Aquatic Elf

Aquatic elves have formed three distinct community groups based on which bodies of water they choose for their settlements. There are sea aquatic elves, who take to the open seas, lake aquatic elves, who prefer the more isolated freshwater bodies inland, and the deep aquatic elves, who dwell entirely in the darkest reaches of the deep ocean. Each develops distinct cultural traits of their own, as listed below.

Ancestral Traits

Aquatic elves are of elven ancestry, though with enough differences to qualify as a distinct ancestry. They resemble elves with bluish or greenish tinted skin, with long, webbed fingers and toes, and visible gills on their ribs. They also have nictitating membranes that protect their eyes.

The ancestry of the aquatic elves has granted them certain traits as result of millennia of adaptation to living underwater.

Age. Aquatic elves age at the same rate as other elves, reaching physical maturity at about the same age as humans. The elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth, however, to encompass worldly experience. An aquatic elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.

Size. Aquatic elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking and swimming speeds are 30 feet.

Amphibious. You can breathe air and water.

Protected Eyes. Aquatic elves have nictitating membranes that protect their eyes from the water in which they swim. You cannot be blinded by gases or liquids that reach your eyes and you have advantage on saving throws against Blindness.

Aquatic Elf, Deep

Cultural Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Wisdom by 1.

Alignment. Deep aquatic elf communities more often than not adopt a stoic attitude about the burdens and pressures they bear, both the literal water pressures of the depths and more metaphorical ones. As such they tend toward neutrality.

Inured to the Deeps. Deep aquatic elves spend time in the chilly waters of the depths. You have resistance to cold damage.

Magics of the Deep. Deep aquatic elven community members develop special magical abilities to aid them in the austere and challenging environments in which they live. You know the light cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the sanctuary spell once with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the hold person spell once with this trait, requiring no material components. You regain the ability to cast these spells with this trait when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Aquan.

Aquatic Elf, Freshwater

Cultural Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Intelligence by 1.

Alignment. Compared to the lively migrations of the sea elves and the dangers and darkness of the deeps, the lake aquatic elf communities live relatively quiet lives. They tend to form orderly communities and, as such favor law.

Lake Gardeners. Many lake aquatic elven communities focus on growing and harvesting various fisheries and sea plants. Given the limited size and nature of their environment, however, they take great care to achieve sustainable balance. You have proficiency in the Nature and Animal Handling skills.

The Magic of Stillness. Lake aquatic elven communities are defined by the stillness of their waters. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the sleep spell once with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the silence spell once with this trait, requiring no material components. You regain the ability to cast these spells with this trait when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Aquan.

Aquatic Elf, Sea

Cultural Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Charisma by 1.

Alignment. Sea aquatic elf communities tend to embrace the wide-open nature of the oceans, moving about freely and reveling in the variety of life in the reefs and surface waters. This joie de vivre tends them toward chaos.

Wandering Schools. Many sea aquatic elven communities migrate, following schools of fish and ocean life. Others prefer to remain in particular places for longer periods, forming homes from coral. Regardless, sea aquatic elves are skilled at finding their way around the waters. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.

Sea Speaker. Sea aquatic elves dwell among the schools of fish and creatures of the surface ocean waters. You can cast speak with animals at will with this trait, but you can target only beasts with a swim speed that are Medium or smaller.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Aquan.