Elves

No humanoid race is older than the elves, and among the sidhe, the faery folk, none is more civilized. They were plentiful in the First Age but have gradually dwindled as humans spread across the world. Colonies of elves survive here and there, wood elves in some forests, mountain elves in the high country and aquatic elves in the seas, and there is a seagoing people as well, the high elves, known as builders and skilled navigators.

Elves tend to be slender and fine-featured, with bright green or blue-green eyes. Skin tones run from the pale white of high elves to the tan of wood elves, and hair from golden yellow to light brown. Most are tall and striking, moving with uncommon grace.

Measured against human lives, theirs are vast, often lasting beyond 800 or 900 years, yet children are few: a pair rarely raises more than one or two, one reason this ancient people has shrunk. Perhaps for that reason elves seldom hurry or display their feelings, even under heavy pressure. It is said an elf will never forget a kindness, nor ever pardon an act of aggression until vengeance or justice has been served.

That enduring memory lies behind their deep dislike of the Nethermen, who are related to the goblins, long-standing foes of the sidhe. They bear dwarves no grudge and hold no prejudice toward other races.

Elves have an innate gift for magic, and many take up magical professions; the high elves especially tend to swear themselves to a patron deity or demigod and serve as paladins and champions of their kind. In game terms elves have infravision, +1 on saves vs PER, DEX and CHA, and Sylvan, the faery language, as a bonus tongue. Their leaps are 25% longer than normal, but they carry only 8 lb for each point of STR.