Valley Elves
Valley elves are unusually tall, some of them growing to the height of humans, with hair color of silver or gold and eyes of amber and violet. They are shunned by other elven sub-races, who do not consider them “true elves”, but are greeted with goodwill by gnomes. Despite this, Valley elves are thought to be an offshoot of the grey elves and have all of the powers and abilities of that subrace but speak the gnomish language.
The name of valley elves is derived from the Valley of the Mage; the only place they are native to. Valley elves are distrustful of outsiders, to the point of xenophobia. With the sole exception of snow elves, valley elves are despised by all other elven subraces, including the drow. The reason for such antipathy is uncertain, but some have speculated that it was because they sold their loyalty to a powerful master in exchange for extraplanar knowledge. Despite their xenophobia, valley elves work closely with the gnomes and humans of the Vale of the Mage in defense of their mutual home. Most needs of the valley elves are provided by the Mage of the Valley. Foraging makes up for the rest.
The Mage has, many believe, set up a network of valley elf spies to protect the land and raid nearby powers. Since valley elves are roughly the same height as humans, they can usually pass in disguise through human lands. Understandably, such infiltration disturbs the neighboring peoples, and they would be happy to see the valley elves eliminated.
The valley elves have adapted well to the dangerous environment of the Barrier Peaks. Even before the coming of the Mage, they fended well for themselves in the perilous lands nearby. After his arrival, they became a part of the danger in the area by protecting their lord fanatically. Some say there can be few better bodyguards than zealous elves. The Mage of the Valley is well protected indeed.