Silvanesti Elves

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Damien

The Silvanesti are the mightiest of the Elves of Krynn. They are stronger, faster and slightly less frail than their Qualinesti cousins, as well as being more poised and far more intelligent than the Kagonesti. The Silvanesti enjoy their long lives, engaging in things like dance, song and music. And though they are generally a life-loving people who view suicide as the ultimate heresy and death as a travesty, they are also adept swordsmen and archers, capable of taking the life of any foe if necessary.

Personality: The Silvanesti are the most reclusive and haughty of their kind. They consider themselves above even their Elven kindred and therefore rarely associate even with them. Though they are not greedy, Silvanesti Elves do enjoy wealth and expensive possessions. Though dignified and even arrogant, Elves are not above the act of petty squabbling and arguments. However, due to their long lives, the Silvanesti have more time to reflect on matters and are not as apt to rush into decisions as members of other races do. Silvanesti Elves are very focused in concerns to tasks they feel they must accomplish, and have been known to hunt an enemy who has done them wrong for decades. The Elves of Silvanesti are by far the least likely to be leaving their homeland for adventuring, though it's not entirely unheard of.

Physical Description: Elves are the most beautiful and elegant race of Krynn, though some peoples would argue that fact (Dwarves, for example, who do not find Elves to be 'meaty' enough). The Silvanesti are the tallest of the Elves of Krynn, ranging in height from 5'2 - 5'9. Though they are the tallest, Silvanesti Elves still carry the same Elven trait of being very lithe and slender, never weighing more than perhaps 135 pounds. Even though they are slim, they are by no means weak. Anyone can plainly see the thin, tight muscles that may not give an Elf much brute strength, but still allows them to handle themselves well when they must fight hand-to-hand. Silvanesti Elves, being the most inherently magical of their kind possess a more unearthly quality of grace and poise than even other members of their own race. The movements and appearance of an Elf can be termed, as it has been many times, as haunting and unearthly. The Silvanesti have very distinct appearances; fine facial features, almond-shaped eyes, pale skin and slender fingers. Like all Elves, the Silvanesti have ears that taper to slight points, roughly a half-inch longer than normal human ears. Blonde hair is the most common for the Silvanesti, though other shades can be found as well; green eyes are also the norm, however blue and light brown are not entirely uncommon. Again like all Elves, the Silvanesti have no body hair, including facial hair, only the hair atop their head and eyebrows. A Silvanesti Elf reaches adulthood at 90 years of age and can live for a total of 1200 years, though that lifespan is not common, no Elf would die of old age before their 700th year. Silvanesti Elves do not require as much sleep as other races, so 4-5 hours of sleep is the same for an Elf as a human sleeping for 8 hours.

Relations: Elves in general are haughty and detached, therefore having strained relations. Silvanesti Elves above all have this problem and often see themselves as above even other Elves. They have a mutual dislike of the Kagonesti and a grudging respect, yet distrust for Qualinesti Elves. Silvanesti Elves dislike most humans, though some respect the Knights of Solamnia (if they're still around in your campaign). Minotaurs are seen as barbaric and stupid, Gnomes as irritating, Dwarves as petty (yet Elven-Dwarven relations are typically the best) and the Silvanesti view the Kender race as often annoying, yet harmless and innocent and thus, Kender are often welcomed into Silvanesti... provided they have someone watching them.

Alignment: Silvanesti Elves are typically of good alignment and occasionally neutral. Any Silvanesti Elves of evil alignments are known as dark Elves and are quickly sent away from Silvanesti.

Elven Lands: Silvanesti is the only Silvanesti Elf land. However, depending on the campaign and time-setting, Silvanesti Elves may or may not be welcomed into Qualinesti, Ergoth, Solamnia and other human lands.

Religion: The religion of the Silvanesti is based around the devout worship of Paladine, Mishakal and the other gods of good. Open worship of neutral gods is not allowed and open worship of dark gods results in immediate expulsion from Silvanesti.

Language: Silvanesti Elves speak a form of Elvish commonly known as Silvanesti Elvish. The languages of the Silvanesti and Qualinesti are so similar that one who speaks one language can easily understand and communicate with someone who speaks the other. Silvanesti Elvish is probably the more beautiful sounding of all the lovely Elvish languages and when on the subject of linguistics, a Silvanesti Elf will be quick to point this fact out.

Names: Elven names are beautiful and always original. Whether an adaptation of an ancestor's name or simply made up, the name will always have an original meaning. Some Elves will change their name upon reaching adulthood, if they decide their name may not fit their personality. Examples of Elven names are Vanthanoris, Silthanan and Herlasana.

(Silvanesti)Elven Racial Traits

• +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence
• Medium Size
• Base Speed - 30 feet
• Immunity to magic sleep spells and effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against Enchantment spells or effects.
• Low-light vision: Elves can see twice as far as humans can in moonlight, starlight, torchlight and other similar conditions.
• Proficiency with longsword, shortbow, composite bow, longbow and composite longbow.
• +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search and Spot checks. An elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if the elf were actively looking for the door.
• +2 racial bonus to Hide, Wilderness Lore and Move Silently when in a forest.
• Automatic Languages: Common and Silvanesti Elvish. Bonus Languages; Solamnic, Qualinesti Elvish and Kagonesti Elvish. The Silvanesti generally also learn languages that may be of use to them in concerns to enemies. Thus, a Silvanesti Elf understanding Goblin, Ogre or any other language of a common Elven enemy is not uncommon.
• Favored Class: Wizard.

Pre-Cataclysm Silvanesti Elves

It should be noted that the Silvanesti were not nearly as reclusive and generally 'stuck-up' prior to the Cataclysm as they were afterward. They did grow more and more arrogant and self-important as the decades after the Cataclysm passed, however before that they were more apt to adventure and aid others. So if a campaign is set in Pre-Cataclysm times, it stands to reason that more Silvanesti Elves would be encountered outside of their lands as would be in a campaign set during the War of the Lance.

Pre-Cataclysm Silvanesti are also far more war-like, considering (especially in the very early centuries of Krynn) they had fought many battles against both Dragon and Ogre. Because of this, campaigns with very early settings, such as the Second Dragon War, may warrant a Silvanesti character having slightly different traits than described above. For example they may have a +2 racial bonus to attack Dragons or an Initiative bonus when faced with Ogres.

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