Darkwatch Elves

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Kendermage

Unlike normal elves who can mingle with surface races, Darkwatch Elves sort of stick out, thus they stick to the shadows. They haven't been in existence long enough to develop much of a culture, other than that which they possessed as Qualinesti and Silvanesti. Like dwarves, Darkwatch Elves favor exquisitely crafted materials and fortifications. Their society has become extremely matriarchal and stratified. Darkwatch Elves are the Dragonlance equivalent of the Drow common on other worlds.

Personality: The transformation of the elves of Pashin into Darkwatch elves has eliminated most of their redeeming qualities. They have become hateful, spiteful, and wrathful. Their lives have been turned upside down, and to a race unused to such changes it has been maddening. They value people only for what can be gleaned from them, and then toss them aside. The Darkwatch elves are relentless and react to any insult implied or actual with deadly force.

Physical Description: Darkwatch elves are tall and slim, standing just about 5 ½ to 6 ft. tall and typically weigh about 100 to 145 lbs. have white or silver hair and ebony skin, their eyes are often red or yellow, but some display vivid colors of purple, lavender, or green.

Relations: Darkwatch Elves are secretive. They come out only at night, and as such few know they exist. They value people only in so far as they are useful, once their use is at and end typically so is the person's life.

One such group that knows of the existence of the Drow is the Dark Knights that control Pashin. They have discovered the existence of the evil elf enclave beneath their city, whom they have nicknamed the Darkwatch Elves. The Dark Knights see these evil elves as competition for dominance of the city, and are taking steps to either eradicate them or bring them under their control.

The elves having once shut out the outside world, now seek to dominate it. For the moment though they work to build their numbers. The Drow continue to be carriers of sunblight and are capable of passing the contagion on any elves they physically contact. With each new infection, more drow are added to the ranks. The Speaker of the Night has decreed that all elves found in the city are to be corrupted.

Alignment: Darkwatch Elves are very self-serving, conniving, and cruel. It should come as no surprise that they are most often Neutral Evil in alignment.

Elven Lands: With the two elven kingdoms of Qualinesti and Silvanesti lost to them, the Darkwatch Elves has decided to build a new home beneath the town of Pashin. Currently there are only about 300 Darkwatch Elves. They usually venture out of the sewers only at night. The haughtiness and arrogance of the Silvanesti has increased exponentially resulting in all trespassers in the sewers being killed or captured and tortured.

Religion: The Darkwatch Elves worship Morgion exclusively. It was he that freed them from the limited thinking of millennia of subservience to the Gods of Light, and bestowed on them their new abilities. The Speaker of the Night is the Chosen Priestess of Morgion; currently this is Angelyn Starsinger, a former Priestess of Mishakal. As the transformation took over Angelyn she lost the favor of the Goddess of Healing and called out to the only other deity willing to listen: Morgion.

Languages: Darkwatch elves speak Elven. They have not had time to develop a distinctive language.

Names: Darkwatch Elves follow the same naming conventions as the Qualinesti and the Silvanesti, though with a darker twist on the names. Most Darkwatch elves have adopted new names to reflect their new reality.

Adventurers: Darkwatch Elves tend to stay close to the town of Morinost; they usually only venture forth at night or under the cover of darkness. Most surface dwellers have no idea that a society of dark elves lives right beneath their feet. Those Darkwatch Elves that do take up the adventuring life are often on quests for the Speaker of the Night, or are advance scouts hoping to convert more elves to the cause.

Traits:These traits are in addition to the normal elf traits, except where noted.
· Ability Adjustments:+2 Con, -2 Cha. Life in the sewers has toughened these elves, but has not done much for their social graces.
· Darkvision: 120 feet. This trait replaces the high elf's low-light vision.
· Weapon Proficiency: A Darkwatch Elf is automatically proficient with the longsword, rapier, longbow, and shortbow.
· Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Undercommon. Bonus Languages: Abyssal, Aquan, Draconic, Handtalk, Gnome, Goblin. This trait replaces the high elf's automatic and bonus languages.
· Sunblight: All Darkwatch Elves are carriers of sunblight. They can pass this contagion on to other elves by making physical contact. Contact: DC 18; Incubation 3d4 weeks; Damage 1d3 Con*. Note if an individual suffers two or more points of Constitution drain, they must make another Fortitude save or else be permanently infected with light blindness. Once an individual has fully succumbed to advanced Sunblight, they cannot be restored to their natural state. Nothing short of a Wish spell or Miracle is capable of reversing advanced sunblight.
· Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or a daylight spell) blinds Darkwatch Elves for 1 round. On subsequent rounds, they are dazzled as long as they remain in the affected area.
· Favored Class: Wizard (male) or cleric (female). This trait replaces the high elf's favored class.

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