Moon Elf (5e Race)

Moon Elf

A visual demonstration of the differences between Lunar and Eclipse Elf Factions.

Moon Elves, also known as Selúlir in their own tongue, dwell within the lush forests of the distant and enchanted lands of Evermeet. Originating from the Feywild, they are renowned for their deep connection to the moon and their unparalleled proficiency in both swordplay and magic. As children of celestial influence, the phase of the moon during their birth determines whether they belong to the esteemed Lunar or Eclipse factions.

Lunar Elves, born during or in proximity to a full moon, possess an inherent affinity for magic and spellcasting that manifests from an early age. Their lives are intertwined with the mystic forces of the cosmos, allowing them to harness and manipulate arcane energies with exceptional finesse. In contrast, Eclipse Elves are born during the new moon or an eclipse, imbued with physical prowess and unparalleled mastery of weapons. These remarkable warriors are known for their precision, agility, and unwavering dedication to honing their martial skills.

Physical Description

The Lunar Elves encapsulate a transcendent beauty and elegance. Their skin, painted with a tranquil shade of umber, subtly glows, often mimicking the serene luminescence of moonlight. Their hair displays a spectrum of shimmering silver to pure white, while their eyes sparkle in brilliant hues of emerald green or cerulean blue. The males belonging to the Lunar Faction are generally shorter than the average human, their heights varying between 4.5 to 6 feet. They also exhibit a more slender physique, typically weighing in between 100 to 150 pounds.

Contrastingly, the Eclipse Elves are marked by their commanding presence, usually boasting a more robust and sturdy physique. They are on par or slightly taller than humans, their heights ranging from 5.5 to approximately 6.5 feet, and weighing between 120 and 200 pounds. Their striking appearances are primarily characterized by their hair of deep obsidian and darker hues, which perfectly pairs with their eyes—be they of fiery crimson, glimmering gold, or deep violet.

History

Situated deep within the heart of the verdant Evermeet forests, the Moon Elves' capital city, Selúnaria, stands as a testament to their enduring civilization and reverence for nature. Known as the "Moonlit Sanctuary" in their language, Selúnaria is a harmonious blend of arcane architecture and untouched nature, where majestic trees intertwine with opalescent structures that glow softly under the moonlight. Over the centuries, Selúnaria has evolved in rhythm with the phases of the moon, embodying the growth and change of the Moon Elves themselves. Once a scattering of individual settlements, the city gradually coalesced into an integrated entity, reflecting the unity of the elves amid their diverse factions.

In the heart of Selúnaria lies the Luminary Spire, the city's shining beacon and seat of the reigning Queen. It's here that the Lunar and Eclipse Elves converge to engage in dialogues, ensuring the harmonious coexistence of their distinct factions. The ascendance of a Lunar Queen marked a crucial turning point in their history, fostering a shift in power dynamics and underscoring the importance of unity. While the Lunar Elves have always been revered for their magical prowess, they've recently embraced the martial skills of their Eclipse counterparts, contributing to a more balanced society. The Eclipse Elves, on the other hand, have started to explore the mystical arts, recognizing the merit in their fellow faction's arcane knowledge.

For 2000 years, the Moon Elves have remained committed to their deep-seated principles—respect for nature, preservation of their heritage, and dedication to their celestial deities. Selúnaria, with its moon-kissed glow, stands as a beacon of these enduring principles and the tireless efforts of the Moon Elves to foster unity amidst their diversity.

Society

The Moon Elves, guardians of their secretive society, are seldom seen beyond the confines of Evermeet. Nestled in their secluded enclaves, far from the island's bustling hubs, they consciously preserve their unique lifestyle. Over the ages, the distinct characteristics of their factions have deepened the cultural divergence within their society. With careful precision, families orchestrate the birth of their offspring to coincide with specific lunar cycles, thereby ensuring the inheritance of desired traits. Interestingly, Moon Elves, in their early years, mirror the appearance of typical elves. However, upon reaching the age of 20, a solemn ceremony honoring the Twin goddesses’ ushers in the development of their faction-specific attributes, which come to full fruition over the subsequent decade. Studies of Moon Elf society suggest underlying tensions seething beneath their societal fabric.

Lunar Elves stand as paragons of empathy, tolerance, and a profound respect for diverse races and cultures. Often assuming the mantles of druids and scholars, they commit themselves to preserving nature, fostering its growth with careful stewardship. With an inclination towards veganism and a call for unity with the natural world, they are the torchbearers of wisdom within elven society. In stark contrast, the Eclipse Elves, while maintaining a reverence for nature, embrace a more predatory ethos, expressing gratitude to the fauna for their sustenance. Infused with an amplified ambition and a hint of aggression, they maintain a more defensive stance towards outsiders.

Despite their differences, both factions coexist within a matriarchal society, bound together under a single clan. Notably, the lineage of Queens throughout their history predominantly hails from the Eclipse faction. The stark contrast between factions makes cross-faction relationships a challenging endeavour. However, to foster unity and solidarity, it is customary for the reigning Queen to wed an individual from the opposing faction.

Religion

Despite facing banishment from the forest, a fate often met by elves who defy age-old traditions, all Moon Elves are bestowed a unique honor in death. It is customary for their bodies to be returned to the outskirts of Selúnaria. There, in an act imbued with grace and transformation, they are tenderly planted into the nurturing soil.

From this solemn act, they bloom into radiant trees, each one a masterpiece unique in its appearance, a reflection of the departed elf's spiritual alignment. In this way, even after their departure, the Moon Elves remain an enduring and integral part of the Selúnaria's breathtaking landscape.

Selune and Shar, twin deities of the Forgotten Realms, hold vital roles in the Moon Elves' faith. Lunar Elves honor Selune, the Goddess of the Moon, acknowledging her in their full moon rituals and magic. In contrast, Eclipse Elves resonate with Shar, the Goddess of Darkness, paying tribute to her during moonless nights and eclipses. Recognizing the intrinsic balance between light and dark, both factions find unity in their shared reverence for these twin goddesses.

Moon Elf Names

Moon Elves tend to take their name after elf or celestial names. It is common to adopt names that relate to the moon, light or darkness such as: Lunathel, Eluna, Lunaris, Seluneth, Sharneth.

Moon Elf Traits

Both Lunar and Eclipse Factions share some similar characteristics:
Ability Score Increase. Wisdom or Constitution score is increased by 2.
Age. They reach adulthood at the age of 50 and can live to be well over 500 years old. Upon reaching adulthood, thanks to the Twin goddesses blessing they become ageless.
Alignment. Those of the Lunar Faction lean towards Good Alignments(Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Chaotic Good). Those of the Eclipse Faction lean towards Evil Alignments(Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil, Chaotic Evil).
Size. Moon Elves range in size between 4.5ft and 6.5ft depending on Faction and Sex. Eclipse Elves tend to be taller and more robust in appearance. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. Accustomed to twilit forests, dark caves, and the night sky, 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.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.
Trance. Moon 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.
Keen Senses. Due to their common upbringing, both subraces are proficient in Perception.
Languages. Moon elves can speak, read and write Common and Elvish.Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires.
Subrace. Lunar or Eclipse Elves. The subraces of the Moon Elves are determined by the faction they were born into.

Lunar Faction

The "Good" Moon Elves, known for their gentle nature.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma or Intelligence score is increased by 1.
Full Moon Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead and move towards a direction up to your current speed without provoking opportunity attacks. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
Elven Lunar Magic. The typical Lunar elf focuses more on their mind rather than their strength. You can add one cleric or druid spell to your existing list of prepared spells per spellcasting level as you level up. If you do not possess Spell Initiate or a related spellcasting skill you can instead cast each of these spells once per long rest using Wisdom as your Spellcasting modifier.
Proficiency. Lunar Faction elves are most at peace while surrounded by nature or caring for others. Due to living in lush forests all their lives, you are proficient in Nature or Medicine.

Eclipse Faction

The "Evil" Moon Elves, known for their aggressive nature.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength or Dexterity score is increased by 1.
Enchanted Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Enchanted Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 120 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. Enchanted Darkvision works in magical darkness such as the one created using the darkness spell.
Elven Martial Training. You have expertise with a martial weapon such as the longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.
New Moon. You can use your bonus action to cast darkness without requiring any material or verbal components once per long rest.
Proficiency. Eclipse Faction Elves are known to be aggressive and evil. Due to the darkness that emits from your body, you are proficient in Intimidation.

Moon Elf Variant

Depending on the campaign setting, you can choose to select optional racial features from the following list when making a Moon Elf character:

Moonlight Protection
Due to the magical protection of the moon goddesses, you have natural armor that is equal to 13 + Charisma Modifier (Lunar) or 15 + Dexterity Modifier (Eclipse). Additionally, you gain resistance to Radiant (Lunar) or Necrotic (Eclipse) damage.

Half Moon Elf Feat
You can choose to forgo Trance and Fey Ancestry to gain one Feat of your choice.

Attribution

This race has been heavily inspired by: Faerie_Elf_(5e_Race) and Faerie_Elf,_Variant_(5e_Race). I highly recommend checking these amazing races out.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
′ ''	+	lb.	× () lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Suggested Characteristics

When creating a <race name> character, you can use the following table of traits, ideals, bonds and flaws to help flesh out your character. Use these tables in addition to or in place of your background's characteristics.

d8	Personality Trait
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d6	Ideal
1
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d6	Bond
1
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d6	Flaw
1
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5.00

(one vote)

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