Elf
Ability Score Increase +1 Dex
Size Medium
Speed 30 ft
Darkvision. Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in Perception.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Trance. Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Heritage. Elves come from a number of traditions and backgrounds, each named after a nature-related term. These heritages set elves apart from one another, giving them slightly different abilities from one another. Choose a heritage for your elf.
Lily
Even the haughtiest of other elves consider lily elves to be arrogant. They largely believe that elves are innately superior to other races in the Sora. Not only that, they say they alone among elves can claim to be perfect. They point to their own grace, refinement, and beauty as evidence of their inherent superiority. In areas where lily elves wield power, they often do it at the expense of others, oppressing others, including elves of different heritages. The more power they have, the more insidious and systemic this oppression becomes. On realms where they rule, other elves tend to be second class citizens at best, while other races are driven out or enslaved. This sense of superiority is drilled into their children nearly from birth, perpetuating an ugly cycle. Those lily elves who recognize the injustice inflicted upon others often succumb to societal pressures and remain silent.
Ability Score Increase. You have been taught refined manners and social graces. Your Charisma increases by 2.
Graceful Riposte. You have been taught to capitalize on the failures of those who would do you harm. If an opponent attacks you and does not hit, you may use your reaction to immediately make a melee weapon attack against that foe if they are within your reach. Once you use this trait, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.
Innate Agility. Your movements have always been precise; when they weren't, you were subject to ridicule and punishment. You may add half your proficiency bonus to any Dexterity skill checks for skills you are not already proficient in.
Moonflower
Not all nature can be found in the light, nor do all elves live in bright, sunny forests. Moonflower elves live in darker locations such as underground caverns, regions which experience little daylight, or places with thick, constant cloud cover. These places tend to be heavy in elemental shadow, permeating the moonflower elves to their core. This is reflected in their grim, cautious outlook on life. Moonflower elves know that life begins with the darkness of the womb or egg and ends with the darkness of the grave. However, there can also be beauty in darkness, with many flowers that bloom only at night, fireflies that light up the sky at dusk, and creatures so different from those which inhabit the light. They try to help others see this beauty as well.
Ability Score Increase. When dwelling in shadow, you must always be aware of yourself and your surroundings. Your Wisdom increases by 2.
Necrotic Resistance. The fuliginous energy which suffuses your home does not bother you. You have resistance to necrotic damage.
Shadowy Step. Shadow is not merely the absence of light, but an element that holds affinity with itself. As an action, you may step into an area of darkness or shadow large enough to cover your entire body and teleport to any other dark area of similar size within 30 feet as long as the space is unoccupied. You do not need to see the destination location; you can sense the presence of any dark area large enough to fit you. Once you use this trait, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.
Orchard
Unlike the wild, chaotic nature of a grove, orchards are orderly and planned. Orchard elves are those who have mastered nature, bending it to their will. Their arcane knowledge rivals all but the Dranomyr Archive and they make use of this power to achieve marvelous feats. This power did not arise over night, however; orchard elves boast ancient, storied civilizations. Their civilizations often have legacies of battling demons, dragons, and other powerful creatures. They live in expansive, majestic cities formed from sculpted trees, uplifted crystal spires, and shimmering palaces of pure magic. Many orchard elves are proud of their cultures, something which gives them a reputation as arrogant and haughty by others. But the achievements of orchard elves are undeniable.
Ability Score Increase. In order to continue their dominance, orchard elves ensure all young are highly educated. Your Intelligence increases by 2.
Learned. As a student, you focused studies on either the history of your people, learning about their rise to power. You may gain proficiency in one skill, choosing from Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion.
Cantrip. Even those who do not study magic as a profession pick up a trick or two among your people. You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.
Extra Language. With such an ancient and powerful culture, your homeland welcomes visitors from all over. You can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice.
Valerian
While elves naturally have a great affinity for the fey, valerian elves are those who inhabit worlds or areas which are deeply instilled with the fey. In such places, the state between wake and sleep is blurred. Valerian elves live in the fuzzy middle, walking fully neither in reality nor dreams. Valerian elves thus tend to have personalities much more commonly associated with the fey they reside near, often being mischievous, hedonistic, and carefree. Their societies tend to be the most unstructured of elven heritages, devoting more of their time to personal enrichment and enjoyment than others. Valerian elves take great pleasure in activities others may consider frivolous, but what others think of them rarely matters to a valerian elf.
Ability Score Increase. Constantly straddling the line between fey and earthly requires great strength of will. Your Wisdom increases by 2.
Incisive Sense. Tricks and pranks were a fact of life growing up, so you have learned how to spot the difference between falsehood and reality. You have advantage on Investigation and Insight checks.
Blessing of Somnolence. Fay magic courses through you, which you can tap on to trick and fool others. You know the Light cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast Sleep once, and it recharges after a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast Invisibility (self only) once, and it recharges after a long rest. You do not need the material components required of the spells. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Wood
Sometimes viewed as primitive by those who have a limited view of progress, wood elves are among those most in tune with nature. The harmony they have with the natural world brings unparalleled knowledge and understanding of it. Some of the most capable herbalists and apothecaries in the Sora come from among the wood elves. They live in large, expansive wilds which are filled with all number of thriving flora and fauna. Outsiders who venture into their lands are met with verdant forests with seemingly no sight of construction, farms, or other signs of civilization. Little do they realize that wood elf houses are all around them, made from ancient trees and thick brambles shaped into structures by powerful druids. These trees, enhanced by druidic magic, provide a bounty of food, with animals working in cooperation with the elves to keep the land free and safe.
Ability Score Increase. You are greatly attuned to nature. Your Wisdom increases by 2.
Cantrip. The veneration your people have for nature extends to teaching all at least some druidic magic. You know one cantrip of your choice from the druid spell list. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.
Fleet of Foot. Running freely through the wilds as a child has taught you how to move with speed. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.
Mask of the Wild. You have lived in harmony with nature your entire life, so much that you almost blend into it. You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena.