Elf

Commonly referred to as the "Fair Folk", Elves are a long-lived people who have populated many places following their retreat from Xen'drix. The stereotypical (and true) physical description of an elf includes large pointed ears; slanted eyes; elegant, angled faces; somewhat short physique, and dark forest-green eyes; finally, most differences between male and female elves are marginal.

Racial Traits
Elves possess the following racial traits:
 * +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution
 * Immunity to sleep spells and effects
 * +2 saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects
 * Weapon Proficiency: Elves are automatically proficient with the longsword, rapier, longbow, composite longbow, shortbow, and composite shortbow.
 * +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.

Enhancements
See Elf enhancements.

Additional Background
This section deals with Aerenal, Khorvaire, and Valenar elves, which in DDO are all treated as the "Elf" race. Drow elves are treated as a separate race. There are separate pages detailing with background information for the Aerenal elves,  Khorvaire elves, and the  Valenar elves.

History of the Elves

 * Approximately 39,000 years ago Elves were slaves to the Giants of the Xen'Drik continent. After a war with invaders from the Plane of Dal Quor nearly ruined the Giant's civilization and wrecked the continent, the elves rose up in rebellion against the giants. An elf by the name of Aeren had a vision of the future, showing that this rebellion could only end in chaos and disaster. So, she gathered as many elves as would follow her and fled Xen'Drik, landing on an island continent in the Thunder Sea. Aeren did not survive the voyage, and the elves new home was named Aerenal (Aeren's Rest) in her honor.
 * This migration split the elves into two – the Drow who stayed behind on Xen’Drik, and the Aereni who migrated to Aerenal.
 * About 25,000 years ago, the Undying court is created in Aerenal to assist and advise the living in the ruling of the Aereni. It is also about this time that the  Aerenal elves first battle the dragons of Argonesse. Both races being incredibly long lived, this war takes place over the next several centuries - battles and skirmishes happing periodically and then quieting down for hundreds of years at a time.
 * 10,000 years ago, Cassael Vadallia from the Tairnadal led a group of elves to migrate to the continent of Khorvair. They call themselves the “Valaes Tairn”, the “Warriors of Glory”. But, they come into contact with the goblin-kind empire of Dhakaani. The elves are too few in number to defeat the goblin-kind, and during the time the dragons strike a major offensive against Aerenal. So, the  Valaes Tairn abandoned their outposts and return to Aerenal to aid in its defense. As part of their leaving, the elves met with the Dhakaani and swore that if they would be allowed to leave without harassment and aggression, elves would never return to Khorvaire unless they were asked to.
 * 3,200 years ago the dragonmarks of Shadow and Death first appear among the Aerenal elves.
 * 2,600 years ago the line of Vol, which carries the Mark of Death, is wiped out in Aerenal. ((Unknown to nearly all, the lich Vol is created at this time)). Also during this time, the lines carrying the mark of shadows leave Aerenal for Khorvaire, creating the House of Phiarlan.
 * This migration to Khorvaire to create the House Phiarlan creates the third distinct type of elves, the Khorvaire elves.
 * 84 years ago Queen Mishann of Cyre realized that her kingdom did not have the strength to withstand all its enemies, so she pled with the elves to come to her help. The Tairnadal war leader Shaeras Vadallia agreed to help, and they once again returned to Khorvaire.
 * 42 years ago the Valaes Tairn break their alliance with Queen Mishann. Some say that she insulted them, some believe that they were tired of fighting for others. Either way, Shaeras Vadallia called his warriors back to the southeastern edge of Cyre, to where the Valaes Tairn had first landed on Khorvaire 10,000 years ago. Swearing to reclaim this land for their ancestors, they claim their independence and name this land Valenar, “the glorious realm”.
 * And this is also the offical creation of the Valenar elves.

Physical Description
Most elves stand between 5-1/2 to 6-1/2 feet tall and typically weigh a minimalist 95 and 135 pounds, with only marginal differences between men and women. Neither males nor females grow any facial or body hair (exempting hair grown on the head). An elf is considered an adult about 110 years old, and can often live to be well over 700 years old. Elves are often discerned from their widely-recognized large, pointed ears; usually slender limbs or body; slanted, slightly cat-like dark-green/grey eyes (the former being the most common); the sharpness and frailness of bones on their body such as the chin; and finally the uncanny fairness and grace every elf seems to possess.

Aerenal, Khorvaire, and  Valenar elves tend to have fairly pale skin with dark brown or black hair. Drow elves are almost mirror images, with dark to black skin and white hair. All elves share the dark green or grey eyes however.

Other Elven Traits
Elves do not sleep as other races do. Instead they meditate, descending into a trance-like state much like a "waking sleep" that lasts for about four hours each day. Usually 4-hours of meditation rests an elf like 8-hours of sleep would other races.

In a twist of irony, many elves will typically let their head-hair grow to a much greater extent than the other races.

Elven senses are uncannily acute, enabling them to spot traps, locate enemies, and find secret doors and paraphernalia more easily than the other races do. As well, they are very agile and skilled in such bodily contortions, making them adept at dodging and handling weapons that require a high bodily dexterity or great weapon finesse (the more favored weapons being the longbow and the longsword or scimitar, the latter usually depending on if the elf is of Valenar (favoring curved weapons like scimitars and falchions) or Aerenal descent (favoring straight-bladed weapons like longswords and rapiers)).

Further Information & References

 * Drow Elves
 * Aerenal Elves (Aereni)
 * Khorvaire Elves
 * Valenar Elves (Valaes Tairn)
 * Dragonshards, The Elves of Aerenal, Part One
 * Dragonshards, The Elves of Aerenal, Part Two
 * Dragonshards, House Phiarlan, Part One
 * Dragonshards, House Phiarlan, Part Two
 * Dragonshards, House Phiarlan, Part Three
 * Dragonshards, The Elves of Valenar, Part One
 * Dragonshards, The Elves of Valenar, Part Two
 * Map of Eberron
 * DnD Sourcebook - Player's Guide to Eberron
 * DnD Sourcebook - Races of Eberron