Scaled Elf

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I had always believed the Soartian people to be of meek disposition and quiet living. Some days, I - like many others, I assume - would wonder if they even existed were it not for the evidence of them in multiple historical records. It was one of many motivators for my life as a researcher, to uncover the secrets of this ancient, isolated culture; being granted the opportunity to gain a coveted look beyond the Ando Jing Pass was a milestone in my career. And I could, and would, write at least three volumes on the many things I beheld in those ancient mists - were I not prohibited from doing so.  

Archivist Maridithas of Caer Essarine, Draconic Legacy: Gods Among Mortals

Draconic Descendants

Myth claims that scaled elves and dragonborn are descended from the same ancient patriarch, a dragon named Zmeu that loved a fey woman enough to shed its immortal scales to become her husband - a wish granted by the gods, with the condition that Zmeu would wait three days to be transformed. When Zmeu awoke as a half-dragon, he could not contain his excitement and ran to his bride. The transformation was never completed, and their twin sons were born with draconic traits: one with a dragon's head and body covered in scales, the other graced with elven beauty and a pair of majestic scaled wings. It's said that the former later stole a great blessing from the gods away from the latter, and the two races have been at odds ever since - to the point that a dragonborn would be cautioned to enter into any borders under reign of the scaled elves.  

Closed Borders

It has been an age since the scaled elves were commonplace. The Dragonscourge tainted draconic reputation for all who bore the bloodline, and while some worked to repair it, the scaled elves closed themselves off from the rest of the world, preferring to live in monasteries and communes of their own maintenance. Some sects have settled in functioning societies and begun to open up to other races, while others remain staunchly suspicious nomadic tribes. All, however, are known to have extremely close family ties, strict codes of honor, and a great respect for history and mythology. Traditions are built to last among the scaled elves, with values passing consistently from one generation to the next with little outside influence. They appreciate a simple existence, the value of the community, and the balance of life.  

Royal Lineage

The scaled elves can be born with any scale color that a dragonborn can, as they share the same original ancestry. However, while other cultures look upon red dragonborn with hesitation at best, among the scaled elves, those among them with red wings are considered of royal bloodline--said to have descended from the first of the red Chromatic dragons of ancient myth. It is believed this bloodline could be traced back to Zmeu himself, as it's widely believed the scaled elf patriarch had red wings himself. It is rare indeed to meet a red scaled elf anywhere outside a royal court, though this rarity is succeeded only by scaled elves of Metallic bloodlines. Due to the age-old bitterness between the Chromatics and the Metallics, and the history of scaled elves fighting on the side of the former, those who bore the blood of their enemies were over time swiftly excommunicated, if not outright eradicated.  

Scaled Elf Names

Male Names: Zmeu, Shen, El Luca, Florin, Li Elen, Jun Sa, Mihai, Zhang Loc, Dragos, Radu, Uru Ji

Female Names: Anca, Iona, Shu Istar, Costica, Narien, Lu Yara, Minhina, Daria, Liling, Hlon Fang

Family Names: Fa Ria, Zan Turma, Yu Lanta, Shan Vala, Chi Alcarin, Zhi Urime, Su Merca, Lu Istare

Racial Traits

- Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1, and your Charisma increases by 1.

Age. Being more short-lived than most feykind, the scaled elves greatly value their time. Adulthood begins at 16 for males, and 14 for females, and a typical scaled elf lives to be about 275 years old.

Alignment. The scaled elves are known for being pragmatic and honorable, tending toward Lawful Neutral or Neutral Good alignments. Historically, however, some have been known to lean toward more Evil intents, supposedly within the more dubious Chromatic bloodlines.

Size. Scaled elves tend to be taller than even the average elf due to their draconic ancestry, with 6-7ft being the average height range. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Scaled Wings. You have a flying speed of 60 feet. Wearing heavy armor reduces your speed to 25. Your wings can also function as shields, increasing your base AC by 2 (+1 per wing).

Talon Strike. Your talons are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Draconic Advantage. You have draconic ancestry. Choose one type of dragon from the Draconic Ancestry table. You have advantage against a specific type of damage depending on the dragon type, as shown in the table.

Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common, Elvish and Draconic.