The elves of Celesia are known as the Fey'anthyr, the Fair Folk. The Fey'anthyr have long been a force to be reckoned with, displacing the dragons at the end of the Age of Wyrms, and have since then been a major player in the affairs of the world. The Fey'anthyr have long lives, with a lifespan of nearly a thousand years, and have a great sense of history that stretches far back. They have great patience and look at things in the big picture. They are also slow to adapt to changes around them. They are slim and graceful, and are distinguished with their long, pointy ears. All elves have hair only on their heads,and nowhere else on their bodies. They are also known as Celenai's Folk, after Celenai, a powerful female elven wizard who united most of the elves and was the voice of Kaï-den and Illia to the elven people.
The Fey'anthyr have a deep connection with all things natural, especially magic. They prefer living in the fresh air under the bright sun, the moon, and the stars, among their environment and not disturbing its natural state. They have a great understanding of how magic works, and a great sense of artistry, often combining both together. They appear aloof and arrogant to other races, but this is not out of malice. Rather, they find it difficult to understand any other values but their own, which they believe are the proper ways (and in most cases, they are right). All elves have a deep, communal connection with each other that truly unites them as a people, making it incredibly difficult to wage war on each other. The exception to this are the Nui'Anthyr, who have since long severed their connection with their fellow elves and turned to a life of darkness.
Fey'anthyr organize themselves in family Houses. The heads of the most powerful or influential Houses form a council that help govern their community. Large communities and kingdom are ruled by a Coronal, who is also head of the council. The Coronal is chosen through magical and divine means (the method varies from community to community) and holds the office for life. Although the children of the Coronal often succeed their parent, the office is not strictly hereditary. In general, Fey'anthyr society is matriarchal, but both genders are treated equally and given equal opportunity to succeed in elven society. The exception to this are the Nui'anthyr.
The Fey'anthyr strongly worship Illia, the Goddess of Magic, as they have a strong connection to the Eternal Essence. Firhanna and Deianeira is also very popular among them, particularly the Ter'anthyr, due to their strong connection with nature. Minué is a popular goddess among them, and Kaï-den is worshipped strongly by all as well since he is their creator, although second to Illia. The Nui'anthyr do not worship any of these gods. Instead, they worship Noué, the Goddess of Darkness and the one who corrupted them, as well as Danika, the Goddess of Murder.
The Fey'anthyr were at their strongest during the Age of Starlight, allying themselves with the Agharendarr, an alliance that proved very beneficial for both races. During those millenia, they made numerous advancements in the fields of magic and science. However, as they grew more powerful, they became more and more arrogant and self-absorbed. Their mistreatment of other races soon culminated into open rebellion against the elven overlords, and eventually brought down their great empires. Humbled and distraught over what they had loss, the Fey'anthyr became more open and friendly, although they still appeared aloof. However, many elves refused to learned their lesson, and turned their bitterness into hatred of all things not elven. Thus, while the majority of the Fey'anthyr try to get along with the rest of the world and pick up the pieces, there are extremists who wish nothing more than its complete and total submission.
Despite their setbacks, the elves of Celesia still have power and influence to change the world. Their hopes are to help the other races live in the world without destroying, and to preserve their elven culture for all to benefit.
Sol'anthyr
Society
The Sol'anthyr are known as the gold elves of the Fey'anthyr, having been taught by the first gold dragons and mixing blood with them. Equally alongside the Lun'anthyr, they comprise the majority of the elven race, and are the noblest of them, considered as Kaï-den's favored children.
The Sol'anthyr consider themselves and the guardians of the elven race and its culture, its ways, and its ideals. They have a deep love with art, history and tradition. They actively engage in the pursuit of knowledge and are passionate about philosophy. Although they live in building built by their hand, their connection to nature is as strong as any other elf, and they view as a worthy challenge to their artistic skill to build architecture that blends with the natural world, existing in harmony without disrupting the natural cycle. Perhaps more stronger than their connection to nature is their connection to magic. Sol'anthyr elves are among the most talented and most powerful of magic users of the elven race, even the world. They love magic, revere it, and treasure it, for it a part of their soul. Sol'anthyr are also very patient and cautious, even by elven standards, taking the time to do things right since they can live so long. As a result, whatever task they set themselves to almost always ends up as an astounding success, albeit at a very slow pace.
Because of their self-imposed guardianship of elven ways, Sol'anthyr are suspicious of different and new ideas ingraining themselves into elven culture. Their penchant for taking their time to do things right makes them slow to accept new ideas and adapt to changes. As a result, the old and the new often clash, sending the gold elves into internal turmoil. Along with suspicion, gold elves tend to look down on different ways. Since everything they do is "right", everything else must be "wrong", or at very least, misguided. Thus, it is upon them to correct those who are misguided, mainly the other Younger Races, but sometime even their elven cousins. As a result, those who are Sol'anthyr find the gold elves mostly patronizing or condescending, sometimes arrogant, and with just cause. However, in most cases, the gold elves feel no malice to those they consider "lesser", only pity.
Despite their faults, the Sol'anthyr have proven themselves to be wise and knowledgeable, and masters of their craft. They are often called upon to become leaders among their communities, and do so admirably.
Description
Sol'anthyr skin color has a golden tinge, varying from pale to dark. Hair color can be blond, brown, red, blue or green. Their eye color can be brown, green, blue.
Racial Traits
Gold elves may take the following racial trait options:
- Arcane Focus
- Dreamspeaker
- Eternal Grudge
- Lightbringer
- Urbanite
Lun'anthyr
Society
The Lun'anthyr are the silver elves, taught by the first silver dragons and mixing blood with them. Both they and the Sol'anthyr make up equally the majority of the elven race, but the silver elves of Celesia are the most renowned and popular of them. Legend states that Kaï-den and Minué mixed their blood together to create them.
Although they have a history that is as long as their Sol'anthyr cousins, the silver elves act more like young adults, rebellious and full of energy. They have an insatiable curiosity about the world and are the most likely of elves to go off on a fool's adventure. They are more outgoing, open to new ideas, the most adaptable of all elven races (albeit, only by elven standards). They are the most active of the elven races in the affairs of the rest of the world (again, only by elven standards). Although they have a strong connection to magic, more often than not, silver elves prefer combat to wizardry, and are renowned for their skill at arms. They love to explore and learn new things, and in the early days of the elves, Lun'anthyr made themselves known as master cartographers and pathfinders.
Whereas Sol'anthyr are usually leaders, Lun'anthyr serve as a strong, supportive role. Because of their ease at getting along with different ways, they often serve as ambassadors to other people and as advisors. While the gold elves might find their close cousins as radicals, silver elves view themselves as the energy of the elven race that drives it to continue growing in the ever-changing world.
Description
Lun'anthyr skin color ranges from pale to milky white. Hair color can be silver, blue, red, pink, or purple. Their eye color can be blue, red, gold, or green.
Racial Traits
Silver elves may take the following racial trait options:
- Dreamspeaker
- Envoy
- Lightbringer
- Urbanite
Tier'anthyr
Society
The Tier'anthyr, known also as the wild elves, are probably the the least imposing subrace of all the elves. Their common name does not reflect their temperament, but rather their close connection to nature in its primal state. While gold elves seek to mark their presence and silver elves seek out to interact with everyone, the wild elves simply wish to live long, simple lives. The Tier'anthyr are live the closest to nature, preferring humble homesteads instead of grand towers. The level of civilization among the wood elves vary. Some live in modest, but very modern, villages. Others maintain a nomadic lifestyle, living strictly off the land and moving on without making a strong impact. Despite not using more advanced weaponry, the Tier'anthyr have successfully defended themselves for millenia through a combination of stealth, excellent archery, and powerful nature magic.
Tier'anthyr are the elves that can be found in many types of lands. Those that live in plains, hills, forests, and jungles are known as wood elves. Wild elves have also adapted to live and thrive in arctic and desert regions. These elves are usually called arctic and desert elves respectively, but are still considered Tier'anthyr. They have allied themselves with many natural creatures, and maintain strong ties with their elven brethren. People that recklessly exploit nature are considered as enemies.
Description
The Tier'anthyr physical appearance matches that of their environment. Wood elves have skin color that can be light, tanned, or copper with a slightly green hue. Their hair can be red, green, brown, blond, or black. Their eyes can be green, brown, black.
Arctic elves have white or light blue skin color. Their hair can be white, blonde, or various shades of blue. Their eyes can be blue, yellow, green, or red.
Desert elves have tanned or light brown skin color. Their hair can be white, black, or blonde. Their eyes can be brown, blue, yellow, or red.
Tier'anthyr often sport tattoos or camouflage paint.
Racial Traits
Wood elves may take the following racial trait options:
- Darkvision
- Desert Runner
- Elemental Resistance
- Eternal Grudge
- Fleet-Footed
- Silent Hunter
- Spirit of the Waters
- Woodcraft
Sei'anthyr
Society
Inhabitants of vast oceans and great lakes, the Sei'anthyr are the aquatic elves. Capable of living in both sea and fresh water, the Sei'Anthyr have created great cities beneath the waves, away from the touch of most land-dwelling races. They are mysterious and reclusive, although they are more open to cooperation with other elven races. Because of the difficulty of making industry under water, the aquatic elves have mastered alchemy, magic, and psionics in order to create vibrant and sustainable cities beneath the waves.
Sei'anthyr are open to relationships with their land-dwelling cousins for trade and mutual defense. Some aquatic elven cities have also made relationships to benevolent human kingdoms, although these are rare not prone to lasting long from an elven point of view. The Sei'anthyr have come to conflict with land dwellers on many occasions over the latter's fishing and pollution practices. As a result, they view land-dwellers in general with suspicion. Living underwater has also not prevented the Sei'anthyr from conflict, as they have been at war with evil sea races such as the iku-turso and the grindylow for ages. Fortunately, they have made allies out of the triton and merfolk races, and all three often unite to combat their foes.
Description
Sei'anthyr skin color is a mix of green and blue. Their hair, often decorated with seashells, can be green, blue, or blond. Their eyes can be green, blue or yellow. Their fingers and toes are partially webbed.
Racial Traits
- Ability Score Racial Traits: Aquatic elves are nimble, both in body and mind, but their form is frail. They gain +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, and –2 Constitution.
- Size: Aquatic elves are Medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
- Type: Aquatic elves are Humanoids with the elf and aquatic subtypes. Creatures with the aquatic subtype can move in water without making Swim checks. Aquatic creatures always treat Swim as a class skill.
- Base Speed: Aquatic elves have a base speed of 30 feet and a swim speed of 30 feet.
- Languages: Aquatic elves begin play speaking Common and Elven. Elves with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Celestial, Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.
- Elven Immunities: Aquatic elves are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
- Keen Senses: Aquatic elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
- Elven Magic: Aquatic elves receive a +2 racial bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance. In addition, elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Spellcraft skill checks made to identify the properties of magic items.
- Weapon Familiarity: Aquatic elves are proficient with rapiers, short swords, tridents, and treat any weapon with the word “elven” in its name as a martial weapon.
- Low-Light Vision: Aquatic elves can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
- Amphibious: Aquatic elves can breathe both water and air.
Aquatic elves may take the following racial trait options:
- Arcane Focus
- Darkvision
- Dreamspeaker
- Elemental Resistance
- Silent Hunter
- Spirit of the Waters
Nui'anthyr
Society
The vile and deadly of all the elven races, the Nui'anthyr, or dark elves, are the fallen race. Legend states that they were created by Kaï-den and Noué when the two gods were lovers and that they were the most favored of elves. Noué betrayed Kaï-den, and with the dark goddess' blood in their veins, the Nui'anthyr followed her lead. Filled with greed and lust for power, the dark elves sought out and used forbidden knowledge and magicks, committing horrible atrocities to their fellow elves and many other races. Eventually, their victims bandied together, and fought a long war with them during the first half of the Age of Starlight, eventually driving them underground. Great magicks were used to alter them slightly, so that the Nui'anthyr could never be truly elven and no longer bear the blessed sunlight. Now, they live in the myriad of caverns and twisted tunnels of the Undercrawl, hundreds of titanmarks beneath the surface.
Over the millenia, the Nui'anthyr have become one of the major powers of the Shadowcrawl, rivaling the fierce Duerghendarr. Driven by their hatred of other races, primarily their surface-dwelling cousins, the dark elves have developed deadly weapons and powerful magicks, and constantly wage war on other Undercrawl nations, as well on each other.
The Nui'anthyr society is extremely matriarchal, influenced by both of the races primary goddesses. Male dark elves are treated as second-class citizens. The dark elves are brutal and sadistic, and their houses are constantly trying to destroy one another for power and position. This deadly competition weeds out the weak, and produces some of the most deadliest warriors, wizards, and clerics of the land. For this reason, family is extremely important for the Nui'anthyr. Nui'anthyr family members trust and aid each other to the fullest, and the concept of betraying or killing a member of one's own house is abhorrent to them. A female dark elf would rather save her brother than let a rival female dark elf live.
Nui'anthyr are also called 'drow', a corruption of the ancient titanar for 'dwellers in the dark'.
Description
Nui'anthyr skin is an obsidian black, inherited by their mythical mother Noué. Their hair is usually white, but could also be blond or light blue. Their eye colour vary between red, gold, and blue.
Racial Traits
- Ability Score Racial Traits: Drow are nimble and manipulative. They gain +2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, and –2 Constitution.
- Type: Drow are humanoids with the elf subtype.
- Size: Drow are Medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
- Base Speed: Drow have a base speed of 30 feet.
- Weapon Familiarity: Drow are proficient with the hand crossbow, rapier, and shortsword.
- Languages: Drow begin play speaking Elven and Undercommon. Drow with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following languages: Abyssal, Aklo, Aquan, Common, Draconic, Drow Sign Language, Gnome, or Goblin. See the * Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.
- Immunities Drow are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells and effects.
- Spell Resistance: Drow possess spell resistance (SR) equal to 6 plus their total number of class levels.
- Keen Senses: Drow gain a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
- Spell-Like Abilities (Su): Drow can cast dancing lights, darkness, and faerie fire, once each per day, using their total character level as caster level.
- Poison Use: Drow are skilled in the use of poisons and never risk accidentally poisoning themselves.
- Superior Darkvision: Drow have superior darkvision, allowing them to see perfectly in the dark up to 120 feet.
- Light Blindness: As deep underground dwellers naturally, drow suffer from light blindness. Abrupt exposure to any bright light blinds drow for 1 round. On subsequent rounds, they are dazzled as long as they remain in the affected area.
Dark elves may take the following racial trait options:
- Ambitious Schemer
- Ancestral Grudge
- Blasphemous
- Seducer
- Shadowcrawl Stalker
- Surface Infiltrator
| Races of Celesia |