Elf
Source Galactic Ancestries pg. 60
For millennia, elves have dwelled among the stars and charted courses across the galaxy. A wide diaspora of elves have lived across a hundred worlds for many thousands of years, connected to each other by a shared history of skycraft, magic, and cosmic wonder.
To be an elf is to be an explorer untethered by the confines of any single world. It's to look up at the sky and know nothing you see is beyond reach. Though their reputation in the Pact Worlds paints them as fading recluses obsessed with antiquated traditions, elves were among the first to look beyond the bounds of their own horizons. Extraordinarily long lifespans and ample patience have enabled elven civilizations to focus on long-term strategies and execute programs that required centuries of preparation, but their fundamentally different perspective on time also makes it challenging for the rest of the galaxy to understand elven history from an elven perspective.
Despite this long-lasting legacy of eternal horizons and galactic scholarship, none in the Pact Worlds were scarred as deeply or hurt more permanently by the Gap than the elves who survived it. While the several centuries that have passed since the Gap's end place it easily out of mind for those who don't have so much as a living ancestor who remembers a time when life was different, elves who lived through the Gap are still alive today, left to reckon with their broken memories, with unfamiliar or even unknown families, and with a sense of disconnection from their lost identities. Thanks to elven society's interconnectedness via starships and magical gates, nearly every elf who survived the disappearance of Golarion lost someone who was personally important to them when the planet vanished. Sovyrian still mourns many losses, from those known as well as those yet undiscovered.
In the wake of the Gap's devastation, elves withdrew from the galactic stage. Those in diaspora across the galaxy returned to the continent Sovyrian on Castrovel to close ranks, recover, and mourn. Sovyrian's population exploded with refugees for the second time in its history, though unlike Golarion's last apocalypse, this time there were no astronomers or seers with forewarnings of the Gap's arrival. Elven historians believe they were dealt a grave betrayal during the Gap, though they have yet to discern how or by whom. A lasting fear of deceit has fostered reclusion and xenophobia among the older generations of Sovyrian, which in turn has made elven perspectives more difficult for the rest of the galaxy to understand. Though a new generation of elves pushes to end such attitudes and open elven society to the wider galaxy, and though many elves travel beyond Castrovel and trade with other worlds, elven starships are almost exclusively crewed by elves, and Sovyrian rarely welcomes outsiders.
Despite this long-lasting legacy of eternal horizons and galactic scholarship, none in the Pact Worlds were scarred as deeply or hurt more permanently by the Gap than the elves who survived it. While the several centuries that have passed since the Gap's end place it easily out of mind for those who don't have so much as a living ancestor who remembers a time when life was different, elves who lived through the Gap are still alive today, left to reckon with their broken memories, with unfamiliar or even unknown families, and with a sense of disconnection from their lost identities. Thanks to elven society's interconnectedness via starships and magical gates, nearly every elf who survived the disappearance of Golarion lost someone who was personally important to them when the planet vanished. Sovyrian still mourns many losses, from those known as well as those yet undiscovered.
In the wake of the Gap's devastation, elves withdrew from the galactic stage. Those in diaspora across the galaxy returned to the continent Sovyrian on Castrovel to close ranks, recover, and mourn. Sovyrian's population exploded with refugees for the second time in its history, though unlike Golarion's last apocalypse, this time there were no astronomers or seers with forewarnings of the Gap's arrival. Elven historians believe they were dealt a grave betrayal during the Gap, though they have yet to discern how or by whom. A lasting fear of deceit has fostered reclusion and xenophobia among the older generations of Sovyrian, which in turn has made elven perspectives more difficult for the rest of the galaxy to understand. Though a new generation of elves pushes to end such attitudes and open elven society to the wider galaxy, and though many elves travel beyond Castrovel and trade with other worlds, elven starships are almost exclusively crewed by elves, and Sovyrian rarely welcomes outsiders.
You Might…
- Struggle to track the minute changes wrought by time on the world around you, such as referring to businesses by the names of old, defunct establishments that operated out of the same location decades or centuries past.
- Mourn many losses, struck by the knowledge that your long life means you will always be mourning.
- Fixate on a single hobby or skill without moving on to another until you've mastered it.
Others Probably…
- Assume you have special insights into the Gap because you were alive for it.
- Believe you're a powerful magician who disdains technology as unnatural.
- Worry you look down on anyone less than a century old or treat non-elves like inexperienced children.
Physical Description
Elves are humanoids with angular features and pointed ears. Their wide, rounded eyes have large pupils of a single, solid vibrant color. Elves adapt to a planet's ecosystem rather than taming it, taking on traits that reflect their environment. For this reason, elves from Castrovel often have purple, green, or blue eyes and jewel-toned hair, while azrinaran elves on Apostae have lavender skin, light eyes, and keen darkvision.
Elves reach physical adulthood around the age of 20, though among other elves, the passing of an elf's first century is an especially important emotional milestone into adulthood. The reality of watching shorter-lived friends and neighbors grow old and die can't truly be prepared for—it can only be experienced.
When elven diplomats and travelers leave Castrovel, they often do so in full-face masks, concealing their features and personhood to better serve as a proxy for all elves and a united elven state.
Elves reach physical adulthood around the age of 20, though among other elves, the passing of an elf's first century is an especially important emotional milestone into adulthood. The reality of watching shorter-lived friends and neighbors grow old and die can't truly be prepared for—it can only be experienced.
When elven diplomats and travelers leave Castrovel, they often do so in full-face masks, concealing their features and personhood to better serve as a proxy for all elves and a united elven state.
Society
The history of elven civilization in the Pact Worlds began on Castrovel, which is believed by most elves to be their people's birthplace. Magical portals connected the isolated continent of Sovyrian to other planets, enabling interplanetary exploration and the colonization of Akiton, Triaxus, Verces, and eventually Golarion. While these aiudara let elves leap across the galaxy, the Signal and other innovations in interplanetary travel brought outsiders from across the galaxy to Castrovel, shifting galactic power and creating a new future where elves were forced to share the stars.
The High Families of El and a council of the families' leaders known as the Sova have governed Sovyrian for millennia, guiding choices from the ancient colonization of Golarion to the new Blood Right that granted Sovyrian citizenship to all elves in the aftermath of the Gap. The Sova concern themselves with the security and sovereignty of Sovyrian, leaving the nation's cities free to govern themselves.
On the other side of the Pact Worlds, standing in stark contrast to Castrovel, is Apostae, a synthetic planetoid and the home of azrinaran elves. Azrinarans emigrated to the hollow planet at some point during the Gap alongside orcs and xulgaths, and they claim Golarion as their ancestral home rather than Castrovel. This is but one of many disagreements fueling continued hostilities between the two elven groups.
The High Families of El and a council of the families' leaders known as the Sova have governed Sovyrian for millennia, guiding choices from the ancient colonization of Golarion to the new Blood Right that granted Sovyrian citizenship to all elves in the aftermath of the Gap. The Sova concern themselves with the security and sovereignty of Sovyrian, leaving the nation's cities free to govern themselves.
On the other side of the Pact Worlds, standing in stark contrast to Castrovel, is Apostae, a synthetic planetoid and the home of azrinaran elves. Azrinarans emigrated to the hollow planet at some point during the Gap alongside orcs and xulgaths, and they claim Golarion as their ancestral home rather than Castrovel. This is but one of many disagreements fueling continued hostilities between the two elven groups.
Beliefs
The elves of Sovyrian are at a crossroads. Deeply frightened by the Gap and everything they're unable to remember losing, most elves were left with nowhere safe to turn but inward, becoming yet more insular and withdrawn. Some elves worry that even Castrovel is no longer safe and push the Sova to lead them away into the stars in search of a new home far from the Pact Worlds—and far from the many tragedies they've suffered there.
Elven culture's love of artistry and beauty persists, though many elven artists decline to share their works outside of Sovyrian. They create readily for their own enjoyment and for their fellow elves, but rarely do so for outsiders and strangers.
The anger and dread among elves in the wake of the Gap bolstered worship of Calistria, and her devotees push Sovyrian to strike back against the galaxy and punish all who threaten elven sovereignty and safety. On Apostae, many azrinarans worship fiends or strange outer gods in exchange for boons that allow them to thrive on their bleak new home world.
Popular Edicts avenge what was lost in the Gap, find beauty in undiscovered places, preserve elven art and history
Popular Anathema abandon elf culture, allow a foe who harms you to go unpunished
Elven culture's love of artistry and beauty persists, though many elven artists decline to share their works outside of Sovyrian. They create readily for their own enjoyment and for their fellow elves, but rarely do so for outsiders and strangers.
The anger and dread among elves in the wake of the Gap bolstered worship of Calistria, and her devotees push Sovyrian to strike back against the galaxy and punish all who threaten elven sovereignty and safety. On Apostae, many azrinarans worship fiends or strange outer gods in exchange for boons that allow them to thrive on their bleak new home world.
Popular Edicts avenge what was lost in the Gap, find beauty in undiscovered places, preserve elven art and history
Popular Anathema abandon elf culture, allow a foe who harms you to go unpunished
Sample Names
Ailaura, Amdelial, Calderon, Divarial, Feldoran, Iedrlon, Jathadrel, Selsora, Taltharel, Vaeriel, Virunara, Zayandara
Elf Mechanics
Hit Points
6
Size
Medium
Speed
30 feet
Attribute Boosts
Dexterity, Intelligence, Free
Attribute Flaw
Constitution
Languages
Common
Elven
Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it's positive). Choose from the list of common languages and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent on your home world).
Low-light Vision
You can see in dim light as though it were bright light, so you ignore the concealed condition due to dim light.