Faery (5e Race)
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Faery
"Legends of the realm say that because the Feywild is the bright reflection of the world, Faery are a reflection of humanity. As the bards would tell it, whenever a human child is born, a Faery also comes into existence. The personalities of the two races are indistinguishable during the first few years of life. However, much like how human adolescents cast off their childhood ways, the fates of their counterparts is up to the whimsy of the Feywild as much as ours is to live." -Brunthild Copperbeard, Bard of Ironwell
Physical Description
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History
An enchanted race born of raw fey magic, faerie are diminutive folk heralding from the Feywild. While diverse in nature, it is said the first of the Faery were sculpted into being by the Summer Queen herself; blessed by four of the Court of Stars and even Corelleon himself, Faerie found purpose with the heart of the Feywild at their core. Time unbridled brought diversity into the Faery as they took their place in the world; the more headstrong turning their mannerisms and unique talents to protect, provide and ward against lingering darkness in the hearts of others. Growing more fierce and focused, the faery known as Sprites came to being, while those that preserved their childlike innocence and the light of magic blessed upon them heralded the name of 'Pixie'.
Within even the Feywild and its splendor, darker tendrils of the Shadowfell taint and perverse the beauty of the land. When a Faery finds itself intentionally or accidentally entering the Shadowfell, their minds and bodies grow twisted into the abominations collectively labeled Underfey by others of the Feywild.
Society
Diverse in nature, each subrace of Faery finds its purpose through different methods, whether given to it as an overarching goal as with Pixies, or the Underfey forced to burn a new path when their old was taken.
Pixies are brought into the world with purpose and being, a single act what drives them forward and helps focus their inquisitive natures. Under the guidance of the Court of Stars, they etch the patterns of frost on the winter ponds and rouse the buds in springtime. They cause flowers to grow and sparkle with summer dew, and they paint the leaves with the blazing hues of autumn. Some believe that the Pixies stole the secret of honey from the mead goblet of the Summer Queen, then sold it to the bees. It is said they taught the birds to fly and to sing. These childlike spirits have a penchant for mischievous fun, and there is no game a pixie will not play, no sport it will not attempt, and no revelry it will avoid or decline.
Sprites are ever focused on their eternal goal of upholding good while warding against evil. Their emotions and senses are more attuned to the world, able to sense whether a creature is good or evil by the sound and feeling of its beating heart. As judges of the past deeds and hearts of others, Sprites oppose the will of evil fey and pledge to thwart evil Archfey at every turn. Unlike their childlike counterparts, Sprites are devoted warriors despite their small more splendid. They band together in protected glades of nature's beauty and allow no trespassers to taint what thrives. Lacking the warmth and compassion of other Fey, these hardy, aggressive warriors take severe measures to protect the land.
Underfey once held the same beauty and luster of that of the Fey, yet whatever misfortune brought their being into the Shadowfell, their forms and minds became irreversibly touched by the darker realm. Due to this infrequent mode of creation, Underfey are few and far between. The few that do wander the Shadowfell alone, or bud together in small groups, their twisted minds ever thirsting to find a way to return to their older wonder. Stripped of their warm glow, Underfey are malicious and apathetic to misfortune that strikes anyone but themselves, holding themselves as victims to fate and often grow spiteful towards the other Fey. Those that accept their new being as a gift, rather than a curse might strive to entice other Faery to join in their newfound perfection.
Faery Names
Faery's tend to take their name after elf or fey names. It's recorded that some Faerie's names are of exotic plants. In truth, Faeries names comprise of 7 parts, however, they will typically share only a single name with other creatures. This is governed by the Fae belief that True-Names hold a power over the living.
Faery Traits
The diminutive folk of the fey wild, blessed with tasks to keep them busy from otherwise mischievous habits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
Age. Imbued with the magic of the Feywild, faery rarely live longer then 600 years outside the Feywilds.
Alignment. The mischievous nature of the faery leaves them tending towards chaotic alignments.
Size. Faery grow to about 2 feet tall and are no smaller than a foot. Your size is Tiny.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 10 feet. You have a fly speed of 30 feet but cannot ascend over 10 feet above the ground.
Darkvision. Living their lives within the Twilight Shroud of the Feywild, you have superior vision in dark and dim condition. You can see in dim light within 60 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.
Fey. Your creature type is considered both humanoid and fey.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed and magic can't put you to sleep.
Frail. Faery are not made for manual labour. You have disadvantage on all Strength checks and saving throws.
Small Form. You are particularly small. This comes with its own boons and faults. You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you, you can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours and you must share the space of a creature you are attempting to make a melee attack against.
Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Sylvan.
Subrace. Pick one from Pixie, Sprite, and Underfey.
Pixie
Standing barely a foot tall, Pixies resemble diminutive elves with gossamer wings like those of butterflies, being both as clear as the dawn and as luminous as a full moon. Curious as cats and as shy as deer, Pixies go where they please. They like to spy on other creatures and can barely contain their excitement around them.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Fae Magic. You know the druidcraft cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the faerie fire spell once per day. When you reach 5th level, you can also cast the invisibility spell once per day. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Magic Resistance. As a reaction, when you are effected by an Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic you can give yourself advantage on that roll. You regain use of this ability once you complete a long rest.
Sprite
In secret groves and shaded glens, tiny sprites with dragonfly wings flutter. For all their fey splendor, however, Sprites lack warmth and compassion. They are aggressive and hardy warriors, taking severe measures to ward strangers away from their homes. Interlopers that come too close have their moral character judges, they are put to sleep or frightened off.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Fierce Heart. Accustom to combat, you no longer need to share the same space with a creature to make a melee attack.
Heart Sight. As an action, you touch a creature and magically knows the creature's current emotional state. If the target fails a DC 10 Charisma saving throw, you also learn the creature's alignment. Celestials, fiends, and undead automatically fail the saving throw.
Sprite Poison. When you score a critical hit with a weapon attack, you can choose to force the creature to make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute. If the saving throw result is 5 or lower, the poisoned target falls unconscious for the same duration, or until it takes damage or another creature takes an action to shake it awake.
Underfey
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Light Footed. Underfey do not grow wings, but are quicker on their feet. You no longer have a flying speed and your base walking speed increases to 25.
Invisibility. You can cast the invisibility spell once with this trait, requiring no material components, and you regain the ability to cast it this way when you finish a short rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.
Superior Darkvision. Living beneath the surface of the Twilight World, little light reaches their home. 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.
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.
Random Height and Weight
Base Height |
Height Modifier* |
Base Weight |
Weight Modifier** |
---|---|---|---|
1′ 0'' | +1d12 inches | 3 lb. | × (1d6) lb. |
*Height = base height + height modifier |
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