hiding elf traits [Archive] - Wizards Community

hiding elf traits [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Amaril
07-23-07, 10:19 AM I'm curious if others might see feasibility of a female elf disguised as a human without the use of magic. Why am I thinking of this? Here's the background...

I have a player in my game playing a female human dread necromancer. The next phase of this campaign is going to be Eyes of the Lich Queen. I was hypothesizing the idea of the character developing the Mark of Death during that adventure (I know it's an overused idea, but it's fitting), but the Mark of Death is obviously limited to elves. It could make for a very interesting plotline involving Lady Vol, as she'd be very interested in another female elf with the Mark of Death who is on the path to becoming a lich.

Thinking it wouldn't be feasible since the character is human, I was mentioning this idea to the player as something that I thought would have been neat had he chosen to play an elf instead.

[Side Note: During the conversation the player mentioned the idea of using the rebuild options in Player's Handbook II. Flipping through my copy later that evening, I came across the Necrotic Cyst, which could be an appropriate side adventure/encounter that could be squeezed into Eyes of the Lich Queen.]

As an afterthought, I pondered the idea of simply saying she has been an elf all this time but has simply been hiding it from everyone (covering her ears, wearing a hood, or whatever). The more slender facial features could have been attributed to being a slender female character.
DarkWarriorKarg
07-23-07, 11:00 AM I'll just point out that upon becoming a lich, dragonmarks no longer function. (hence Vol's annoyance)

What you are suggesting is a "Marvel plot":

A whole lot of hoopla in your game world, followed by a return to the status quo.

It's your game... but in the long run, it goes nowhere...
Amaril
07-23-07, 11:22 AM I completely forgot about that aspect. Hrmph, oh well. I wasn't really stuck on the idea anyway.

On the other hand, it would make for an interesting, tragic ending, though probably not worth pursuing.
DarkWarriorKarg
07-23-07, 03:39 PM I can see it as a "running gag"

Vol: "Ah finally... it returns! My bloodline will resurface!"
Dread Necromancer: "you know... I'm becoming a lich like you, right...?"
Vol:"unacceptable! I can't let you do that!"
Dread Necromancer:"And you propose doing this how?"
Vol: "Do what I say! Not as I do!"
DRead Necromancer: "Ummm... that's why i turned my back on the whole Undying Court thing..."
Vol: "I'll think of something!"
Need_A_Life
07-23-07, 04:15 PM Sure, if you want...

I'd suggest giving her Necrotic Cyst rather than a dragonmark feat... and just reflavour it as a dragonmark.

It's limited in use and seems appropriate for a Death-themed dragonmark, along with keeping the mystery of the Lost Mark.

Besides, why in the Flame would she become a Lich? At the earliest she can become one at level 11... the adventure lasts until level 10.
Realistically, based on her class of choice, it'll be at level 20 she becomes a Lich.

How many level 20s are running around Khovaire? Aernal? Why would she worry about the remote possibility that this one transcends everybody else and throws away her legacy?
Amaril
07-23-07, 04:41 PM I'd suggest giving her Necrotic Cyst rather than a dragonmark feat... and just reflavour it as a dragonmark.

It's limited in use and seems appropriate for a Death-themed dragonmark, along with keeping the mystery of the Lost Mark.

Besides, why in the Flame would she become a Lich? At the earliest she can become one at level 11... the adventure lasts until level 10.
Realistically, based on her class of choice, it'll be at level 20 she becomes a Lich.

How many level 20s are running around Khovaire? Aernal? Why would she worry about the remote possibility that this one transcends everybody else and throws away her legacy?

Sorry, let me define a few things more clearly.

The Necrotic Cyst is a magical location in Player's Handbook II that grants the character an ability to be recreated as a new race. Not to be confused with the thingy from Libris Mortis. However, your idea has merit and isn't something I considered.

Her becoming a lich is not something that would happen by the end of the EotLQ, it's something that would start there but wouldn't develop further until well after that adventure as the campaign and the PCs' stories continue.

It could make for an interesting personal conflict, too. Here she is trying to achieve lichdom, but halfway there, she realizes she is the carrier of the lost Mark of Death. Does she continue on her path and forsake her destiny as the one who continues the line, or does she choose to forgo her personal goal of lichdom to preserve the mark. If she decides to carry the mark, how can she undo the changes she's undergone thus far?

The questions above aren't for anyone of you to answer; they would be the questions with which the PC struggles to answer. It also shows how much of a complicated plot this could turn into as a high-level campaign. As I already stated above, I'm not stuck on the idea and won't pursue it anyway.
garner_adam
07-28-07, 10:40 AM As for a human trying to impersonate an elf it might be a touch tricky. Much more easy for a female but there are a few traits that would tip off any one who had much experience with elves.

Deep Green Eyes. It's a dominant elven trait straight from the players hand book. Any one who might be suspicious would look for this first.
Eye Structure. Just look on page 16 of your PHB and you'll notice that the eyes are angled and shaped like almonds. It would take some serious make up magic to disguise this.
Absolutely no body hair. Even for a woman this would be feat. However with effort it's easy to conceal.
Let's not forget those ears. The pointy ears would be tricky to pull off.
And for any one serious about the matter a human cannot replace sleep with meditation.

So while I'd say it's doable if no one ever had any reason to be suspicious it's more likely those who have had experience with elves would notice- quickly.
Edymnion
07-28-07, 12:01 PM Its not difficult or tricky at all. Its just a Disguise check at a -2 penalty for appearing as a differant race. Thats it.

Give her good ranks in Disguise, and just hand wave that the party never made their spot checks. After all, they have no reason to suspect her, and she's not impersonating someone specific, so they wouldn't get any bonuses to their spot checks.

Or there's always a hat of disguise that gives you +20 to disguise. Just ask the DM about if you can have a discounted HoD that only turns you into a human that otherwise looks like you do.
ArcTan
07-28-07, 04:48 PM Its not difficult or tricky at all. Its just a Disguise check at a -2 penalty for appearing as a differant race. Thats it.

Give her good ranks in Disguise, and just hand wave that the party never made their spot checks. After all, they have no reason to suspect her, and she's not impersonating someone specific, so they wouldn't get any bonuses to their spot checks.

Or there's always a hat of disguise that gives you +20 to disguise. Just ask the DM about if you can have a discounted HoD that only turns you into a human that otherwise looks like you do.

+10. Not +20, unless you're doing something bizarre with stacking.
Edymnion
07-28-07, 09:32 PM +10. Not +20, unless you're doing something bizarre with stacking.Whoops, you're right. Its been so long since I've seen anyone discuss a HoD without there being a Changeling involved, I forgot. :D
ArcTan
07-28-07, 10:15 PM Whoops, you're right. Its been so long since I've seen anyone discuss a HoD without there being a Changeling involved, I forgot. :D

...Which is what I meant by "something bizarre with stacking", but we don't need to have that whole debate again here.
Edymnion
07-28-07, 10:23 PM ...Which is what I meant by "something bizarre with stacking", but we don't need to have that whole debate again here.Agreed.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Amaril 07-23-07, 10:19 AM	I'm curious if others might see feasibility of a female elf disguised as a human without the use of magic. Why am I thinking of this? Here's the background... I have a player in my game playing a female human dread necromancer. The next phase of this campaign is going to be Eyes of the Lich Queen. I was hypothesizing the idea of the character developing the Mark of Death during that adventure (I know it's an overused idea, but it's fitting), but the Mark of Death is obviously limited to elves. It could make for a very interesting plotline involving Lady Vol, as she'd be very interested in another female elf with the Mark of Death who is on the path to becoming a lich. Thinking it wouldn't be feasible since the character is human, I was mentioning this idea to the player as something that I thought would have been neat had he chosen to play an elf instead. [Side Note: During the conversation the player mentioned the idea of using the rebuild options in Player's Handbook II. Flipping through my copy later that evening, I came across the Necrotic Cyst, which could be an appropriate side adventure/encounter that could be squeezed into Eyes of the Lich Queen.] As an afterthought, I pondered the idea of simply saying she has been an elf all this time but has simply been hiding it from everyone (covering her ears, wearing a hood, or whatever). The more slender facial features could have been attributed to being a slender female character.
DarkWarriorKarg 07-23-07, 11:00 AM	I'll just point out that upon becoming a lich, dragonmarks no longer function. (hence Vol's annoyance) What you are suggesting is a "Marvel plot": A whole lot of hoopla in your game world, followed by a return to the status quo. It's your game... but in the long run, it goes nowhere...
Amaril 07-23-07, 11:22 AM	I completely forgot about that aspect. Hrmph, oh well. I wasn't really stuck on the idea anyway. On the other hand, it would make for an interesting, tragic ending, though probably not worth pursuing.
DarkWarriorKarg 07-23-07, 03:39 PM	I can see it as a "running gag" Vol: "Ah finally... it returns! My bloodline will resurface!" Dread Necromancer: "you know... I'm becoming a lich like you, right...?" Vol:"unacceptable! I can't let you do that!" Dread Necromancer:"And you propose doing this how?" Vol: "Do what I say! Not as I do!" DRead Necromancer: "Ummm... that's why i turned my back on the whole Undying Court thing..." Vol: "I'll think of something!"
Need_A_Life 07-23-07, 04:15 PM	Sure, if you want... I'd suggest giving her Necrotic Cyst rather than a dragonmark feat... and just reflavour it as a dragonmark. It's limited in use and seems appropriate for a Death-themed dragonmark, along with keeping the mystery of the Lost Mark. Besides, why in the Flame would she become a Lich? At the earliest she can become one at level 11... the adventure lasts until level 10. Realistically, based on her class of choice, it'll be at level 20 she becomes a Lich. How many level 20s are running around Khovaire? Aernal? Why would she worry about the remote possibility that this one transcends everybody else and throws away her legacy?
Amaril 07-23-07, 04:41 PM	I'd suggest giving her Necrotic Cyst rather than a dragonmark feat... and just reflavour it as a dragonmark. It's limited in use and seems appropriate for a Death-themed dragonmark, along with keeping the mystery of the Lost Mark. Besides, why in the Flame would she become a Lich? At the earliest she can become one at level 11... the adventure lasts until level 10. Realistically, based on her class of choice, it'll be at level 20 she becomes a Lich. How many level 20s are running around Khovaire? Aernal? Why would she worry about the remote possibility that this one transcends everybody else and throws away her legacy? Sorry, let me define a few things more clearly. The Necrotic Cyst is a magical location in Player's Handbook II that grants the character an ability to be recreated as a new race. Not to be confused with the thingy from Libris Mortis. However, your idea has merit and isn't something I considered. Her becoming a lich is not something that would happen by the end of the EotLQ, it's something that would start there but wouldn't develop further until well after that adventure as the campaign and the PCs' stories continue. It could make for an interesting personal conflict, too. Here she is trying to achieve lichdom, but halfway there, she realizes she is the carrier of the lost Mark of Death. Does she continue on her path and forsake her destiny as the one who continues the line, or does she choose to forgo her personal goal of lichdom to preserve the mark. If she decides to carry the mark, how can she undo the changes she's undergone thus far? The questions above aren't for anyone of you to answer; they would be the questions with which the PC struggles to answer. It also shows how much of a complicated plot this could turn into as a high-level campaign. As I already stated above, I'm not stuck on the idea and won't pursue it anyway.
garner_adam 07-28-07, 10:40 AM	As for a human trying to impersonate an elf it might be a touch tricky. Much more easy for a female but there are a few traits that would tip off any one who had much experience with elves. Deep Green Eyes. It's a dominant elven trait straight from the players hand book. Any one who might be suspicious would look for this first. Eye Structure. Just look on page 16 of your PHB and you'll notice that the eyes are angled and shaped like almonds. It would take some serious make up magic to disguise this. Absolutely no body hair. Even for a woman this would be feat. However with effort it's easy to conceal. Let's not forget those ears. The pointy ears would be tricky to pull off. And for any one serious about the matter a human cannot replace sleep with meditation. So while I'd say it's doable if no one ever had any reason to be suspicious it's more likely those who have had experience with elves would notice- quickly.
Edymnion 07-28-07, 12:01 PM	Its not difficult or tricky at all. Its just a Disguise check at a -2 penalty for appearing as a differant race. Thats it. Give her good ranks in Disguise, and just hand wave that the party never made their spot checks. After all, they have no reason to suspect her, and she's not impersonating someone specific, so they wouldn't get any bonuses to their spot checks. Or there's always a hat of disguise that gives you +20 to disguise. Just ask the DM about if you can have a discounted HoD that only turns you into a human that otherwise looks like you do.
ArcTan 07-28-07, 04:48 PM	Its not difficult or tricky at all. Its just a Disguise check at a -2 penalty for appearing as a differant race. Thats it. Give her good ranks in Disguise, and just hand wave that the party never made their spot checks. After all, they have no reason to suspect her, and she's not impersonating someone specific, so they wouldn't get any bonuses to their spot checks. Or there's always a hat of disguise that gives you +20 to disguise. Just ask the DM about if you can have a discounted HoD that only turns you into a human that otherwise looks like you do. +10. Not +20, unless you're doing something bizarre with stacking.
Edymnion 07-28-07, 09:32 PM	+10. Not +20, unless you're doing something bizarre with stacking.Whoops, you're right. Its been so long since I've seen anyone discuss a HoD without there being a Changeling involved, I forgot. :D
ArcTan 07-28-07, 10:15 PM	Whoops, you're right. Its been so long since I've seen anyone discuss a HoD without there being a Changeling involved, I forgot. :D ...Which is what I meant by "something bizarre with stacking", but we don't need to have that whole debate again here.
Edymnion 07-28-07, 10:23 PM	...Which is what I meant by "something bizarre with stacking", but we don't need to have that whole debate again here.Agreed.