The High Elves are often regarded as the most arrogant beings to ever set foot upon Migdalia. In their opinion, they have earned the right to be arrogant. High elves seem to embody the concepts of unearthly beauty, grace, and presence that elves are known for; indeed, they are the reason such stereotypes exist. In all things, they strive to maintain a sense of dignity and elegance. A high elf will not undertake an action if he cannot do it well, and this tradition has given them a reputation as the finest artists, poets, and artisans in Migdalia. For many high elves, life itself is art.High elves are the most patient of Migdalia’s races, and they devote their time to perfecting a task rather than just merely completing the task. To most high elves, rushing a task or finishing a project in anything less than perfection is betraying the elven ideal. As a result, they tend to have a narrower range of skills than other individuals, but are the unrivaled masters of the skill, art, or craft to which they turn their efforts. This unrelenting drive for perfection is also reflected in high elven combat. Their swordsmen typically train with their weapon for decades upon decades, achieving a level of skill rarely seen among the “lesser races.”
High Elves tend to think in extremes. Either they are extremely passionate about a particular subject, or they can hardly contain their disdain. The crisp insults and taunts of High Elves are legendary, and the High Elves seem to have a knack for quickly and thoroughly humiliating those who cross them. High Elves have exceedingly high standards, both for themselves and others. Those who can meet or exceed those standards are worthy of respect. Those who fall short are not even worthy of attention.
Personality: Most high elves are snobbish, elitist, and arrogant. They also possess a keen sense of beauty and grace, and a drive for perfection that constantly forces them to seek self-improvement. With such a long life, high elves tend to keep a broad perspective on events, remaining aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. High elves reply to insults with disdain and, more often than not, an insult infinitely more hurtful and insightful. Wherever they go, high elves expect to be treated with the respect and awe to which they believe they are entitled.
Physical Description: High elves are tall and slim, standing about 5-˝ to 6 feet tall and weighing 115 to 155 pounds, with high elf men the same size and only slightly heavier than the women. They possess unearthly grace and fine features, but tend to be somewhat frail. Their complexion is pale and flawless; facial hair is rarely present. Both genders keep their fine silky hair long , and always arranged in elegant designs. Hair color ranges from blonde to silver, with deep, crystal-clear blue eyes. High elves prefer smooth silks and simple yet elegant jewelry. Their armor is always in pristine condition and their robes of the richest materials. A high elf reaches adulthood at about 80 years of age and can live to be more than 700 years old.
High elves do not sleep, as members of other races do. Instead, an elf meditates in a trance for 4 hours a day. An elf resting in this fashion gains the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep. While meditation, a high elf dreams, though these dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive though years of practice. The majority of high elves dream about themselves, basking in self-adoration and taking pride in how wonderful they are.
Relations: High elves regard all other races as “lesser races.” Humans are unrefined, and have an unnerving tendency to repeat the same mistakes with each passing generation. Dwarves are vulgar, crass, and dull, while halflings are viewed as criminally insane kleptomaniacs, at best. Gnomes are typically killed on sight when possible, simply due to that race’s instigation of the Clockwork Wars. Other elven races are looked down upon with either pity (wood elves) or unrelenting hatred (dark elves).
These prejudices, combined with a high elf’s natural arrogance and tendency to casually insult those they deem unworthy of their presence, tend to give high elves their (not undeserved) snobbish reputation. Those few individuals who manage to befriend a high elf must typically endure decades of derision and arrogance before the high elf regards them as something similar to an equal. The short life spans of most non-elves result in few high elves possessing non-elven associates and friends, a fact which further fuels their arrogance.
Alignment: The majority of high elves are lawful, as their drive for perfection and long lives causes them to invariable fall into predictable patterns of living. Good and evil are represented about equally among high elven society, though most evil individuals focus their attentions upon non-elves rather than their own people. Most high elves, regardless of alignment, view other races as something like particularly intelligent dogs; the elves don’t actively wish them harm, but if they get hurt or killed...well, at least they weren’t a high elf.
Religion: High elf society venerates Avenal, the creator of their race. Clerics to Avenal are fond of making pilgrimages into human lands, spreading the teaching of their deity among the “unwashed barbarians” as they travel. Such elves are considered martyrs by many high elves, for voluntarily subjecting themselves to the presence of non-elves. Other deities are worshiped in high elven lands as well, particularly Evaine, Gaspar, and Corbin.
Language: High elves speak a fluid language of subtle intonations and intricate grammar. While elven literature is rich and varied, it is the language’s songs and poems which are most famous. Many bards learn elven so that they can add Elven ballads to their repertoires. The elven language is descended from Sylvan, and the two languages share many common words and constructions. Druidic is an offshoot of the elven language, though steeped in numerous esoteric terms and double meanings.
Names: When a high elf declares herself an adult, usually sometime after her 90th birthday, she also selects a name. Those who knew her as a youngster may still call her by her childhood name, and she may or may not care. An elf’s adult name is a unique creation, though it may reflect the names of those she admires or the names of others in her family. In addition, she bares her family name. Family names are combinations of regular Elven words; some elves traveling in foreign lands convert their family names into Common, simply to prevent humans and other races from butchering the delicate elven pronunciation of their names.
Adventures: Elves take up adventuring for a number of reasons, most notably to prove their superiority to “lesser races.” Thus, elven swordsmen will occasionally join human armies, but may leave disgusted if their superior technique is not complimented and appreciated. Poets may circulate their works throughout dwarven cities, attempting to instil some culture in the aesthetically-challenged race. Regardless of the actual reason for their adventuring lifestyle, many high elves secretly feel more comfortable among individuals who are willing to exist as flawed, imperfect beings. If only because such imperfection make the purity of the high elven race shine ever brighter.
Elf (High Elf) Racial Traits
* -2 Wisdom, +2 Charisma. High elves are confident and stunningly beautiful, but also egotistical and somewhat set in their ways.* Medium size. As Medium creatures, High elves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* High elf base land speed is 30 feet.
* Low-Light Vision: High elves can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
* Weapon Proficiency: High elves receive the Martial Weapon Proficiency feats for the bastard sword, longsword, greatsword, and short sword, as well the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat for the two-bladed sword and bastard sword. High elves esteem the art of swordplay, and all are familiar with these weapons.
* Immunity to magical sleep effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against Enchantment spells or effects.
* +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (history) checks. The high elf is considered to be trained in this skill. High elves age much slower than other races, and freely share knowledge of the past among with their children and other young elves. As such, high elves typically grow up listening to stories about ancient history...told by elves who actually participated in said ancient history.
* High elves are excellent craftsmen, and frequently choose to specialize in one skill above all others. He receives a +2 racial bonus on any one Craft skill of his choice.
* Goad (Ex): High elves are masters of insulting their opponents, and gain the Goad feat as a bonus racial feat. In addition, the high elf’s familiarity with insults and skill at delivering cunning retorts increases the save DC of this feat by +2.
* Automatic Languages: Elven.
* Bonus Languages: Alranian, Draconic, Gnome, Mohdrin, Orc, Sylvan, Travek.
* Favored Class: Fighter.
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