High Elf (4e Race)
High Elf[edit]
| Racial Traits |
| Average Height: 5'3" - 6'7" |
| Average Weight: 165 - 240 lbs. |
| Ability Scores: +2 Intelligence; +2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma |
| Size: Medium |
| Speed: Fly Speed 4 (Altitude 1), 7 squares |
| Vision: Low-Light |
| Languages: Common, Elven |
| Skill Bonuses: +2 Arcana, +2 to Perception, +2 to Insight |
| Fey Origin: Your ancestors were native to the Feywild, so you are considered a fey creature for the purpose of effects that relate to creature origin. |
| Immortality: You an inherently Arcanic being, imbued with incredible power, keeping your flesh alive and unharmed. You don't need to eat, drink, breathe, or sleep, and never age. You never have to make Endurance checks to resist suffocation or fatigue related to sleep. You also are considered an immortal creature for purposes that relate to creature origin. |
| Unassailable Grace: You move with impeccable grace, unencumbered by the normal limitations of mere mortals. You take no damage from a fall and always land on your feet. You also gain a fly speed of 4, with an altitude of 1 (or you fall if you are flying more than 1 square above the ground at the end of your movement). |
| Ethereal Origins: For purposes of meeting prerequisites, you qualify as both an Elf and an Eladrin, such as for meeting feats or paragon paths. |
| Argent Soul: You gain the encounter power Argent Soul. |
| Argent Soul | High Elf Racial Power |
| You manifest the raw power emanating from your immortal soul, sharing your power with those around you. | |
Encounter  Arcane, Move action
| |
| Minor Action | Close Burst 5 |
| Effect: Each ally within range can teleport 3 squares and gains combat advantage against any enemy they target with an attack until the end of their next turn. | |
Play an High Elf if you want...
- to be a member of a race that has a long and rich history with a mysterious past
- to be naturally adept at arcane magic
- to be an immortal and ethereal race
- To be a member of a race that favors the Wizard, Warlock, Invoker, Shaman, and Druid classes.
Physical Qualities[edit]
High elves are the precursor to both Elves and Eladrin, as well as Blood elves, and are considered to be the origin of virtually all elf races. As a result they share qualities of virtually all elves, and appear as if a mix between the Elves, Eladrin, and Blood Elves. Like most of the Elves, the High Elves are close to the height of humans, but tend to be slightly taller, generally a head taller than most humans and elves (or 8 inches). High Elves have largely blue or white skin and their hair color is generally bright colors, be it blue, white, purple, or green. High Elves’ ears are long and pointed, and their eyes are vibrant blue, violet, gold, or green. Male high elves are generally larger than female elves, however only by a small amount, generally being a few inches taller and 20 pound heavier. High elves tend to glow with an incandescent blue, having glowing, vibrant colors which emanate from their body. As a part of their unnatural grace, they can hover above the ground, levitating over solid surface, and can easily clear over empty spaces with relative ease. High elves never fall, and drift to the ground gracefully, like a fleeting feather. As a result much of their architecture is based around this, and can be difficult for ordinary races to navigate.
High Elves like ordinary elves mature at about the same rate as humans, but show few effects of age past adulthood. The first sign of an elves advancing age is typically a change in hair and skin color, usually darkening or fading in color, and becoming more vibrant. High Elves are immortal, living well beyond 1000 years, and some have been known to live much longer than this. As high elves as a species are an ancient race, they are representative of the elves within their species that became immortal; original high elves only lived for approximately 200-400 years, and the remaining few are imbued with inherent arcane power that has unnaturally lengthened their lives. These elves have naturally accrued enormous amounts of information in their lifetime, giving them above average intelligence. Despite this most have been closed off from the outside world for centuries, and thus their abilities are hindered somewhat. While they are not completely against outsiders, they have largely sheltered themselves in their handful of cities, cut off from the rest of the world as they watch it toil, only intervening in grave circumstances. Unlike the Elves and Eladrin who's ancestors spread to the rest of the world, the High elves remained where they were, retaining the features of the proginating race, due to their lack of intermixing or specialization. Few high elves still live today, most having offspring whom have changed over time in to the variety of elven species, however High elves still persist. Living high elves often have bloodlines with hundreds of elves within them, and some larger group may hold 10's of thousands of living elf offspring. Despite their long age, elves evolve rapidly among generations, which results in their broad diversity. It is only their very unique circumstances that has lead to them staying the same, largely their gift of long life.
Attitudes and Beliefs[edit]
High elves are somewhat distant and detached from the world around them, living for eternity, and sheltering themselves from the outside world. What few high elf societies exist have largely remained hidden, cloaked by magic or hard to reach places, or often both. High elf communities often times must be shown to people, as when wandering through the woods the illusions and tricks will naturally redirect normal travelers around their society, or cause them to ignore it all together. It is not clear what caused the high elves to hide from the outside world, other than their dwindling numbers and general fear for outsiders. While not xenophobic, they are wary of outsiders, and only rarely permit travelers to meet them, often elves seeking the origins of their own bloodlines. Humans and other races are generally only allowed in to their areas temporarily if in need of help, before they are sent on their way. AS high High elves are empathetic and caring, and very sympathetic to mortal plights, but as immortal beings find themselves detached from the situations. Many have dedicated their unnaturally long lives to their studies, and contribute this information to the world as a part of their never ending mission to help them. High elves often refrain from getting involved in other worldly affairs, being consumed by their work.
A few over time venture from the cities to explore the world, either tired of living or through sheer curiosity. These tend to ally themselves with adventurers, forming close bonds, which given their infinite age often leads to the death of their friends, and thus bitterness about the world. Being empathetic and caring, they shut themselves off from the world to avoid the pain it causes, rather than for disdain for other races, viewing them not as inferior but as tragic in their short lived lives. High elves often intervene in mortal affairs during periods of extreme or trying times, often assisting with wars or plagues. Some are arrogant or haughty given their long age, but most retain a sense of humility for what they once were, and given the experiences they accrue over their lives. Sequestered from the rest of the world, many still long to be a part of the world, and find themselves on adventures in the world.
High Elf Feats[edit]
High elves can take on elven and eladrin feats in addition to their own exclusive feats.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Argent Swarm | When you use your "Argent Soul" encounter power, you may teleport 3 squares and gain combat advantage against any enemy you target with an attack until the end of your next turn. |
| Elven Accuracy | You may replace a use of one of your racial encounter powers with the 'Elven Accuracy' power. In addition, you may take the highest of either result with this power. |
| Elven Marksmanship | You gain proficiency with all bows and crossbows, and a +1/2/3 scaling feat bonus to damage rolls when using them. |
| Name | Description |
|---|
| Name | Description |
|---|
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Beauty of the Elves | You are wondrous and fair to look upon. |
| Elven Accuracy | You may replace a use of one of your racial encounter powers with the 'Elven Accuracy' power. In addition, you may take the highest of either result with this power. |
| Elven Marksmanship | You gain proficiency with all bows and crossbows, and a +1/2/3 scaling feat bonus to damage rolls when using them. |
| Thinblade Accuracy | You gain proficiency with the Elvin Thinblade and a bonus to damage when you use your "Elven accuracy" power. |
| Name | Description |
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| Name | Description |
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| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Beauty of the Elves | You are wondrous and fair to look upon. |
| Conflicting Origin | You put your effort into training your body more than your mind. |
| Elven Accuracy | You may replace a use of one of your racial encounter powers with the 'Elven Accuracy' power. In addition, you may take the highest of either result with this power. |
| Elven Marksmanship | You gain proficiency with all bows and crossbows, and a +1/2/3 scaling feat bonus to damage rolls when using them. |
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Lengthened Fey Step | You can fey step further. |
| Name | Description |
|---|
High Elf Utility Powers[edit]
When your high elf character gains a class utility power after 1st level, you can forgo taking a power granted to you by your class. Instead you gain a high elf utility power of the same level or lower.
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