When I started my setting of
Pendar, I went with generic fantasy races in the Deluxe Explorers Edition (Elf, Dwarf, Human, Rakashans, and Saurian) plus a homebrew Wolfen race for Players to choose from. However, I always wanted to flesh them out a bit more to give them more flavor and break them out of the typical fantasy mold. The two main Elven races I came up with are the Terminian Elves, which come from the most affluent region of Susland, and the Hinterstol Elves, who embrace the wilderness and the richness that it provides.
There are a few references to the lore in the descriptions that may not make sense, but I'll get the setting's lore posted as soon I get it cleaned up and presentable.
TERMINIAN ELVES
Terminians value
fine arts, high culture, and magic.
Based on their long history of contributions to the arts and magics in
the continent, the Elves from this nation have a high opinion of themselves
compared to the other races, especially the Hinterstol Elves. Their culture and diet are heavily influenced
by the sea, and their vineyards, thus the majority of the common folk tend to
be farmers or fishers.
Terminian Elves are
all tall, slender, and olive-skinned.
They typically have jet black or silver hair and gray eyes, wear fine
clothing and quite often wear numerous ear rings on their pointed ears.
(+2)POWER POINTS: Terminians are all innately
magic, and start with 5 Power Points.
While a majority of Terminians do not have an Arcane Background, they
are able to channel this power through Arcane Devices with ease.
(-1)ALL THUMBS: Elves have an inherent dislike
of mechanical objects, and thus have the All Thumbs Hindrance. They shun most
mechanical items and designs.
(+1)LOW LIGHT VISION: Elven eyes amplify light.
Other races often claim they can see stars in the elves’ eyes. They ignore
penalties for Dim and Dark Illumination.
(-2)THIN SKINNED: (Major) Personal attacks
really get under this individual’s skin. They subtracts 4 when resisting Taunt
attacks.
(+2)PERFORMER: All Terminian families raise
their children to embrace an art form of some sort early in life, and so begin
with a Performance of d6 and may raise it to a maximum of d12+1. For a Terminian, Performance may also include
art forms that wouldn't normally require an audience (painting, carving,
carpentry, etc.).
HINTERSTOL ELVES
The Elves of the
land-locked nation of Hinterstol are best known as excellent hunters and lovers
of nature. The Hinterstol are the oldest
of the surviving Elven races on the continent, and while they are looked down
upon by their more "civilized" cousins in Terminia, the Hinterstol
pay them little attention preferring to spend their time closer to nature,
which is one of the reasons the Hinterstol welcomed the majority of the Dwarves
fleeing from the Scorched Lands.
Hinterstol Elves are
often mistaken for Humans due to their build, but are easily distinguished by
the typical pointed elven ears.
Hinterstol culture is known for their love of ales, smoked meats, and
all variety of pie.
(+2)KEEN SENSES: Hinterstol have acute senses,
giving them the Alertness Edge. They are
very observant and perceptive, and adds +2 to their Notice rolls to hear, see,
or otherwise sense the world around them.
(-1)ALL THUMBS: Elves have an inherent dislike
of mechanical objects, and thus have the All Thumbs Hindrance. They shun most
mechanical items and designs.
(+1)LOW LIGHT VISION: Elven eyes amplify light.
Other races often claim they can see stars in the elves’ eyes. They ignore
penalties for Dim and Dark Illumination.
(-2)OVERCONFIDENT: There’s nothing out there a
Hinterstol can’t defeat. At least that’s what they have been raised to believe.
They never want to retreat from a challenge. Not suicidal, but generations of
surviving in the wilds has instilled in them a sense of bravado in taking on
more than common sense dictates.
(+2)SURVIVALIST: Hinterstol practically grow up
in the woods with a bow in their hand, and thus receive a +2 bonus to any
Survival roll.