Playable Races - High Elf

[Kirhart]

High Elf

Description: The ancient origins of the high elves are a legacy of tragedy and conflict, a series of events that has profoundly affected the development of the Quel'dorei.
The high elves are a stark contrast to their nocturnal cousins, the Night Elves. Embracing the light of the sun and forsaking the night, the high elves are the descendants of the very elves who served Azshara in the time of the Well of Eternity.
The Night Elves regard the high elven penchant for using arcane magic as careless, akin to a foolish child playing with fire.
The Schism that separates the Highborn elves and the night elves is one so ancient that no amount of diplomacy or offerings of peace can soothe the scars of history. The arrogance of the High elves led to the War of the Ancients and ultimately to the downfall of the golden age of elven civilization. Through the reckless use of arcane magic, the high elves allowed darkness to seep into the world and corrupt Azeroth.
Even now, the high elves find themselves enslaved to the very thing that often destroys them. Arcane magic is a powerful drug to the high elves, and it can be a lure to a dark and perilous path. Yet too many wield it as if they were doing no harm, and few but the oldest and most sage can recall the true reasons why the use of such magic is a dangerous and potentially damning practice. Regardless of the risk, some high elves press onwards to revel in the euphoria and power that the use of magic brings them.
The high elves are a tragic example of a race in decline. Their centuries of arcane practice have led them into an ever-tightening downward spiral. Now there are few true Quel'dorei left. Most have gone with Kael'thas Sunstrider to become the blood elves, and in doing so have allied with the sworn enemies of elvenkind, the naga.
Now the scant remaining Quel'dorei are typically those who have embraced the Light and seen the past powers of arcane magic and darkness. Distrusted by almost all of the races, the remaining high elves are pariahs in an age when there is little left for them but a life of mistrust and woe.

Appearance: Stand slightly taller than Humans. Usually over 6ft in height and weighs between 100-175lbs, depending on gender. They are slim, with sharp symmetrical features, often an exaggeration of perfect beauty. The high elves are uniformly fair in complexion, with white to flaxen colored hair. Their eyes are incredibly intense in color, seeming to glow with an inner light. While many high elves have blue or green eyes, violet and red are not unheard of.

Region: The high elves are a people without a home, now dwelling in the lands of humans after the forces of Prince Arthas and the rich Kel'Thuzad destroyed the city of Quel'Thalas. Now, most of the remaining true high elves dwell among humans, living in small communities and villages. Many had journeyed with Prince Kael'thas, the last leader of the Sunstrider dynasty, to join with Illidan and the naga. These elves eschewed their high elven ancestry in search for some way to placate their magical addiction and became the blood elves This change has forced the high elves into decline, causing them to doubt the future of their once proud race and drawing animosity toward them from other races who feel that the high elves have betrayed the Alliance.

Affiliation: Alliance. Most have placed themselves in a self-imposed exile, ashamed of the damage they have wrought upon the world with the abuse of their magic.
While humans still accept the high elves because of the aid that both races provided each other during the most recent attacks of the Burning Legion, many of the other races will only deal with the high elves if absolutely necessary.
The night elves in particular do not care for the company of high elves and can sometimes be openly hostile toward them. Time may heal the wounds, but arcane magic will always draw a rift between the two breeds of elf.

Faith: The common religious path is the Holy Light, sharing this faith with Dwarves and Humans. This philosophy does not penetrate deeply into the high elf society but those who follow the holy light are more approachable than most.

Names: They maintain the naming rituals that are millennia old. Many names of the elven priests and heros have become the names used by elves in modern times. They share a connection with the sun that is quite prevalent in their name chose of family names.

Male Name Examples: Mariel, Athaniar, Anador, Tharama, Viridiel, Malanior.
Female Name Examples: Anarial, Freja, Driana, Coria, Alanassori, Azhara
Family Name Examples: Boughstrider, Dawnblade, Lightbringer, Morningray, Sunstreader.

The High Elf      Base Attack Bonus: Fort Save: Ref Save: Will Save: Special
Racial Level:
1st                     +0                             +0             +0             +2            +1 Agility, spell-like abilities
2nd                    +1                             +0             +1             +2            +1 Agility, improved caster level
3rd                     +2                             +1             +1             +3            Empower Magic

Racial Traits:
> +2 Int, -2 Stam. The high elves are magically adept yet their willowy builds are frail.   
> Medium: Have no special bonus or penalties due to size
> Base land speed: 30 feet.
> Low-Light Vision: Can normally see two times farther than a human can in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. Can retain ability to distinguish color in these conditions
> Magic Addiction: Addicted to the use of arcane magic. Must spend 1 hour each morning in meditation, resisting the distractions of addiction, or take a -1 penalty to effective caster level for all arcane spells and -2 penalty on all saving throws against spells for that day. Devoting time to resisting the addiction is unnecessary if the high elf is within 50 feet of a moonwell. the addiction abates for a number of days equal to the high elf's Spirit modifier (minimum of 1 day)
> Racial Animosity: Night elves and Tauren can instinctively sense the disturbing innate arcane energies that addict the high elves. Because of this, high elves suffer a -2 circumstance penalty on all Charisma-based skill checks made when relating directly to night elves and tauren.
>Weapon Proficiency: High elves receive for free the Martial Weapon proficiency feats for the longbow, composite longbow, short sword, and longsword.
> +2 racial bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting spells or effects
> +2 racial bonus on Concentration, Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft skill checks. These skills are also considered class skills for all high elf characters.
>Automatic Languages: Common and Thalassian.
>Bonus Languages: Darnassian, Dwarven, Goblin, Kalimdoran, Orcish.
>Racial Levels: Unlike humans and other races high elves can take a few levels in 'high elf' as a class to develop their racial qualities more fully
>Favored Class: Mage. A multiclass high elf mage class does not count when determining wether he suffers an experience point penalty for multi classing.

Class Data:
Hit Die: d8
Skill points at 1st Character Level: (+2 Int modifier) x4
Skill points each additional level: 2 + Int modifier
"Class Skills: Concentration (Sta), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Listen (Spt), Sense Motive (Spt), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Spt)
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: High elves with levels ONLY in High elf (No actual class levels) are proficient in the use of simple weapons, their standard racial weapon proficiencies and light armor.
Spell-Like Abilities: A high elf of Int 10 or higher can cast four 0-level spells chosen from the archaist spell list each day as spell-like abilities. His caster level is that of a mage of his racial level.
Increased Caster Level (EX): All arcane spells are cast at +1 caster level, except for spell-like abilities.
Empower Magic (EX): Once per day, the high elf may apply the empower spell feat to an arcane spell as he casts it. The spell does not take any additional time to cast and does not use a higher-level spell slot.