Eladrin

Insular aristocrats who value honour and tradition

Almish Eladrin Heritage Traits

Game mechanics for the Almish eladrin are identical to the eladrin race detailed in the D&D 4e official rulebooks, except as noted below.

Average Height: 170-195cm (5′ 7″-6’5″)
Average Weight: 59-82kg (130-180 lb.)

Stolen Life: Your distant ancestors linked their bloodlines to the magic of the feywild, giving you the fey origin.

An ancient people who once colonised much of Alm, the eladrin are infamous for their elaborate social structures and restrained dignity. They would have themselves known as the descendants of the first fey, but the truth is a darker secret; in the ancient past, their ancestors attempted to steal eternal life from the feywild, causing a calamity that forever closed Alm’s permanent feywild gates.

Though it is never spoken, the eladrin are actually responsible for two of Alm’s great empires; the powerful Calanshae, built by those who sought to explore and colonise, and the ancient separatist island of Sorairo. Political differences fractured these two factions long ago, and today neither group acknowledges any connection to the other; even the sylvan word “eladrin” is unheard of in Sorairo, where they call themselves only “Soratami”.

With a history of elevating themselves over “lesser” cultures, both Calan and Soratami eladrin are seen as arrogant at best. Even as they are held firmly in check by the Brands and their allies, their countries’ paternalism has won them little affection among non-eladrin, who rightly suspect they still consider themselves superior.

Play an Almish eladrin if you want…

  • to keep your companions at arms’ length.
  • to consider yourself smartest person in the room.
  • to strongly respect—or pointedly defy—your nation’s strict traditions.

Eladrin and Soratami

Prior to July 2022, Skies of Escarnum presented the soratami as a distinct heritage in name only, whose mechanics were synonymous with eladrin. In the interest of reducing “subrace” complications, information included in that description has now been folded into this page, or the page for their homeland of Sorairo.

Physical Qualities

Almish eladrin are tall, slender humanoids known for their grace and regal bearing. They have no facial or bodily hair save for eyebrows and lashes, and tend toward thin builds with narrow shoulders and hips. They display little sexual dimorphism, and their delicate features present a generally feminised androgyny by the standards of a human.

Eladrin skin tone is typically very pale and vaguely pearlescent, giving them an otherwordly appearance that is either instantly enchanting, or mildly unsettling. Like their hair, it comes in a variety of rainbow hues, though invariably in soft, pale pastels. Eye colours have a similar range of hues, but are often strikingly dark by comparison.

Most eladrin wear their hair very long, carefully bound up in elaborate fashion. Those in high society paint both skin and hair with incredibly intricate designs, which are considered all the more beautiful for their ephemeral nature. Adventurers tend to tone this down by necessity, but most still favour complex styles that require significant effort, perhaps to imply their aesthetic superiority.

Playing Almish Eladrin

Most eladrin are raised to be be aloof, insular, and convinced of their own superiority. Perhaps due to their long lifespans, they tend to be conservative and rigid in their ideas, preferring the company of their own kind and the traditions of their own lands. This includes a great importance placed on etiquette and outward appearance, and the belief that it is uncouth to ruin one’s dignified front by allowing excessive emotion. Typically, these ideals create an impression of smug haughtiness that other peoples rarely find endearing.

Most eladrin exist in a world of courtly intrigue, elaborate social rituals and constant deception. Their dealings are polite and civilised, but never kind. Although this encourages widespread distrust, it also considered a sign of respect—the acknowledgement that your fellows have the cunning and the mettle to threaten you.

Although some eladrin reject this attitude when they become adventurers, they often bring it with them, making them something of a gamble as allies. Other adventurers frequently view them as disloyal and paranoid, untrustworthy when the stakes are high. Ultimately, many eladrin adventurers prefer to remain detached, viewing their parties as business associates rather than companions.

Almish Eladrin are perceived as… Aloof, cunning, arcane, proud, aloof, graceful, polite, smug, aesthetic, perfectionist, insular, erudite, honourable, structured, strict, patient, dignified.

Names: Calanish eladrin use elven names, but with a preference for longer and more elaborate words. Name meanings are considered very important in society, as they are an extra change to show off one’s wit with a clever double-meaning or reference.

Soratami eladrin have as many as five given names, forming elaborate titles written with a special alphabet and taken from a limited pool. Every name carries the weight of history—most children hope to have the honour of inheriting names from important forebears. A Soratami’s names belong not to an individual, but to their entire family, and all those who have carried the names before.

Soratami Given Names: Akeshi, Amaya, Baiken, Emiko, Haruka, Hidatsu, Kanae, Koujiro, Kurai, Masaru, Naoko, Saori, Shiki, Tenseikou, Uyoku, Yasuo.

New Eladrin Backgrounds

Nothing found.

Soratami Backgrounds

Courtly Outcast

“My departure was deemed… prudent.”

Although you are a native of Sorairo, you have somehow lost the favour of your peers, cast out of courtly society until you can redeem yourself. What happened to bring such shame upon you—and was it legitimate, or the work of an underhanded rival? Were you cast out by force, or did you leave on your own to save face? Will you eventually win back your former status, or discover something even more valuable?

Associated Skills: History, religion

Associated ritual: Seek Rumour (FRPG)

Shadow Warrior

“There is but one virtue greater than honour, and it is duty.”

The society of soratami is built on millennia of strict political structures and codified behaviour. Soratami leaders need to appear beyond mortal failings, yet they are still mortal; how, then, can they be divine and infallible? To allow your exalted leaders to occupy such a role, you have taken on the heavy mantle of the shadow warrior. Unseen by mortals and by history, you do what your master cannot, sacrificing your own honour to maintain the celestial order.

Associated Skills: Diplomacy, thievery

Associated ritual: Hidden Pocket (MP2)

Trailblazer

“Ignoring the lesser races will lead to our stagnation.”

Though your family may not have been pleased, you are one of the proud few who willingly chose to leave your homeland. Perhaps you see some value in the “lesser races” that your peers do not, or perhaps you are fascinated by their alien ways. Do you aim to bridge the gap between your insular people and the races of the mainland? Or are you happy to leave your own kin behind, if that is what it takes?

Associated Skills: Diplomacy, streetwise

Associated ritual: Comprehend Language (PHB)

New Eladrin Feats

Nothing found.