Rules:Elves
Elves
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- These are the official character rules for Elves. For the story-based description of them, go here.
Name: Elf (singular), Elves (plural), Elven (adjective)
Class: Minor Race
Tech Bias: Good
Available Power Types:Any (Special)
History and Background Page: Elves
Contents
The Elven House System
When applying for an Elf, the character must be placed into a specific 'Caste'. This Caste is based off of the rank of their House. Each Caste comes with its own attributes that are added to the general racial Advantages and Disadvantages listed below.
Baelandar and Banandar: The Royal and Imperial Houses
The Royal Houses are the leaders of the Elven nation. The Imperial House comes and goes from this group, and they are perhaps rightfully so arrogant. Raised to be rulers and lead their nation, the Elven template is modified with the below Advantages and Disadvantages for them.
Spellcasting Prodigy
Due to their immersive lessons in Magic, an Elf from this House may start play with an unupgraded version of Barrier, Levitation, and one of Firebolt, Icebolt, or Litbolt at Basic Level for
The Greater Powers
Elves from this House believe that Magic and Ki are the only true powers, and as such, they refute the usage of others. Elves from this House MUST start play with a Ki and Magic PL, choosing their Dominant PL from one of these two. If they ever learn a Psionic PL, all power put to this PL is halved, and it may never be the Dominant PL. They may never learn a PhysPL.
Xenophobic
While all Elves are xenophobic to an extent, the Elves of this House are to a level higher than their brethren. Elves from this House find that there is nothing that other races can teach them. As such, if they wish to learn a Technique from, learn a Team Technique, or join an Organization from a non-Elven source, their bias is reduced to Dismal for learning these Techniques. They may never learn from an Official Teacher that does not have Elven blood.
Serandar: The Noble Houses
The Noble Houses makes up the vast majority of elves. As such, their statistics are much more broad than those of the Royal and Imperial Houses.
Mental Command
When learning the Multitask CT, they may reduce the price of each level by 15 base days.
Prideful
Elves are prideful, and believe themselves superior to most other races. While they are capable of befriending and even learning from them, they must have a sufficient IC reason to trust them before they can. If they do not, they learn at a bias step lower than normal.
Honor Bound
Physical PL is seen as the power type of the Houseless and Unhoused. It is seen as without honor. As such, Elves of this House may start play with any combination of Ki, Psi, or Magic. They may select any of them as their Dominant PL. These elves may not utilize Physical PL.
The Houseless and the Unhoused
The dregs of Elven society, these Elves are disdained by almost all others of their race. The Elven template is modified for them as below.
The Value of Strength
While most other Elves eschew the idea that they are in a race to learn power, those who are Houseless or Unhoused know that power of combat may be the only thing that keeps them alive. Instead of 3% gain rate, have 4% gain rate. Daily cap also becomes 8%, instead of the usual 6%
As well, while the Housed Elves eschew various power types due to pride and tradition, Elves that are Houseless and Unhoused understand that such pride may lead to their deaths. They may start play with any combination of Power Types, and may select any of them to be their Dominant PL.
Pariah
The Elves who are without a House for whatever reason are disdained and looked down upon by those who do have a House. Often, those who are Housed refuse to even speak with them.
Elves of this House are incapable of learning Team Techniques from Housed Elves, and cannot join any Organization that is run by a Housed Elf. They are free to join up with other Houseless Elves if they so choose.
As well, while in combat with a Housed Elf, that character gains ONE level of the Preferred Enemy technique against them.
Major Racial Advantages
Martial Tradition
Elven culture, as most others within D'hennex are those of warriors. They respect those who are capable of fighting, and most young elves are taught to defend themselves. D'hennex is a dangerous place, and every elven life is precious. As such, these Elves may learn one of Weapon Proficiency or Melee Proficiency at Excellent bias, if taken at creation.
Secrets of Power
Being so long lived, Elves have discovered much about the various sources of power. It is rare to see an elf without at least two sources of power. Those that are incapable of channeling a second source are often seen as weak. Due to their knowledge of such things, Elves are capable of utilizing their two powers to greater effect than most others. Three times per scene, the Elf may choose to calculate an activated ability which uses a single Power Level at TotalPL. Once per day, the Elf may activate a Technique Action from two PL types in the same post. This does not stack with Extra Actions.
Untiring
Elves are capable of great feats of endurance. As such, with multiple power levels they do not have multiple stamina pools. They combine their various starting Stamina Pools into a single Pool. Any Power type that they have may draw stamina from this pool.
Minor Racial Advantages
Freedom of Movement
Elves are accustomed to moving freely in all sorts of environments, and commonly wear clothes that do not restrict this freedom. Thus, all effects that would impair their movement can be reduced by 50% TotalPL by expending a Tech Action and Natural Charge in stamina from the Dominant PL.
Serenity
Elven minds, being largely imperturbable, are highly resistant to effects that would drastically alter their views. Supernatural effects that would cause the elf to fall asleep, be unnaturally confused, be charmed into following the commands or suggestions of a nature they normally wouldn't, and other similar mind-affecting effects, can be resisted. Elves passively add their Concentration rating to their Mental Resistance. This additional amount is not doubled if they maintain a Psi PL.
Longevity
Elves do not die of old age. Nor do they age normally, once they have achieved physical maturity. Rather, memories that they form wear them down. If an elf passes through a particularly bone-harrowing encounter, these memories weigh upon them heavily, aging their appearance. The older an elf appears, physically, the more experienced he or she is. A particularly sheltered elf could live many centuries, yet still look a young adult. When an elf can no longer resist the weight of their memories, they surrender their physical body, and fade away into the next dimension.
Major Racial Disadvantages
Balance of Power
Elven characters are expected to have multiple Power Levels. One of these Power Levels must be the 'Dominant PL' and the other the 'Secondary'. They are capable of having multiple Secondary PLs, but all must follow these rules.
The Dominant PL may be no greater than 80% of the TotalPL. The Secondary PL may be no greater than 50% of the TotalPL, and may never be greater than the Dominant PL. The character may not put more Base Days into their Secondary PL than Base Days put into their Dominant PL. Techniques that function for multiple PL types are ignored in this count.
If the Elf ever is in violation of these rules, they lose access to their Secondary PL until it is put to rights.
Diversity of Power
It is not common to see an Elf who does not have multiple power types. While it can happen, these elves are considered weak, and frail. As such, any Elf that has only one PL type finds their Gain Rate halved. Once they have gained a second PL gains are restored to normal.
Longevity
Elves do not die of old age. As such, they view the world differently than many other races with a short lifespan. While they seem to be in an almost race to gain power, Elves believe that knowledge and wisdom are more important than power. As such, they may not increase their Gain Rate through techniques.
Minor Racial Disadvantages
Slowed Recovery Rate
Elven bodies proceed at a slow pace. When wounded to the point of incapacitation, they heal only half a point of incap per real day that passes. With hospital care, however, this doubles, to heal a point of incapacitation every day. Their physiology is sufficiently related to humanity's that human hospitals can care adequately for elves.
Infertility
Elven children are very rare. Where human families can easily have a dozen children, or more, it is rare for an elven couple to have even four, in the entire span of a couple's life. This leads to elven culture highly prizing children. The most serious crime someone can commit, in elven eyes, is to harm a child.
Mental Rigidity
Despite their excellent education, elven thought is very slow to change -- a product of their innate longevity. As such, Elves are incapable of learning Enlightenment, or having an Epiphany.
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