Dolente Elf Dolenetes are a sorrowful people, taking the role of traveling tragedians, artists, singers and writers as their nomadic groups move between settlements. For the settlements which Dolente visit, they are shunned for their presence foretells a great disaster or dark times approaching, and with them comes an air of solemness that lingers after they leave. Whether they cause these events due to a curse or are able to subconsciously predict and travel towards them is unknown even by the Dolentes. However, all can be sure that their presence will leave grief and sorrow in the wake. An Elvish Mixing Pot To call a Dolente a high, wood, dark, sea or any other kind of elf would not only be a poor description, but a direct insult to their heritage and history. Though they present the standard elven features of slenderness, long ears and gracefulness, the Dolentes tend to have a combination of drow, high, wood and sea elf features, with a lean towards drow from their ancestors. This comes from their willingness to accept and interbreed with elves of any type in their travelling caravans. However, even with this mismash of different elvish features, the Dolentes possess unique features of their own. Some theorize that these features are curses, while others think that it comes from the mixing of different elves. Dolenetes have few sexually dimorphic characteristics, with the most prominent feature being that female-born Dolenete tend to stand a few inches taller and heavier than male-born Dolenete, along with female-born having slightly more pointed ears and longer eyelashes. However, the beauty and allure of the Dolenetes is unquestioned by those who meet one in-person, easily catching both the admiration and ire of onlookers. Dolenetes easily attract attention of all kinds, whether they wish to or not.

Dolenetes possess only a single eye color, a gentle light pink with a slightly-unsettling reflective nature to them. Some say that if you look into a Dolenete’s eyes for too long you’ll remember the most hurtful times in your life, while others say that you can tell a Dolenete’s emotions from the reflections. Hair and Identity A Dolente's hair grows at a much faster rate than other races, flowing elegantly and with a reflective sheen. The colors of their hair vary greatly, with silver-whites, blacks and blues being the most prominent. However, Dolenetes tend to dye and mark their hair a wide variety of colors, both for their performances and to showcase their personality. The styling of a Dolenete’s hair represents their gender, and while some Dolenetes keep their hair the same for most of their life, others frequently change it. Touching a Dolente’s hair without permission is akin to touching a person’s private parts, and is met with a similar reaction. Only the closest people to a Dolente may be given permission to touch their hair. For masculine Dolenete, their hair tends to be go from the lower-shoulders or elbows in length, and is usually loosely wrapped around their neck and shoulders similarly to a scarf. Along with this, many add highlights/strips of white or purple to their hair to highlight their masculinity. These streaks have meaning to Dolente, and usually represent achivements or challenges overcome. For feminine Dolenete, their hair tends to flow down to their mid-thighs or knees in length, and is typically styled with a multitude of ribbons, bows and flowers in the long strands, and is either left flowing free or wrapped around the Dolente’s body similarly as a sash. The hair accessories worn have meaning to Dolente, and usually represents their personality or history. For those who wish to be in between or neither, a multitude of different styles exist, but the most common tend to be either a mix of both masculine and feminine styles, or styling their hair to be curly instead of straight. The hair of a Dolenete is incredibly important, similar to a Dwarf’s love of their facial hair, and insulting or damaging their hair is seen as a grave insult not only against them, but their identity and personhood, and is lucky to only be met with dark omens and curses. Dolenete believe it is shameful to cover their hair, and will proudly showcase it even while wearing hoods or robes. Self-Fulfilment and Wanderlust Though most Dolenetes tend to stay in the caravans or group they were born into, some Dolenetes feel a need for adventure, self-fulfillment or self-discovery that leads them to leave the caravan, though most only do so temporarily. For those who leave the caravan and travel themselves, their reputation as bringers of misfortune and their natural allure brings major discrimination, even from other elves, and can sometimes end in violent acts comitted against them. This discrimination tends to lead to most Dolenetes trying to disguise themselves, and usually finding a group of kin for both protection and comfort. A Cold Veil The personality of a Dolenete can vary heavily, but the majority of them carry a quiet, solemn nature to them which can be physically felt, leaving a trail behind like a bad odor. This initial demeanor tends to repel people away from them, and feed into stereotypes about them being cold monsters, bringers of the dark days. However, underneath that veil Dolenetes hold an intensely expressive mind, experiencing emotions in extremes, whether that emotion be positive or negative, that can sometimes break through their exterior appearance. Once in a group, friendship or performance, their exterior veil tends to drop away and reveal their true characteristics. Though forming a friendship with a Dolenete tends to be hard due to their initial nature, the friendships a Dolenete has are extremely close, and the Dolenete will likely prioritize them or the group above themselves.

Dolente Names Dolentes are considered children until they undergo The Dolente Maturation Ritual sometimes on their 100th birthday. During the ritual, the Dolente decides an adult name, though many choose multiple names or change them over time. Masculine Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis Feminine Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia Ungendered/Androgyenous Names:: Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Nailo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal) Dolente Traits Ability Score Improvement. Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1. Alignment. Due to the communal, nomadic and anti-authoritarian values of their history along with valuing self-expression, the allignment of Dolenetes tends to be chaotic, and because of their insular nature, social discrimination and pritorizing their in-group/kin, most Dolenetes tend towards neutrality leaning towards good. An evil or lawful Dolenetes is extremely rare, with most being kicked out of their caravans and left to their own devices.. Age. Although Dolentes reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the dolente understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth. On their 100th birthday they undergoe the Dolente Maturation Ritual, and are considered an adult. They have the same lifespan as other elves, though due to prejudice against them, many do not see its full length. Size. Dolentes range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium. Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Superior Darkvision. From youur drow ancestory, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. Natural Performers You are naturally attuned to the arts, and performing in them. You have profiencny in the Performance skill. Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep. Trance. Dolenetes don't need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is "trance.") While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep. Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight. Dolente Magic. You know the Friends cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell once per day; you must finish a long rest in order to cast the spell again using this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Enthrall spell once per day; you must finish a long rest in order to cast the spell again using this trait. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells. Vocal Control Dolente who undergoe the Dolente Maturation Ritual have a Pianto put into their vocal chords, a Dolente instrument made of adamantine that allows you fine control of your vocal chords. If you have a free hand, you have advantage on Charisma (Performance) and Charisma (Deception) when trying to pass yourself off as a different person. Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Elvish.

The Dolente Sect The Dolenete Sect is a nomadic commune notorious through the realm for their darkly-colored hooded caravans riding alongside the destroyed paths and ruins of their ancestors, a trail of solemness following from behind them. Seen cautiously even by other elves and openly hated by others, the Dolente Sect is a sign of troubled times to come as their hooded caravans move throughout the continent between major and minor settlements alike, the arrival of solemn tragedies, ribbon dances, tales of their ancestors and grieving choirs which leave as quickly as they go. Though some theorize that the Dolenete Sect has a curse of divination which only lets them see the horrors of the world, no one can be certain if they truly predict tragedy, or bring it about themselves. However, all can be certain that this Sect means pain in the future, and as their visits become more frequent, elfkind wonder if it spells the coming of The Distruzione, or the complete end of Elvenkind. Drow Ancestry Originating from the arid Naewul Mountains, the ancestors of the Dolentes lived reclusively in the darkest and most protective caverns provided by their homeland, trying to hide from the dangers present on upper parts of the mountains and surface. In this harsh environment, tribes and nomadic groups began to form as they argued for the rich ore veins, limited food sources and few strategic positions afforded to them by the Naewul Mountains. In the formation of these tribes was The Morte Impero, an outlier to other tribes. While the majority of tribes were relatively peaceful and preferred to settle their disputes through diplomacy or shows of their superiority due to the sacratity of Elven life and limited Elven souls, The Morte Impero was a tribe of militaristic raiders who seeked to dominate the other tribes and absorb them by force. The Morte Impero did this by establishing a strict hierarchical system, where those above controlled and dominated all those below them, and mercilessly slaughtering and waging war against the other tribes. Hierarchical Empire At the top of this hierarchy is a person or entity only known as The Mother. Though the nature and origins of The Mother is mostly unknown, her power was supreme and the Mortale Priestesses upkept her wishes and commands from their eldritch connection to her, as The Mother never made an in-person appearance. It is claimed that Dolenete Elves are still tied to The Mother to this day, and that their curse of bringing tragedy and sorrow wherever they go is her punishment for their transgressions. All Dolenete know of The Mother, a majority of Drow and other elves have heard about this entity and her reign, and even other races have heard of Elvish stories involving her. Worshippers, or those who try to claim power from her are quickly outcast from The Dolenete Sect, and are similarly disdained by other Elves due to the sickening and evil nature of the entity. Mortale Priestesses, the strongest and most capable of the Drow were the attendants to The Mother, and her representatives to the tribe. Extremely capable in arcane and eldritch studies and blessed with power from The Mother, the Mortale Priestesses run the organization of the Tribe, and usually a settlement of their own. Their position is feared by others in the empire, as even a slight misstep against their wills can result in execution, or worse. They ran their settlements with fists of steel, crushing any possible resistance against their rule. However, infighting between different Mortale Priestesses was common, and seen as beneficial for only having the strongest and most adept leaders. They lived in luxury from the exploited materials from those below them. Mortale Citizens were lower members of the tribe, consisting mostly of specialized/educated jobs such as blacksmiths, and slave managers. Though not treated as poorly as the slaves, constant infighting, instability and lack of support from the Priestesses meant a constant struggle to exist, where any mistake could leave you becoming a slave. Mortale Slaves were the largest group at the very bottom of the hierarchy, consisting of those captured in raiding parties and refugees from raided and destroyed tribes. Though technically part of the tribe, they had no power and were dominated by both Citizens and Priestesses to do their bidding, working the most dangerous and labor-intensive jobs, their labor exploited with no way to escape their position. Failure was likely met with death, or worse. The Crying Priestess The Morte Impero was quickly able to eliminate all other tribes with their brutal methods, and integrate others under their banner. It had become an empire. Though the empire was prosperous with the rich materials and food offered to it, it remained isolationist and refused to do trading with outsiders except for essentials, instead most materials harvested being offered and sacrificed to The Mother, and the remainder being taken by the Priestesses. For those who were below them in the hierarchy, it was a hellish existence filled with constant laboring for no other purpose than to feed the Priestess and an Eldritch being which haunted them, which had no purpose in their life. The hierarchy was absolute. However, one of the Priestesses looked down upon the laboring masses from her palace, and watched as not just their bodies, but their spirits broke. For the first time, she questioned the intentions of The Mother and other Priestesses who promised an eternal golden age for The Drow under her will, the future that would come of it. She watched, and as she did wept tears of sorrow for the first time, tears which would never stop flowing, a sorrow she held that was so strong, others around her would begin tearing in her presence.

This Priestess was Dolente Cuore, who the Dolenete Sect and Elves were named after, and was the saviour of the Dolenete Sect. After witnessing the tragedies of the Morte Impero, she used her position and powers as a Priestess to stage a revolution and revolt from her own settlement against the rest of her colleagues, with the goal of breaking the hierarchy and leaving the caves and mountains where they had hidden away. The first of her followers, the abused slaves and workers who rose up against their captors, went by no other name than the Dolene Sect. However, it was clear that the troops of the other Priestess were better equipped, fed and trained than the masses of the empire, and quickly it became apparent that a revolution would be infeasible as many were murdered in cold blood, and for each drop of blood bled, Dolente Cuore let go a teardrop. Seeing the futility and horrors of fighting, Dolente Cuoro led her followers in a final assault to the heavily guarded entrance of the mountains, using her powers to break through to the outside for the first time. Upon seeing the outside world for the first time, Dolente Cuore shed her final tear, collapsing to the ground and her physical body fading to dust from the exhaustion and injuries she had received. Her followers escaped into the outside world, and established the current-day Dolente Sect, though many believe they were cursed by The Mother for their revolution and escaping from her grasp. The Mournful Goddess Following this escape, the Morte Impero has become completely isolationist, and it’s unknown if the empire still exists in any form, or was ruined similarly to the other Elvish nations. Though curious adventurers and worshippers of The Mother try to find the entrance to the now-mythical Morte Impero, none return. Dolente Cuoro is now worshipped and honored as an Elvish goddess of protection, grieving, renewal and performance widely by the Dolente Elves and some other Elves, who is said to have ascended as her body disintegrated. However, this is contested among elves, some claiming her to only be a saint, and others claiming she is neither god nor saint. However, the majority of Dolente believe in her divinity, and follow her teachings to this day. The Dolente Sect Society The culture of the Dolente Sect is heavily inspired by its history but is scarcely known in the outside world, being limited mostly to those who take part in it. The Dolente Sect functions as a nomadic commune, traveling together in large wagons and carriages which function both as transport and home for the people, travelling in the day and settling down in the night. This caravan of the Dolente Sect is where the largest number of Dolente Elves reside, but also hosts numerous other types of Elves who are welcomed into the community and integrated. Other races are extremely rare to see and are met with warieness by members of the Sect due to past experiences, but it is also possible for them to join the Sect. The Dolente Sect is extremely tight-knit despite its size, acting more as a family than a nation in how it acts, with resources, luxuries and accommodations being given according to their needs, while the members took up needed roles according to their ability. Though the Sect is self-sufficient, it trades resources, art and performances for luxuries and other necessities it cannot make itself from the settlements it travels through. There is no form of central authority in the community, but members frequently refer to the oldest and most knowledgeable for their thoughts and opinions on what to do, and act on what’s best for all. For the life of an individual born inside the Sect, they are not just raised by their biological parents. The effort of raising a child is one shared by the entire Sect, and the burdens are shared across all people able to help. This is due to the sacristy and rareness of an Elvish birth, any and all attempts must be made to foster and preserve it for the future of the Dolenete Elves. A childhood under the Sect is one spent learning the history, culture and arts as they travel from one settlement to another from the parents, teachers and elders of the Sect, as they grow and develop. The Dolenete Maturation Ritual Once the child reaches the age of 100, the Dolente Maturation Ritual takes place. During the night and under the light of a new moon, representing rebirth, the darkness is lit only by faerie fire, as all the adults in the tribe sit in a circle around the youth, sniffing a Dolente herb that causes uncontrollable tearing of the eyes as they watch the child. Both parents approach the child from an opening in the circle, asking their child for their name(s). After the child states their name, a brush and scissors made of Adamantium and coated with sapphires said to be the relics of Dolente Cuoro, are passed down the circle to the parents of the child. They hand the child the brush and scissors along with other dyes and herbs, and watch in patience as the child brushes, cuts and styles their own hair, deciding on it completly by themselves for the first time. After this is done, a short prayer is said from a Priest(ess) of Dolente Cuoro, asking their goddess to protect this child and make them anew. Then, the child lays on their back and closes their eyes, as a wizard and medicine-person install a Pianto into the child’s throat, a sacred Dolente instrument of adamantium which resides in their windpipe/vocal chords, allowing them to modify their pitch and resonance, and can be “played” by pressing their fingers along the throat. This allows a Dolente to sing much higher, lower than without it. The reason for this device is to honor Dolente Cuoro, as she manifested her grief and powers through the gift of her voice, which she has given to all her children. Finally, the child is doused with holy water collected from the crying adults around them, said to be the collected tears of Dolente Cuoro. After the ritual is completed, the newly-made adult and the people closest to them spend the night praying to and grieving for Dolente Cuoro, thanking her for her sacrifice, and asking for protection in their new life.