Shade Elf (5e Subrace)
Shade Elf
| “ | I shall rise above the darkness of the night and become the shade you hide in. | ” |
Physical Description
The shade elves are differentiated from normal dark elves due to their skin being a dark green rather than onyx. Their eyes are often silver and brown, and most shade elves have these two eye colors due to heterochromia. Their hair is usually ebon, and their ears are quite long. Like all elves, they have slender, dexterous bodies. It is worth mentioning that the flesh under their fingernails is always pale.
History
The shade elves came about as a result of the drows attempt to create more szarkai. Szarkai are albino drow who are perfect spies for the dark elves in the World Above, where they mix seamlessly into regular elven societies. One sect of drow researchers proposed forced mating with high elven slaves they captured. The result is the shade elf. They were ultimately failures for their inability to pass as normal elves due to their skin and eye colors. However, they were not willing to be disposed of easily and their magic blood was amplified as a result of the breeding. A small group of shade elves thus escaped the drow laboratory and ran up higher towards the world of light.
Society
The shade elve knew the danger of organized religion, having lived for a period within drow cities. While they could not pass as elves, most could pass as drow for a time. They witnessed the mindless whimsy of Lolth and her hold on the worshipers of the Dark Seldarine. As a result, they sought to develop their own logic and scientific thought over mystic wisdom and dogmatic tradition. In their liberated covens that serve as halfway points in the Underdark, they keep their eyes out for drow below, but also yearn to one day escape fully to the world of light above. Some shade elves have made it to the surface, but many are not welcome once their true nature is discovered. Many elves regard them as abominations.
Shade Elf Names
Shade elves sometimes use more human names or names alluding to precious stones due to their habitat in the Underdark, rather than pure Elvish.
Male: Arcadia, Legoles, Shane, Gravis, Dra, Ruin, Onyx
Female: Emerald, Sapphire, Trista, Trinity, Diamond
Shade Elf Traits
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Superior Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Reduced Sunlight Sensitivity. Thanks to your high elf heritage, you are not as badly affected by sunlight. You have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of the attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
Enhanced Magic. You know the acid splash cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast fog cloud once, and it recharges after a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast blur once, and it recharges after a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Races