Underfolk (5e Race)

Underfolk

Physical Description

Jeff Miracola

Underfolk look like humans with the skin tones and builds of drow. Shorter and thinner than their ancestors underfolk have enlarged, but still rounded, ears to better facilitate hearing in the dark passages, dilated eyes, and thick body hair for warmth. Most underfolk wear their hair, which comes in far broader array of hues than humans, wild with minimal styling beyond basic hygiene. Underfolk can consciously change their skin tones to better blend in with their environments, but only enough to be useful in low-light conditions.

History

The folk that became underfolk were originally humans driven to the Underdark by some great disaster or banishment. There, they and their descendants survived, though rarely thrived, as their bodies changed to adapt to their dark circumstances. Having no intrinsic magic and few spellcasters beyond the occasional cleric, underfolk have had to substitute skill for such arcana in their quest to keep themselves going.

Society

Most underfolk live in small tribes of a few dozen scattered across the upper sections of the Underdark, though some small cities exist hidden from all but the most trusted allies of these suspicious people. While mildly xenophobic, most underfolk tribes prefer peace to war and will avoid conflicting with other denizens of the Underdark whenever they can. When they do enter conflict, it is usually with deep gnomes, orcs, kuo-toa, goblins, or drow regarding territory, food, or slavery. When greater threats to the Underdark arise, the underfolk will often ally with gnomes, vril, dwarves and any allies they can bring to end mutual enemies.

Despite this isolationist mindset, many underfolk that live near surface exits will set up trading operations with surface humans or dwarves for supplies and most underfolk make an effort to learn the languages of their neighbors, even if they don’t get along with them. Most who interact frequently with them find them a kind and welcoming people once one thaws past an initial, and in the Underdark often justified, suspicion. Underfolk tend to be very loyal and passionate allies once made, but they do take oaths very seriously. If someone they trust ever breaks a promise with them, no matter how minor, they will view that person as an unconscionable enemy and villain on par with an archdevil in evil.

Among themselves, underfolk tend to live by relatively primitive means and most are illiterate, but are by no means unintelligent or lazy. They simply value practical survival over unneeded luxuries. Rather than write down their tales, the underfolk have a complex oral history tradition with different families and clans passing down the songs of their forebearers, both regarding great deeds and morality plays. Every underfolk family has some more personal oratories that all members must memorize perfectly before they are considered full adults, ready to join underfolk hunting and foraging missions. Religiously, most underfolk revere either the human or dwarven pantheons.

Underfolk Names

While they originally used human names like their ancestors, the underfolk now have a hodgepodge of names from other Underdark residents.

Male: Agrux, Bhar, Gedmi, Pullog, Rotmond, Sabal

Female: Akorre, Alem, Ganvut, Gridal, Jenros, Vouh

Underfolk Traits

Offshoots of humanity adapted to live in the Underdark.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2 and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age. Underfolk reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.
Alignment. Underfolk tend towards a neutral alignment.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Good Neighbor. You can speak, read, and write one of the following languages of your choice: Dwarvish, Elven, Gnomish, Goblin, or Orc.
Keen Hearing. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.
Oral Tradition. You have proficiency with the Performance skill.
Subterranean Survivor. You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Acrobatics, Insight, Perception, Stealth, or Survival.
Shadow Camo. You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks to hide in dim light or darkness.
Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of the attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
Superior Darkvision. 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.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 0''	+1d10	100 lb.	× (1d6) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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