Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a humanoid race that are one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow. Becoming mature by the age of 25, they are also famously long-lived, capable of living more than half a millenium and remaining physically youthful. Possessed of innate beauty and easy gracefulness, they are viewed as both wonderous and haughty by other races, their natural detachment seen by some as introversion or xenophobia.

There are several different subraces of elves, including aquatic elves, dark elves (Drow), grey elves, high elves, moon elves, rockseer elves, snow elves, valley elves, wild elves (grugach), and winged elves (avariel).

Physique
Slightly shorter than the average human, elves are also noticably more slender and graceful (this is reflected in a bonus to Dexterity, and a Constitution penalty), averaging between 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet and 95 to 135 pounds. Males are slightly more muscular on average, there is little difference in height between the sexes, and neither sex grows facial hair. Their features in general may be described as more angular and defined; including long, pointed ears and wide, almond-shaped eyes. Most elves have fair skin and hair, though this is no more true of all elves than it is of humans. They have a reputation for careful grooming, more so than perhaps any other race. This frequently extends to their clothing, which is luxurious and well-kept, though not to the point of impracticality.

Elves do not sleep as most other creatures do, instead falling into a four-hour restful trance. Consequently, elves are unaffected by sleep-inducing spells and effects, and are able to remain active far longer than other races.

Religion
In several campaign settings, elves have their own pantheon. Also known as the Seldarine, it usually consists of the leader Corellon Larethian, as well as Aerdrie Faenya, Deep Sashelas, Erevan Ilesere, Fenmarel Mestarine, Hanali Celanil, Labelas Enoreth, Rillifane Rallathil, Sehanine Moonbow, and Solonor Thelandira. Other elven gods may be present in different campaign settings.

Elves in Greyhawk
As Greyhawk is assumed to be the default campaign setting, elves are not noticably different from the basic descriptions found in most published material.

Elves in the Forgotten Realms
The various elven subraces are more prominent in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, and Faerûn boasts six major sub races. It is believed that these elves were brought over to Abeir-Toril by their gods.

The history of the elven race are marked by great empires and a gradual decline and retreat from the mainland Faerûn. Their once expansive relams have shrunk back in territory and prestige due to the influence and expansion of the younger races, particularly humans. They remain influential, however, much of the shape of Faerûn is influenced by conflict between the various subraces of the elves.

The six elven subraces of Faerûn are: the moon elves, the sun elves, the wood elves, the Drow, the wild elves and the aquatic elves.


 * Moon Elves: The moon elves are the most common of all the elves in Faerûn and are also known as silver elves. They typically have fair skin and hair that runs in hues from silver-white to black or blue.  While human style hair colors are rare, eye color can be remarkably similar, with colors ranging from blue to green.  The majority of the half-elves in Faerûn come from parings between humans and moon elves.
 * Sun Elves: Sun elves are primarily found upon the island of Evermeet and because of this, they are less common across the rest of Faerûn. With bronze colored skin, gold, blond or black hair, they are also called gold elves.  Sun elves are less physically fit than their counterparts.
 * Wood Elves: Wood elves are a reclusive subrace, prefering to live in such areas as the High Forest. They place more emphasis on strength than learning.
 * Drow: Once elves known as the Illythiiri, the drow were banished to the Underdark when their matron goddess Lloth broke from the primary elven pantheon. Of all the elves they are the only ones that are inherently evil and hate their cousins with an undying passion.  They are smaller than their cousins, both shorter and thinner and their skin resembles polished obsidian.
 * Wild Elves: The most reclusive of all the elves, the wild elves pride themselves on their isolation and skill at keeping hidden. Their skin tends to be brown and they have similar colored hair which lightens with age.
 * Aquatic Elves: Aquatic elves are also known as sea elves. They live beneath the waves of Faerûn and can breath water as easily as their cousins on land breath air.

Elves in Eberron
Once the slaves of the giants of Xen'drik, the elves of Eberron immigrated over time to the continents of Aerenal and Khorvaire, establishing nations and distinct cultures on both. Most notable are the elves of Aerenal, whose culture revolves around the veneration of the Undying Court.