Beach Elf (5e Subrace)
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Beach Elves[edit]
Life’s a beach! Beach Elves - also known as Mangrove Elves, Luth’Tel’Quessir, or Tidal Elves are closely related to the Wood Elves that they are distantly descended from but have physiologically and culturally developed to be attuned to their coastal mangrove-filled habitat. Small settled villages are either built on stilts in the fens and along the brackish water estuary shoreline, floating on reed islands through the intercostal or narrow black water passages crisscrossing through the cypress hammock wetlands, or are entirely arboreal sheltering within the thick mangrove thicket and canopies. They are crepuscular and are most active at dawn and dusk, escaping the heat and threats of hours closer to either noon or midnight.
Physical Features & Society[edit]
Though Beach Elves generally have very tanned-skin tones and have characteristically frizzy hair, their hair color can differ anywhere from a wide range including, beach blonde, auburn, pale green, and a charcoal-like black. Common hairstyles used by adult beach elves include elaborate cornrows and various types of dreadlocks, while younger Beach Elves often simply employ short rope braids. Beach Elves are somewhat matriarchal and matrilocal but are more meritocratic than anything else. Curiously, male beach Elves do lactate somewhat and do support the mother a little in the breastfeeding of the offspring. Productive members within the society (farmers, sentinels, pearl-divers, artisans, salt-panners, druid-priests, etc.) that are entertaining (dancer, singer, poet) and kind (generous, forgiving, conscientious) often speak first during communal meetings where village-wide decisions are communally made by consensus.
Culture, Diet, & Religion[edit]
Beach Elf culture is generally known for its laidback nature, somewhat pacifist disposition, and exceptionally frenzied, sensuous, and hedonistic festivities. Like other Wood Elves though, they are very loyal to their own and very suspicious of new faces. Spilling blood - unless in absolute self-defense - is forbidden and therefore Beach Elves generally do not hunt and are in practice insectarian - with their diets consisting of termites, grubs, honey, algae, coconuts, sea rice, sea moss, bivalves, sea cucumbers, lichens, sea-side berries, nutsedge tubers, sea urchins, jellyfish, and a plethora of crustaceans. Much time is spent underwater collecting pearls, salt-panning, sea grass, and algae farming and therefore Beach Elves learn to stay underwater for long periods of time from a young age. Washed ashore bodies from shipwrecks coming upon the shoreline are considered a gift from the sea gods and its resources are never ignored. To overcome the “no-spilling blood” rule when it comes to these often already bloated bodies, the bodies go through a process of salt-curing, with all moisture eventually being extracted. Shipwrecked salt-cured bodies are often communally consumed at some of the more notorious albeit rarely seen by outsider's orgiastic carnival-festivals.
As a Beach elf, you have a natural resilience and a keen instinct. Your light steps carry you quickly through your native coastal wetlands and the sandy dunes. Although similar to Swamp Elves overall, they are less physically imposing, less adept at combat, and more experienced at spending time underwater. They are much more communal, laidback and sedentary than most other Wood Elves.
Architecture[edit]
Stationary stilted homes, treehouses in the mangrove canopy, and even floating villages in certain large enough estuaries offer a flexibility for the Beach Elves to adapt to whatever weather conditions may occur.
Physiology[edit]
| Base Height | Height Modifier | Base Weight | Weight Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4′ 8″ | +2d10 | 90 lb. | × (1d4) lb. |
Ability Score Increase. You can choose to add 1 score to your Wisdom.
Size. Medium (albeit a little smaller and more gracile than Wood Elves)
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Hold Breath. You can hold your breath for up to 15 minutes at a time.
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.
Wetlands Traveler. When traveling through difficult terrain when in wetlands or shallow waters, your movement speed takes no penalty, and you can move at a steady pace without slowing.
Cantrip. You have a natural talent after growing up in the wilderness, and have picked up some small knowledge of nature magic. Choose one cantrip from the druid spell list. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.
Tree-Grown Adept. Your time in the forest had you constantly weaving through trees and such with grace. You are proficient in the Acrobatics skill.
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