Elves “Sylandrae” – Zenith, Avalon (10 RP)
The elves of Qel’Oris (called the Sylandrae) are a proud and ancient people who have suffered immensely since the battle of the fall. Their civilization flourished in the southeastern reaches of Old Antravarcia, though mostly remained hidden in deep forests or upon tall mountaintops. It is said that their kingdom spread into the Realms Between, freely mingling with the realms of the fey in grand utopian cities that were completely harmonized with the natural realm. All this ended with the coming of the Nameless Dark.
Under the guidance of the hero Ilerial Whitewind, the sylandrae formed the tip of the spear against the forces of the Nameless Dark that had rapidly sent their human neighbors into disarray. While their casualties were many, particularly in the opening years of the war, they remained steadfast allies to the Arnans and Antravarcians until the Battle of the Fall where their queen and patron hero perished shortly after the Nameless Dark was defeated.
With the land that would become Avalon itself isolated from the rest of Zenith, the remaining sylandrae could not expect that the humans who were trapped with them would turn upon them so quickly. For reasons that are still unclear, the humans survivors from Antravarcia launched a quick offensive against their sylandrae neighbors, capturing many and slaying many more, resulting in the sylandrae retreating deeper into the forests and mountains.
So it has been for generations that the sylandrae and the Kingdom of Avalon have engaged in omnipresent skirmishing war. As the human society flourished at their expense, they became less concerned with prosecuting the war deep into the fortified forests and were content to keep the sylandrae contained. The elves, for their part, recognize that they do not have the numbers to overcome the rapidly breeding humans and the kalandrae that have been absorbed into their society but that has done little to quench their thirst for vengeance against what they view as the ultimate betrayal of their ancestors.
Physical Description: Sylandrae are fair-skinned, lean, and athletic. They still bear a great deal of sylvan grace, but that grace is tempered with a harsh discipline that can give them an intense presence despite their slender frames. Many sylandrae pierce their pointed ears, often with elaborate rings forged from the armor of either fallen companions or enemies. Like the fey, their colorations can vary widely but often keep to earth tones with the occasional vibrant eye coloration typically marking those with strong arcane talent in their blood. Sylandrae clothing is typically simple and devoid of embelishment, however certain warriors are fond of keeping scraps from their fallen enemies and incorporating it into their armor or uniform.
Society: Whatever remains of the serenely beautiful elven society has long since been eschewed in favor of martial traditions and an ongoing battle for survival and freedom against the humans of Avalon. With such low reproduction and maturation rates, the sylandrae were forced to convert every man, woman, and child into an ever-present standing army and that martial tradition lingers on to this very day. While many sylandrae feel a keen pain at the lost artistry of their past, the ever-present battle against the Avalonians takes constant precedence. As a result the elves of Qel’Oris are an astoundingly martial and often times rigid society.
Since Avalon’s return to the world of Zenith, a significant minority of sylandrae have left the island in a mass diaspora that has resulted in numerous elven enclaves across the many nations of the world. It is here, in secluded refuges far from Avalon’s shores that the elven culture of old is beginning to flourish once more. A renaissance of elven music and art is sweeping across the mainland of old Antravarcia and many elven refugees are reconnecting with their arcane and fey roots.
Relations: The sylandrae of Qel’Oris abhor their Avalonian oppressors and to a lesser extent all of humanity. Spending centuries secluded in their forest has given them a strong xenophobic bent, and many are confounded at the presence of other species at best. In the end the sylandrae prefer the company of their kin, though they feel a sense of guilty responsibility for the kalabrae as well, often viewing them as sorrowful reminders of thier past. Those that are able to escape from the endless cycle of war in Avalon still find themselves somewhat insular, however a primal instinct dating back to the Battle of the Fall ignites a certain kinship with gnolls, (non-Avalonian) humans, dwarves, danjir, and jambayana. Despite being directly responsible for their creation, many sylandrae are uncomfortable with the presence of the sylanvhor, seeing their creation as a step too far in their war against the humans.
Alignment and Religion: Elves of Qel’Oris trend strongly towards their orderly society which has kept them unified in their centuries of turmoil. This same turmoil has stripped away much of the grace and altruism that was what spurred Ilerial Whitewind to come to the Antravarcian’s aid in ancient times. While many within Qel’Oris are calling for an end to the seemingly endless war, these progressive voices are a relative minority amongst a species that has been so gripped with the prospect of vengeance. Sylandrae outside of Avalon are able to connect more to their ancient roots, trending more towards neutral alignments.
While the sylandrae obviously worship Ilerial Whitewind as their patron hero, much of their prayers to her go unanswered. Just over a century ago, the fallen angel Zekariel crashed into Qel’Oris and proclaimed himself an eternal ally in their war for freedom. Others still turn to nether forces as a means of power. Worship of the fey or the natural world has largely been forgotten in Qel’Oris, but is growing once more in enclaves outside of the homeland.
Adventurers: Though all sylandrae are expected to serve in the armies of Qel’Oris, there are many who find the prospect of continuing their endless war as hopeless and seek to find greater truth beyond the forests of Avalon. Those that are able to escape often find the world of Zenith to be their oyster. Most who leave are trying to find a greater purpose to their lives, or otherwise trying to garner outside political support for their homeland in the world of Zenith.
Names: Sylandrae only have surnames if they are associated with one of the few great old families of Qel’Oris, but are more often identified by their given name followed by a note on their lineage as the son or daughter of their similarly gendered parent. This tradition intensified after the Battle of the Fall as greater importance was placed on lineage and remembering those who had fallen in battle. Elven names still bear an exotic sylvan lilt to them.
Racial Features: Sylandrae racial statistics are identical to elves as presented in the Pathfinder Core Rulebook with one exception. The Elven Magic trait has been replaced with a variant of Eternal Grudge. Racial statistics are presented below. Elven characters may elect to take the standard Elven Magic trait in place of Eternal Grudge.
- +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, and –2 Constitution. Elves are nimble, both in body and mind, but their form is frail.
- Medium
- Low-light vision
- 30 ft. movement
- Elven Immunities: Elves are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
- Eternal Grudge: For centuries elves have waged war against their human oppressors and collaborators. Elves receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humanoids of the human and elven subtypes
- because of special training against these hated foes.
- Keen Senses: Elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
- Weapon Familiarity: Elves are proficient with longbows (including composite longbows), longswords, rapiers, and shortbows (including composite shortbows), and treat any weapon with the word “elven” in its name as a martial weapon.
- Languages: Elves receive Common and Elven as starting languages. Elves with high Intelligence scores may select Aklo, Avalonian, Celestial, Draconic, Fiendish, Sylvan, or Umbral as bonus languages.