Shadowborn (5e Race)

Shadowborn

Shadowborn are creatures born of shadow, awoken from the deepest, darkest parts of the earth. When they walk around in the darkness, they are unseeable, and in battle, they are the last thing you will ever see.

Physical Description

By Dallas Williams

Shadowborn have grayscale skin and hair (if any hair at all), which allows them to easily blend into the shadows and darkness. They have a very human-like figure, but are typically more lanky and look as if they were stretched slightly. Most do not have many facial features (eyes, nose, mouth), but those who do typically have the eyes of cats. Legend tells that this is so they can see other shadowborn with ease, and detect spirits as a feline would. Surrounding shadowborn are faint auras of varying colors. Few can see or sense this colorful aura, but those who do tend to avoid the shadowborn. Their body is a formulated conduit of physical shadow which has gained sentience.

History

Shadowborn have been around since the dawn of time, existing, learning, getting stronger during the lack of notice the other races give them. They lived in secretive groups, avoiding detection by society. They held secretive rituals to continue their lineage, using whispers of the dead to implant ideas and values into their young, extending the reach of their elders into the future. Each generation gets smarter and stronger, learning from the whispers the shadows of old give them. Some say they were a race of nomads who people forgot. They had been touched by Shadowfell and so became suffused with its essence. They hear the voices of darkness. It is said that when they die, they inevitably rise again as a shadow.

Society

Shadowborn travel in secluded groups, usually as hunters or mercenaries. They do not like fraternizing with other races outside the realm of business. Their abodes usually hung about the shadier sides of other communities. While mainly uncaring, they usually are respected in the underworld and by other ne'er-do-wells due to their professionalism and ability to keep a secret. If scorned, they never forget, and they will often organize en masse in coordination to deal with threats efficiently.

Shadowborn Names

Many shadowborn names derive from names of favorable objects, people, or animals. They shorten the names to one-syllable words that can easily be said and remembered, such as 'Ka' or 'Ren'.

Shadowborn Traits

Shadowborn are creatures born of shadow, awoken from the deepest, darkest parts of the earth
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and two other ability scores of your choice increases by 1.
Age. You mature fast, but age slowly, for shadows are until the end of ages. Shadowborns mature at the age 80. On average, they live around 600 years old.
Alignment. Many shadowborn are neutral.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
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.
Shadow Form. You are proficient in the Stealth skill.
Shadowy Spellcasting. You know the minor illusion cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the disguise self spell as a 1st-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Dark Concealment. You are able to take the Hide action, while only lightly obscured from the creature from which you are hiding in dim light or darkness.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
4′ 8''	+2d10	130 lb.	× (2d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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