Basic History
It is said that for a long time after the split of the elven races the dweller elf were surface dwellers. They lived in the cities of the world and integrated into society. There the flourished in the studies of the time and were a beneficial part of society. The ancestors of the Dweller had none of the fears of the Ascia, and as such they never sought out spirits or gods. Instead they made their own way through life. Unlike their elven kin who were becoming more and more suspicious of each other, the ancient dweller would help out other elf kind and got along with other races. They never knew the apocalypse that was to come.
Then came the final moments of the Great Magic War. When the skies began to burn they first sought out the help of the other elf races, only to be met with the doors shut on them. The other elves distrusted the early dweller the most because they became too much like the other races. They watched as their brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, fell around them burning as the world-ending war finally reached its terrible end. The ancient dweller ran, looking for shelter anywhere, calling for aide from any who might listen.
"I will help you," a kind voice called to them, "but it will cost you all that you once knew."
The ancient dweller had no choice. Those that agreed were protected from the very fires that covered the world and led to the safey of the underground. Those that did not agree perished. A century passed when the dweller thought that the world might now be safe. So slowly they crawled to the surface only to be met with celestial beings brandishing swords of fire. "Dark seekers," a powerful voice called out, "the day you took the protection of Zodo is the day you sealed your fate. Step forward and face the judgement of El Anon."
The dweller ran back to the darkness where a woman stood waiting, "I am Yu'Mara, the one who saved you," she stated. "The price you paid is to never again be accepted by the world, for they fear what they do not understand and El Anon shares not. But let your souls not be burdened by sorrow, for as long as you serve your mothers I too shall be your mother. My blessings and protection will always be available to you. Now let us hide you from El Anon's jealousy."
Such is the tale of how the Dweller came to be. To this day they live in the deep underground of the world. They no longer appear as they once did, forever changed by their sacred mother. The Dweller kept the skills they learned and transformed their world to one that fits them, and they live ever now in their cities in the dark.
Dweller Elf Positives and Negatives
Dweller Elves are masters of the dark and of industry. They are a race that holds deep grudges of betrayal and mistrust, and have had to learn how to survive in the dark reaches of the underworld. To this effect they boast incredible hearing and can see even in the darkest of places. They learned early how to move in the darkness and have become masters of stealth. Furthermore where the dark would slow others down, it enables the dweller to move even faster for in the dark their other senses are increased. Blessed by Yu'Mara who they revere as the sacred Mother, the Dweller cannot be poisoned. Furthermore dweller elves born under the runic element of life have their healing spells effects increased by half and those born under the runic element of space will always carry the affinity of shadow.
It is on the surface that their weaknesses come to light. The Dweller receive a penalty to Perceive anytime they are out on the surface during the day for the light of the Nor'Ovan sun is too much for their eyes. Also during the day on the surface they will their move rate decreased by 1d6. Being labeled as Dark Seekers, they are mistrusted by all other races, making it difficult for the Dweller to interact with them.
Dweller Elf Skills & Talents
Dweller Elves have the skills shared by all elf races as well as have the following skills:
| Skill | Stat Cost | Range & Area | Duration | Check Roll | Effects | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hide | 1 Soul | self | instant | Normal Stealth +2 |
Hide behind objects or in shadows giving the enemy a penalty of -3 to Perceive to find you. |
N/A |
| Soul of Industry | 2 Soul | touch | instant | Easy Insight |
With this skill the dweller elf can sense the energy of any metal or stone object, allowing them to find weaknesses (increasing damage by an extra offense) or hidden mineral veins. |
be a dweller elf |
| Throw Empowerment | 1 Soul | self | 1d6 rounds | Easy Critical |
With this skill you double your throw range and increase the thrown damage by 1d6 and decreases target's evade by 1d6. |
N/A |
They also have the following talents:
| Talent | Effects | Requirements | Handicap Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child of the Dark |
The Dweller Elf is at home in the dark places of the world. When in dark places, especially caves and tunnels, the dweller elf can sprint with no power loss and move with no movement restrictions. Furthermore, the Dweller Elf gains a +2 to Survive for looking for clean water and food in the underworld. |
must be a dweller elf |
Dis-empowered by the Light: When out in the sun's light, the dweller elf's checks go up one level in difficulty. |
| Daughter of Yu'Mara |
If you are a female dweller elf, you get a +3 to influence and Intimidate when dealing with males of any race. |
must be a dweller elf and female |
Duties to the Goddess: You must spend a month every year serving the Oracle of a dweller tribe or you will not have the bonus given by this talent. |
| The Mother's Grace |
The dweller elf is very hard to find naturally in the dark. Anyone looking for them must make a Hard Perceive Check. Enemies get a penalty of -2. |
must be a dweller elf |
Spotted in the Light: When in bright places or out in sunlight, the dweller has a penalty of -3 to stealth. |
| The Mother's Sight |
The dweller elf can see as well in the dark as other races can in the light. They suffer no perceive penalties in the dark nor do they need any sources of light to see. |
must be a dweller elf |
It takes longer to adjust your eye sight when leaving dark environments and entering into bright environments. You will suffer blindness for 5 minutes following by visual instability for 10 minutes as your eyesight adjusts. |
| Toxin Resistance |
Blessed by Yu'Mara, the dweller elf gains immunity to all non-magical poisons and has a +1d6 to Immunity against magical poisons. |
must be a dweller elf |
N/A |
| Warrior of Darkness |
Darkness is an ally to the dweller elf. Whenever they are fighting in dark environments or at night they receive a +1d6 to Offensive Power and Bow Power as well as a +3 to Critical. |
must be a dweller elf |
Handicapped by the Light: When fighting in sunlight or bright places the dweller elf must make normal focus checks to hit his or her target. |
Appearance
Dweller elves are tall and skinny. While most who never see the sun would be pale, the skin and hair of a dweller elf are instead as black as night, a feature given to them by their sacred Mother to hide them from El Anon. This only increases their stealth in the dark. Their ears measure around 4 inches long and are horizontal similar to the ascia elf. Their hair color can be in the following colors: white, many shades of red, and black. It is believed that the whiter the hair the more pure the dweller. Their eyes are larger than normal, about 50% so, and the pupil can expand to cover the entire eye in the darkest of places. Their eye color matches their hair color.
Living Habitat
Dweller Elves can be found in dark alleyways, large cities, and the darkest parts of the forests as well as underground. It is rare to see a Dweller Elf travel.
Dweller Elf Culture
Dweller Elves carry with them memories of the betrayal dealt to them as well as the horrors of the Great Magic War. They have vowed to never again be weak. In reverence to the only deity to help them, dweller society is matriarchal. Women, not men, are the heads of their society and are most revered. Women are the warriors, the thinkers, the healers, and the priestesses. Each dweller tribe is lead by an oracle, and the oracles all answer to the sacred Mother, Yu'Mara. The men are the laborers, the servants, and the ones who care for the children.
Dweller Elves take pride in family names and use them for their surnames, however being a matriarchal society, family names often follow from the mother's side instead of the father's. The only time this is not the case is if the father had developed a fame and reputation far exceeding that of the mother or mother's family, which is very rare. First names that are given are meant to sound intimidating and powerful.
Dweller Elf Racial Relations
Dweller Elves do not get along well with other races, even those that are similar to them or have the same beliefs. They distrust everyone due to the shared cultural history of betrayal.