Sunday, August 24, 2014

Gloom Elves

Gloom or shadow elves are a subrace found in Noxia, the somber northern country of Azurth. They are Noxia's primary inhabitants, having risen from underground habitations to colonize the surface with the Witch Queen Morthalia's ritual working that caused Umbra, the Shadow Moon, to stand still above the land and made it visible to mundane eyes. The gloom elves were at first allies of Angvaine and Nocturose when the pair of would-be conquerors arrived from the Witchocracy of Ix. Ultimately, they sided with the rightful queen Morthalia after the usurpers fell out, and it's likely their wizards taught her the Umbral ritual.

Gloom elves have skin colors ranging from ashen to dark gray. Their eyes range from pale to the color of bloodstone. They are often thin by elven reckoning and have larger ears. Gloom elves are longer lived than other elves; they can live over a millennia. However, they decline more rapidly with age. This is often cited as the reason for their morbid pre-occupations and yearnings for undeath.

Ability Score Increase. Intelligent score increased by 1.
Superior Darkvision. Radius of 120 feet.
Sunlight Sensitivity. Gloom elves have a disadvantage on attack rolls and on vision-based Wisdom (Perception) checks in direct sunlight.
Cantrip. Gloom elves know one cantrip of their choice from the wizard spell list.
Weapon Training. They have a proficiency with rapiers, shortswords, and hand crossbows.


5 comments:

David said...

"the Witchocracy of Ix"

That term is hott. (Worthy of two Ts.)

Gothridge Manor said...

Yeah, witchocracy is pretty cool. I'm not willing to go with hot with two t's, but it has my attention.

Trey said...

Thanks, though I can't take credit for the neologism "witchocracy" as it was pinched from China Mieville.

Porky said...

This works. It's evocative right out of the gate, even without the 30-40 years of development.

Anonymous said...

Much more interesting than D&D's usual drow. Shadow magic and necrourgy from the elves is always fun.