with severe acrimony. They will be courteous to Dwarves, out of respect and to not ruin their image or High Elven image, but when antagonized or provoked by Dwarves they do not hold back. Knowing the intense relationship between Dwarves and Elves already in place, and normally steamed forward by Dwarven pride only serves the High Elves greater drive and pride to do them out for the good of the Elvenkind, becoming zealots of the elvenkind. Assaulting Dwarves and stealing from them is commonplace from the crudest remark from a Dwarf. High Elves don't show them any remorse. Public beatings and executions are the one black mark on the High Elven name. Hanging and running Dwarves through is often seen. Burning of the houses, pillaging of villages, and slaughtering of Dwarves are common with large scale conflicts. High skilled and powerful High Elven Wizards and Sorcerers don't hold back on playing Dwarves, torturing them, or otherwise reducing them to ashes or a gooey and bloody mess. Overall though, this is mostly overlooked by other races, and both sides are constantly trying to work together and put aside their differences. Many groups and factions have been formed in aspiration to peace between the two races.
Alignment
High Elves encompass every alignment, mostly based on religion, personalities, and class. Your as likely to find a powerful and terrible Necromancer as a holy Paladin or a knowledge hoarding Wizard.
Lands
High Elves join many communities. They live in common areas and have specific neighborhoods and quarters of cities and town. They live beside other elves, men, and halflings most often. Living in plains, forests, steppes, and hills. They sometimes live in deserts, mountains, and on islands, but cringe at marshes, jungle, and caves and underground places. They normally have major cities and with the significant portion being High Elves in the population, with men, halflings, and other elvenkind being the minority.
Religion
Mostly class based, any really, but commonplace worship is to Corellon Larethian, Boccob, Ehlonna, and Obad-Hai. Less common, but still prevalent ones are Heironeous, Olidammara, Pelor, and St. Cuthbert. The Evil community favors Nerull and Wee-jas. Also seen are Bahamut and Tiamat, Bahamut more so then Tiamat, but both are seldom seen. High Elves despise Gruumsh, Lolth, and Moradin. Religion isn't the prime focus of High Elven life, but grand temples and cathedrals draped in gold, and other precious metals and rocks like onyx and marble stand as their high respect and homage to the powers above.
Language
High Elves normally speak Common, Elven, and Sylvan, but can learn pretty much any language. Their high capacity for knowledge, intense brain power, and high connection to the mystic world allows them to do so. Other then those three, they tend to favor learning Halfling, Gnomish, and Draconic.
Names
High Elves are named by their parents at birth, and are often given titles by the people, or ruling bodies for their contribution to the civics and world, or based on actions, like slaying dragons, mastering a school of magic, or destroying Dwarven nobility. Their names are smooth, roll off the tongue, and are pleasing to the ear. Seldom rough unless bred from the warrior bloodlines of High Elves.
Some Male Names: Lysandis, Visarees, Theon, Thanatos, Innes, Altaris, Jorah, Radion, Zain, Falendis.
Some Female Names: Eladria, Kaylin, Kinderly, Faithuil, Skye, Victoris, Daenera, Phoneis, Yumial, Cathrynia
Racial Traits
- Mod:+2 Dexterity, +4 Intelligence +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma -2 Constitution. elves are nimble intelligent and beautiful. but this in combination with the amount of focus into the arcane commonly found throughout their races history has caused their bodies to be slightly less sturdy.
- Humanoid, Elven Subtype
- Medium Humanoid
- High Elf base land speed is 60 feet.
- Mystic Blood: A high elf that can cast spells gains bonus spells as though their key ability score was 2 points higher.
- Arcane vitality: uses 1d8 for HD instead. High elven society is severely intertwined with magic and it overtime fuses with their body making them hardier.
- Arcane Sage: Add key spellcasting modifier and spellcaster level to spell damage
- High Elves get a racial +4 to Spellcraft and Knowledge Arcana.
- Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Sylvan. Bonus Languages: Gnomish, Dwarvish, Halfling, Draconic, Auran, Abyssal, Infernal, Celestial, Undercommon, Giant, Goblin, Gnoll, Necril, Orcish, Cyclops, Terran, Ignan, Aquan.
- Favored Class: Wizard, Sorcerer, Druid, Cleric, Paladin.
- Level Adjustment: +2
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Races