Siren (5e Race)

Siren

The origin of Sirens is something of a mystery. Legends tell of the union of a woman and a long-lost sea god; still others suggest that Sirens are the spirits of women fallen at sea, incarnated by their hatred, their voices cursed with the eldritch wonder of the never-ending ocean. The truth behind these legends is somewhat hard to discern, as few scholars have had the chance to interact with them, and fewer still have survived those encounters.

Physical Description

Siren

Sirens commonly appear as an amalgamation of a beautiful woman and some form of sea life; typically, they acquire features such as fins, claws, gills, and tails, and wield these features as natural extensions of their own bodies. Some have even been known to possess wings, a trait reminiscent of seafowl, but one used to deadly effect. There is nothing so terrifying as the sight of a siren soaring downward, snatching their entranced victims from the decks of their ships.

Sirens are long-lived, having lifespans documented as long as 500 years in some cases. In addition, sirens are fiercely intelligent, to the point that they are able to speak and comprehend most known languages. Given their lack of socialization, cryptozoologists theorize that their do not communicate with their tongues, but instead with their thoughts; that a siren's song is not a physical one, but instead a manifestation of their desire, projected across the ocean's waves as a form of magic.

Sirens are exclusively female. They procure mates in much the same way as they hunt: by entrancing the object of their desire and taking advantage of the hapless victim. A siren's mating dance is a long, drawn-out process; most victims do not live to tell of the tale, as the intelligence and viciousness of a Siren is comparable only with their cardinal sin of obsession. One documented survivor of a Siren abduction was recovered after forty-one days in captivity; half-drowned, unable to speak and all but catatonic, he passed shortly after his retrieval, as the shock of the Siren's death stopped his heart.

They tend to nest along rocky outcroppings bordering the ocean, although industrial expansion has forced them further into the ocean, relegating them to distant islands, coastal caverns, and the borders of undiscovered lands.

Society

Sirens have very little contact with one another, preferring solitude and uncontested hunting grounds. When sirens do cross paths, they are almost inevitably drawn to fighting; whether this is due to a desire for food, or whether it is born of mutual jealousy, one will eventually overpower the other with their song. If the victim is not slain, they will instead be controlled, assuming a puppet-like disposition until they eventually waste away; additionally, their power will be drawn into the victor, increasing the power and range of her song.

In these instances, the controlling siren is referred to as a Queen. Rather than just hunting men, Queens hunt their own kind, subverting them and expanding their territory. Queens are immensely powerful creatures, possessing the ability to manipulate the weather and shift sea currents; they are also psychic powerhouses in their own right, able to inflict compulsions on even the most resilient minds.

Siren Traits

A merfolk subspecies composed of females, each are masters of charm and beguilement.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution, Wisdom, and Charisma scores each increase by 1.
Age. Sirens have relatively long lifespans. They become physically mature at 20 but can live up to 500 years naturally.
Alignment. Neutral, leaning towards evil. Sirens tend to have obsessive personalities, and the ease of using their Call is a temptation that many fall to.
Size. Siren's vary in height and build, from just over 5 feet to just under 6. 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.
Amphibious. You can breathe both air and water.
Siren's Body. As a bonus action, you turn into an amphibious form, your legs becoming a single powerful tail. Your walking speed is reduced to 0 feet but you gain a swimming speed of 40 feet. While in this form, you can use your bonus action to return to normal.
Haunting cry. Sirens are known for luring people and beguiling them. Whenever you make a Charisma (Performance) check to sing, you are considered proficient in the Performance skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus. In addition, You know the friends cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the charm person spell once and need to finish a long rest before you can cast it again. When you reach 5th level, you can also cast the suggestion spell once and need to finish a long rest before you can cast it again. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Charm Resistance. You have advantage against being charmed, being a skilled charmer yourself.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write both Common and the Primordial dialect of Aquan.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
4′ 9''	+2d6	100 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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