Elves

There are three loose subtypes of elves in Terranuova: They each have distinct cultural features based on the Elven racial template.
 * Green Elves
 * Red Elves (Draioth)
 * Grey Elves

The origins of the elves

Interbreeding with other peoples
Elves can pass on their characteristics either via magical influence or by interbreeding with other peoples. Elf-human hybrid people are commonly seen in Ladinh; the Belfry elves are almost all hybrids of some kind. There's no theoretical barrier between elf and dwarf interbreeding, but religious differences get in the way.

Green Elves
Green Elves are self conscious about their appearance and very big on status. Even Cartel Cimmaron, the community of Green Elves with the most practical outlook on life, still places a lot of emphasis on "being seen" and keeping up certain standards. Thus Green Elf aspirant burghers, community leaders or socialites almost always have a glamour up - particularly around humans.

Some of this has to do with human perceptions about elves - they are supposed to be "the Fair Folk". Terranuovan elves are pleasant enough to look like, but they're less imposing and beautiful than the Motherland's old elven royalty. So the Green Elves are trying to step into much daintier shoes.

Unglamoured Green Elves have kinky hair, are human height or shorter, and have rather pointy eyeteeth. Their complexion is either olive skinned or a bit swarthy, depending on climate. Green Elves will glamour themselves to look taller, paler and more ethereal. This can sometimes make their skin look a bit washed-out and greenish. Green Elf children's ear tips often fold over forwards - so the richer families tape their children's ears back to ensure they grow into the classic elven point. Green Elves also grow wispy facial hair, which they shave fastidiously to better resemble their noble ancestors.

Back in the Motherland elves had a reputation for near-immortality. This stems from an elven practice of interring recently dead elves in their native soil. The process is called "going to ground". If the elf is worthy, they return to life to serve their clan for another generation. Terranuovan elves would prefer to fork out the price of a Raise Dead spell, or consort with the Y'd cantors to get sung back to life. That's because Terranuovan soil is not compatible with Green Elf physiology. Sure, a lucky few might return. Most interred Green Elves, however, suffer nasty side effects or even undeath if they do come back. As a result, it's common for paupers and criminals to have their corpses burned on small funeral pyres. Untended elven battle sites or villages stricken by plague tend to become very unpleasant places unless they are put to the torch.

This new mortality has made it far easier for Green Elves to be upwardly mobile - now you can actually kill your enemies and they might stay dead! There's no longer a stigma about intermarriage with humans, though the leaders of most Cartels stick to fishing in a limited gene pool.

Red Elves
Red Elf skin pigmentation works for their desert climate. These elves have red, speckled skin and red, black or brownish wiry hair. Red Elves have long, straight eartips which they daub with white clay for sun protection. Their sclera are yellowish and their eyes are blue, grey or brown, with very long eyelashes to help protect them from sand and dust. Red Elves are naturally tall and skinny, standing up to 7 feet tall, with long feet and hands.

Some elves enjoy the Morning tradition of body painting and wear very little clothing: others prefer a more Celtic look, using cloaks to keep the sun off. Red Elves tend to wear light sandals and micro-braid their hair into cornrows or a piled-up hairstyle.

Red Elf decorative arts and armours are limited to non metallic materials. This means they often wear woven cuirasses inlaid with animal bone, beads or leather strips. Elven braiding is complex and reminiscent of Old Albion knotwork. Leather armour is often inlaid with opals and imbued with magic that makes it as strong as steel plate. Some coastal elves in Boorloo buy sharkskin armour off the Ningalu.

Red Elf culture has shaped itself to better fit the desert climate of New Albion. This means that Red Elves are capable of "going to ground" within the earth of their sacred site. Bodies are preserved and brought to the city of Wailing: they are interred in the Nameless mountain that was once the portal from Old Albion. Eventually, Red Elves walk back out of the desert to the city of Dancing, where they are reacclimated to society. The whole process is tapu and overseen by a few select Morning and Draioth wise folk.

Grey Elves
(Play this as a less neurotic Drow variant)
 * +1 Dex, -1 Con
 * +2 bonus on all saves involving magic (this doesn't scale up with levels like the Drow template did)
 * Darkvision 120ft
 * Alignment: True neutral. Personal freedom is important to Grey Elves.
 * Spell-like abilities: Darkness, Dancing lights (once per long rest)


 * Light sensitive: -1 to Attack rolls on bright sun/Daylight. +1 to Perception checks in shadow or low light.

Grey Elves are a mixed race. Their population started pretty small, so since their arrival in Terranuova they've had to open up culturally and take human partners.
 * Weapon proficiencies: crossbows, shortswords, rapiers or long daggers (things that work in caves)

Grey Elves are happy to venture outdoors, though they prefer the shade and relative familiarity of the jungle around the Belfry. They have straight hair, pale grey, white or blue with wispy sideburns and often kept in a sensible bun or topknot. Grey Elf eyes are large and dark with faint yellow or blue sclera and nictating membranes - in sudden daylight, these membranes help prevent a Grey Elf from getting dazzled after hours underground. Predictably, their skin is a dappled grey colour, often with dark freckles and patterned along the spine. Grey Elf fashion trends vary from the flamboyantly colourful (especially among females and Two) to utilitarian human-style (more popular among male-identifying elves).

The Grey Elves' ancestors, Dark Elves, had a close but troubled relationship with the spider goddess Llolth - whose influence hasn't managed to cross over into Terranuova. This leaves Grey Elves free to pick other deities, or simply adopt an agnostic attitude. It's also meant that the traditional Dark Elf power structure (with priestesses at the top) has become far less matriarchal and violent. The advent of Two as a common gender variant has only strengthened Grey Elf men's desire for equality - the younger generations especially feel that they should be free to choose their way in life. On a practical note, Grey Elf numbers are simply too small for their society to work as a competitive death cult.

Grey Elves aren't keen to leave the Belfry, and are still cautious about mixing with other peoples from the Motherland - they were very much hunted and despised in the Old Times, after all - but they will trade quite happily with indigenous peoples or with any humans who brave the jungle to pay them a visit. The Belfry itself is a giant potential treasure trove, which is enough of an attraction to bring plenty of exotic visitors.