Core Races | Other Races

Aquatic Elves Source Blood of the Sea pg. 4, Inner Sea Races pg. 242 Aquatic elves can live either in or out of the water, but most prefer homes in the watery depths of oceans and seas. They establish small communities, uniting with other aquatic elves as needed for protection but remaining largely independent. Some of these communities are built partly above and partly below the water, with half-elves of aquatic descent living in the open air, while their aquatic kin make their homes below. An example of such a settlement is Acisazi, off the coast of the Chelish archduchy of Ravounel. Aquatic elves consider themselves an enlightened people capable of appreciating life in more dimensions than other creatures. When they do interact with other races, they often appear aloof and dismissive, as though bored or distracted, though this is not necessarily the case. Aquatic elves are simply thinking of what wonders they might find during their explorations of their watery environs. Aquatic elves living in the Arcadian Ocean maintain cordial relations with the elves of the Mordant Spire—the guardians of the ruins of ancient Azlant. Mordant Spire elves trust their aquatic kin to explore the ruins and recover valuable historical artifacts while leaving the dangerous ones undisturbed. These elves take pride in the faith placed in them, and to maintain good relations with their surface cousins, they refuse to share their knowledge of the Azlanti ruins with others. Considered beautiful by many elves, humans, and similar surface races, aquatic elves are a graceful and quick-witted people. Their skin can be the pale white or gold of beach sand, the russet of living coral, or the greenblack of deepwater kelp. Often, aquatic elves’ coloration adjusts to their usual environment over time, sometimes changing over the course of a few generations. Their hair is long and silky, rippling with shades of blue and green. Aquatic elves have delicate, translucent webbing between their fingers and toes, allowing them to swim adroitly through the water. Adventurers: Groups of aquatic elves are known to specialize in searching ruins for pieces of art, historical records, and magical artifacts from sunken and forgotten empires. Those exploring the submerged debris of long-lost cities sometimes partner with adventurers of other races to overcome dangerous traps or guardians. Prideful as they are, aquatic elves know that other creatures can contribute specialized abilities to an expedition, though they are happiest working with gnomes, halflings, and surface elves, as these creatures are likely to return to the surface when their business beneath the waves is done. Some aquatic elves distrust humans, who they believe conceal expansionist motives and have a reckless disregard for danger— especially as concerns ancient and dangerous magic. Aquatic elves ally with gillmen only when necessary, as they worry that any such collaboration could be a part of some deeper aboleth scheme. Aquatic elves believe that life is more vivid underwater than on land and that exceptional possibilities—both material and spiritual—exist for aquatic explorers. Aquatic elf adventurers, particularly those with no obligations to family or community, seek out hidden caverns, new species of plants or animals, and undiscovered ruins in the deepest reaches of the ocean, believing that their journeys lead to personal spiritual evolution. As with surface elves, aquatic elves often have an aptitude for arcane magic, and the lure of lost power can draw aquatic elf adventurers far from familiar environments. Arcane practitioners venture into submerged abandoned sites associated with other races, such as cecaelias or merfolk, hunting for lost magic items or forgotten spells; these expeditions often bring the aquatic elves into conflict with the races that consider the ruins their own. Aquatic elf adventurers may even leave the ocean and travel on dry land to pursue rumors of particularly powerful treasures, no matter how thinly substantiated. When they do so, they prefer to ally with surfacers who know the area well (or hire one or more guides or specialists), as they harbor an unnatural fear of getting lost while on land and being unable to return to their vibrant ocean homes, even though they suffer no physical detriments from being on land for extended periods of time. Aquatic Elf Racial Traits +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Constitution: Aquatic elves are nimble, both in body and mind, but their form is frail. Medium: Aquatic elves are Medium creatures and receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size. Normal Speed: Aquatic elves have a base speed of 30 feet. They also have a swim speed of 30 feet, can move in water without making Swim checks, and always treat Swim as a class skill. Aquatic: Aquatic elves are humanoids with the aquatic subtype. Amphibious: Aquatic elves are amphibious and can breathe both air and water. Low-Light Vision: Aquatic elves can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light. Elven Immunities: Aquatic elves are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects. Elven Magic: Aquatic elves receive a +2 racial bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance. In addition, aquatic elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Spellcraft skill checks made to identify the properties of magic items. Keen Senses: Aquatic elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks. Weapon Familiarity: Aquatic elves are proficient with rapiers, short swords, and tridents, and treat any weapon with the word "elven" in its name as a martial weapon. Languages: Aquatic elves begin play speaking Common and Elven. Elves with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Celestial, Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan. Aquatic Elf Alternate Racial Traits Replaces Elven Immunities, Low-Light Vision Deep Sea Dweller Source Blood of the Sea pg. 5 Aquatic elves who live far beneath the surface have adapted to the inhospitable conditions of the ocean depths. Aquatic elves with this racial trait gain darkvision with a range of 60 feet and cold resistance 5. This racial trait replaces low-light vision and elven immunities. Replaces Elven Magic Surfacer Antagonist Source Blood of the Sea pg. 5 Aquatic elves generally distrust humans, but for some, the suspicion has become festering hatred. Those who have lost loved ones to human aggression or have watched humans loot artifacts from venerated undersea ruins view all humans as enemies. Aquatic elves with this racial trait receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humans. This racial trait replaces elven magic. Replaces Keen Senses Surface Features Source Blood of the Sea pg. 5 Some aquatic elves appear almost indistinguishable from surface elves. Their coloring, height, and weight all suggest those of a surface elf, and the webbing between their digits is almost transparent. Aquatic elves with this racial trait gain a +4 bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks when attempting to pass themselves off as surface elves. This racial trait replaces keen senses. Aquatic Elf Favored Class Options Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a favored class, Aquatic Elves have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their favored class. The following options are available to all Aquatic Elves who have the listed favored class. Arcanist (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add 1/4 to the arcanist’s caster level when casting spells with the water descriptor. Cavalier (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add 1 skill rank to the cavalier’s mount. If the cavalier ever replaces his mount, the new mount gains these bonus skill ranks. Druid (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add 1 hit point to the druid’s animal companion. If the druid ever replaces her animal companion, the new animal companion gains these bonus hit points. For a druid whose nature bond gives her a cleric domain, select one cleric domain power at 1st level that is normally usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the druid’s Wisdom modifier. The druid adds 1/2 to the number of uses per day of that domain power. Fighter (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Choose a weapon from the following list: rapier, short sword, trident, or any weapon with “elven” in its name. Gain a +1/2 bonus on critical hit confirmation rolls made while using that type of weapon (maximum bonus +4). This bonus does not stack with those gained through Critical Focus and similar effects. Magus (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add one spell from the cleric, druid, or wizard spell list with the water descriptor to the magus’s spellbook. This spell must be at least 1 level below the highest spell level he can cast. This spell is treated as 1 level higher unless it also appears on the magus spell list. Ranger (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Choose a weapon from the following list: longbow, shortbow, or any weapon with “elven” in its name. Reduce the penalty on ranged attack rolls underwater made with this weapon by 1. Summoner (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): As long as the summoner’s eidolon has a swim speed, add 5 feet to its swim speed (max +20 feet). Witch (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): When casting a witch spell underwater, add 1/3 to the effective caster level of the spell for the purpose of determining the spell’s duration. Wizard (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add 1 to the wizard’s caster level check when attempting to cast a spell with the fire descriptor underwater.

Aquatic Elves

Source Blood of the Sea pg. 4, Inner Sea Races pg. 242
Aquatic elves can live either in or out of the water, but most prefer homes in the watery depths of oceans and seas. They establish small communities, uniting with other aquatic elves as needed for protection but remaining largely independent. Some of these communities are built partly above and partly below the water, with half-elves of aquatic descent living in the open air, while their aquatic kin make their homes below. An example of such a settlement is Acisazi, off the coast of the Chelish archduchy of Ravounel.

Aquatic elves consider themselves an enlightened people capable of appreciating life in more dimensions than other creatures. When they do interact with other races, they often appear aloof and dismissive, as though bored or distracted, though this is not necessarily the case. Aquatic elves are simply thinking of what wonders they might find during their explorations of their watery environs.

Aquatic elves living in the Arcadian Ocean maintain cordial relations with the elves of the Mordant Spire—the guardians of the ruins of ancient Azlant. Mordant Spire elves trust their aquatic kin to explore the ruins and recover valuable historical artifacts while leaving the dangerous ones undisturbed. These elves take pride in the faith placed in them, and to maintain good relations with their surface cousins, they refuse to share their knowledge of the Azlanti ruins with others.

Considered beautiful by many elves, humans, and similar surface races, aquatic elves are a graceful and quick-witted people. Their skin can be the pale white or gold of beach sand, the russet of living coral, or the greenblack of deepwater kelp. Often, aquatic elves’ coloration adjusts to their usual environment over time, sometimes changing over the course of a few generations. Their hair is long and silky, rippling with shades of blue and green. Aquatic elves have delicate, translucent webbing between their fingers and toes, allowing them to swim adroitly through the water.

Adventurers: Groups of aquatic elves are known to specialize in searching ruins for pieces of art, historical records, and magical artifacts from sunken and forgotten empires. Those exploring the submerged debris of long-lost cities sometimes partner with adventurers of other races to overcome dangerous traps or guardians. Prideful as they are, aquatic elves know that other creatures can contribute specialized abilities to an expedition, though they are happiest working with gnomes, halflings, and surface elves, as these creatures are likely to return to the surface when their business beneath the waves is done. Some aquatic elves distrust humans, who they believe conceal expansionist motives and have a reckless disregard for danger— especially as concerns ancient and dangerous magic. Aquatic elves ally with gillmen only when necessary, as they worry that any such collaboration could be a part of some deeper aboleth scheme.

Aquatic elves believe that life is more vivid underwater than on land and that exceptional possibilities—both material and spiritual—exist for aquatic explorers. Aquatic elf adventurers, particularly those with no obligations to family or community, seek out hidden caverns, new species of plants or animals, and undiscovered ruins in the deepest reaches of the ocean, believing that their journeys lead to personal spiritual evolution.

As with surface elves, aquatic elves often have an aptitude for arcane magic, and the lure of lost power can draw aquatic elf adventurers far from familiar environments. Arcane practitioners venture into submerged abandoned sites associated with other races, such as cecaelias or merfolk, hunting for lost magic items or forgotten spells; these expeditions often bring the aquatic elves into conflict with the races that consider the ruins their own. Aquatic elf adventurers may even leave the ocean and travel on dry land to pursue rumors of particularly powerful treasures, no matter how thinly substantiated. When they do so, they prefer to ally with surfacers who know the area well (or hire one or more guides or specialists), as they harbor an unnatural fear of getting lost while on land and being unable to return to their vibrant ocean homes, even though they suffer no physical detriments from being on land for extended periods of time.

Aquatic Elf Racial Traits

+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, –2 Constitution: Aquatic elves are nimble, both in body and mind, but their form is frail.
Medium: Aquatic elves are Medium creatures and receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Normal Speed: Aquatic elves have a base speed of 30 feet. They also have a swim speed of 30 feet, can move in water without making Swim checks, and always treat Swim as a class skill.
Aquatic: Aquatic elves are humanoids with the aquatic subtype.
Amphibious: Aquatic elves are amphibious and can breathe both air and water.
Low-Light Vision: Aquatic elves can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
Elven Immunities: Aquatic elves are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
Elven Magic: Aquatic elves receive a +2 racial bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance. In addition, aquatic elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Spellcraft skill checks made to identify the properties of magic items.
Keen Senses: Aquatic elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
Weapon Familiarity: Aquatic elves are proficient with rapiers, short swords, and tridents, and treat any weapon with the word "elven" in its name as a martial weapon.
Languages: Aquatic elves begin play speaking Common and Elven. Elves with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Celestial, Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan.

Aquatic Elf Alternate Racial Traits

Replaces Elven Immunities, Low-Light Vision

Deep Sea Dweller
Source Blood of the Sea pg. 5
Aquatic elves who live far beneath the surface have adapted to the inhospitable conditions of the ocean depths. Aquatic elves with this racial trait gain darkvision with a range of 60 feet and cold resistance 5. This racial trait replaces low-light vision and elven immunities.

Replaces Elven Magic

Surfacer Antagonist
Source Blood of the Sea pg. 5
Aquatic elves generally distrust humans, but for some, the suspicion has become festering hatred. Those who have lost loved ones to human aggression or have watched humans loot artifacts from venerated undersea ruins view all humans as enemies. Aquatic elves with this racial trait receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humans. This racial trait replaces elven magic.

Replaces Keen Senses

Surface Features
Source Blood of the Sea pg. 5
Some aquatic elves appear almost indistinguishable from surface elves. Their coloring, height, and weight all suggest those of a surface elf, and the webbing between their digits is almost transparent. Aquatic elves with this racial trait gain a +4 bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks when attempting to pass themselves off as surface elves. This racial trait replaces keen senses.

Aquatic Elf Favored Class Options

Instead of receiving an additional skill rank or hit point whenever they gain a level in a favored class, Aquatic Elves have the option of choosing from a number of other bonuses, depending upon their favored class.

The following options are available to all Aquatic Elves who have the listed favored class.

Arcanist (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add 1/4 to the arcanist’s caster level when casting spells with the water descriptor.
Cavalier (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add 1 skill rank to the cavalier’s mount. If the cavalier ever replaces his mount, the new mount gains these bonus skill ranks.
Druid (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add 1 hit point to the druid’s animal companion. If the druid ever replaces her animal companion, the new animal companion gains these bonus hit points. For a druid whose nature bond gives her a cleric domain, select one cleric domain power at 1st level that is normally usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the druid’s Wisdom modifier. The druid adds 1/2 to the number of uses per day of that domain power.
Fighter (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Choose a weapon from the following list: rapier, short sword, trident, or any weapon with “elven” in its name. Gain a +1/2 bonus on critical hit confirmation rolls made while using that type of weapon (maximum bonus +4). This bonus does not stack with those gained through Critical Focus and similar effects.
Magus (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add one spell from the cleric, druid, or wizard spell list with the water descriptor to the magus’s spellbook. This spell must be at least 1 level below the highest spell level he can cast. This spell is treated as 1 level higher unless it also appears on the magus spell list.
Ranger (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Choose a weapon from the following list: longbow, shortbow, or any weapon with “elven” in its name. Reduce the penalty on ranged attack rolls underwater made with this weapon by 1.
Summoner (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): As long as the summoner’s eidolon has a swim speed, add 5 feet to its swim speed (max +20 feet).
Witch (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): When casting a witch spell underwater, add 1/3 to the effective caster level of the spell for the purpose of determining the spell’s duration.
Wizard (Blood of the Sea pg. 5): Add 1 to the wizard’s caster level check when attempting to cast a spell with the fire descriptor underwater.

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