History of the Elan? [Archive] - Wizards Community

History of the Elan? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
thorr_kan
04-28-07, 12:15 AM They're listed in the XPH. Does anybody know if they were adapted from a 1st or 2nd Ed source?
Kive
04-28-07, 12:33 AM The closest thing I could possibly find to history would be this upcoming 3rd party source. Courtesy of Dreamscarred Press. (http://dreamscarredpress.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=2)

Not sure about a 1st / 2nd Ed. source though. Hopefully one of the older member will know.
Bacris
04-28-07, 12:52 AM I can't recall ever seeing elan in any edition before 3.5.

Even checking the 3.0 SRD, I don't see them.
Lokiyn
04-28-07, 01:42 AM Rumor has it that they were in 2e in athas,

As far as i can tell there were some people described as full of "elan" whos mysterious origins and psychic powers were unknown.

However, i don't have any inclination to hunt down the single paragraph or two that supports that theory. The athas board might have a thread.
Tempest Stormwind
04-28-07, 01:47 AM As I recall that thread showed up in the 3.5 update to Dark Sun, not in anything older. Then again, my exposure to Dark Sun was only as a player, so I don't know the ins and outs about that setting like I would in other games.
InkBlot
04-28-07, 02:06 AM From The Mind's Eye: Three Psionic Vestiges (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070119a)

Arete, the First Elan

Arete, a powerful psion who sought immortality, created a new race but doomed himself to never-ending rebirths. His granted abilities provide binders with access to several qualities that toughen the body and mind.

Legend: After a memorable battle with a powerful lich, Arete, a powerful psion, took the time to explore the path of lichdom. He pondered that if immortality can be achieved through "undeath," could it not also be achieved through "unlife" too? After decades of research, he had his answer, but unknown to him, he had made a small oversight. Life begins with birth and unlife would require rebirth.

He awoke from his ritual immortal and rejuvenated, but soon discovered he had lost a lifetime of knowledge and power. His own journals told him what he had once possessed and it became his obsession to regain that power. Unfortunately, every time he did the ritual again to get back what he had lost, he was reborn anew.

No one knows how many times he was reborn, but somewhere along the way, he became a vestige and some believe that every time his vestige is summoned, he is reborn yet again.

Special Requirement: Arete does not like to be reminded that the elan are considered abominations by some, and he does not answer your summons if you are already bound to Chupoclops or Eurynome.

Manifestation: A mirror rises from his seal, reflecting the binder who makes the summons. The summoner's reflection fades to be replaced by that of a young, male Elan with hair too red, eyes too blue, and skin too bronze. While he speaks, his physical moves mirror the summoner's every action.

Sign: Your body's colors alter to become slightly off. Blonde hair becomes too golden, green eyes become too emerald green, and your skin becomes faultless and has no pores.

Influence: You do not get hungry or tired while bound to Arete, but you do suffer negative effects if you do not eat or sleep for the duration that the vestige is bound. If faced with a need to do research, Arete insists that you seek out lore regarding him and his research into immortality as well, which can often double or even triple the time you spend seeking information (DM's discretion; finding out where the local rowdies ran off to after a tavern fight might not give Arete grounds to require research into his own past, for example).

Granted Abilities: While bound to Arete, you gain powers that Arete had at some point in his search for immortality.

Psionic Boon: You gain 13 power points when you bind to Arete. These are added to your pool of power if you already possess psionic power, or they create a pool and you become a psionic creature for the duration of this binding.

Resistance: Your gain a +4 resistance bonus on a saving throw of your choice. You may change this to another saving throw as a move action.

Damage Reduction: Your body becomes unnaturally tough as you gain damage reduction 5/--.

Repletion: You gain access to the psionic powers body adjustment , body purification, and sustenance for the duration of the binding. You may manifest each power as a psion would and as if it is a power known by you. You may augment each power as a psion normally could, substituting your effective binder level in place of manifester level.

Besides what's in the XPH, and Eberron's (sucky) adaptation of elans, I do believe that's everything ever published regarding the history of the elan.
Lokiyn
04-28-07, 01:23 PM See. now i have the urge to double check the athas boards and go through all my Darksun material to see if i was remembering correctly. On the one hand given athas's preeminent position on psionics its plausable, on the other hand it may be entirely new [to dnd].
The Ubbergeek
04-28-07, 04:53 PM I like the 'botched/incomplete Kalashtar/inspired' take for the Elans in Eberron.
AdventChild
04-28-07, 07:26 PM Negative, just checked my 2nd edition Dark Sun Campaign Setting Expanded and Revised and only two races where exported from athas; the Thri-kreen and the half-giant.
Lokiyn
04-29-07, 01:19 AM I don't ever think they were a race.

I think they were mentioned as a mystery race X in the fluff. Problem is, i don't have all the story/fluff books so i can't be sure.
thorr_kan
05-02-07, 12:37 AM I like the 'botched/incomplete Kalashtar/inspired' take for the Elans in Eberron.

Where'd you run across those? I don't play Eberron, but the fluff can be entertaining.
Tempest Stormwind
05-02-07, 12:58 AM Where'd you run across those? I don't play Eberron, but the fluff can be entertaining.

In the Player's Guide to Eberron.

It's essentially the same as the Coveworld Eberron conversion (http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/conversions-xph.html), although that one's a bit better IMHO.
thorr_kan
05-02-07, 03:49 PM Thanks for the info, folks.
Amaril
05-03-07, 07:04 AM In the Player's Guide to Eberron.

It's essentially the same as the Coveworld Eberron conversion (http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/conversions-xph.html), although that one's a bit better IMHO.Eberron treats Elans as a means of imprisonment for quori who have commited crimes against their own. Elans are also regarded as extremely rare.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
thorr_kan 04-28-07, 12:15 AM	They're listed in the XPH. Does anybody know if they were adapted from a 1st or 2nd Ed source?
Kive 04-28-07, 12:33 AM	The closest thing I could possibly find to history would be this upcoming 3rd party source. Courtesy of Dreamscarred Press. (http://dreamscarredpress.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=2) Not sure about a 1st / 2nd Ed. source though. Hopefully one of the older member will know.
Bacris 04-28-07, 12:52 AM	I can't recall ever seeing elan in any edition before 3.5. Even checking the 3.0 SRD, I don't see them.
Lokiyn 04-28-07, 01:42 AM	Rumor has it that they were in 2e in athas, As far as i can tell there were some people described as full of "elan" whos mysterious origins and psychic powers were unknown. However, i don't have any inclination to hunt down the single paragraph or two that supports that theory. The athas board might have a thread.
Tempest Stormwind 04-28-07, 01:47 AM	As I recall that thread showed up in the 3.5 update to Dark Sun, not in anything older. Then again, my exposure to Dark Sun was only as a player, so I don't know the ins and outs about that setting like I would in other games.
InkBlot 04-28-07, 02:06 AM	From The Mind's Eye: Three Psionic Vestiges (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070119a) Arete, the First Elan Arete, a powerful psion who sought immortality, created a new race but doomed himself to never-ending rebirths. His granted abilities provide binders with access to several qualities that toughen the body and mind. Legend: After a memorable battle with a powerful lich, Arete, a powerful psion, took the time to explore the path of lichdom. He pondered that if immortality can be achieved through "undeath," could it not also be achieved through "unlife" too? After decades of research, he had his answer, but unknown to him, he had made a small oversight. Life begins with birth and unlife would require rebirth. He awoke from his ritual immortal and rejuvenated, but soon discovered he had lost a lifetime of knowledge and power. His own journals told him what he had once possessed and it became his obsession to regain that power. Unfortunately, every time he did the ritual again to get back what he had lost, he was reborn anew. No one knows how many times he was reborn, but somewhere along the way, he became a vestige and some believe that every time his vestige is summoned, he is reborn yet again. Special Requirement: Arete does not like to be reminded that the elan are considered abominations by some, and he does not answer your summons if you are already bound to Chupoclops or Eurynome. Manifestation: A mirror rises from his seal, reflecting the binder who makes the summons. The summoner's reflection fades to be replaced by that of a young, male Elan with hair too red, eyes too blue, and skin too bronze. While he speaks, his physical moves mirror the summoner's every action. Sign: Your body's colors alter to become slightly off. Blonde hair becomes too golden, green eyes become too emerald green, and your skin becomes faultless and has no pores. Influence: You do not get hungry or tired while bound to Arete, but you do suffer negative effects if you do not eat or sleep for the duration that the vestige is bound. If faced with a need to do research, Arete insists that you seek out lore regarding him and his research into immortality as well, which can often double or even triple the time you spend seeking information (DM's discretion; finding out where the local rowdies ran off to after a tavern fight might not give Arete grounds to require research into his own past, for example). Granted Abilities: While bound to Arete, you gain powers that Arete had at some point in his search for immortality. Psionic Boon: You gain 13 power points when you bind to Arete. These are added to your pool of power if you already possess psionic power, or they create a pool and you become a psionic creature for the duration of this binding. Resistance: Your gain a +4 resistance bonus on a saving throw of your choice. You may change this to another saving throw as a move action. Damage Reduction: Your body becomes unnaturally tough as you gain damage reduction 5/--. Repletion: You gain access to the psionic powers body adjustment , body purification, and sustenance for the duration of the binding. You may manifest each power as a psion would and as if it is a power known by you. You may augment each power as a psion normally could, substituting your effective binder level in place of manifester level. Besides what's in the XPH, and Eberron's (sucky) adaptation of elans, I do believe that's everything ever published regarding the history of the elan.
Lokiyn 04-28-07, 01:23 PM	See. now i have the urge to double check the athas boards and go through all my Darksun material to see if i was remembering correctly. On the one hand given athas's preeminent position on psionics its plausable, on the other hand it may be entirely new [to dnd].
The Ubbergeek 04-28-07, 04:53 PM	I like the 'botched/incomplete Kalashtar/inspired' take for the Elans in Eberron.
AdventChild 04-28-07, 07:26 PM	Negative, just checked my 2nd edition Dark Sun Campaign Setting Expanded and Revised and only two races where exported from athas; the Thri-kreen and the half-giant.
Lokiyn 04-29-07, 01:19 AM	I don't ever think they were a race. I think they were mentioned as a mystery race X in the fluff. Problem is, i don't have all the story/fluff books so i can't be sure.
thorr_kan 05-02-07, 12:37 AM	I like the 'botched/incomplete Kalashtar/inspired' take for the Elans in Eberron. Where'd you run across those? I don't play Eberron, but the fluff can be entertaining.
Tempest Stormwind 05-02-07, 12:58 AM	Where'd you run across those? I don't play Eberron, but the fluff can be entertaining. In the Player's Guide to Eberron. It's essentially the same as the Coveworld Eberron conversion (http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/conversions-xph.html), although that one's a bit better IMHO.
thorr_kan 05-02-07, 03:49 PM	Thanks for the info, folks.
Amaril 05-03-07, 07:04 AM	In the Player's Guide to Eberron. It's essentially the same as the Coveworld Eberron conversion (http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/conversions-xph.html), although that one's a bit better IMHO.Eberron treats Elans as a means of imprisonment for quori who have commited crimes against their own. Elans are also regarded as extremely rare.