CHAPTER 3 | HALF-ELVES 77
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the plans of a rival family. You could even be
working for the mysterious Trust, the conspiracy
that maintains order in Zilargo. If you are
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mission, but you could also be a sleeper agent—
gathering information and allies and waiting for
the day when your skills will be put to use.
ZIL NAMES
Zil society is divided into major houses, each of
which is composed of multiple families. Each
gnome has three names: their personal name,
their family name, and their house name. For
example, Alina Lorridan Lyrris and Tallian
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within House Lyrris. Gnomish names are long
and lyrical; a Zil proverb claims “the sweetest
song is the name of a friend.” Personal and clan
names average three syllables in length, and there
is a strong tradition of alliteration.
Male Names: Alian, Castar, Dorius, Elymar,
Haliar, Hasal, Illian, Jassian, Lassius, Sanadal,
Tallian, Torius
Female Names: Alina, Cassia, Dalia, Jandia,
Lysse, Myssia, Ranadala, Saralyssa, Talina,
Tandria, Tassi, Vassilia
Family Names: Alyre, Alysse, Canatar,
Del, Dorian, Hal, Josilyn, Kan, Lin, Lorridan,
Lyrriman, Sil, Suvius, Syrralan, Talius, Til,
Torralyn
Clan Names: Adredar, Clebdecher, Dalian,
Davandi, Harlian, Hebberdesh, Korrian,
Lonadar, Lyrris, Nezzelech, Santiar, Tarliach
GNOMES OF THE FIVE NATIONS
Gnomes are found across the Five Nations, and
most are well-integrated into the local cultures.
Gnomes are often encountered as merchants,
magewrights, chroniclers, scholars, and
scoundrels. While the gnomes of the Five Nations
aren’t as inherently devious as their Zil cousins,
family is usually important to them. You may
have a network of old favors and connections to
the community you grew up in. But you might
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avoiding the intrigues your cousins adore.
GNOMES AND DRAGONMARKS
The gnomes of House Sivis carry the Mark
of Scribing. Members of the house are scribes
and notaries, but they also maintain the
sending stones that facilitate long-distance
communication in Khorvaire.
Half-Elves ..................................................................
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—Nandon Tam, Khoravar activist
Half-elves are spread across Khorvaire, from
the Towering Woods of the Eldeen Reaches
to the slums of Sharn. New half-elves are born
in every generation as a result of pairings
between humans, elves, and half-elves, and these
newborns typically cling to the cultures of their
parents. However, over the course of centuries
half-elves have developed their own communities
and traditions; this sense of identity has been
strengthened by the rise of House Lyrandar and
House Medani.
In making a half-elf character, think about
whether you were born into a Khoravar
community, or if you were born to parents of
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you? The elves of Aerenal have never allowed a
half-elf into the Undying Court, and the Valenar
elves don’t consider half-elves to be capable of
channeling a Valenar ancestral spirit.
THE KHORAVAR
When two half-elves conceive, the child is always
a half-elf. Over the course of generations, families
and communities of half-elves have developed
their own cultural identity. Members of these