4.3 Elves

Elves are tall, lithe, and graceful. They tend to have an air of confidence at all times, and even their mistakes seem intentional. Elves have the longest lifespan of any civilized species, and even comparatively young elves carry a weight of experience that can be daunting for non-elves. For millenia, elves were the most powerful civilization above ground, while dwarves claimed the underground. More recently, humans have usurped elves as the most powerful civilization above ground, while dwarves have kept their claim. This history, combined with their natural differences, has created an ancient rivalry between elves and dwarves. Size: Medium. Attributes: -1 Constitution, either +1 Dexterity or +1 Perception. Special Abilities:

• Elven Serenity: Elves gain a +1 bonus to Mental defense.
• Keen Senses: Elves gain a +2 bonus to the Awareness skill (see Awareness).
• Low-light Vision: Elves have low-light vision, allowing them to see clearly in shadowy illumination (see Low-light Vision).
• Sure-Footed: Elves gain a +2 bonus to the Balance and Stealth skills (see Balance, and Stealth).
• Trance: Elves do not sleep, and are immune to magical ✨ effects that would cause them to sleep. Instead of sleeping, elves can trance for 4 hours. An elf in trance may make Perception-based checks at a -5 penalty. Elves must still avoid strenuous activity for 8 hours to heal and gain other benefits of taking a long rest.

Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, any one common language (see Table 8.4: Common Languages).