Elf

Elves are an intelligent people descended from the Sidhe, the faery folk, and are probably closest kin to the mountain nymphs called oreads, though with a much more developed culture and civilization. Once plentiful, they have slowly declined as humans spread. Wood elves, mountain elves and aquatic elves still keep colonies in certain forests, peaks and seas, and the most advanced branch, the high elves, dwell in Ys, the magical Mediterranean kingdom.

Elves are usually slim and fine-featured, with vivid green or blue-green eyes. Their skin ranges from pale white among high elves to tan among wood elves, and their hair from golden yellow to light brown. Most are striking, statuesque and more graceful than other races.

By human reckoning they live astonishingly long, most well beyond 800-900 years, yet they have few children, seldom more than one or two per couple, which has helped shrink their numbers. Of all humanoids, only elves are trusted by the Sidhe, though the nastier faeries dislike them as much as anyone. Because they understand Sidhe magic, they are far harder to fool with the tricks faeries love to play on more gullible folk. Every elf speaks Sylvan, the tongue of the Sidhe and sylvan races, and elves have a natural talent for magic, many taking up magical professions. All elves have infra-vision. They gain +1 on saves vs DEX, CHA and PER, and +2 on saves against Sidhe magic.