Illyrian (5e Race)

Illyrian

Faster than a speeding arrow. Deadlier than a poison dagger. Greedier than Smaug himself.

Physical Description

By Julia Jeffrey

Illyrians have rounded ears and are associated with humans and lesser fey, although they would disagree. They resemble slender humanoids with distinctive features one may find elven like a finely pointed noise and beautiful angular features. Their ears make them seem more human however. Also notable is a pair of fairy wings on their backs which resemble that of lacewings and can be filled with dew on wet mornings. Their skin is usually somewhat olive colored and their eyes have beautiful crystalline irises. Their more attractive features are often concealed by utilitarian clothing that is meant to be efficient and concealing.

History

Illyrians, despite their human ears, are actually fey who migrated from the Feywilds to the Prime. They were astounded by the greed of humans who hunted them and other fairies for their wings. Not to be out done in strength, they fought back as the warriors they were and surprised many fairy poachers, pushing them back. Fairies thus hold illyrians with high regard, despite calling them dullards or warmongers half the time. For a while, illyrians served as body guards for hire for fairies in the realms of humans.

However, among some of the foiled poachers were sometimes aristocracy of human kingdoms. To thwart these creatures, they stirred stories of the illyrians, spreading rumors of them murdering babies and worshipping in an anti-human cult. Most effective was their claim that illyrians were dangerous enough that humankind would suffer greatly if fairykind were to wage a war on them, solely because of this race. Illyrians thus found themselves often the targets of ignorant humans as well as those blinded by greed, since high bounties were put out for the wings of illyrians. However, this suited the illyrians just fine, as they now had a just cause to murder humans. Even better was when they were hired to do so.

Society

The illyrians are a warrior race of faeries, considered by many to be a violent and warmongering people. Most of them form war-bands depending on their own views, though most bands have a rich culture with similar traditions. They train mainly illyrian males to be warriors, though some females do get treatment. But their race generally has a lack of regard for female warriors. In some cases, they can be brutal with them, going as far as to cripple them so they can't fly. Females reduced to this condition are forced to become broodmares.

In the illyrian culture, tattoos are shown to be an important part of distinguishing individuals. Once illyrians are initiated as warriors, they are given certain tattoos for luck and glory on the battlefield. These also are used to tell the dead apart, similar to a dog tag. To become a true warrior, an illyrian must have reached the mature age of 15. They are then apt to perform a Blood Rite. This particular rite is the ultimate test for illyrians and their pride as a hardy warrior race, where they go unarmed into the mountains without any magic and their wings bound. There, they must survive a month and are given distinction upon return.

Illyrians Traits

Powerful winged, mercenary faries
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity and Wisdom scores each increase by 2.
Age. Illyrians live to be around 350.
Alignment. Illyrians are always chaotic or evil, doing as they please.
Size. Illyrians vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You also have a flying speed of 30 feet. You cannot use your flying speed while wearing medium or heavy armor.
Darkvision. 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 Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Weapon Proficiency. Through countless hours spent as mercenaries and warmongers, you are proficient with the longbow and longsword.
Languages. You can speak, read and write in Common and Sylvan.

Random Height and Weight

Table: Illyrian Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
5′ 1″	+2d8-1 inches	120 lb.	× 1d2 lb.

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