Elan
When he revealed himself, it was as if color splayed off his scalp across the breeze, eyes catching and holding the light itself. Intensity was not the beginning of what his eyes held, aught burning behind them more than mere ambition. As our gazes met, I felt a surge of... concentrated life experiences. Vim.
~ Eltrio ner Sensa, Royal Arbiter
Living Again
Elans are not born; they are made. Living mortals, oft human, are selected from a pool of applicants and screened by a cabalistic authority. Those who pass muster undergo a secret process in one of several hidden elan enclaves, where they abandon their humanity for a new existence - powered by what the elan societies refer to only as Impetus. It is theorized that different enclaves utilize different sources of energy to complete the process. Through whatever ritual is employed, even those just starting their new lives as elan enjoy longevity and never wanting for nourishment again. All their physical traits seem to be the same, yet....more.
Because the council members who make the selection of aspirants have their own preferences, elans of a certain “generation” often share certain physical characteristics. The current council members favor aspirants with pale skin, red hair, and a youthful quality.
Foisted Into Eternity
Unlike other races such as elves and dwarves, those who become elan are often unaccustomed to living for any extended time. It takes supreme mental discipline to keep one's wits over years watching loved ones die with seemingly endless years to contemplate; it's somewhat commonplace for these "blessed" individuals to go mad after a few centuries. Elan can immediately recognize the Impetus in a being, and possess a sort of secret society through which they aid each other, both in worldly pursuits and in cathartic conversations with weight only minds like theirs truly grasp. Elans are less likely to worship a deity than members of other races, since they feel that any grace or continued existence they might hope for depends on their own efforts and the continual mastery of their Impetus.
Amongst Old Kin
Scholars and other individuals privy to ancient or recondite knowledge may have inklings of a secret society. Elan are a clandestine lot in this regard, and do not publicly reveal their enclaves or places of making; the elans select new aspirants and turn away those they feel are unsuited for life as an elan. Given the difficulty in even contacting an enclave, let alone being deemed worthy of response, the entire race is aware that their true nature is not to be disclosed. Rumors circulating in cities or across areas containing individuals similar to current-"generation" elan are quickly investigated by officials sent by the Cullers - and the subject of gossip either firmly chastised or eliminated on sight.
Ceaseless Errantry
When a mortal seeks the transformation into an elan, they must petition existing the Cullers for their sanction and favor to undergo the process. As no elan has ever disclosed the exact details of this, it is unknown whether it is a harrowing procedure or something pleasant. Newly created elans retain the basic memories and personalities of their previous mortal lives, but lose anything else about themselves as they are quite literally remade. Some might use this as a way to dedicate their lives to a cause or simply shed old identities.
Likewise, the Cullers do not admit a mortal without giving their choice great consideration. Elan may have been dealt a bad hand by fate in their original life, despite possessing great physical and emotional fortitude that the council would not dare pass up. Conversely, one with great conviction but little innate ability might have their petition answered, that their goals might be fulfilled, or that oaths might be upheld.
Elan Names
Elan names vary greatly, as it is often simply the name an elan possessed before entering into their new existence. This is particularly true when an elan wishes to pick up her old life where it left off. Others view their second chance at existence as an opportunity to start anew, and they pick new names.
Titles, though used only among themselves, are important to elan. Freshly created elan have the title of Newmade; those who have persisted anew for at least a few decades have the title of Made. Elan whose new lives span more than two centuries have the privilege of styling themselves Eternal. Those comprising the council that chooses new elan are known as Cullers.
Nonhuman elan are known as Precursors, as their history holds that, once, any race was allowed to petition for the ritual - before learning it oft resulted in death or disfiguration. The practice has been discontinued by most elan enclaves.
Elan Traits
Your elan character is quite different from their previous race, the result of an esoteric process that transforms the body into something sustained by other processes aside from biology.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1, and two other ability scores of your choice increase by 1.
Age. An elan is biologically immortal, should they continue to use their Impetus to break down and reconstruct their body. Some of the oldest Eternals have persisted for over a millennium - and, same as any elan, they either are killed - by accident or violence - or simply choose to cease living.
Art Credit
Art by Igor Kieryluk, Yeong Hao-Han, and the Elan from 3.5e's Psionics Unleashed are all property of Wizards of the Coast.
Alignment. Elan tend towards the alignment of the race they once were, so often they are varied like the humans they commonly hail from. All elan have a tinge of a tendancy towards law, upholding the secrecy of their true nature.
Size. Only specific individuals are chosen to become elan, so those who do are somewhat close in stature. They typically stand just under 6 feet tall and weigh around 180 pounds.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Creature Type. Your creature type is aberration, rather than humanoid.
Elan Puissance. You can reinforce your body or mind in response to an assault. When you are forced to roll a saving throw, you can choose to make it with advantage (no action).
After you use this trait, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.
Fortress of Will. You can use your animating force as a buffer against harm. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll 2d6. Add your proficiency bonus to the combined roll, and reduce the damage by that total.
After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Lifetime of Learning. You have proficiency in one set of tools of your choice.
Repletion. Your Impetus sustains you, freeing you from the needs of normal mortality. You do not need to eat or drink, though you can ingest food or beverages if you wish. You also do not need to sleep, and instead meditate deeply, remaining semi-conscious, for 4 hours a day. While meditating, you focus on suffusing your body with your Impetus, healing wounds and restoring vitality. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit a human would from 8 hours of sleep.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.