Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms

the Zhentish legion that battled Yamun Khahan’s horde in
Thesk thirteen years ago, half-orcs don’t even merit a second
look in the cities along the Golden Way.
Halflings are not well known in the East, and those who
do live here are almost exclusively lightfoots. Small numbers
of halflings live among the cities of Aglarond and the
trade towns of Thesk, and a few have settled down in the
Great Dale alongside the human farmers and herders of
that lonely land.
Planetouched are rare in most parts of the Unapproachable
East—except in Thay. Tieflings are more common there than
anywhere else, descended from fiends summoned to serve the
Red Wizards. Other planetouched folk are less common, although
the cities of the Wizards’ Reach, once ruled by Unther,
are home to a few aasimars and genasi.
TABLE 1–1:
RACIAL ABILITY SCORE ADJUSTMENTS
Race Ability Adjustments Favored Class
Elf, star –2 Con, +2 Cha Bard
Gnoll +4 Str, +2 Con, Ranger
–2 Int, –2 Cha
Hagspawn +2 Str, +2 Con, –2 Cha Barbarian
Spirit folk — Any
Taer +4 Str, +2 Con, Barbarian
–4 Int, –2 Cha
Volodni +2 Con, –2 Int, Druid
+2 Wis, –2 Cha
Elf, Star
The green depths of the Yuirwood hide an ancient secret long
forgotten by folk beyond Aglarond’s borders, and not widely
known even within—the star elves, an elven subrace that retreated
from Faerûn to an extraplanar refuge known as
Sildëyuir. Sometimes referred to in ancient texts as mithral
elves, the star elves concealed the existence of their hidden
kingdom for almost two thousand years, leaving behind nothing
but mysterious ruins and old, strong magic in the stone circles
of the Yuirwood.
While the star elves have kept themselves apart from the
rest of Faerûn for many centuries, their isolation is coming
to an end. Besieged by an insidious peril from beyond the circles
of the world, they face the possibility of being driven
from Sildëyuir back to their ancient abode in the Yuirwood.
Personality: Star elves are cautious and aloof, keeping an
emotional distance from events. They can be judgmental, although
they take their time and consider many factors before
passing judgment on a creature or action. Once won, a star
elf’s friendship (and enmity) is deep and long lasting. Star
elves love beauty in any form and have a knack for perceiving
inner beauty rather than outward appearance and actions.
Among their own kind, star elves delight in song, dance, and
works of magic, but away from their homeland they are slow
to bestow the gift of their voice or artistry.
RACES OF THE EAST
9
Physical Description: Of all the elven subraces, star elves
most closely resemble moon elves. They have pale skin that
sometimes takes on a pearly gray or faintly violet tinge, and
hair of gold, red, or silver-white. Their eyes are gray or violet,
sometimes with gold flecks. Like the sun elves or moon elves,
star elves are tall and slender; men average between 5 1/2 and
6 feet in height and weigh around 140 pounds, while women
are about half a foot shorter and weigh around 110 pounds.
In their homes they favor elegant, embroidered tunics but
dress in neutral colors with dappled gray-green cloaks to
remain unseen in woodlands. Star elves are graceful and strikingly
handsome by human standards.
Relations: Most star elves have removed themselves from
the everyday life of Faerûn and therefore have little understanding
of humans, dwarves, and other races. They think of
humans as aggressive expansionists who readily take up blade
and spell to get what they want, and they regard humans with
caution. They get along well with other elves, especially sun
and wood elves, but fear trouble from the moon elves’ unguarded
generosity and engagement of human realms.
Alignment: Most star elves prefer not to involve themselves
in the world’s troubles. Star elf society values individual
accomplishment and rights over collective effort, so they
lean toward chaotic rather than lawful alignments.
Religion: Star elves venerate the Seldarine, the pantheon of
elven deities. They are not a devout race but hold a special reverence
for Corellon Larethian.
Language: Star elves speak Common and Elven. Those who
venture to Faerûn from Sildëyuir often learn Aglarondan,
Mulan, or Rashemi. In their refuge, Auran, Celestial, and
Sylvan are common, while some star elves learn Abyssal and
other evil tongues to converse with those seeking to destroy
Sildëyuir.
Names: Male—Aeril, Brevel, Dhisten, Jhered, Mourel,
Ourevel, Thaeleven; Female—Bracatha, Calastra, Evindra,
Falindra, Lauratha, Nimara, Varele. Surnames: Dawnsong,
Duskwood, Moonshadow, Nightsong, Nightwind, Starwind,
Woodsong, Woodwalker.
Adventurers: After two millennia in isolation, star elves
have realized that they know little about the world from
which they took refuge. As their ancient haven no longer
shields them entirely, many have begun to debate whether
Sildëyuir should remain closed. Certain Faerûnian realms
might make powerful and reliable allies in their war against
the abominations who threaten Sildëyuir. A few have taken it
upon themselves to spy out the lay of the land, seeking knowledge
to defend their home—or a place to call their own if
Sildëyuir must be abandoned.
Regions: Most star elves live in the extraplanar realm of
Sildëyuir; see the star elf region description in Chapter 3: Regions
and Feats. A small number already live quietly among
the people of Aglarond, and choose that region instead.