Difference between revisions of "Vidari"

Revision as of 00:34, 9 April 2010

After the Great War of Gods, Alrayna wept for a full year. From her tears sprouted the massive forests Ardeste and Gartania and there she gave life to the Elves. They were created as a beautiful and captivating race with keen senses and a sensitive spirit, taught the science of magic from the dragons, and were gifted with art and love from the goddess.

Physiology

Elves are as majestic and beautiful as they are graceful and agile. They have long, pointed ears usually 5 to 7 inches in length. Most wear long, silky hair, have fair to pale skin, and have captivating eyes found in blues, violets, and greens. They generally don't differ in height or weight from Men, but their dexterous bodies make them appear more lithe. Elves begin maturing around age 50 and are considered adults by age 75. They live for many human lifetimes, often hundreds or sometimes thousands of years. Of all the other races, Men are the only ones capable of reproducing with Elves.

Appearance

An average elf is usually adorned in robes or gowns made of silk or fine linens, their dress typically matching the color of the seasons. Adventurers wear lavish cloaks over tunics or light armor. Many wear rings, circlets, or necklaces made of fine metals and gems. Few wear earrings as they claim it interferes with their keen hearing.

Personality

Elves are sometimes aloof, but more often it is the human perception of their difference in culture. They are passionate and enjoy life and laughter; many seek out all kinds of experiences and knowledge. Elves are mostly kind and polite, but deliver swift anger when it is warranted.

Habitat

The Elves live in great numbers in their homelands, the island nation of Ardeste and the forest nation of Gartania. Infrequently will Elves be found living among humans, and there are some Elves who live in solitude in forests or wilderness.

Elven cities are built from natural materials: predominantly wood and stone, but occasionally metal. They are always lush with greenery and life, with gardens and groves very common. Their homes are warm and inviting. Human visitors to the elven cities always describe them as feeling slightly alien or ethereal, a truly spiritual place.

Society

Elves live an orderly life. They have a ruling Council of Elders that makes political decisions and a noble court that enforces law. Very few Elves lack the common moral conviction of their kind, but it does sometimes occur. Most importantly, elves celebrate art, song, and magic. Elves enjoy food from the natural world, primarily nuts, fruits, and vegetables — in fact Elven produce is among the finest in the world. They are not at all opposed to eating meat, but usually do not since the food they grow provides all necessary nutrition. Elves also produce and consume unspeakably tasty wines and ciders.

Elves mate for life and revere new birth. While it is true that Men and Elves can reproduce, Men–Elf marriages and children are uncommon considering their vastly different lifespans. Births are celebrated with song and visitations by friends, family, and other town citizens. Marriages are a time of great celebration: song, dancing, and gift-giving, for the Elves consider marriage the best way to personify the love of the goddess. Deaths are very similar to births, as the Elves are very aware of the great cycle of life, but the songs and visitations bear a somewhat sad mood. If Elves have children, a small percentage of which do not, they tend to have 1–3.

Elves love archery, swordplay, and magic, and it is not uncommon to find an adventurer that practices one or more of these.

Relations

They sometimes ally with Men and to a lesser extent Half-Elves, but stereotypically find Dwarves stubborn and vulgar. They usually are indifferent to Halflings. Elves are usually repulsed by Dark Elves, often battling with them, but in the past there have occurred rare friendships (and even rarer, secret romance) between the two.

Motivations

Elven adventurers feel the wanderlust to experience the world. They typically pass human settlements unseen, either at night or under cover of forest. Goals that might take an Elf outside his or her home could deal with discovery (find a lost hymn to Alrayna, seek out the world's finest bow or sword, learn high magic), or with friends and love (seek out a soul mate, ascend the ranks of the Songweavers, seek out a lost sibling).

Max Caps

• Endurance 8
• Personality 8
• Presence 12
• Agility 12

Powers

• Elven Cunning. Elves have powerful vision and hearing, receiving a +3 to Spot and Listen checks. Their range for these senses is twice that of a human and can see clearly in all but pitch black.
• Hunch. Elves possess a supernatural intuition about looming danger, getting a "bad feeling" when events could go sour.
• Magic Sensitivity. Elves are innately sensitive to magic and mana. An Elf can touch an object and determine if it is infused with magic or covered by a spell. They can also locate sources of mana with a "you're getting warmer" feeling.