\section{Elf}\label{elf}

Elves area magical people of otherworldly grace, living in the world but
not entirely part of it. They live in places of ethereal beauty, in the
midst of ancient forests orin silvery spires glittering with faerie
light, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances
waft on the breeze. Elves love nature and magic, art and artistry, music
and poetry, and the good things of the world.

\subsection{Slender and Graceful}\label{slender-and-graceful}

With their unearthly grace and fine features, elves appear hauntingly
beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly
shorter than humans on average, ranging from well under 5 feet tall to
just over 6 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100
to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males
are only marginally heavier than females.

Elves' coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes
skin in shades of copper, bronze, and almost bluish-white, hair of green
or blue, and eyes like pools of liquid gold or silver. Elves have no
facial and little body hair. They favor elegant cloth in gin bright
colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

\subsection{A Timeless Perspective}\label{a-timeless-perspective}

Elves can live well over 700 years, giving them abroad perspective on
events that might trouble the shorterlived races more deeply. They are
more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than
greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance.
When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or
learning anew skill or art, elves 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.

Like the branches of a young tree, elves are flexible in the face of
danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences
before they escalate to violence. They have been known to retreat from
intrusions into their woodland homes, confident that they can simply
wait the invaders out. But when the need arises, elves reveal astern
martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and strategy.

\subsection{Hidden Woodland Realms}\label{hidden-woodland-realms}

Most elves dwell in small forest villages hidden among the trees. Elves
hunt game, gather food, and grow vegetables, and their skill and magic
allow them to support themselves without the need for clearing and plow
in gland. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and
art objects. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, though a
few elves make a good living by trading crafted items for metals (which
they have no interest in mining).

Elves encountered outside their own lands are commonly traveling
minstrels, artists, or sages. Human nobles compete for the services of
elf instructors to teach swordplay or magic to their children.

\subsection{Exploration and Adventure}\label{exploration-and-adventure}

Elves take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Since they are so
long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. They
dislike the pace of human society, which is regimented from day today
but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them
travel freely and set their own pace. Elves also enjoy exercising their
martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows
them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression,
and others might become champions of moral causes.

\subsection{Elf Names}\label{elf-names}

Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults,
sometime after the hundredth birthday, and before this period they are
called by child names.

On declaring adulthood, an elf selects an adult name, although those who
knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name.
Each elf's adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the
names of respected individuals or other family members. Little
distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings
here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every elf bears a
family name, typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some elves
traveling among humans translate their family names into Common, but
others retain the Elvish version.

\textbf{Child Names:} Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil. Lael, Mella,
Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall

\textbf{Male Adult Names:} Adran, Aelar, A ram il, A rannis, Aust,
Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai,
Heian, Him o, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren,
Quarion, Riardon, R olen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis

\textbf{Female Adult Names:} Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste,
Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia,
Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna,
Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania,
Valanthe, Xanaphia

\textbf{Family Names (Common Translations):} Am akiir (Gem flower), Am
astacia (Starflow er), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew),
Ilphelkiir (Gem blossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel),
Nailo(Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moon brook), Xiloscient(Goldpetal)

\subsection{Haughty but Gracious}\label{haughty-but-gracious}

Although they can be haughty, elves are generally gracious even to those
who fall short of their high expectations--- which is most non-elves.
Still, they can find good in just about anyone.

\textbf{Dwarves.} `` Dwarves are dull, clumsy oafs. But what they lack
in humor, sophistication, and manners, they makeup in valor. And I must
admit, their best smiths produce art that approaches elven quality. ''

\textbf{Halflings.} `` Halflings are people of simple pleasures, and
that is not a quality to scorn. They're good folk, they care for each
other and tend their gardens, and they have proven themselves tougher
than they seem when the need arises. ''

\textbf{Humans.} ``All that haste, their ambition and drive to
accomplish something before their brief lives pass away--- human
endeavors seem so futile sometimes. But then you look at what they have
accomplished, and you have to appreciate their achievements. If only
they could slowdown and learn some refinement.''

\subsection{Elf Traits}\label{elf-traits}

Your elf character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of
thousands of years of elven refinement.

\textbf{Ability Score Increase.} Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

\textbf{Age.} Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same
age as humans, the elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical
growth to encompass worldly experience. An elf typically claims
adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750
years old.

\textbf{Alignment.} Elves love freedom, variety, and selfexpression, so
they lean strongly toward the gentler aspects of chaos. They value and
protect others' freedom as well as their own, and they are more often
good than not. The d row are an exception; their exile into the
Underdark has made them vicious and dangerous. Drow are more often evil
than not.

\textbf{Size.} Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have
slender builds. Your size is Medium.

\textbf{Speed.} Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

\textbf{Darkvision.} Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you
have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim
light within 6 0 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.

\textbf{Keen Senses.} You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

\textbf{Fey Ancestry.} You have advantage on saving throws against being
charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.

\textbf{Trance.} 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.

\textbf{Languages.} You 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 song sand poems are famous
among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add
Elvish ballads to their repertoires.

\subsection{Subraces}\label{subraces}

Ancient divides among the elven people resulted in three main subraces:
high elves, woo delves, and dark elves, who are commonly called drow.
Choose one of these subraces. In some worlds, these subraces are divided
still further (such as the sun elves and moon elves of the Forgotten
Realms), so if you wish, you can choose a narrower subrace.

\subsubsection{High Elf}\label{high-elf}

As a high elf, you have a keen mind and a mastery of at least the basics
of magic. In many of the worlds of D\&D, there are two kinds of high
elves. One type (which includes the gray elves and valley elves of
Greyhawk, the Silvanesti of Dragon lance, and the sun elves of the
Forgotten Realms) is haughty and reclusive, believing themselves to be
superior to non-elves and even other elves. The other type (including
the high elves of Greyhawk. the Qualinesti of Dragon lance, and the moon
elves of the Forgotten Realms) are more common and more friendly, and
often encountered among humans and other races.

The sun elves of Faerun (also called gold elves or sunrise elves) have
bronze skin and hair of copper, black, or golden blond. Their eyes are
golden, silver, or black. Moon elves (also called silver elves or gray
elves) are much paler, with alabaster skin sometimes tinged with blue.
They often have hair of silver-white, black, or blue, but various shades
of blond, brown, and red are not uncommon. Their eyes are blue or green
and flecked with gold.

\textbf{Ability Score Increase.} Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

\textbf{Elf Weapon Training.} You have proficiency with the lon gsword,
shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.

\textbf{Cantrip.} You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard
spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.

\textbf{Extra Language.} You can speak, read, and write one extra
language of your choice.

\subsubsection{Wood Elf}\label{wood-elf}

As a wood elf, you have keen sense sand intuition, and your fleet feet
carry you quickly and stealthily through your native forests. This
category includes the wild elves (grugach) of Greyhawk and the Kagonesti
of Dragon lance, as well as the races called woo delves in Greyhawk and
the Forgotten Realms. In Faerun, wood elves (also called wild elves,
green elves, or forest elves) are reclusive and distrusting of
non-elves.

Wood elves' skin tends to be copperish in hue, sometimes with traces of
green. Their hair tends toward brown sand blacks, but it is occasionally
blond or cop per-colored. Their eyes are green, brown, or hazel.

\textbf{Ability Score Increase.} Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

\textbf{Elf Weapon Training.} You have proficiency with the longsword,
sh ortsword, shortbow, and longbow.

\textbf{Fleet of Foot.} Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.

\textbf{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.

\subsubsection{Dark Elf (Drow)}\label{dark-elf-drow}

Descended from an earlier su brace of dark-skinned elves, the d row were
banished from the surface world for following the goddess Lolth down the
path to evil and corruption. Now they have built their own civilization
in the depths of the Underdark, patterned after the Way of Lolth. Also
called dark elves, the drow have black skin that resembles polished
obsidian and stark white or pale yellow hair. They commonly have very
pale eyes (so pale as to be mistaken for white) in shades of lilac,
silver, pink, red, and blue. They tend to be smaller and thinner than
most elves.

Drow adventurers are rare, and the race does not exist in all worlds.
Check with your Dungeon Master to see if you can play a drow character.

\textbf{Ability Score Increase.} Your Charisma score increases by 1.

\textbf{Superior Darkvision.} Your darkvision has a radius of 120 feet.

\textbf{Sunlight Sensitivity.} You have disadvantage on attack rolls and
on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of
your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is indirect
sunlight.

\textbf{Drow Magic.} You know the dancing lights cantrip. When you reach
3rd level, you can cast the faerie fire spell once per day. When you
reach 5th level, you can also cast the darkness spell once per day.
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

\textbf{Drow Weapon Training.} You have proficiency with rapiers, sh
ortswords, and hand crossbows.

\subsection{The Darkness of the Drow}\label{the-darkness-of-the-drow}

Were it not for one renowned exception, the race of drow would be
universally reviled. To most, they area race of demon-worshiping
marauders dwelling in the subterranean depths of the Underdark, emerging
only on the blackest nights to pillage and slaughter the surface
dwellers they despise. Their society is depraved and preoccupied with
the favor of Lolth, their spider-goddess, who sanctions murder and the
extermination of entire families as noble houses vie for position. Yet
one drow, at least, broke the mold. In the world of the Forgotten
Realms, DrizztDo'Urden, ranger of the North, has proven his quality as a
good-hearted defender of the weak and innocent. Rejecting his heritage
and adrift ina world that looks upon him with terror and loathing,
Drizzt is a model for those few drow who follow in his footsteps, trying
to find a life apart from the evil society of their Underdark homes.
Drow grow up believing that surface-dwelling races are inferior,
worthless except as slaves. Drow who develop a conscience or find it
necessary to cooperate with members of other races find it hard to
overcome that prejudice, especially when they are so often on the
receiving end of hatred.
