The Complete Book of Elves

8/12/2019 The Complete Book of Elves

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ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS2nd Edition Player's Handbook Rles S!!le"ent

#$e Co"!lete %ook o Eles

CRED(#S

Written by Colin McCombEdited by Dori Hein

Overseen and Advice Given by Steve Winter

Color Illustrations by Brom, Larry Elmore, and o!n " Laura La#eyBlac# and W!ite Art by $erry Dy#stra

Decorative Art by %obin %aab

$y&eset by Gaye O'(ee)e

Invaluable assistance or sustenance *in one )orm or anot!er+ iven by L- %ic!ard Ba#erIII, Wol)an Baur, $im Beac!, Wendy Bienvenu, Elaine Cunnin!am, William W-

Connors, e)) Dett.eiler, Slade Henson, Brad /Sun Do/ Mat!eson, %oer Moore, 0aul1elis, (evin 0o!le, o!n %ateli)), $eresa W- and $!omas M- %eid, ames M- Ward, and

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#able o Contents

Elen )ore

Introduction

C!a&ter One $!e Creation o) Elves

C!a&ter $.o ?ariations on a $!emeAuatic Elves

Dar# Elves

Grey ElvesHi! Elves

Sylvan Elves

Hal)ElvesElves o) t!e Worlds

Aladim Cam&ain World DA%( S>1 Cam&ain World

D%AGO1LA1CE Cam&ain World @O%GO$$E1 %EALMS Cam&ain World

G%EHAW( Cam&ain World

%A?E1LO@$ Cam&ain World S0ELLAMME% Cam&ain World

C!a&ter $!ree 0!ysical Attributes

0!ysioloy Communion

Elvensi!t

Mani)estation $!e %everie

%esistance to Heat and Cold

Ot!er Elven Abilities

Staes o) Li)e C!ild!ood

Adolescence

Adult!ood Middle Ae

Old Ae

?enerable Ae

DietElven Inter)ertility

$!e Elven Bond

Elven MusicC!a&ter @our Mental Attributes

Outloo#

Individual Wort!Emotion and Loic


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Generational S&lits

Attitudes $o.ard Ot!er %aces

C!a&ter @ive Elven Society$!e Elven Lanuae

Liveli!ood

%itualsElven Holy Days

C!a&ter Si5 $!e Elven Myt!s

$!e Leend o) @iona Cassiltenirraarsali and t!e $reant

Halimat!'s 0ride

Haranavei (oe!lanna

CaelestisC!a&ter Seven $!e Deat! o) Elves

Accidental or ?iolent Deat!

@unereal Ceremonies

C!a&ter Ei!t Elven D.ellins$!e Grey Elves' City

$!e Hi! Elves' $ree $o.n$!e Sylvan Elves' Encam&ment

Elven %ole0layin

C!a&ter 1ine O&tional %ules

Level Limit E5&ansion

E5tra 0ro)icienciesCombat Modi)iction

Bladeson @i!tin Style

Arc!ery Modi)ications>sin Bo.s as Wea&ons

Arro. Brea#ae and Loss

C!a&ter $en C!aracter Creation and (itsStandard El) Abilities

$!e El) Subraces

El) 0C (its

0riest (it Herbalist

Warrior (its

Arc!er Wilderness %unner

Windrider

Mae4$!ie) (its Elven Minstrel

S&ell)ilc!er

@i!ter4Mae (its

Bladesiner


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War Wi3ard

@i!ter4$!ie) (it

Huntsman @i!ter4Mae4$!ie) (its

Collector

In)iltrator A (it )or Any Class

>ndead Slayer

C!a&ter Eleven Elven Eui&[email protected]

Elven Har&

Honey Leat!er

Sas!lin$!istledo.n

Elven Bo.

Arro.s *>se)ul+

Elven 0late ArmorC!a&ter $.elve $!e Maic o) Elves

1e. El) S&ellsMaical Items

S.ords and Armor

Helms o) ?alor Arro.s *Ens&elled+

Arro.s *Maical+

Arti)icial Limbs

C!a&ter $!irteen Elven Cam&ainsCam&ain Worlds

$!e El) Cam&ain

$!e Human Cam&ain $!e D.ar) Cam&ain

$!e Evil World Cam&ain

$!e Auatic World Cam&ain $!e Outcast Cam&ain

A&&endices

Inde5

MC Avariel *Wined El)+MC Coos!ee

C!aracter %ecord S!eets

Introduction

We do not deign to acknowledge the slanderous propaganda spread by the stunted

humans who call themselves dwarves. The little miners have always had a rather, shall

we say, biased outlook on history and the true workings of reality. They call themselvesthe finest creatures to grace the worlds with bodies like that, we suppose one would have

to have an active fantasy life.


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For those graced with true vision, Elves comprise the finest race in all the worlds.

We are that which other races aspire to be !ur longevity, our beauty, and our

craftsmanship are all the stuff of legends. "ertainly, each of these attributes can berecreated in some fashion by the lesser races, but theirs is an artifice of face and form

and creation never as fine as those that come naturally to us.

!ur lives are long and filled with happiness, for we recogni#e the impermanenceof all things, e$cepting ourselves. %ndeed, we do not suffer death as do the mortals. !nly

through violence, accident, or disease do we die at all.

&lthough we vanish from the ken of mortal knowledge after hundreds of years ofe$istence in this plane, you may rest assured that we continue on elsewhere. Even those

who perish on the battlefield do not truly die, but instead become part of the earth's cycle

of growth and rebirth. !ur spirits linger on, for we are intimately tied to the world and

its core. %ndeed, we are the integral part of that core. We would turn now to other matters, for to continue on in this vein would, no doubt,

lead you to believe that we are boasting of elven prowess. We do not boast. &nyone who

has seen even the slightest fraction of elven ability knows the truth of what we say within

these pages. (es, we are a proud race, but do we not have )ust cause* &re we not Elves+

creatures of most wondrous might* imply understand that we are what we are and thatnothing you can do will change us+then may we become good friends. -ut beware We

are a comple$ race, and the workings of our lives will ever be a mystery to you, our

dreams foreign from yours. (ou will never truly understand us, no matter how you try.

Enimatic and &o.er)ul, elves !ave dominated t!e )antasy landsca&e )or years-

Alt!ou! t!eir civili3ations and &o.ers !ave al.ays been a mystery to t!ose .!o travel

in t!e realms o) )antasy, t!eir in)luence is undeniably stron- Abandoned cities, losttec!noloy, )orotten lore - - - all t!ese t!ins and more lie .it!in t!e mystiue o) t!e

elves- $!eir land, t!eir culture, and t!eir &!iloso&!y remain cry&tic mysteries to t!ose not

blessed .it! t!e love o) elves- 1o loner- Wit! The "omplete -ook of Elves, many o) t!e elves' mysteries are

o&en )or &erusal- But ta#e care .it! t!e in)ormation leanedJ some secrets o) t!e elven

.ay o) li)e still remain !iddenK#no.lede )orever )ors.orn )rom nonelves- Be)ore.arned $!e &ieces o) )act and )iction learned .it!in can, i) incorrectly a&&lied, s&ell

destruction )or t!ose .!o misuse t!is #no.lede-

$!e AD"D Game El)

onstrous "ompendium/ %and%%as .ell as t!e0layer's Handbook*0H-+ &resent elves

in some detail- Are t!ose t!e )inal .ord on elves Hardly not Here, at last, is t!e boo#t!at deals .it! elves in de&t!, in all t!eir myriad )acets and mysterious .ays- W!ile t!is

boo# may not ans.er every uestion about elves, it .ill &rovide ans.ers and ideas )or

dealin .it! t!e ty&ical el)- Alt!ou! elves o)ten )ollo. t!e same &atterns in t!eir li)estyles and !ave similar

t!ou!t &rocesses, t!ere is no suc! t!in as a /ty&ical/ el)- Even more t!an .it! !umans,

no t.o elves are ali#e- $!ey may react in a li#e .ay in various situations, but t!ey arecom&letely di))erent individuals- Elves !ave loves and !ates, )ears and su&erstitions,


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!onors and et!ics- $o assume t!ey are all t!e same rievously insults t!em-

C!a&ters One t!rou! Ei!t deal .it! elven lore, includin tendencies, societies,

lives, and more- C!a&ters 1ine t!rou! $!irteen detail elven role&layin- It is im&ortantto remember t!at t!ere are al.ays e5ce&tions to t!e rules, bot! t!ose &resented !ere and

else.!ere- W!at is &resented in t!is boo# is t!e /ty&ical/ elven .ay o) li)eK)acets t!at

&layers can add to t!eir )avorite el) c!aracter- >ltimately, c!aracter creation is somet!inbest le)t to t!e imaination o) t!e &layer and t!e mandates o) t!e Duneon Master- $!is

boo# o))ers suestions )or suc! creation and )or t!e role&layin o) t!ese elves-

Ot!er Com&lete Handboo#s

Li#e The "omplete -ook of Elves, t!e ot!er boo#s in t!e "omplete Handbook*0H-1+ series o))er use)ul advice on t!e creation o) uniue c!aracters- Ho.ever, none o)

t!ese boo#s is essential to t!e &lay o) t!e ame- All t!at is absolutely necessary )or

&layin are t!e core rules t!e0layer's Handbookand t!e2345E!4 &TE16 5uide

*25+- $!e ot!er0H-1boo#s are reca&&ed belo., and t!eir use)ulness to el) 0Cs is

e5&lained-

0HB%8, The "omplete Fighter's Handbook, o))ers several c!aracter #its t!at .or# very.ell )or elves *suc! as t!e S.as!buc#ler and t!e Cavalier+, suitin el) tem&eraments

and &re)erences- Ot!er #its are less elven, but still o))er interestin role&layin

as&ects- Still ot!ers, suc! as t!e Berser#er and Beast%ider, s!ould be used only bysavae elves or t!ose .!o !ave no connection to elven li)e-

The "omplete Fightercontributes im&ortant )i!tin styles and o))ers more

.ea&on &ro)iciency rules- $!ese can be es&ecially use)ul to t!e el) 0C, allo.in !im or

!er to demonstrate absolute mastery o) a .ea&on- @urt!ermore, t!e section on combatrules adds an interestin )lavor to a cam&ain-

0HB%6, The "omplete Thief's Handbook, is !andy )or t!ose .!o .is! to &lay el) t!ieves-$!e searc! )or #no.lede and intriuin ne. items o)ten leads elves to a li)e o)

crime, alt!ou! t!is is o)ten Nust a &!ase t!rou! .!ic! t!ey &ass- Ho.ever, many o)

t!em )ind a natural talent )or t!ieveryJ as suc!, The "omplete Thiefcan &rovidesuestions on !o. to best deal .it! t!at t!ie)- W!et!er t!e el) roue is sim&ly a

street t!ie) or one .!o leads suc! a li)e as a demonstration o) t!e im&ermanence o)

&!ysical t!ins to t!e s!orterlived races, t!ere are myriad ideas )or t!e &layer in t!isboo#-

0HB%9, The "omplete 0riest's Handbook, does not s&eci)ically deal .it! anyt!in

&ertainin to elves- Ho.ever, it is use)ul )or creatin entirely ne. deities )or elvesand )or desinin a ne. &ant!eon o) ods- $!ere are also s&ecialty &riests and ne.

&riest #its, but none o) t!ese are el)s&eci)ic-

0HB%


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0HB%;, The "omplete 0sionics Handbook, is only use)ul i) &sionics are available in a

cam&ain- I) t!ey are, t!en t!is boo# is a must-

0HB%F, The "omplete -ook of 2warves, is use)ul to el) c!aracters only as researc! on

t!e d.ar) races- Ho.ever, d.arves and elves do not o)ten e5c!ane in)ormation o)

t!is sort- A Duneon Master *DM+ mi!t &re)er t!at !is or !er el) &layers not !aveaccess to t!is boo#-

0HB%=, The "omplete -ard's Handbook, is not recommended )or t!e el) c!aracter,alt!ou! it is a very use)ul boo#- $!e section on /El) Minstrels/ is es&ecially !el&)ul

)or t!ose .!o .is! to &lay a bardli#e c!aracter o) mi5ed elven descent- $!ere is also

a )ine section on musical instruments and s&ells, .!ic! mi!t &rove use)ul )or

)les!in out an el) 0C- Ot!er.ise, t!ere is little !ere )or use .it! &ure elves- Hal)elves, !o.ever, .ill )ind t!e boo# invaluable-

House %ules

1aturally, everyt!in &resented in t!is boo# is o&tional to eac! cam&ain- ust as

t!e DM !as t!e )inal say on .!et!er any o) t!e rules &resented in t!e core boo#s *t!e0H-and25+ a&&ly to !is or !er cam&ain, so does t!e DM !ave t!e last .ord on

.!et!er to acce&t t!e ideas &resented in t!is boo#-

%emember, t!ere are no ri!t or .ron rulesK.!atever )its t!e style o) t!ecam&ain is acce&table- As lon as eac! rule is reasonable, a&&ro&riate, and )air, any

additional !ouse rules t!e DM cares to im&ose are &ermissible- I) t!e &layers do not li#e

t!ese ne. rules, t!ey !ave t!e o&tion o) discussin t!em .it! t!e DM or c!oosin

anot!er cam&ain- On no account s!ould &layers or DMs try to )orce t!eir vie.sreardin o&tional rules do.n anot!er's t!roatKreardless o) !o. a&&ro&riate t!at action

may seem to be-

Im&ortant 1ote

Anyone usin t!is boo# s!ould be a.are t!at it is desined )or use .it! t!eAD"D 6nd Edition ame- %e)erences to t!e0layer's Handbookand t!e2345E!4

&TE16 5uidere)er to t!e AD"D 6nd Edition boo#s- $!ose usin older boo#s must

consult t!e inde5 o) t!e )irstedition boo#s to )ind t!e subNect mentioned and inore t!e&ae numbers mentioned t!erein-

@urt!ermore, many o) t!e rules mentioned in t!is boo# are de&endent on t!e use

o) o&tional &ro)iciency rules- It is stronly recommended t!at all &layers and DMs

)amiliari3e t!emselves .it! t!ese rules in order to )ully enNoy t!is boo#- Ot!er.ise, t!eyare c!eatin t!emselves out o) t!e o&&ortunity to )ully e5&loit t!e rules contained !ere-

Lastly, since elves ma#e no distinction bet.een male and )emale, t!e &ersonal

&ronouns in t!is boo# alternate bet.een enders- 1ot all e5am&les .ill be only o) /!e/ or/!im/J some .ill consist o) only /s!e/ or /!er-/

But, come $!e elves are .aitin-


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C!a&ter 8 $!e Creation o) Elves

From the primordial turmoil at the center of the universe sprang the gods full7

fledged, full7formed. Each claimed )urisdiction over certain effects, all being e8ually

endowed with the power and force of the cosmos. They cooperated for the first 9and the

last: time to create the worlds. -ut some gods used their powers more wisely than theirbrethren.

&n early alliance formed among these wiser gods. They knew how to manipulatetheir power. This gathering of gods, who called themselves the eldarine 9or the -rothers

and isters of the Wood:, imparted their very essence into creating certain aspects of the

worlds.

While other gods s8uabbled over )urisdiction and possession of this virtue andthat attribute, the eldarine modified some of the lands, making their worlds lush and

green and beautiful. %n addition, they created vessels that would one day hold the spirit of

the first sentient life to set foot upon these worlds+the race of beings known as Elves.They crafted these vessels with thought and care, and gave them e$traordinary beauty.

The other gods grew black with )ealousy, and they thirsted to imitate the eldarine. These gods hastily fashioned their own vessels, vying against those created by theeldarine. -ut they would not invest the time vital to creating a race, and so their results

were flawed+the gods did not care. Their creations were nothing like those shaped by

the eldarine. ost were onsters, creatures that would one day haunt the dreams ofElves. !f all the crude creations, only the vessel reserved for an held a glimmer of

potential, for they would one day have the ability to change the land as would the Elves.

The gods of the new races tried too hastily to reproduce a feat that had taken the

wiser gods eons. -ut neither group's constructs would not come to life until the historicmeeting between "orellon ;arethian and 5ruumsh, leader of the &nti7eldarine.

LarianSons!ine,

&riest o)

CorellonLaret!ian

In t!e subNect o) elven myt!oloy, t!e ods !ave stranely little to say, leavinone to &onder it as may be-

$!e elves believe t!at t!eir reliion is closer to actual !istory t!an are t!e

reliions o) ot!er races- $!ere may be some trut! in t!is belie), since t!e elves !ave suc!

lon li)es&ans, .it! memories to matc!- $!ey !ave )ar )e.er enerations bet.een t!eir

creation and t!e &resent day- $!us, t!ey claim, t!ere !as been )ar less dilution o) t!e trut!Junli#e t!e ot!er stories, t!ey state, t!e elven c!ronicle is &ure-

$!e countless years t!at !ave &assed since t!e beinnin o) t!e universe !aveseen !undreds o) enerations o) elves- By .ay o) com&arison, t!ousandsKeven millions

Ko) enerations o) ot!er races !ave lived and &assed into dust durin t!at time- Small

.onder, t!en, t!at t!e elves )eel t!eir !istories !ave been less tainted t!rou! t!e vaarieso) time t!an t!ose o) ot!er races-

$!ere are )ar )e.er variations on t!e creation story in t!e el) race t!an in any


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ot!er- $!e !umans !ave untold numbers, &ractically one )or eac! to.n- $!e d.arves !ave

several more, and t!ey constantly c!ane t!em to lori)y t!eir race and t!eir tribe over

ot!ers- Hal)lins and nomes, too, !ave e5cessive myt!s, alt!ou! t!ey are less li#elyt!an d.arves to e5tol t!eir o.n virtues in suc! a manner- Li#e.ise, t!e orcs and ot!er

evil !umanoids all !ave t!eir )avorite stories to com)ort t!em in t!eir dan#, smo#y caves-

@ollo.in is a continuation o) t!e elven story o) creation as told by LarianSons!ine- W!ile not necessarily an im&artial retellin, it does manae to ca&ture t!e

essential inredients o) t!e elven story o) creation-

When the god 5ruumsh saw the creation of the eldarine, the Elves, he regarded

it as an abomination+and he became enraged. For the first time, desire for blood pulsed

in a god's veins. 5ruumsh prepared to crush the eldarine, and some gods flocked to his

standard while others stood aside. till more, such as oradin oul7Forger and 5arl5littergold, aligned with the eldarine, for they had+though not in con)unction with the

eldarine+set aside areas of the world for their own purposes.

When the inflamed 5ruumsh attacked "orellon ;arethian, the leader of the

eldarine, a mighty battle began the 5odswar. How long it raged over the pristine fieldsof the planets, no one knows. Each combatant drew great wounds from the spirit and the

body of his or her foe. While the other contenders fell by the wayside 9badly hurt, thoughnot mortally wounded:, 5ruumsh and "orellon would not break off. %nstead, they

continued their fierce combat. They traversed the planes, and they splashed the other's

blood across the lands.

&s night drew near, the powers of 5ruumsh strengthened, while those of "orellonwaned. &ll seemed lost for the eldarine. Tears from the moon landed on "orellon's

upturned, stricken face, and they mingled freely with his blood. Then "orellon looked to

his companions+and it was there he found fortitude. He drew back his sword and, withone fearful blow, clove out the orb of 5ruumsh 9who became known as 5ruumsh !ne7

Eye:. The god howled in pain, black ichor spewing from the wound. 5ruumsh turned and

fled to the netherworld. There he nursed his hate, seeking forever after ways to shape theenemies of the eldarine. &nd the greatest of his creations, made in the burning heat of

rage and the blackness of his blood, was the !rcs. That is why, to this day, the !rcs and

the Elves are such bitter enemies. From the beginning, even before their creation, thevery essences of their gods strove against one another.

With 5ruumsh's defeat, the eldarine and their allies continued with their works.

The eldarine gathered the moon's tears and the blood shed by "orellon in that great

battle, placed these into the vessels they had created, and infused them with their ownspirit. Each god imparted virtue into his or her creation, feeding and nurturing the newly

formed race. Thus were the Elves born from the blood of "orellon ;arethian, mi$ed with

the soil of the world, blessed with the tears of the moon, and given their nearness todivinity.

The other gods saw this e$ample and set about infusing life into their own sadly

misshapen vessels, with varied results. &las, all other races were but sad imitations of theElves.

$!e tale o) t!e Gods.ar e5&lains some o) t!e elven traits, bot! &!ysical and

mental- Bein )ormed o) t!e blood o) t!e od Corellon Laret!ian accounts )or .!y elves


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&ossess suc! lon li)es&ans- $ears )rom t!e moon &rovide a rationale )or t!e elves'

et!ereal beautyKa beauty t!at o)ten led t!e lesser races to t!in# o) elves as ods- $!e soil

o) t!e eart! e5&lains t!e connection all elves )eel .it! t!e land- $o t!e elves, t!eir leends &rovide some measure o) assurance t!at t!ey &lay a

rand role in t!e sc!eme o) t!ins- Study o) elven leends e5&lains .!y elves are so

certain o) t!eir ri!t)ul &lace in li)e, and .!y t!ey rarely .orry about a))lictions t!at.ould be crises )or lesser beins-

Ot!er elven myt!s &rovide di))erent insi!ts into t!e el) c!aracter- @ollo.in is an

accountin )rom Sarat!os$elanit!, .!ic! s!eds )urt!er li!t on el) !istoryKs&eci)ically,t!e times t!at .ere res&onsible )or initial )ramentin o) t!e el) nation t!eElfwar.

&fter the 5odswar, the deities divided the world among themselves so that their

creations could prosper and grow. The eldarine chose the forests for their children, theElves, but secretly encouraged them to spread as they would. The other gods did likewise,

and the races fought for land The hatred introduced by 5ruumsh the "ursed !ne had

spread to the mortal species.

The Elves were, at this time, all one people. There were variations, but these wereindividual, rather than any sort of societal rift. &ll differences were a matter of personal

inclination, and the Elves lived in harmony with one another. There were those who lusted for power, and those who could not bear to live within the

confining walls of a city. !thers were rabidly $enophobic, wanting to bar outsiders such

as Humans and 2warves from the Elflands, keeping away the taint of those

blood merged in rivulets. Then "orellon struck ;olth a telling blow, driving her deep into

the earth. With her defeat, the ha#e over the battlefield lifted, allowing the bright light of


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oriinally accom&lis!ed- $!e elves .atc! t!e !umans, and t!ere is )ear in t!eir !earts-

C!a&ter 6 ?ariations on a $!eme

There are nearly as many types of Elves as there are Humans . . . perhaps more.&fter all, you Humans are different only in appearance. We Elves have more substantial

differences, more than slight dissimilarities in philosophy. The &8uanesti, or &8uatic Elf

as you call them, is as different from a 5rey Elf as a dolphin is from a mountain lion, yetthere are no petty racial 8uarrels between us that characteri#e the e$istence of every race

but ours. What is the problem with Humans and 2warves that you cannot live in peace

with your own* "ertainly, we once had a history of intraracial conflict, but those days are long

since past. We have our disagreements with one another, but we settle them like civili#ed

folk+and % am beginning to believe that Elves are the only civili#ed folk in all the realms

known to mortals. &lthough we continue to war with the 2row, the cause of that war is far more

than the color of their skin or their beliefs. %t is the fact that their very e$istence is anaffront to ours, that they were created by perversions within our own race. !ur war isnothing less than sublime effort to undo an error made hundreds of centuries ago.

We do not )udge anything by the color of their skin. 5ranted, we find it tempting

to do so in the case of the 2row, but even we+who have so often been betrayed by ourdark7skinned cousins+find it within ourselves to )udge each of them by their own merits.

3nlike the Humans, the 2warves, and the mall !nes, we Elves are not so much

shaped by our heritage as by the way in which we are taught to live. Tales of 2ark Elveswho have the heart of High Elves e$ist, as do tales of treachery and deceit among High

Elves. While both cases are rare, they have happened+and will happen. &lways, we

attribute these to the way in which the Elf was raised, for we know that is more important

than blood. The marked differences in our brethren appear only when grandconglomerations make their individual traits societal.

Eronion Marat!as, elvenseer

1one are truly certain )rom .!ence t!e )irst elves arose- $!e elves t!emselvesclaim t!ey arose )rom t!e blood o) Corellon Laret!ian, .!ile ot!er races !old t!at t!ey

s&ran )ull)leded into t!e .orld, .it!out divine intervention- One t!in is certain,

!o.ever 1o matter .!ere t!ey came )rom, t!ey !ave s&read to nearly every .orld on t!e0rime Material 0lane- $!eir a))inity .it! t!e .orlds on .!ic! t!ey !ave made t!eir

!omes leads one to sus&ect a more elemental nature to t!eir bein- Ho.ever, since t!ey!ave o)ten been residents o) t!ese .orlds loner t!an !umans !ave e5isted, !uman saes

are o)ten inaccurate .!en s&eculatin about oriins- Elves !ave ada&ted to li)e in nearly every environment &ossible- $!e mountains,

t!e )orests, t!e &lains, t!e .aters, and t!e underround all #no. t!e taste o) elves- $!e

sno.y .astes !ave )elt t!e li!t touc! o) elven boots, as !ave t!e !ot sands o) deserts- $!e elves' curiosity about li)e ma#es it only natural t!at t!ey e5&anded t!eir

!oldins to suc! an e5tent- $!ey .is! to be sure o) t!eir .orld, and t!ey cannot


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understand it i) t!ey cannot e5&erience it- I) an el) accurately re&orts !er e5&eriences,

ot!er elves can understand t!at .orld intuitively-

et elves are notorious )or t!eir desire to see t!ins )or t!emselves- Even .!en a&lace !as been e5&erienced and re&orted, many elves .ill still !ave a .is! to see t!e

&lace- Alon t!e Nourney, t!ey are li#ely to vie. eac! &assin locale .it! reat interest,

sto&&in to e5&lore anyt!in t!at catc!es t!eir interest- @or t!is reason, t!e el) race as a.!ole is li#ely to !ave !eard o) any iven location on any o) t!e .orlds t!ey in!abit-

$!rou! t!eir in!erent connection .it! all t!e .orlds, elves ada&t more easily

t!an many ot!er races- @or t!is reason, t!ey can be )ound in any clime, under almost anye5treme-

Descri&tions o) t!e standard AD"D ame elves )ollo.- $!ese include auatic,

dar#, rey, !i!, and sylvan elves, as .ell as !al)elves- *Descri&tions o) elves s&eci)ic to

a cam&ain .orldKoriinally all !i! elvesKare )ound later in t!is c!a&ter-+ $ables 8 and 6 list t!e !ei!ts and .ei!ts, res&ectively, o) t!e el) subraces- 1ote

Because )emales tend to be s!orter and li!ter t!an males, base numbers are divided into

male4)emale values- $!e modi)iers allo. )or a broad rane in eac! listed cateory-

$ABLE 8 EL@ S>B%ACES HEIGH$

Hei!t *in Inc!es+

Subrace Base Modi)ier

Auatic ;74;7 8d

Dro. ;74;; 8d87

Grey F74;; 8d86

Hi! ;;4;7 8d87Sylvan F74;; 8d86

$ABLE 6 EL@ S>B%ACES WEIGH$Wei!t *in 0ounds+

Subrace Base Modi)ier

Auatic ;4=; 6d86

Dro. 74:; 9d87

Grey ;4=; 9d87

Hi! :74=7 9d87Sylvan :;47 9d86

Any &layer may )eel )ree to c!oose one o) t!ese subraces as a 0C .it! t!e DM's&ermission- Ot!er.ise, an el) &layer c!aracter is assumed to be a !i! el) *t!e most

common subrace+-

1aturally, t!e descri&tions contained !ere do not a&&ly to every el)- $!ere are asmany di))erent ty&es o) elves as t!ere are !umans, eac! actin di))erently )rom !is or !er

)ello.s- W!at )ollo.s is merely t!e tendencies a subrace tends to evince, not t!e actual

&atterns eac! el) must )ollo.- 1ot all rey elves are snobs, nor are all dro. elves evil

&ersoni)ied-


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Auatic Elves

Alt!ou! not as )reuently encountered as ot!er el) subraces, auatic elves *also

#no.n as sea elves+ are actually as common as t!eir landbound bret!ren- $!ey &atrol t!e

dee&s o) oceans and lare inland .aters, !oldin court beneat! t!e .aves- O)ten t!ey areonly seen .!en t!ey )rolic .it! dol&!ins in #el& beds-

Auatic elves !ave ill slits muc! li#e )is!, t!rou! .!ic! t!ey &rocess o5yen-

$!ey can also survive out o) .ater )or a s!ort time by breat!in- $!eir s#in is ty&icallysilverreen, matc!in t!e sea.eed near t!eir territory- Some &ossess a bluis! tine to

t!eir s#in, alt!ou! t!is is uite rare- Auatic elves' !air com&lements t!eir s#in and is

also reen or bluereen- $!e overall e))ect is one t!at ma#es t!em di))icult to discernunder.ater, es&ecially near #el& beds- Because o) t!eir colorin, t!ey ain t!e ty&ical

elven ability to camou)lae t!emselves in t!eir natural environment-

Alt!ou! t!eir lives seem s&ent in )rivolous activity, t!ese elves &lay an im&ortant

role in t!e under.ater ecoloy $!ey serve to #ee& t!e seas sa)er )or in!abitants- As do

t!e elves o) t!e )orests and t!e mountains, sea elves #ee& t!e devastation o) suc!creatures as sa!uain and i5it5ac!itl to a minimum- $!e sa!uain are to t!e auatic elves

.!at orcs are to land elvesJ t!ey are a nuisance and a menace, but no. a serious t!reat->n)ortunately, t!e sa!uain do not see t!ins t!is .ay and o)ten &lan .ars on t!e sea

elves-

$!ese elves disli#e s!ar#s intensely- Alt!ou! a natural &art o) t!e ecoloicalcycle, elves disli#e any creature t!at is ra&acious and cruel- Additionally, any beast t!at

t!e sa!uain identi)y .it! closely *as t!ey do .it! s!ar#s+ is considered to !ave )e.

redeemin )eatures- Since s!ar#s relis! t!e taste o) sea el), t!e elves orani3e !unts

aainst t!is menace- Because t!ey )ear t!e strane and terrible monsters t!at d.ell in t!e sea, t!e

auatic elves and t!e dol&!ins !ave ta#en it u&on t!emselves to #ee& at least some o) itsa)e )or t!ose .!o travel across it- In many realms, no one .ould travel on t!e seaot!er.ise, )or t!e daner .ould be )ar too reat- $!us, most seaside communities

severely &unis! t!ose .!o incur t!e .rat! o) sea elves- Only t!e most evil o) &eo&le

encourae t!e deat! o) sea elves and dol&!ins- %e&risal )or t!eir murder is al.ays s.i)tand brutalJ t!e elves tolerate not t!e #illin o) eit!er bret!ren or )riend-

Alt!ou! t!ey may survive on land, auatic elves &re)er not to do so, )or it causes

t!em immense &ain- $!ey can .al# on land )or a number o) days eual to t!eir initialConstitution score- Ho.ever, t!ey endure increasin &ain as time s&ent out o) .ater

.ears on, and t!eir ability scores and &ro)iciencies are a))ected- Every t.o days, t!ese

scores decrease by 8 until t!e elves return to .ater- I) a &!ysical score *Strent!,

De5terity, Constitution+ reac!es 7, t!e el) dies- In salt .ater, t!e sea el)'s attributes return to normal .it!in 8; minutes- In )res!

.ater, an el) merely sto&s losin !is or !er scoresJ t!ey do not revert to normal until t!e

el) enters salt .ater- $!e time s&ent in )res! .ater does not count aainst time a.ay )romt!e sea, and t!ese elves may d.ell in )res! .ater inde)initely- I) t!ey enter t!e .ater

be)ore t!eir attributes are to decrease aain, t!e .ater acts as a revitali3in )orceJ t!e

su))erin &eriod beins ane. .!en t!ey emere )rom .ater-


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EPAM0LE Theriatis the sea elf must )ourney to the airlands to aid friends, to whom he

owes a favor. He has a ?@ "onstitution and can therefore stay away from his beloved

ocean for ?@ days, or a little more than two weeks. He travels for four days to where hisfriends are to meet him. ince he has been away from salt water for four days, he loses

two points from all his attributes, and his proficiencies suffer accordingly.

!n his way back to the ocean, Theriatis must travel another four days. !n thethird day of travel, his scores are at a AB, and he is totally e$hausted and pain7wracked.

He finds a pond in which he can rest and stays there overnight. The ne$t day, when he

begins his travel, he is somewhat refreshed and may travel for two more days before hisscores descend another notch. Finally, he reaches the ocean, and its cool waters wash

over him> the brine clears out his gills, and the rela$ing currents massage his e$hausted

muscles. Within ?C minutes, Theriatis has returned to normal, and he may resume his

usual activities.

Obviously, t!e sea elves do not li!tly leave t!e sanctuary o) t!eir oceans- $!e

!ars! environment o) t!e land .orld discouraes any sea el) .!o )oolis!ly .is!es to

leave t!e soot!in .aves- $!is does not mean t!at t!e sea elves !ave no dealins .it!t!ose .!o breat!e air- Any elves *e5ce&tin dro.+ are .elcome to visit t!e land o) t!e sea

elves, and t!ey .ill be reeted royally- $rade deleations are common bet.een land andsea elves, alt!ou! it is usually t!e land elves .!o must travel, )or t!ey !ave maic#s

more suited )or t!e )orein environs o) .ater-

Sea elves commonly travel .it! elven s!i&s, de)endin t!ose aboard )rom attac#sbeneat! t!e .aves- Since t!ey are accom&lis!ed at scuttlin t!e s!i&s o) evil !umans and

!umanoids, auatic elves are )eared by &irates and t!ose .!o .ould &rey on elven cra)t-

Auatic elves o)ten consort .it! dol&!ins and !i&&ocam&i, and t!e latter are bred

as mounts- Dol&!ins and sea elves are usually on t!e best o) terms and easily be)riendone anot!er- $!ey serve eac! ot!er's needs, ivin mutual &rotection and aid-

Auatic el) society consists mainly o) t!ose sea elves .!o d.ell in a )ivemile

area- $!ere is a titular #in or ueen to .!om t!ey &ay !omae, but !e !as no real &o.erover daily li)e- Sea elves live as t!ey &lease, comin toet!er under a ruler only in times

o) undersea emerency or reat trouble )or t!e .orld in eneral- $!e lords and ladies o)

t!e ocean cities do little ot!er t!an escort visitors and conduct t!e trade t!at auatic elves)ind so enNoyable- $!e rest o) t!e &o&ulation consists o) artists, !unters, and )armers, all

concerned .it! ma#in survival &ossible and li)e &leasant )or t!e rest o) t!e community-

$!ese elves !ave cities o) livin coral, su&&lemented .it! litterin crystal

domes- $!eir undersea &aradise is mar#ed by sea el) )armers tendin sc!ools o) )is!J it isalso mar#ed by t!e &eace one can )ind beneat! t!e .aves- $!e .as! o) blue and reen

da&&led li!t !as ins&ired abovesea artists )or yearsKand .ill no doubt continue )or

years to come-

Dar# Elves

$!e dar# elves *also #no.n as drow+ are evil cousins o) t!e ot!er elves- Driven beneat!

t!e sur)ace lon ao by t!e li!tlovin elves, t!ese sinister beins !ave made a !ome )or

t!emselves in .!at t!ey call t!e >nderdar#, t!e nic!e t!ey !ave brutally carved in t!eunderround caverns- $!ey !ave become t!e masters and mistresses o) dar# rottoes, and


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any intellient creature s!uns t!em-

Oriinally t!e dro. .ere sim&ly elves .!o !eld more .it! t!e tenets o) mi!t

t!an t!ose o) Nustice- In t!eir uest )or more &o.er over li)e, t!ey inevitably beandealin .it! t!e )orces t!at .ould one day corru&t t!em- $!eir elven bret!ren, dismayed

at t!e initial c!ane in t!eir )ormerly &eace)ul #insmen, sou!t to reason .it! t!em- $!e

dro., seein t!is e))ort as aression, res&onded by slayin emissaries and invadinelven cities- Convinced o) t!e evil o) t!e dro., t!e ot!er elves banded toet!er to drive

t!em )rom t!e land-

A lon, &ain)ul .ar marc!ed across t!e centuriesJ el) sle. el), and reat maic#s)le.- Muc! o) t!e .orld lay in devastation, soa#ed in t!e blood o) elves- @inally,

!o.ever, t!e ood and neutral elves trium&!ed, and t!ey drove t!e dro. underround-

$!e corru&tion o) t!e dro. ec!oed in t!eir a&&earance, )or t!eir s#in dar#ened and t!eir

!air turned .!ite- $!eir eyes lo.ed redK)urt!er evidence o) t!e )ires burnin .it!int!eir breasts-

$!e dro. are re&utedly as .ides&read as t!e ot!er subraces o) elvesK&er!a&s

even more so- 1o one not o) dro. !eritae #no.s e5actly !o. )ar t!eir underround

!oldins e5tend- It is .ell #no.n t!at t!ey !ave a certain ras& on interdimensionalmaic, )or t!ey use it to travel lon distances- $!ey !ate t!e li!t, and t!ey !ave

e5tensively researc!ed .ays to travel .!ile avoidin t!e sun, .!ic! is anat!ema to t!em-$!e dro. !ave e5tensive tunnel net.or#s, .!ic! may or may not canvass t!eir .orld-

Dro. are ty&ically s!orter t!an ot!er elves, and t!ey retain t!e De5terity common

to elves- In all ot!er res&ects, save t!eir !ei!t and colorin, dro. resemble t!eiraboveround cousins-

Dro. cra)tsmans!i& is truly a marvel to be!old, .rou!t .it! strane and

intricate desins- >n)ortunately, t!eir .or#s are unable to e5ist outside t!e dro. .orld,

and t!e items disinterate, albeit slo.ly, .!en a.ay )rom t!e radiation o) t!e >nderdar#- $!eir society is usually matriarc!al, .it! t!e )emale dro. !oldin t!e maNority o)

&o.er- Male dro. are entrusted .it! t!e relatively unim&ortant Nobs o) s.ord&lay and

some sorcery- @emales, on t!e ot!er !and, command t!e im&ortant &ositions in dro.society- $!ey are t!e &riestesses o) t!eir dar# oddess, Lolt! *or sometimes Llot!+, ueen

o) t!e S&iders-

$!ese )emales .ield t!eir tremendous oddessiven &o.er mercilessly- >sint!e t!reat o) intense &unis!ment, t!ey #ee& t!e males co.ed and submissive- $!ey are t!e

to& o) t!e social !ierarc!y in t!e >nderdar#J t!ey Nealously uard t!eir &o.er aainst

lo.ly males .!o mi!t try to ta#e t!at &o.er a.ay-

Since dro. )emales !ave reater &o.er t!an males and are &!ysically stronerand more intellient as .ell, t!e dro. !ave a di))icult time believin t!at males can !old

&o.er in ot!er societies- $!us, t!ey do not believe t!at any t!reat mustered by males

could seriously t!reaten t!e dro.- Des&ite t!eir c!aotic evil nature, t!e society o) t!e dro. is riidly structured and

divided- Social strata and classi)ications are virtually immutable- A dro. can advance in

!er caste, certainly, but cannot advance beyond it- $!e c!aotic nature o) t!e dro. is mostevident .!en one see#s advancementKan advancement ty&ically made t!rou! deat!-

Dro. constantly see# to im&rove t!eir &osition in society and in Lolt!'s eyes- I) it

comes at t!e e5&ense o) anot!er's li)e, so muc! t!e betterKt!at ma#es one less dro. to

c!allene t!e ne.comer, and it ensures reater security in t!e ne. &osition-


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Dro. !ave an abidin !atred o) all t!ins aboveround, but not!in dra.s t!eir

.rat! uite li#e t!e ood elves- $!e dro. ta#e any c!ance t!ey can to destroy ot!er elves

t!ey encounter- Even t!e )e. evil elves aboveround are seen as enemies, and t!e dro.do not !esitate to betray suc! a one .!en !e or s!e !as served a &ur&ose-

Grey Elves

Grey elves are at once t!e most noble and most reclusive o) t!e elves- $!ey !ave

.it!dra.n )rom t!e .orld a)ter ma#in t!eir mar#, .!ic! .as to ensure t!at t!e .orld

.as .ell on t!e &at! to oodness- $!e rey elves vie. t!emselves as t!e &rotectors o)

ood in t!e .orld, but t!ey .ill stir )rom t!eir mountains and meado.s to &rotect t!e

/lesser/ races only .!en t!ey are )aced .it! reat evil- Grey elves act muc! li#e !uman #ni!tsKsu&ercilious and condescendin, )ull o)

t!eir o.n im&ortance- $!ey t!in# not!in o) s&ea#in t!eir minds, &rovided t!at t!is

remains .it!in t!e bounds o) elven decorum- $!ey are o)ten !au!ty, disdainin contact

.it! most ot!ers, includin all ot!er elves save rey elves-

$!is subrace arbs t!emselves in .ool tunics o) old, silver, .!ite, or yello.-Over t!ese, t!ey .ear cloa#s o) dar# blue or &ur&le- $!eir dress alone o)ten ma#es t!em

t!e most stri#in o) t!e elves, and t!eir eleant bearin and &ure beauty ma#e t!emalmost a&&ear as su&ernatural creatures-

W!en armin t!emselves )or battle, t!ey don s!immerin suits o) &late or c!ain

mail, &rotectin t!e !ead .it! .ined !elmets- $!eir .ea&ons, created by master el)cra)ters, s!ine bri!tly under any li!t- Mounted .arriors ride ri))ons or !i&&ori))s into

battle, s.oo&in do.n u&on t!eir enemies .it! dread)ul &er)ection-

$aller and more slender t!an t!e ot!er elves, rey elves ty&ically !ave silver !air

and amber eyes- $!is does not ive t!em any s&ecial abilities, but it does serve todistinuis! t!em )rom t!eir !i! elven bret!ren- Some.!at rarer are t!ose rey elves .!o

!ave &ale olden !air and violet eyes- $!ese elves are o)ten #no.n asfaerieand are&robably t!ose .!o )irst made contact .it! !umans- W!ile not e5actly bioted to.ard ot!er races, t!e rey elves do believe in t!e

&urity o) t!e elven line- $!ey are t!e least tolerant o) ot!er races, and t!ey ta#e &ains to

ensure t!at t!ey remain secluded )rom allKsometimes even ot!er elves- Only t!emi!tiest maes o) ot!er races are allo.ed .it!in t!eir mountain citadels, and t!ese are

reeted .it! sus&icion- $!e rey elves are not rabid in t!eir disli#e o) t!e s!orterlived

races, but t!ey do )ear t!e corru&tion t!at t!e ot!er races can brin to t!e elves- Because o) t!eir reverence )or t!e sanctity o) elven blood, rey elves !ave striven

to maintain t!eir oriinal ideals- $!ey consider t!emselves to be t!e &urest )orm o) all

elves- $!ey believe t!at, since t!e ot!er elves do not concern t!emselves .it!

maintainin t!eir &urity, t!eir role in t!e elven .orld is less t!an t!at o) t!e rey el)-$!ese elves )eel t!at t!ey are t!e /true/ elves and t!at ot!ers are some!o. lesser

versions- $!e rey elves staunc!ly believe t!is to be true, des&ite t!e )act t!at t!ey are an

o))s!oot o) t!e oriinal !i! el) line- Grey elves disuise t!e entrances to t!eir mountain meado.s and remote cities

.it! &o.er)ul maic, ensurin t!at only t!ose .!o are elves or )amiliar .it! t!e elven

d.eomer can discover t!eir retreats- I) members o) anot!er race )ind t!eir !idea.ays, t!erey elves are not averse to castin a !i!levelforgets&ell- $!ey !ave .or#ed lon and


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!ard to ac!ieve t!eir !idden lands, and t!ey .elcome not t!ose .!o stumble across t!em-

O) all elves, rey elves rely t!e most on t!eir intellience- W!ile ot!er elves are

by no means stu&id, rey elves trust less in &!ysical &ro.ess t!an t!ey do t!e mind- $!eirline breeds more maes and mae combinations t!an any ot!er, and some o) t!e most

esteemed o) t!eir subrace are sc!olars-

$!eir entire e5istence is based on develo&in and discoverin ne. #no.lede,and t!ey t!ere)ore s&end less time on t!e &leasurable &ursuits t!at occu&y ot!er elves'

lives- $!eir maes are .it!out &eer in t!e elven .orld- Even maes o) reater &o.er )rom

ot!er races s&ea# o) t!e #no.lede o) t!e rey elves .it! no small measure o))ascination-

Because t!e only .i3ard s&ecialties available to elves are Diviner and Enc!anter,

rey elves usually do not become s&ecialist .i3ards- Instead, t!ey learn more about

maic in eneralJ t!eir lon li)es&ans ensure t!at t!ey are amon t!e most #no.ledeablemaes on any .orld, t!ou! not necessarily t!e most &o.er)ul-

Ho.ever, li#e all elves, t!eir cra)ters !ave !ad centuries to &er)ect t!eir art- Since

t!e rey elves !ave a muc! )iercer dedication to &er)ection t!an ot!er elves, t!eir

&roducts are )iner t!an any ot!ers in t!e .orld- Only some d.arves can rival t!e e5&ertises!o.n by rey elvesKbut even t!en t!ey cannot rival t!e s!eer beauty e5!ibited in elven

manu)acture- It is a uaranty t!at almost any rey elven .or# can !old t!e stronest maic#s

and enc!antments- $!e very ualities o) t!e manu)acture .or# subtle c!arms into t!e

item, ma#in it more rece&tive to .!atever &otent maic a mae mi!t use to en!ance it-$!e rey elves !ave &roduced most o) t!e maical items attributed to elven#ind- $!ey are

&articularly devoted to t!e creation o) tomes and scrolls-

Grey elves o)ten !ave t!e most e5tensive libraries o) anyone in t!e .orld- Any

rey el) community o) more t!an ;7 years .ill !ave a communal library rivalin t!ose o)any maNor city or .i3ard- Suc! libraries are o&en to all elves .!o .is! to better

t!emselves and increase t!eir #no.lede- Since t!e rey elves value t!e constant

e5&ansion o) t!eir stores o) boo#s, many s&end t!eir lives in researc! *eit!er maical orscienti)ic+, .ritin learned treatises-

Because t!ey s&end so muc! time in researc!, rey elves o)ten !ave little time to

s&are )or &!ysical labor, alt!ou! t!is does not &reclude cra)tsmans!i&- In order tomaintain t!eir cities, t!ey must rely on /lesser/ elves )or t!e uee& o) t!eir realms- Since

almost all o) t!ese servant elves !ave been brou!t u& in t!e &articular atmos&!ere o) t!e

rey elves, t!ey believe t!at t!eir lot in li)e is to serve t!e rey elves- Alt!ou! some do

leave, most do not !ave t!e s&irit to do so- Many are truly !a&&y &er)ormin tas#s )ort!eir masters and .ould not dream o) de&artin- $!e strati)ied society o))ers t!em

security and com)ort-

Grey elves are not !ars! tas#masters, but neit!er are t!ey )orivin- W!en aservitor el) )ails in a tas# or &er)orms it &oorly, &unis!ment is s.i)t and to t!e &oint- @e.

ma#e t!e same mista#e t.ice-

Grey el) society is amon t!e most riidly de)ined in any .orld- $!ey are ruled bya !ereditary monarc!, eit!er male or )emale, .!o can be succeeded by any o) t!e ot!er

members o) t!e House %oyal- $!is is subNect to a&&roval by a maNority o) t!e House

1oble- $!e ruler must !ave all decisions rati)ied by suc! a maNority-

Beneat! t!ese t.o Houses are t!e Merc!ant Houses, o) .!ic! t!e Guild Houses


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are a &art- $!e House 0rotector is eual to t!e Merc!ant Houses- Beneat! t!e Merc!ant

Houses are t!e Servitor Houses- Beneat! t!em are t!e casteless elves, .!o !ave almost

no voice in rey el) society- Interestinly enou!, most ot!er elves do not readily be)riend rey elves, )or t!ey

see t!e rey elves as )ar too serious and arroant- Indeed, some elves t!in# t!e rey

subrace is )ar closer to t!e .ord /!uman/ t!an /el)-/ $!ey t!in# t!e rey elves !ave lostt!e elven Noy o) li)e, )or t!e rey elves &re)er to s&end t!eir time .it! boo#s rat!er t!an

revel in t!e outdoors and t!e oodness o) li)e- Instead o) e5&lorin t!e boundaries o) li)e,

t!ey are learnin to be serious- In some elves' eyes, rey elves !ave even one so )ar as to enslave ot!er elvesKi)

not in )act, t!en at least in s&irit- $!e rey elves' /servants/ !ave none o) t!e ty&ical elven

love o) li)e, nor do t!ey !ave t!at s&ar# t!at is so &articularly elven- $!is causes many

elves to s!un muc! contact .it! t!e rey elves- Even t!ou! t!e servitor elves are t!ereby c!oice, suc! order and la.)ulness in!erent in t!e rey el) society seems re&ulsive and

even d.arvis! to most elves-

Hi! Elves

$!e most commonly seen o) all elves, t!e !i! elves are also t!e most o&en and )riendly-$!ey !ave no com&unction about travelin in t!e .orld outside t!eir lands, and t!ey do

so muc! more o)ten t!an ot!er elves- Since t!ey !ave t!e most contact .it! t!e nonelven

.orld and since t!eir subrace is more adventurous t!an ot!er elves, most el) 0Cs are !i!elves-

W!ile at )irst t!ey may seem aloo) and arroant, a limmer o) true sel) can be

learned .it! a little e))ort- Hi! elves #no. t!e value o) )riends!i& and alliance .it! t!e

ot!er ood races o) t!e .orld- Ho.ever, t!ey are not al.ays easily be)riended- Many!i! elves are cautious about trustin t!e s!orterlived racesJ uite a )e. learned to

distrust !umans and d.arves in t!eir youner days- $!us, alt!ou! !i! elves serve t!ecause o) ood, one can never be sure o) .!at t!e rece&tion )rom t!em .ill be- Hi! elves are very &ale- $!ou! t!ey s&end a reat deal o) time outdoors, t!eir

s#in sim&ly doesn't tan, no matter !o. lon t!ey are in t!e sun- Ho.ever, t!eir s#in is

less a cor&seli#e &allor t!an t!e color o) ne. cream- $!eir !air and eyes )all into t.omaNor variations- One is )air not only o) s#in, but o) !air as .ell- $!ese elves enerally

!ave blond !air and blue eyes- $!e ot!er variation, eually numerous, seems )ar more

mysterious- $!ey !ave dar# !air, ranin )rom sandy bro.n to s!eerest blac#, and intensereen eyes- $!ese t.o varieties o) !i! elves !ave no ot!er sini)icant di))erences, but

t!ey are nonet!eless o)ten treated di))erently sim&ly because o) t!eir a&&earance-

Hi! elves &re)er li!t &astel s!ades over t!e colors .orn by rey elves- Since

t!ey rely on !untin and .oodsmans!i&, t!ey o)ten .ear cloa#s o) reen )or camou)laein )orests-

$!eir &re)erred .ea&on is t!e bo., but t!ey are also ade&t .it! lon and s!ort

s.ords- In battle, t!ey .ear t!eir leamin elven c!ain mail beneat! cloa#s /.oven o)t!e essence o) t!e .oods,/ .!ic! allo.s t!em to move silently t!rou! )orests, stri#e

uic#ly, and t!en retreat- Alt!ou! t!ey may be)riend iant eales and occasionally use

t!em )or trans&ort, t!ey rarely use mounts because !orses and t!e li#e are too un.ieldy int!e )orest- Only on t!e londistance Nourneys or on t!e &lains .ill !i! elves use mounts-


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Hi! el) civili3ation is muc! li#e t!at rumored in c!ildren's )airy tales- Elven

!omes are enc!anted, t!e lands under t!eir Nurisdiction &laces o) oodness- $!e realms o)

!i! elves are )abled in t!e lands o) men, and t!e !i!est as&iration o) many a !uman isto sli& into t!e arms o) deat! .!ile bas#in in t!e serenity o) t!e el) lands-

$!ese elves do not &lace a reat deal o) value on society, &re)errin instead to live

as t!ey .is! rat!er t!an !o. someone tells t!em to- $!eir villaes are &eace)ul &laces, )ort!e elves all loo# out )or one anot!er- $!ey !ave a royal bloodline o) sorts, but )e. elves

&ay it muc! !eed- $!ey do not res&ect someone &urely on t!e basis o) birt!-

Hi! elves live in a constant relations!i& .it! nature, never ta#in more t!an t!eyneed and ivin bac# ever more- $!ey re&lenis! t!e )orests and t!e &lains constantly,

ensurin t!at t!ere .ill al.ays be nature .it!in t!eir .orld- As suc!, t!ey are o)ten

rearded by ot!er oodalined races as t!e !i!est e&itome o) oodness- Alt!ou! t!ose

.!o &re)er la. over )reedom do not al.ays aree, t!ey nearly al.ays !ave res&ect )or t!euality o) elven li)e- $!ere is no doubt t!at t!e !i! elves lead a )ine li)e @reedom,

nature, and t!e s!eer vitality o) bein alive com&rise t!e daily e5istence o) a !i! el)-

$!ese elves !ave )e. cares or .orries, and t!eir lives are o)ten c!aracteri3ed by

idyllic s&lendor- W!ile t!ey )ace &roblems )rom ram&ain !umanoids or t!eencroac!ment o) !umans, t!ey seem to live )ree o) t!e cares t!at so o)ten &laue ot!er

elves- Because t!ey live so closely in !armony .it! nature, t!ey !ave little trouble)indin sustenance in t!e areas near t!eir !omes- Game &roli)erates near !i! el)

communities, and t!e eart! is )ertile )or t!em- Ho.ever, s!ould t!e !i! elves roam

)art!er a)ield, t!ey o)ten discover a di))erent matter entirely- A band o) elves on t!e marc!must sometimes rely u&on t!e enerosity o) ot!ers-

Sylvan Elves

Alt!ou! .ood elves *as sylvan elves are o)ten called+ are descended )rom t!e same

stoc# as t!e ot!er elves, t!ey are )ar more &rimitive t!an t!eir #in- $!eir lives are earedto.ard t!e sim&le matter o) survival in t!e .oodlands, rat!er t!an enNoyment- et sylvanelves )ind t!at t!is li)e, more t!an anyt!in else, ives t!em t!eir reatest &leasure- 1ot

)or t!em t!e so&!istication o) art and delicate music- $!ey &re)er a sim&ler li)e- $!eir

music is t!at o) .ind t!rou! leaves, t!e !o.l o) .olves, and t!e cries o) birds- $!eir artKin t!e )orm o) tattoosKis ins&ired by t!e everc!anin cycle o) seasons-

Wood elves, by t!eir very nature, seem more &rone to violence t!an t!eir civili3ed

cousins- $!eir muscles are larer, t!eir com&le5ions more )lorid- $!ey !ave yello. toco&&eryred !air, .!ic! contrasts .it! t!eir li!tly tanned s#in- $!eir eyes are enerally

li!t bro.n, alt!ou! bri!t reen is not uncommon- Ha3el or blue eyes are e5ce&tionally

rare, cro&&in u& only t.o to ten times in an entire eneration- $!e su&erstitious .ood

elves believe t!at t.ins .!o !ave blue or !a3el eyes are an omen o) ood )ortune )or bot!t!e t.ins and .ood elves as a .!ole- $!us )ar, t!ey !ave not been disa&&ointed-

Wood el) clot!in is muc! less audy t!an one .ould normally e5&ect )rom an

el)- $!e )ocus o) t!eir clot!in is to allo. t!e .earer to blend .it! t!e .oods easily- Aty&ical out)it is dar# bro.n and reen, or tan and russet in )all- Winter )inds sylvan elves

.earin .!ite leat!er so t!at t!ey can !ide in sno.-

About once every )ive years, t!ese elves indule in a )estival o) art and musicmore material t!an t!e e&!emera o) nature- W!en t!e summer solstice arrives, t!e


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nomadic tribes at!er in t!e center o) t!e )orest- @or !al) a moon, t!e tribes celebrate t!e

turnin o) t!e Seldanit!, .!erein t!e constellations o) t!e Seldarine are obscured by t!e

nort!ern li!ts- $!ey claim t!at t!e ods come to eart! durin t!is time to celebrate in t!erevels o) t!eir c!ildren- Wood el) celebrations involve oa# .ine, bon)ires, dancin to

.ooden drums, and sinin- $!e carousin is &rimitive, even savae, but )iercely e5citin

to t!em- $!eir every instinct is aroused, ta#in t!em bac# to t!e roots o) nature- Wood elves are o)ten described as .ild and tem&eramental- $!is is true to t!e

e5tent t!at t!ese elves are a very emotional &eo&le- $!ey live .it! t!eir !earts, not t!eir

minds as do t!e rey elves- W!atever t!ey )eel, t!ey #no. it is t!e ri!t ans.er- Loic&lays little &art in t!eir lives, )or loic cannot save one )rom t!e c!arin boar or t!e

)allin tree- Intuition and strent! are all t!at counts in t!e .ild.ood-

Sylvan elves are an inde&endent )ol# and do not li!tly broo# intruders into t!eir

)orests- Anyone, even anot!er el), .!o even dra.s near to a .ood el) encam&ment*.it!in t!ree miles+ .ill !ave a constant, unseen escort o) at least t.o .ood elves

*&ossibly more+ until t!e intruder leaves t!e area- >nless t!e cam& is directly t!reatened,

t!e .ood elves .ill leave t!e intruder strictly alone- $.enty)ive &ercent o) t!e time

.ood elves .ill allo. tres&assers to #no. t!at t!ey are bein .atc!ed- I) t!ose encroac!in t!e encam&ment dra. too near and evince !ostile intent, t!e

.ood elves !ave no com&unctions about utterly destroyin t!em- Wood elves aree5traordinarily reclusiveKeven more so t!an rey elves- $!ey !ave no .is! to let ot!ers

e5&ose t!em or t!eir li)estyle to t!e !ars! scrutiny o) t!e civili3ed .orld- $!ere)ore, t!ey

may even destroy t!ose .!o bear t!e .ood elves no &articular ill .ill- $!ey )eel t!is ist!e only .ay to ensure t!eir lives and &rivacy-

Alt!ou! t!ey are o) elven descent, .ood elves tend to.ard total neutrality- $!is

is not out o) any in!erent evil, but only out o) a desire to be le)t alone- $!ey do not care

about t!e &roceedins in t!e outer .orldJ only .!en suc! acts im&act t!eir realm do t!e.ood elves ta#e interest- Even t!en, t!at interest is only in removin t!e nuisance and in

returnin to t!e .ildlands as uic#ly as &ossible- Only ot!er elves can brea# t!eir solitude

.it!out su))erin &otential deat!- Sylvan elves associate more o)ten .it! t!e animals o) t!e )orest t!an .it! any

ot!er beins- $!ey !ave iant o.ls uardin t!eir tent !omes or, rarely, iant lyn5es-

$!eir isolationist tendencies !ave corru&ted t!e only racial lanuae t!ey #no. *Elvis!+J!o.ever, some do learn t!e lanuaes o) various creatures o) t!e )orest-

Wood elves are &robably t!e least )riendly o) all t!e sur)ace elves- $!ey are

certainly not as outoin as !i! elves, nor are t!ey as adventurous as auatic elves-

W!ile rey elves are uite arroant, t!ey at least .ill not casually #ill intruders- Ho.ever,it s!ould be remembered t!at .ood elves are not evilJ t!ey sim&ly value t!eir solitude

above all else-

Hal)Elves

Alt!ou! not &ro&erly elves, !al)elves are included in t!is boo# because t!ey do &ossesselven ancestry- Hal)elves !ave at least !al) el) in t!eir bloodJ t!ose !al)elves t!at breed

bac# .it! elves are al.ays considered !al)elven, reardless o) !o. lon ao t!e nonel)

blood .as introduced- $!ose !al)elves .!o do not breed .it! elves *t!us dilutin t!eelven strain even )urt!er+ are considered by elves to be totally nonelven- $!ese crosses


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!ave none o) t!e abilities normally associated .it! eit!er elves or !al)elves-

Some !al)elves are not readily acce&ted in eit!er el) or !uman communities, and

t!ey o)ten become introverted, sullen, and embittered- Luc#y !al)elves ain access tobot! races, )or o)ten elves and !umans )ind !al)elves )ascinatin- Larely, it is a matter

o) t!e !al)el) in uestion and t!e societies .it! .!ic! !e or s!e deals- Hal)elves are

never acce&ted in rey el) society, )or !al)elves serve as a &al&able reminder o) all t!att!e rey elves .is! to eradicate-

Alt!ou! t!ere are rare e5ce&tions, !al)elves are &redominantly also !al) !umanJ

elven enes ty&ically cannot cross .it! anyt!in ot!er t!an !uman enes- $!osedescended o) stoc# ot!er t!an !uman must be s&ecially a&&roved by t!e DM i) t!ey are to

be used as a 0C race-

Most !al)elves are o) !i! el) descent- $!e reasons )or t!is are sim&le Auatic

elves cannot live .it! !umansJ rey elves .ill not #no.inly a&&roac! !umans in suc!)riendly circumstancesJ .ood elves .ould sim&ly )lee or !ideJ and dro. .ould slau!ter

t!e )ool .!o trusted t!em-

$!ere are al.ays e5ce&tions to t!ese enerali3ations, o) course- Some elves .ill

al.ays brea# t!e mold o) t!eir #ind by doin somet!in un&redictable- A )e. rey elvesconsent to s&ea# )reely .it! !umans, and it is &ossible one could consort .it! a !uman

out o) love- 1ot all .ood elves are recluses, nor are all dro. rut!less, evil #illers- Auaticelves are not as unreac!able as t!ey mi!t seem, )or !umans !ave lon used maic to

visit t!e under.ater realms-

It is entirely &ossible to encounter !al)elves )rom all t!e maNor subracesJ t!ey aresim&ly not as common as !al)elves o) !i! el) stoc#- Ho.ever, )e. o) t!em !ave

in!erited all, i) any, o) t!eir &arents' abilities- $!is is a matter best le)t to eac! DMJ it is

recommended t!at !al)elves receive only t!e bonuses delineated in t!e0layer's

Handbook- Even !al)elves descended )rom auatic elves s!ould not !ave t!e ability tobreat!e under .ater unless t!e cam&ain is based around sea)arin adventures- Even

t!en, it is a matter best considered very care)ully-

Since t!ey are !uman and elven bot! in demeanor, !al)elves are enerally easilyreconi3able as suc!- $!ey are taller and !eavier t!an t!e averae el), t!ou! t!eir !air

and eyes o)ten re)lect t!ose o) t!eir !uman &arent- Ho.ever, t!ey also ta#e on some o)

t!e )eatures o) t!e elven &arent- $!e s#in o) t!ose descended )rom sea elves is a blend o) !uman and elven )les!,

o)ten a&&earin as a &ale reen or a very li!t blue- $!eir !air ec!oes t!at o) t!eir !uman

&arent, t!ou! it can contain a !int o) reen or blue-

Grey !al)elves, .!ile e5tremely rare, e5ist only in !uman society, since t!eynever )ind !omes .it! rey elves- $!ey are less easy to s&ot t!an many ot!er !al)elves,

)or t!e !air and eyes o) rey elves are o)ten close to !uman standards- $!e !air and eyes

o) t!ese !al)elves are o) a li!ter tine t!an many !umans, but aside )rom t!e &ointedears, t!ese !al)elves can be con)used as smaller !umans-

As .it! rey elves, t!e descendants o) !i! elves can easily be mista#en )or

!umans )or a s!ort .!ile- Since t!e !i! el) coloration is nearly identical to t!at o)!umans *alt!ou! t!e s#in is some.!at &aler+, t!eir !al)el) c!ildren &ass amon t!e

s!orterlived races .it! )e. &roblems- As lon as t!ey #ee& t!eir ears covered and

&er!a&s do somet!in to disuise t!eir anular )eatures, t!ey can usually remain

unnoticed-


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$!e !al)elves o) sylvan blood !ave t!e easiest time &assin t!rou! !uman lands-

Since sylvan elves are t!e larest o) t!eir breed and t!eir s#in tans, t!e sylvan !al)elves

can &ass t!emselves o)) as !umans )airly .ell- $!ese !al)elves ta#e to t!e )orest easilyand o)ten become ranersJ since t!ey are on t!e )rines o) society any.ay, it is only

natural t!at t!ey .ould ta#e a li)e t!at re)lects t!is-

$!e !al)el) c!ildren o) dro. are t!e most unusual in a&&earance o) all !al)elves-$!eir s#in is dus#y rey, t!eir !air bleac!ed .!ite- $!eir ancestry is &er)ectly obvious to

all, and t!ey ty&ically )ind no solace or sanctuary in eit!er el) or !uman communities-

Even .orse, t!e dro. .ill o)ten see# out t!e individual in order to e5&une t!e blot ondro. !onor-

$!e c!ildren o) t.o !al)elves enerally a&&ear as did t!eir &arents- In cases

.!ere a !al)el)'s &arents .ere descended )rom di))erent subraces o) el), t!e results are

varied- @i)ty &ercent o) t!e time, t!e c!ild .ill ta#e on a mi5ture o) t!e &arents'c!aracteristicsJ 6;Q o) t!e time t!e c!ild .ill resemble t!e mot!er, and 6;Q o) t!e time

resemble t!e )at!er-

Obviously, !al)elves do not !ave an easy time interatin t!emselves- $!ey are

o)ten outsiders, &layin out t!eir roles on t!e borders o) society- $!ere is a &ervasiveracism in!erent in many o) t!e societies in .!ic! !al)elves ta#e &art, alt!ou! not many

.ill admit to it- Suc! racism e5ists in bot! !uman and el) lands, and it is o)ten !ard )or!al)elves to )orm attac!ments to eit!er race-

Instead, many create t!eir o.n communities, .!ere all are )ree to live as t!ey

.ill- >n)ortunately, many !al)elves !ave allo.ed t!eir e5&eriences .it! !umans and

.it! elves to sour t!em to.ard bot! racesJ in !al)el) communities, t!e members o) t!eir

&arents' races are not al.ays .elcome-

Humans, des&ite t!eir )ascination .it! !al)elves, !old !al)elves in some

sus&icion- Since many !al)elves turn to a li)e o) care)ree adventurin or even outri!tt!ievery, t!ey cannot be trusted .it! reat res&onsibility- In addition, t!ey are a minlin

o) t!e blood o) t.o dis&arate races, and no one can ever be sure o) .!at t!e result o) suc!

a union .ill be- Many !al)elves are also t!e un!a&&y by&roduct o) .ar crimes, and t!eyare )eared to ec!o t!e circumstances o) t!eir conce&tion- $!eir motives are, )or !umans at

least, sus&ect-

Elves, on t!e ot!er !and, ty&ically see t!ese c!ildren as in)erior monrels- $!eymay try to tolerate &resence o) !al)elves, but t!ey vie. t!em as sim&ly lonerlived

!umans- $!us, .!ile !al)elves are not o)ten driven )rom el) lands, neit!er are t!ey made

to )eel overly .elcome, even as c!ildren, nor are t!ere tears at t!eir de&arture-

1eit!er !umans nor elves seems to reconi3e t!e uniue i)ts !al)elves !ave tocontribute- As beins lonerlived t!an !umans, t!ey are in a &osition to understand t!e

elven &oint o) vie.- Li#e.ise, as creatures .!o !ave t!e .ei!t o) im&endin mortality

over t!eir !eads, t!ey can com&re!end t!e curious s&eed at .!ic! !umans o about t!eirlives- $!ey are t!us &er)ectly suited as ambassadors )rom one country to t!e ot!er- $!ey

are uaranteed to be im&artial, as t!ey !ave relations on eit!er side- $!ey can become

virtually any class and are multi)aceted individuals in more .ays t!an can be listed-Ho.ever, elves and !umans cannot )oret t!e )act o) &arentae, and t!ey lose a valuable

o&&ortunity )or understandin eac! ot!er-

Since t!ey !ave di))iculty bein totally acce&ted in eit!er .orld, !al)elves tend to

be travelers and loners, alternatin bet.een !uman and el) societies- W!en li)e sours in


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one, t!ey move to t!e ot!er )or a time- $!ey !ave come to see t!e best o) bot! .orlds-

Elves o) t!e Worlds

Beyond t!e elves described above, t!ere are elves o) di))erent il#s &o&ulatin se&arate

.orlds- O))s!oots o) t!e nomadic !i! elves .!o searc!ed t!e .orlds )ar and .ide, t!eelves described belo. settled on .orlds t!at struc# t!eir )ancy- In time, t!ey became ne.

subraces o) elves- *A diaram on &ae 6: s!o.s t!e interrelations!i& o) t!ese subraces-+

In some lands, t!e elves are entirely distinct, bearin little resemblance to t!e oriinal!i! el) stoc#- In ot!ers, t!e elves vary mostly in name and attitude, rat!er t!an t!rou!

any &!ysical basis- All o) t!em carry a de)inite aura t!at &ervades t!eir .orld, s!a&in it

as surely as t!ey s!a&e !istory- One im&ortant t!in to remember is t!at not all elves o) t!ese areas con)orm to

t!ese descri&tions- $!ere are alwayse5ce&tions in every land- Any &layer c!aracters )rom

t!ese lands may act as t!ey .is!-

ALADIM Cam&ain World

$!e elves o) 2a#!ara, t!e Land o) @ate, are t!e same &!ysically as t!e elves )ound Nustnort! in t!e @O%GO$$E1 %EALMS .orld- W!at distinuis!es t!ese elves is t!eir

attitude to.ard li)e, ot!er races, and t!eir creed-

In 2a#!ara, all races tend to ado&t a more cosmo&olitan &ers&ective to.ard ot!erraces- It is more im&ortant, t!ey )eel, to believe in an enli!tened od t!an to be an el), a

d.ar), or a !uman- Whatone is, inside, is more im&ortant t!an whoone is outside- $!ey

reconi3e t!at no one can control t!e circumstances o) t!eir birt!, t!at it is t!e actions andt!e belie)s t!at ma#e a bein truly ood, rat!er t!an t!e race o) t!at bein-

@or t!is reason, t!ere is no se&arate el) society in 2a#!ara- $!ere are certainly

t!ose biots .!o &re)er elves over ot!er races, but t!e truly enli!tened individuals ma#eno distinction bet.een elves and ot!er races- In 2a#!ara, no one is sur&rised .!en an el)ta#es a Nob many in t!e ot!er .orlds .ould consider traditionally d.arvis!-

1eit!er is t!ere racial intolerance and anti&at!y- It is &er)ectly reasonable )or an

orc to be ood )riends .it! an el) *inasmuc! as elves become ood )riends .it! anyone+-Aain, races are Nuded by t!eir actions and t!eir belie)s- Only in t!e uncivili3ed &ortions

o) 2a#!ara .ill one )ind evidence o) t!e anti&at!ies so &revalent in ot!er lands-

Indeed, t!e elves o) t!e Land o) @ate are considered valuable members o) society-Because o) t!eir ability to live to a reat ae and t!e )act t!at even youn elves are o) an

ae .it! t!e most venerable !umans, t!ey are sou!t a)ter )or t!eir .isdom- Many o) t!e

8adi*Nudes+ are, in )act, elves- $!eir li)es&ans ive t!em a uniue vie. o) t!e .orld and

t!e o&&ortunity to serve )or !undreds o) years- Many elves serve as saes )or universities- Aain, t!eir ae ives t!em an

advantae- Any creature t!at lives !undreds o) years can accumulate #no.lede o) nearly

any to&ic- 1one o) t!e elves native to t!is area .ors!i& t!e ods o) t!e elves- Li#e t!e ot!er

citi3ens o) 2a#!ara, t!ey .ors!i& t!e enli!tened ods- Any .!o .ors!i& t!eir ods

t!rou! idols and icons are rearded as savaes- Any ods )ound in 2a#!ara .ill bere&resented only in symbols, )or t!ere is no ot!er .ay to )airly re&resent a od-


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$!e 2a#!aran elves consider t!e nort!ern elves barbarians- $!e nort!ern elves

continue to subscribe to t!e system o) !atred )or ot!er races, .ors!i& t!rou! t!e idols o)

t!eir &rimitive reliion, and #ee& to t!emselves- It is )ar more li#ely t!at a 2a#!aran el).ould side .it! a )ello. believer aainst a nort!ern el) t!an t!e ot!er .ay around- $!ey

#no. no racial loyaltyJ t!ey #no. only t!e loyalty to one's brot!ers and sisters in belie)-

DA%( S>1 Cam&ain World

At!asian elves are entirely di))erent )rom t!e !i! elves t!at settled At!as eons ao, )ort!ey !ave ada&ted to a li)e in t!e burnin .orld- >nderstandably, t!ese elves do not d.ell

in .oodlands as do t!eir more ty&ical cousins, )or t!ere are )e. )orests on At!as- Instead,

t!ey live on t!e &lains and in t!e barrens, scratc!in out an e5istence .!ere )e. survive-$!ey are runners and raiders, disdainin t!e trans&ort used by t!e .ea#er s&ecies in t!e

desert- $!ey, li#e t!e ot!er races on At!as, are muc! more savae t!an t!e ty&ical el)-

$!e elves o) At!as are very tall, o)ten reac!in !ei!ts o) = )eet or more- $!eir

lon les ma#e t!em e5cellent runners, and t!ey can cover unbelievable distances in a

sinle day- $!ey are t!e terror o) t!e deserts, and t!eir !untin bands are .idely )eared- 1ot only do t!ey &rey on t!ose )oolis! enou! to &ass t!rou! t!eir territory, t!ey

e5&loit t!e ullible in t!e mar#et&laces o) t!e citystates- @e. o) t!ese &laces do not !avesome sort o) mar#et .!ere t!e elves sell t!eir illotten or s!oddy oodsJ t!e elves ma#e

an incredible &ro)it )rom t!ose .!o &ass t!rou! because t!ey are t!e only su&&liers-

Alt!ou! t!ey act inobly to.ard members o) ot!er races and even ot!er el)tribes, t!e At!asian elves are not an evil &eo&le- $!ey !ave stron ties to t!eir tribes and

are only as !ars! as t!eir &lanet dictates- $!e bonds t!at unite t!em are ama3inly stronJ

elves o) a tribe o)ten !ave no ot!er )riends t!an t!eir tribe members- $!eir lives de&end

on t!eir com&anions, and so t!ey trust only t!ose .!o !ave &roven t!ey can be trusted- Li#e t!e ot!er in!abitants o) At!as, t!e elves strule to endure- >nder t!e )ires o)

t!e Dar# Sun, only t!e stronest survive- $!e elves &lan to be amon t!at number, and i)t!ey must crus! ot!ers - - - .ell, i) suc! is t!e &at! to survival, t!ey .ill ta#e it-

D%AGO1LA1CE Cam&ain World

$!e !i! elves settled t!e .orld o) (rynn lon ao, and t!eir !istory on t!is .ondrous

.orld is ric!- Alt!ou! analoous to t!e !istory o) elves in t!e AD"D .orld, it is not

e5actly t!e same- Indeed, some misin)ormed !istorians arue t!at t!ese elves are notrelated to t!e el) e5&lorers mentioned earlier in t!is c!a&ter- $!is t!eory seems !i!ly

im&lausible a)ter readin t!e !istory o) elves on t!is .orld-

On Ansalon, t!e main branc! o) elves .as called t!e (aonesti, t!e source )rom

.!ic! ot!er elves s&ran- $!ese ot!ers uic#ly abandoned t!e sylvan role, ta#in u&more civili3ed &ursuits- $!ey eventually )ormed a realm called Silvanost, a)ter t!eir reat

leader in t!e @irst Draon Wars- $!e Silvanesti are reminiscent o) t!e rey elves in t!eir

attitude and outloo#, )or t!ey are !au!ty and most concerned about racial &urity- $!e ualinesti bro#e )rom t!e Silvanesti centuries later, over a dis&ute o) t!e best

.ay to deal .it! t!e nonelven .orld- $!e Silvanesti, a 5eno&!obic, casteridden batc!,

nearly drove t!e ualinesti )rom t!e land )or t!eir sym&at!etic tendencies to.ard!umans-


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$!e ualinesti, commanded by (it!(anan, le)t Silvanost .!en it became

a&&arent t!at t!e Silvanesti !ad stanated as a society- $!ey traveled .est until t!ey

)ound a &lace .!ere t!ey could live in )reedom )rom t!e structure demanded by t!eSilvanesti- $!e relations bet.een t!ese t.o races are strained, at best- $!e ualinesti

most resemble !i! elves, and t!ey are by )ar t!e most common elves seen in t!e

D%AGO1LA1CE cam&ain .orld- $!e sylvan elves o) (rynn are t!e (aonesti- Alt!ou! t!ey are o) t!e )irst variety

o) elves t!at ever set )oot on (rynn, t!ey are disrearded by t!e ot!er races, s!unned as

.ild and uncivili3ed- $!e (aonesti, !o.ever muc! t!ey disli#e t!is situation, !avec!osen to reNect civili3ation and its /corru&tin/ values- $!ey &re)er, instead, t!e .ild

!armony o) nature, t!e contact .it! t!e eart! t!at t!e ot!er elves seem to !ave t!ro.n

a.ay in t!eir uest )or ne.er and better )orms o) overnment- $!e (aonesti o)ten .ear

tatoos or &aint t!eir )aces to intimidate t!eir enemies or to blend in .it! t!eirsurroundins-

$!e Dimernesti and Daronesti are t!e t.o races o) auatic elves )ound on (rynn-

Created by t!e c!aotic &assae o) t!e Greystone o) Garat!, t!ese sea elves &ossess t!e

ability to trans)orm t!emselves into otters or dol&!ins- $!e relations bet.een t!e t.oraces o) sea elves are muc! li#e t!at o) t!e ualinesti and t!e Silvanesti- $!e Daronesti

are only rarely seen and are very reclusive- $!e elves native to t!e ot!er continent o) (rynn tend to resemble t!e (aonesti

more t!an any ot!er variety o) (rynnis! el)- $aladan elves o) t!e $amire are nomads and

raiders, distrust)ul o) outsiders- $!ey identi)y t!eir clans .it! totem animals, usin t!eseanimals as s&irit uides and &rotectors-

$!e ot!er race o) elves on $aladas consists o) re)uees, elves )rom a Silvanesti

armada driven o)) course to t!e ne. land- $!ey !ave )ounded a land called Armac! and

are tryin to build a land reminiscent o) Silvanesti- Ho.ever, t!e !umans o) t!e reion &roved too resilient to be driven )rom t!eir

!omeland, and t!ey )orced t!e elves to acce&t t!em into a con)ederation- $!e !umans

!ave t!us become more elven, and t!e elves !ave become more !uman in outloo#-Ho.ever, t!e elves !ave in)luenced t!e &rimitives o) $aladas muc! more t!an t!ey !ave

been c!aned-

A )anatical desire to #ee& t!emselves &urely elven !as &reserved t!ese elves'culture .ell- Alt!ou! t!ey d.ell in a loose con)ederation, t!ey !ave clearly delineated

t!e license t!e nonelves o) Armac! may ta#e .it! t!e elves- $!ey uard t!eir ne.

/!omeland/ )iercely, e5ecutin t!ose .!o cross its borders .it!out consent- Overall, t!e

Armac!nesti *as t!ey !ave come to be called+ are muc! more intolerant t!an t!eirSilvanesti brot!ers ever .ere- Alt!ou! t!ey must deal .it! !umans, t!eir li)e !as

become all t!e more riid, and some say t!eir in)le5ibility is a direct e))ect o) t!eir

necessary contact .it! !umans- Bot! races o) elves on $aladas must con)ront t!e Leaue o) Minotaurs on

occasion, .!ic! sits suarely bet.een t!e t.o- $!e Armac!nesti currently !ave a truce

neotiated .it! t!e Leaue, but bot! countries #no. t!at t!e truce .ill be bro#en .!en itis convenient )or eit!er side- $!e elves o) t!e $amire are in more serious daner, )or t!e

minotaurs t!in# not!in o) raidin t!eir lands to re&lenis! t!eir stoc# o) slaves-

@O%GO$$E1 %EALMS Cam&ain World


27/131

$!e elves o) $oril do not )ollo. t!e standards o) most ot!er .orlds- W!at unites almost

all t!e elves o) t!e %ealms is t!eir sel)besto.ed title $el'uessir- $!is translates to /$!e&eo&le-/ All nonelves are #no.n as t!e /1'$el'uess,/ or /1ot0eo&le-/

W!ile t!ese elves &ossess t!e standard el) abilities, t!eir a&&earance is mar#edly

di))erent- $!ese elves are o) !uman !ei!t, t!ou! t!ere t!e resemblance ends- Li#e t!eirmore ty&ical cousins, t!e elves o) t!e %ealms are muc! more slender and delicate in

a&&earance- Brea#in do.n t!e el) nation still )urt!er, t!ere are )ive se&arate, distinct

subraces o) elves in t!e %ealms, eac! o) .!ic! is vie.ed di))erently by t!e ot!er races- $!e )irst subrace is t!at o) t!e old elves- Some also call t!em sunrise elves or

!i! elves, alt!ou! t!ey do not closely resemble t!e standard !i! elves and, indeed,

seem more li#e rey elves- Gold elves are enerally vie.ed as t!e most civili3ed and, at

t!e same time, t!e most contem&tuous o) ot!er races- $!ey are t!e nobility o) elves on$oril, leadin t!e ot!er elves in t!e elven .ay- $!ey are t!e euivalent o) t!e Silvanesti

on (rynn-

$!e second subrace is #no.n variously as moon, silver, or rey elves, alt!ou!

aain t!e name is t!e main similarity to t!e ty&ical rey el)- $!ey more closely resemble!i! elves t!an rey elves, .!ic! is not sur&risin since t!e nomadic !i! elves settled

$oril- $!ey are t!e most common o) elves on t!is .orld, or at least t!e variety most o)tenseen by nonelves- Because o) t!eir !i!er tolerance )or ot!er races, t!e moon elves are

more li#ely to become adventurers t!an are t!e ot!er elves- Li#e.ise, most !al)elves in

t!e %ealms are descended )rom moon elves- Alt!ou! moon elves are considered lessnoble t!an old elves, t!e ueen o) Evermeet is a moon el)-

$!e t!ird subrace is rou!ly euivalent to sylvan elves- $!ey are called .ild,

reen, or )orest elves- $!ey deal almost e5clusively .it! ot!er elves, #ee&in any contact

.it! ot!er races to a minimum- Since t!ey try to live )ar )rom !uman#ind, t!ey are one o)t!e leastseen races o) t!e elves- Alt!ou! t!ey do not !ave a #indom o) t!eir o.n, t!ey

&ermeate every el) nation-

$!e sea elves com&rise t!e )ourt! subrace- $!ey, too, are )airly uncommon,alt!ou! t!ey aren't as reclusive as .ild elves- $!ey s.im in t.o .aters t!ose o) t!e

Great Sea and t!e Sea o) @allen Stars- $!ere is only a sli!t di))erence in a&&earance

bet.een t!e t.o- One race breat!es salt .ater and t!e ot!er )res!, but t!ey can survive ineit!er- Water elves ma#e t!eir !omes any.!ere but are most common near t!e island

retreat o) Evermeet-

$!e )inal subrace on $oril is t!at o) t!e dar# elves- Li#e t!eir dro. cousins, t!e

dar# elves are almost universally s!unned )or t!eir evil- Cruel creatures livinunderround, t!ese dro. emere only at ni!t, tryin to avene t!emselves on t!eir

/o&&ressors,/ t!e elves res&onsible )or t!eir underround retreat-

$!e elves o) t!e %ealms are one o) t!e oldest races native to t!at .orld- W!ile!umans .ere livin in t!eir caves, learnin to !unt eac! ot!er, t!e elves )louris!ed- $!eir

nations s&read across $oril, and t!ey lived in !armony .it! t!e land- But as !umans

became more and more civili3ed and e5&anded t!eir !oldins, t!e elves !ad to retreat- Since t!e elves could not react uic#ly to t!e constant c!ane !umans .rou!t,

t!ey !ad to devise an alternate &lan- @rom t!eir court in Myt! Drannor, t!e elves bean

aruin t!e virtues o) a %etreat to a land beyond !umans- $!ey arued t!is matter )or

many centuries and, a)ter e5!austin all t!e evidence available, came to a consensus-


28/131

Durin t!eir debates, t!ey located a land )ar beyond !uman reac!- Called

Evermeet, an island t!ousands o) miles out in t!e $rac#less Sea, it suited t!eir &ur&ose

&er)ectly- Holdin dee& and lorious )orests as .ell as many o) t!e ot!er )eatures elvesconsider essential )or a !ome, t!ere .as little doubt t!at t!is s!ould be t!e last !ome o)

t!e El) 1ation-

Only elves are .elcome in Evermeet- All ot!ers *includin dro. and !al)elves+are turned a.ay- Since t!ere seems no .ay o) maically travelin to Evermeet, it is only

by s!i& t!at anyone can Nourney to t!ere- $!e Elven 1avy, t!e larest #no.n, &rotects t!e

sanctity o) Evermeet by destroyin nonelven s!i&s t!at come inside Evermeet'sNurisdiction- $!e navy also &rovides &assae )or elves see#in %etreat or &rotection )or

elves beset by !umans- $!e navy seems to #no. .!en t!eir services are needed-

Alt!ou! t!ey .ere once t!e most &o.er)ul rou& o) t!e %ealms, t!e elves are a

rou& in sad decline- $!ey retreat )rom t!eir .orld in everreater numbers- One day,!umans .ill )ind t!e %ealms devoid o) elves- $!e reater .orld .ill no doubt miss t!eir

&resence-

G%EHAW( Cam&ain World

$!e elves o) Oert! resemble t!e standard AD"D elves in nearly every res&ect- $!ey arevery muc! t!e stereoty&ical el), concerned .it! t!ose t!ins most elven- Some contend

t!at Oert! is t!e elven !omeland, t!e &lace )rom .!ic! all ot!ers s&ran-

Contestin t!is claim, !o.ever, are t!e e5istence o) t!e ruac! and t!e valleyelves- Alt!ou! t!ese t.o races may be merely o))s!oots o) sylvan elves and rey elves,

res&ectively, t!ey are )ound no.!ere outside t!e .orld o) Grey!a.#- Were Oert! truly

t!e elven !omeland, t!en t!ese t.o variants .ould be )ound outside it- 0er!a&s t!e true

birt!&lace o) t!e elves is lost in t!e s!ado.s o) time, or &er!a&s it .as destroyed durint!e reat El).ar- W!atever t!e case, it is li#ely t!at Oert! is not t!e oriin &lanet-

Still, t!e elves o) Oert! tend to be /&urer/ in )orm t!an t!e elves o) many ot!er.orlds- $!eir ideals and t!eir oals are o)ten closer to t!e AD"D standard t!an t!ose o)ot!er .orlds- In almost every reard, t!ey are t!e averae el), save )or t!e ruac! and

t!e valley elves-

$!e ruac! are muc! li#e sylvan elves, livin li#e t!em in t!e dee&, &ristine)orests o) un&o&ulated areas- Li#e sylvan elves, ruac! tend to be muc! less civili3ed

t!an t!eir ot!er cousins- One area in .!ic! t!ey di))er, !o.ever, is in t!eir savaery-

W!ile ordinary sylvan elves are ornery and un)riendly, t!e ruac! are do.nri!tvicious- Sylvan elves resent intrusion into t!eir lands, .!ile ruac! usually #ill t!ose

.!o do so- Gruac! cannot stand t!e com&any o) any ot!er !umanoids not naturally o)

t!e )orest- $!is includes druids and ot!er elves, alt!ou! it does not a&&ly to nym&!s or

dryads- On t!e ot!er !and, t!ey &ossess a close #ins!i& .it! t!e animals o) t!e

.oodlands, o)ten dealin .it! t!em more eually t!an .it! !umanoids- $!e ruac!'s

attitude o) brutality )or all outsiders is .ell #no.n- $!eir !atred carries )ar into t!e realmo) violence- $!e ruac! enerally use tra&s and snares to ca&ture outsiders .!o

a&&roac! too closely to t!eir cam&- $!ese tra&s become more and more cruel t!e closer

one nears suc! a cam&- $!e ot!er subrace o) el) in t!e .orld o) Grey!a.# is t!e valley el)- $!eir name is


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derived )rom t!eir !ome in t!e ?alley o) t!e Mae- As servants or allies to t!e Mae, t!ey

&rotect t!e land in e5c!ane )or t!e Mae's ability to &rotect t!em )rom outside t!reats-

$!e Mae !as, many believe, set u& a net.or# o) valley el) s&ies to &rotect t!eland and raid nearby &o.ers- Since valley elves are rou!ly t!e same !ei!t as !umans,

t!ey can usually &ass in disuise t!rou! !uman lands- >nderstandably, suc! in)iltration

disturbs t!e nei!borin &eo&les, and t!ey .ould be !a&&y to see t!e valley elveseliminated-

Most ot!er elves des&ise valley elves- $!e common elven belie) is t!at t!ese elves

!ave sold out t!eir dinity and t!eir inde&endence )or t!e )leetin &rotection o) a !uman.i3ard-

Since t!e el) li)es&an is so muc! reater t!an !umans', t!e elves .ill no doubt

outlive t!eir /&rotector,/ unless !e c!ooses t!e o&tion o) becomin a lic!- I) t!is is t!e

case, t!e ot!er elves may .ell come and eliminate t!eir .ay.ard bret!ren- $!ey .on'tstand to see more o) t!eir #ind corru&ted by evil- $!e valley elves already live under a

cloud o) sus&icion )or t!eir tendency to )ollo. t!e orders o) t!e Mae's dro. lieutenant,

and becomin vassals o) an undead beast .ould be t!e last stra. )or any ri!tt!in#in

el)- $!e valley elves !ave ada&ted .ell to t!e danerous environment o) t!e Barrier

0ea#s- Even be)ore t!e comin o) t!e Mae, t!ey )ended .ell )or t!emselves in t!e&erilous lands nearby- A)ter !is arrival, t!ey became a &art o) t!e daner in t!e area by

&rotectin t!eir lord )anatically- Some say t!ere can be )e. better bodyuards t!an

3ealous elves- $!e Mae o) t!e ?alley is .ell &rotected indeed-

%A?E1LO@$ Cam&ain World

$!ere are no #no.n elves native to t!e dar# domains- $!e maNority o) elves )ound in t!edemi&lane live in t!e domain o) Sit!icus and are oriinally )rom (rynn- Here, t!ey are

)orced to remind Lord Sot! o) !is crimes, #ee&in alive t!e memory o

Documents

The Complete Book of Elves