Post by Orbak the Monster on Aug 5, 2013 21:36:37 GMT -5
= Blood Elves =
Long ago the exiled high elves landed on the shores of Lordaeron. They struck out to find a new home, and after many battles with the trolls, established the kingdom of Quel'Thalas. Using a vial of sacred water stolen from the first Well of Eternity, the high elves created a fount of mystical power at a convergence of ley energies in Quel'Thalas. They named this fountain the Sunwell. Its potent arcane magic fed and strengthened the high elves, and soon the wondrous city of Silvermoon was established.
Protected by a magical barrier, the high elves enjoyed peace for roughly four thousand years, but that peace was not meant to last. The Amani trolls gathered an immense army and assaulted the elven kingdom. Vastly outnumbered, the high elves hastily struck an alliance with the human nation of Arathor. The elves taught a small number of humans how to wield magic. In exchange the humans aided the elves in destroying the trolls' power base forever. Over the following years the high elves returned to their reclusive ways, but during the Third War, the diabolical Prince Arthas Menethil brought battle once again to their doorstep. Arthas required the power of the Sunwell to revive the necromancer Kel'Thuzad and raise him as a lich. He invaded Quel'Thalas and wiped out most of its population. In the end, even King Anasterian Sunstrider lay dead.
Additionally it became clear that the high elves had become addicted to the Sunwell's arcane energies. Now that the source of their magic was gone, the few remaining high elves quickly grew ill and apathetic. Prince Kael'thas, last of the royal line, returned from his studies in Dalaran to find Quel'Thalas in ruins. Thirsting for vengeance, he gathered the survivors, renamed them blood elves, and took a group of the strongest fighters to join Lordaeron's campaign against the Scourge.
Due to human prejudice, Kael'thas was forced to accept the assistance of Lady Vashj and her reptilian naga. When the humans discovered that the blood elves had been working with the naga, Kael'thas and the others were imprisoned and condemned to death. Lady Vashj soon arrived to set them free, leading them through a portal and into the broken wastes of Outland. There, the elves met the one being capable of putting an end to their hunger: the renegade night elf/demon, Illidan Stormrage. Certain that the blood elves would die without Illidan's assistance, Kael'thas agreed to serve the Betrayer.
A lone representative, Rommath, was sent back to Azeroth with a message of hope for the blood elves remaining in Quel'Thalas: that one day Kael'thas would return to lead his people to paradise. Rommath had made great progress in teaching the blood elves advanced techniques to manipulate arcane energies. With renewed purpose, the blood elves have rebuilt the city of Silvermoon, though it is powered by volatile magics. Emboldened by the promise of Kael'thas' return, the weary citizens of Quel'Thalas now focus on regaining their strength, even as they forge a new path into an uncertain future.
Kael'thas would eventually return to Quel'Thalas, having forsaken his people for the Burning Legion. Taking the Naaru M'uru with him to the Isle of Quel'Danas, he sought to bring the demon Kil'jaeden into Azeroth. He was foiled by the forces of the Shattered Sun Offensive and the Sunwell was restored by the prophet Velen, using the spark of the dying M'uru to rekindle it as a source of Light.
Reinvigorated, the blood elves fight to protect Quel'Thalas, conquer their magical addiction with the Sunwell's sustainment, and help redeem the soul of their ancient people.
- Blood Elf Racial Traits - (RP: 11)
- +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, -2 Constitution. Blood Elves are nimble, both in body and mind, but their form is frail.
- Type: Blood Elves are Humanoid creatures with the Elf subtype.
- Size: Blood Elves are Medium creatures and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
- Base Speed: Blood Elves have a base speed of 30 feet.
- Languages: Blood Elves begin play speaking Thalassian. Elves with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Celestial, Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.
Defensive Racial: (3 RP)
- Arcane Resistance: The elves' constant exposure to magic also gave them a natural defense against many kinds of magical manipulation, granting them a natural arcane resistance. Blood Elves have SR 6 + their character level.
Offensive Traits: (4 RP)
- Arcane Torrent: Arcane Torrent comes as a natural manipulation of Arcane energies from the Sunwell and allows the elves to tap into and unleash the magic that is their birth right. The elves have long delved into the magical and arcane as evident by their cultural centerpiece, the Sunwell. When adjacent to an enemy with spellcasting powers, the Blood Elf is automatically aware of that fact. The Blood Elf may use a special combat maneuver against a character with spells, using their Intelligence instead of their Strength. This does not incur an attack of opportunity. If they succeed, the target loses a prepared spell or spell slot of the target's highest level (minimum 1). If the blood elf is capable of casting spells, they gain another prepared spell or spell slot of equal level to what they have stolen. This extra spell lasts for one hour.
Other Racial Traits: (4 RP)
- Arcane Affinity: Use Magic Device is always a class skill for Blood Elves, and may use their Intelligence or Charisma to determine the skill (whichever is higher). In addition, reduce the gold cost of creating magic items by 10%. They have developed a natural Arcane Affinity as a result of the well's magical presence, making the blood elves naturally skilled with arcane arts such as enchanting.
(These racial traits also work for the Alliance's High Elves.)