The alfar have been shaped by millennia of dwelling underground: The eternal darkness of the caverns has paled their skin; some senses have been sharpened while others have been dulled; and a constant shortage of nourishing foodstuffs has given them a slighter stature than the surface-dwelling races. The alfar are, in other words, a well-adapted and highly specialized race.

The alfar average height is approximately 165 cm. Few individuals deviate measurably from this average, and those who do are considered freaks of nature. An abnormally short or tall alfar (say 155 or 175 cm.) will probably never survive adolescence, and certainly never be allowed to breed. Alfar females have the same average height as males.

Alfar build is generally slight, and few individuals are notably overweight or muscular. The dextrous alfar body is perfect for moving swiftly and silently, and while they are incapable of the most extreme feats of brawn, their lithe forms conceal surprising amounts of sinewy strength.

Generations spent without exposure to sunlight has coloured alfar skin in a greyish white hue, which most other races find repulsive. Their skin is perfectly suited to life in the depths, where it blends nicely into the shadows, but it is sensitive to light. Alfar dislike the harsh glare of the sun, and they avoid its rays whenever possible. When travelling in daylight, they tend to wear clothes that cover as much pale skin as possible.

One striking aspect of alfar appearance is their outsized ears. This obviously enables them to hear very well, which is essential when hunting or navigating underground. The ears also give them a bat-like appearance, and the word for alfar in the mirdain language translates to 'bat people'.

In pitch darkness, the red-eyed alfar see naturally as humans do while holding a torch. They find bright lights repulsive, but not harmful, and illuminate their cities with orbs of softly glowing, richly coloured magical light.

Alfar hair colour ranges from pitch black to white. All shades of black, grey and white can be seen, but a grey colour, which matches the alfar complexion, is predominant. Alfar never have blonde, brown or red hair.