Elder Elves

The full background breakdown will be coming soon, but here is a placeholder description:

Elder elves were once simply called "elves." There were no other varieties of elf on Sert; there were just the mystical, charismatic, nature-respecting elves of old. However, in the Sixth Age rifts had grown between certain factions of elves. Some wanted only to study magic more extensively, some wanted greater dealings with outside races, some wanted to practice darker magics in private, and some wanted to uphold nature as the most important of elvish ideals. This led nearly to a civil war, when a cataclysmic event occurred: elvish revolutionaries, allied from multiple sects, thought they had learned of a great spell known as Ultima, which would hold the power to destroy the corrupt (in their mind) capital of the elves along with its ruling class and richest supporters. But the spell of Ultima was incomplete, and backfired into a terrible curse.

The curse created the region that was known as Wakegrave Wood from most of the greater elven forest of Pithamos, leaving behind only a fragment of the once beautiful and vast woodland to still be peopled by the living. To the elves' surprise, they found that the spell had also divided their race into four distinct varieties of elf: grey elves, high elves, dark elves, and wood elves. In the current timeline, Wakegrave Wood has just been fixed of its condition by a counter-casting of the true Ultima by Lefty Pyrottin, freeing up the elves who had existed as cursed undead to return to normal life once more. While the Ultima spell did not mend the rift of the new elven races, they now coexist with the "elder elves" that were freed by Ultima, who must cope with a very different world.

ELDER ELF RACIAL TRAITS


 * +2 Strength, +4 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, +4 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, +4 Charisma: Elder elves seem to have no weakness, merely areas of greater strength. They are particularly dextrous, intelligent, and charismatic, though they may excel at any field.


 * Medium Size: No bonuses or penalties.


 * Base speed of 40 ft.


 * +2 racial bonus on Balance, Climb, Craft: Bowyer/Fletcher, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Jump, Knowledge: Arcana, Move Silently, Perform, Ride, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Survival, Swim, Tumble, Use Magic Device, and Use Rope.


 * +4 to Listen, Search, and Spot checks. An elder elf who merely passes within 10 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it. An elf’s senses are so keen that she practically has a sixth sense about hidden portals.


 * Immune to any sleep effects, +3 saving throw bonus vs. enchantment and necromancy spells and effects, and the same +3 vs. any effects that originate from the undead.


 * Low-light Vision: An elf can see four times 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: Elves receive the Martial Weapon Proficiency feats for the longsword, rapier, longbow (including composite longbow), and shortbow (including composite shortbow) as bonus feats. Elves esteem the arts of swordplay and archery, so all elves are familiar with these weapons.


 * Bow Specialization: Elder elves are particularly adept at using bow-class weapons, and receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 bonus on damage rolls with any bow-class weapon they use.


 * Gift for Magic: Elder elves are also exceptional at spellcasting of any kind, receiving a +2 caster level bonus to any spellcasting class they enter, and all spell save DCs get a +1 bonus, whether arcane or divine.


 * Aether Bending: Elder elves gain spell resistance equal to 12 + their character level. The same gift for magic also distorts any offensive magic used against them.


 * Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Runic, Sylvan. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Dwarven, Arithmeian, S'zeltoran, High S'zeltoran, Orcish, Giant, Undercommon, Goblin, Celestial.


 * Favored Class: Any.


 * ECL: +3