The long-lived elgarians are children of the natural world. Elgarians seek to live in balance with the wild and understand it better than most other mortals. Most of this understanding is mystical, but some comes from their long lifespans, which in turn gives them long-ranging outlooks. By necessity, they must learn to maintain sustainable lifestyles, and this is most easily done when they work with nature, rather than attempting to bend it to their will. However, their links to nature are not entirely driven by pragmatism. Elgarians' bodies slowly change over time, taking on a physical representation of their mental and spiritual states, and those who dwell in a region for a long period of time find themselves physically adapting to match their surroundings, most noticeably taking on coloration that reflects the local environment.
Physical Description
The reptilian elgarians have scaly flesh. The coloration of elgarians varies so wildly that many outsiders assume they commonly use dyes and illusions to change their scales. While elgarians are certainly not above cosmetic enhancement, their natural hues truly range over a rainbow of coloration. Their scales tends toward vibrant colors such as the fiery orange of autumn leaves, the verdant green of forests at springtime, or the deep reds and purples of wildflowers in bloom. The scales can also range from earthy browns to floral pinks, and gnomes with black, pastel blue, or even green skin are not unknown. Their ears and noses are flat, almost to the point of being nonexistent, while their eyes are those of serpents, ranging widely in color but tending toward golds, reds, yellows, and other warm hues.
Society
Many elves feel a bond with nature and strive to live in harmony with the natural world. Although, like most, elves prefer bountiful lands where resources are plentiful, when driven to live in harsher climates, they work hard to protect and shepherd the region's bounty, and learn how to maximize the benefit they receive from what little can be harvested. When they can carve out a sustainable, reliable life in deserts and wastelands, they take pride as a society in the accomplishment. Elves have an innate gift for craftsmanship and artistry. Elves also have an appreciation for the written word, magic, and painstaking research.
Relations
Elgarians and orcs have long dwelt in proximity to one another, and share a history of violence as old as both races.
Alignment & Religion
Most elgarians are neutral good, but elgarians of any alignment are possible. Religion plays a secondary role in elgarian society to civic obedience.
Adventurers
Many elgarians embark on adventures out of a desire to explore the world, leaving their secluded realms to search out lost kingdoms established millennia ago by their ancestors. This need to see a wider world is accepted by their societies as a natural part of becoming mature and experienced individuals. Such elgarians are expected to return take up lives in their homelands once more, enriched both in treasure and in worldview.
Arboreal
+2 Str, +2 Cha
Medium: Medium races have no bonuses or penalties due to their size. A Medium creature has a space of 5 feet by 5 feet and a reach of 5 feet.
Speed: Arboreal Elgarians have base speed of 30 feet.
Low-Light Vision: Elgarians can see twice as far in poor lighting conditions
Tail: Elgarians have a prehensile tail.
Expert Climber: Arboreal elgarians have a climb speed of 20 feet, and gain the +16 racial bonus on Climb checks that a climb speed normally grants. Arboreal elgarians can cling to cave walls and even ceilings as long as the surface has hand- and footholds. In effect, members of this race are treated as being constantly under the effects of a non-magical spider climb spell, save that members of this race cannot cling to smooth surfaces.
Camouflage: Arboreal elgarins gain a +4 racial bonus on Stealth checks while within a forest.
Languages: Elgarians begin play speaking Common and Elgarian. Elgarians with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Celestial, Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Vulpini and Sylvan.
Aquatic
+2 Con, +2 Cha
Medium: Medium races have no bonuses or penalties due to their size. A Medium creature has a space of 5 feet by 5 feet and a reach of 5 feet.
Speed: Aquatic Elgarians have a base speed of 40
Low-Light Vision: Elgarians can see twice as far in poor lighting conditions
Snake Body: Aquatic possess a snake's lower body and two arms, granting them an inability to be tripped attempts.
Amphibious: Aquatic elgarians are amphibious and can breathe both air and water.
Powerful Swimmer: Aquatic Elgarians have a swim speed of 40 feet and gain a +8 racial bonus on Swim checks.
Languages: Elgarians begin play speaking Common and Elgarian. Elgarians with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Celestial, Draconic, Kou-toa, Elven, Felarians, Aquan Vulpini and Sylvan.Â