Vastonia's Monster Gallery!

GYPSY, ELF (By WebWarlock)

* To sleep and charm only.

Appearance: Gypsy Elves look much like their High Elf cousins. They were originally no different than the High Elves. Traveling and encountering different lands and peoples for more than a millennium has altered the appearance of the race. They stand a bit taller than normal elves, about 5½' to almost 6' tall. They are darker completion, having an almost olive skin color. Their hair tends to be dark. Blacks and browns are very common. Once in a great while a blond or redhead will be born, and this is usually a cause for great celebration. If a child is born with white hair then this is considered a great omen of change.

Combat: Normally encountered Gypsy Elves will be armed with daggers or small bows. It is not uncommon for them to have long swords or long bows of High Elf origin. Years of moving from land to land has taught the gypsy elves at least one combat tactic. It is often easier and better for all if you can talk your way out of combat. Not that the gypsy elves are pacifists, they simply realize that their travels may bring them back to a land close to other enemies. When possible they camp in easily defensible areas with many methods of escape. When cornered or forced to fight then Gypsy Elves live up to their heritage.

The typical Gypsy Elf camp will contain, sword 20%; sword and spear 20%; sword and bow 20%; bow 35%; two-handed sword 5%. At least 10% of this group will have a magical (+1) item. The swordsmen and sword and spearmen will be mounted on small horses. Warriors will be evenly divided between males and females. Only the oldest and the youngest will not participate in combat.

Habitat/Society: Like their human counterparts, Gypsy Elves travel all over the known world. However, unlike the Human Gypsies, Gypsy Elves are much more gregarious.

The origins of the Gypsy Elves (and Shadow Elves) date back to what has become to be known as the Sundering of the Elves. When the Dark elves broke free from the light elves they split into several races. The light elves of course became the High Elves and the dark became the Drow. There were elves that remained outside of the conflict. One group was a band of light elves that protected both the dark and light elves from each other. When the gods split the elves apart, the gypsy elves were left without a home to call their own. Since they never harmed another elf before they were not forced into the Underdark. Ever since then the Gypsy Elves have wandered from place to place looking for a home. While Gypsy elves tend to be neutral to all other races, they are always treated as “good” to other elves. There are several universal elven customs that apply only to Gypsy Elves.

1. No Gypsy Elf may harm another Elf. Not even Drow or Half-Elves.
2. No other elf, Drow or Half-, may harm a Gypsy Elf.
3. No Elven community may refuse lodging to a band of Gypsy Elves. The Gypsy then must agree to be on their way soon after.

At any point in time other elven species may be found in a group of Gypsy Elves, as they may freely travel as long as they abide by the Gypsy Elves rules and lifestyle. These “Free Wanderers” can make up to 10% of the tribe's population. They usually include:

As long as the other elves do not fight amongst themselves or the other Gypsy Elves they may remain with the tribe as long as they like. Also any Gypsy Elf is invited to remain in any Elf community, but few rarely do.

Consequently the racial make up of Gypsy Elves is somewhat mixed. Actually there is no Gypsy Elf race. It is the human populations of the world call them “Gypsy”. The elves refer to them only as “Wandering Elves”. Gypsy Elves often refer to themselves as the “Free Elves”.

Gypsy Elves are on friendly terms with humans. They find Human Gypsies to be too xenophobic for their tastes. But they will travel with them for mutual benefit. This helps to explain the high amount of Half-Elves.

Ecology: Gypsy Elves, like their High Elf cousins, produce fine art, in particular music and dance. Many have excelled in woodcarving and sell these pieces of art in communities they pass through. What these elves cannot make, they buy. In this respect they are very good terms with humans.

Gypsy Elves are careful never to take more from the land or their hosts then they absolutely need. It has been said that there will be no evidence of a gypsy elf camp 24 hours after they leave. Gypsy Elves may become witches. They are free to take any tradition, but most often pick Faerie and Gypsy traditions.

Variants: None