doctorbadwolf
Heretic of The Seventh Circle
So, it's been quite a while since I took a good look at these race write-ups, and I'd like to see what others think of them.
Thematic Elements: In my worlds, Shadar-Kai and the two races of Vryloka are much like goblinoids, in that they are actually one species with three branches. They can make offspring with eachother freely, but their kids will always most strongly resemble one lineage of the Vy Shaar.
Thousands of years ago, in the distant past of whatever setting they're in, or perhaps in the early days of the multi-verse, they had an "Island" home, or a planet, or some sort of homeland that they recall as a small chain of islands. It was under attack for reasons that very few have any clue of, and even those aren't absolutely certain, but something of value was desired by many foes. The Vy Shaar had many magics, and powerful allies in the form of the Fey and of special breeds of intelligent animals who were loyal to the Vy Shaar and indeed were integrated into their society, especially a species of Ravens and one of Wolves, who could speak the native tongue Vos Shadar.
Revered by their people were the Three Sisters, a trio of sorcerous witches advised the people and helped keep them safe, and were the pride of their folk. Together with their magics, their witch protectors, their allies, and their valiant loyalty to home and their people, they repelled all manner of assault on their homes. They summoned magical fog that carried their spellcasters inside it, safe from nearly all harm until they were ready to cast their terrible spells, and hiding their forces, who could magically see through the fog unhindered, sneaking up on enemies along with the great shadow wolves and enacting terrifying strike and run tactics, with raven scouts guiding their movements.
Until eventually an enemy came who they could not repel, and they turned to the Sisters for an answer, and the Sisters turned to the fundemental powers of the world, and returned to their people with the greatest spell ever cast, and it's terrible price. The Island was made safe from all assault, erased from the memories of even the gods and primordials, and it's true name and location was lost also to it's people, who were scattered to the winds, and who were transformed in the process into three peoples, in the image of the sisters who saved and who doomed them. The Sisters who also lost their names in the casting of the spell, and become something like the great Archfey, bound to live forever until their home is found again.
Shadar-Kai for the Raven Queen, the soot-haired sister, master of shadow, winter, and death.
Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Although they reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the Shadar-kai are given greater autonomy at a younger age, and live much longer lives. A Shadar-kai is generally expected to contribute to the clan or household by age 15, and generally live by their own rules at that age, within the basic rules of the elders of their clan, or the matriarch of their household. It is normal for Shadar-kai to start families fairly young, before they are past their early 20's, and children are raised by the entire family or clan, rather than by their parents alone, leaving restless young Shadar-kai free to give in to their growing wanderlust. They are considered Elders if they live to 300, and the oldest known Shadar-kai are around 1000 years old, though it is rare to see one over 600.
If your campaign uses the lore of the Three Sisters, then they, and their inner circle, are survivors of Old Shadar, and are thus potentially tens of thousands of years old, but it is unknown if other Shadar-kai and their Vryloka cousins could live that long.
Shadar-kai are creatures of volotile nature, and often come across to outsiders as manic or brooding, by turns or confusingly simultaneously. However, they tend toward an understanding of the benefits of cooperation, optimism as an outward behavior, sometimes forcing themselves to point out the positive aspects of a dire situation, or encourage eachother even when internally they want to succumb to despair. Most shadar-kai tend toward Chaotic and Good alignments, though True Neutral is far from rare. When they turn to evil, they turn hard, and are as likely to become tyrants as they are to become agents of chaotic destruction.
Shadar-kai range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Accustomed to the eternal night of the Shadowfell, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
You have proficiency in the Stealth skill, and your speed increases by 5ft when in dim light or darkness.
You have advantage on saving throws against magical effects that deal Cold damage, and you are acclimated to extreme cold weather, suffering no ill effects from exposure to temperatures as low as -20 degrees.
You are difficult to kill. Whenever an effect would cause you to automatically fail a Death Saving Throw, you roll a Death Saving Throw as normal instead.
As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to half your speed to an unoccupied space you can see, and until the start of your next turn, you appear ghostly and translucent. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest. At 3rd level, you gain resistance to all damage except radiant damage until the start of your next turn when you use this ability.
All Shadar-kai train in the use of a specialized weapon called a spiked chain, using the statistics of the whip. You gain proficiency in the whip.
You can speak, read, and write Common and Vas Shadar, which is a language that incorperates body language, trilling, coughs, and other vocalizations similar to those made by crows and ravens. Few outside the Blood of Shadar know the language, and those who do tend to be practitioners of shadow magic, or scholars of lost civilizations. Many Kenku learn Vas Shadar, however, as do many servants of the Raven Queen and her sisters. The words of Vas Shadar include a sometimes confusing mix of slight variations, with such oddities as 13 distinct words for one's siblings, depending on age, gender, how close the relationship is, and who is present. Written Vas Shadar is a language of complex symbols within circles, which determine tense, punctuation, and display tonal qualities. A proficient reader knows exactly what the writer would sound like speaking the written words aloud.
Wolfsblood Vryloka for the Red Witch, the crimson-haired sister, master of the hunt, of wolves, and the frenzy of war.
When you choose this race, you also choose from two subraces. The Wolfblood are blessed by the Red Witch with greater strength, and the form of a dark red wolf. The Mistborn are blessed by the Lady of Silver Mists with beguiling charisma, and the form of creeping silver mist.
Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Vryloka can live a little over 300 years on average, and powerful Vryloka are known to live longer than even elves. Either way, they retain their health and vigor until their death, though the urge to wander and experience new things grows stronger in many Vryloka as they get above 100 years.
Vryloka are often Neutral, though their strong loyalty to family and dedication to tradition makes them more prone to Lawful alignment than Chaotic. Good Vryloka are more common than Evil, but even the most altruistic Vryloka have a dark side.
Vryloka are taller than the average human, standing 6-6 1/2 feet tall on average.
Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Your people have always been creatures of the night, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
The ritual which transformed your kin drew upon the blood of your ancestors, making them into living vampiric creatures. Over the centuries, they found that they had many of the benefits of the dhampyr, and indeed the occasional half-vampire has found solace and respite in a Vryloka family. You are both Living and Undead. Whenever an effect on you would change based on whether you are Living or Undead, you can choose which you “are” for the purpose of that effect. Additionally, you have Resistance to Necrotic damage.
Though your kin have always been a separate race, you look close enough to human to fool most folk who have never heard the name Vryloka. You have advantage on checks to pass as human.
You gain greater vitality when you strike down your enemies. When you reduce an enemy to 0hp, you gain 1 Blood Die. You can only gain 1 Blood Die at level 1. If you have no Blood Dice, you can spend 1 Hit Die to gain a Blood Die, as part of the action used to spend a Blood Die. Your Blood Die is a d6. At level 3 you can have 2 Blood Dice, and at level 6 you can have 3.
If you take a short or long rest and have 1 or more Blood Dice, regardless of the number, your total Blood Dice resets to 1. You do not regain any Blood Dice from resting when you have none.
You can use your Blood Die as a bonus Action, or as a Reaction when you reduce an enemy to 0hp, once per round, to do one of the following:
You can move a number of feet equal to 5 times the result of your Blood Die. Attacks of opportunity made against you during this movement are made with Disadvantage.
You gain a bonus equal to the result of the die roll on your next attack roll, or your next Ability Check to Intimidate or Charm a single target.
Gain Temporary HP equal to your Blood Die + Your Constitution Modifier.
Gain 1 Hit Die, if you have fewer than half your maximum Hit Dice.
Those blessed by the Red Witch came to be known as Wolfblood, for their ability to take the form of a dark red wolf, called a Night Wolf.
Your Strength score increases by 1.
As an Action, or as a Reaction when you gain a Blood Die, you spend 1 Die. Your body transforms into that of a Night Wolf. This transformation follows the rules of the Druid’s Wild Shape, except that you can only take the form of the Night Wolf. A Night Wolf is a normal Wolf, with glowing eyes, and fur ranging from coal black to crimson red. Additionally, In wolf form your Hit Points are equal to 7 (1d8+2) per level. You can stay in wolf form for a number of hours equal to 1 + 1/3 your level, round down.
Mistborn Vryloka for the Lady of Silver Mist, the silver-haired sister, master of illusion, mists, trickery, and guide through treacherous waters.
When you choose this race, you also choose from two subraces. The Wolfblood are blessed by the Red Witch with greater strength, and the form of a dark red wolf. The Mistborn are blessed by the Lady of Silver Mists with beguiling charisma, and the form of creeping silver mist.
Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Vryloka can live a little over 300 years on average, and powerful Vryloka are known to live longer than even elves. Either way, they retain their health and vigor until their death, though the urge to wander and experience new things grows stronger in many Vryloka as they get above 100 years.
Vryloka are often Neutral, though their strong loyalty to family and dedication to tradition makes them more prone to Lawful alignment than Chaotic. Good Vryloka are more common than Evil, but even the most altruistic Vryloka have a dark side.
Vryloka are taller than the average human, standing 6-6 1/2 feet tall on average.
Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Your people have always been creatures of the night, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
The ritual which transformed your kin drew upon the blood of your ancestors, making them into living vampiric creatures. Over the centuries, they found that they had many of the benefits of the dhampyr, and indeed the occasional half-vampire has found solace and respite in a Vryloka family. You are both Living and Undead. Whenever an effect on you would change based on whether you are Living or Undead, you can choose which you “are” for the purpose of that effect. Additionally, you have Resistance to Necrotic damage.
Though your kin have always been a separate race, you look close enough to human to fool most folk who have never heard the name Vryloka. You have advantage on checks to pass as human.
You gain greater vitality when you strike down your enemies. When you reduce an enemy to 0hp, you gain 1 Blood Die. You can only gain 1 Blood Die at level 1. If you have no Blood Dice, you can spend 1 Hit Die to gain a Blood Die, as part of the action used to spend a Blood Die. Your Blood Die is a d6. At level 3 you can have 2 Blood Dice, and at level 6 you can have 3.
If you take a short or long rest and have 1 or more Blood Dice, regardless of the number, your total Blood Dice resets to 1. You do not regain any Blood Dice from resting when you have none.
You can use your Blood Die as a bonus Action, or as a Reaction when you reduce an enemy to 0hp, once per round, to do one of the following:
You can move a number of feet equal to 5 times the result of your Blood Die. Attacks of opportunity made against you during this movement are made with Disadvantage.
You gain a bonus equal to the result of the die roll on your next attack roll, or your next Ability Check to Intimidate or Charm a single target.
Gain Temporary HP equal to your Blood Die + Your Constitution Modifier.
Gain 1 Hit Die, if you have fewer than half your maximum Hit Dice.
Your Charisma score increases by 1.
You can spend 1 Blood Die as an Action, or as a Reaction when you gain a Blood Die, to turn into mist. This works the same as the Gaseous Form spell, with some exceptions.
Thematic Elements: In my worlds, Shadar-Kai and the two races of Vryloka are much like goblinoids, in that they are actually one species with three branches. They can make offspring with eachother freely, but their kids will always most strongly resemble one lineage of the Vy Shaar.
Thousands of years ago, in the distant past of whatever setting they're in, or perhaps in the early days of the multi-verse, they had an "Island" home, or a planet, or some sort of homeland that they recall as a small chain of islands. It was under attack for reasons that very few have any clue of, and even those aren't absolutely certain, but something of value was desired by many foes. The Vy Shaar had many magics, and powerful allies in the form of the Fey and of special breeds of intelligent animals who were loyal to the Vy Shaar and indeed were integrated into their society, especially a species of Ravens and one of Wolves, who could speak the native tongue Vos Shadar.
Revered by their people were the Three Sisters, a trio of sorcerous witches advised the people and helped keep them safe, and were the pride of their folk. Together with their magics, their witch protectors, their allies, and their valiant loyalty to home and their people, they repelled all manner of assault on their homes. They summoned magical fog that carried their spellcasters inside it, safe from nearly all harm until they were ready to cast their terrible spells, and hiding their forces, who could magically see through the fog unhindered, sneaking up on enemies along with the great shadow wolves and enacting terrifying strike and run tactics, with raven scouts guiding their movements.
Until eventually an enemy came who they could not repel, and they turned to the Sisters for an answer, and the Sisters turned to the fundemental powers of the world, and returned to their people with the greatest spell ever cast, and it's terrible price. The Island was made safe from all assault, erased from the memories of even the gods and primordials, and it's true name and location was lost also to it's people, who were scattered to the winds, and who were transformed in the process into three peoples, in the image of the sisters who saved and who doomed them. The Sisters who also lost their names in the casting of the spell, and become something like the great Archfey, bound to live forever until their home is found again.
Shadar-Kai for the Raven Queen, the soot-haired sister, master of shadow, winter, and death.
Shadar-kai Traits
Your shadar-kai has a number of natural abilities; the blessing of The Raven Queen, and generations of exile in shadow.Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Age
Although they reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the Shadar-kai are given greater autonomy at a younger age, and live much longer lives. A Shadar-kai is generally expected to contribute to the clan or household by age 15, and generally live by their own rules at that age, within the basic rules of the elders of their clan, or the matriarch of their household. It is normal for Shadar-kai to start families fairly young, before they are past their early 20's, and children are raised by the entire family or clan, rather than by their parents alone, leaving restless young Shadar-kai free to give in to their growing wanderlust. They are considered Elders if they live to 300, and the oldest known Shadar-kai are around 1000 years old, though it is rare to see one over 600.
If your campaign uses the lore of the Three Sisters, then they, and their inner circle, are survivors of Old Shadar, and are thus potentially tens of thousands of years old, but it is unknown if other Shadar-kai and their Vryloka cousins could live that long.
Alignment
Shadar-kai are creatures of volotile nature, and often come across to outsiders as manic or brooding, by turns or confusingly simultaneously. However, they tend toward an understanding of the benefits of cooperation, optimism as an outward behavior, sometimes forcing themselves to point out the positive aspects of a dire situation, or encourage eachother even when internally they want to succumb to despair. Most shadar-kai tend toward Chaotic and Good alignments, though True Neutral is far from rare. When they turn to evil, they turn hard, and are as likely to become tyrants as they are to become agents of chaotic destruction.
Size
Shadar-kai range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision
Accustomed to the eternal night of the Shadowfell, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
At Home In Darkness
You have proficiency in the Stealth skill, and your speed increases by 5ft when in dim light or darkness.
Winter's Kin
You have advantage on saving throws against magical effects that deal Cold damage, and you are acclimated to extreme cold weather, suffering no ill effects from exposure to temperatures as low as -20 degrees.
Dwellers in The Valley of The Shadow of Death
You are difficult to kill. Whenever an effect would cause you to automatically fail a Death Saving Throw, you roll a Death Saving Throw as normal instead.
Raven Queen's Blessing
As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to half your speed to an unoccupied space you can see, and until the start of your next turn, you appear ghostly and translucent. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest. At 3rd level, you gain resistance to all damage except radiant damage until the start of your next turn when you use this ability.
Blades in Shadow
All Shadar-kai train in the use of a specialized weapon called a spiked chain, using the statistics of the whip. You gain proficiency in the whip.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Vas Shadar, which is a language that incorperates body language, trilling, coughs, and other vocalizations similar to those made by crows and ravens. Few outside the Blood of Shadar know the language, and those who do tend to be practitioners of shadow magic, or scholars of lost civilizations. Many Kenku learn Vas Shadar, however, as do many servants of the Raven Queen and her sisters. The words of Vas Shadar include a sometimes confusing mix of slight variations, with such oddities as 13 distinct words for one's siblings, depending on age, gender, how close the relationship is, and who is present. Written Vas Shadar is a language of complex symbols within circles, which determine tense, punctuation, and display tonal qualities. A proficient reader knows exactly what the writer would sound like speaking the written words aloud.
Wolfsblood Vryloka for the Red Witch, the crimson-haired sister, master of the hunt, of wolves, and the frenzy of war.
Vryloka Traits
The dark ritual of remaking has granted you long life, and many other traits.Blessing of The Sisters
When you choose this race, you also choose from two subraces. The Wolfblood are blessed by the Red Witch with greater strength, and the form of a dark red wolf. The Mistborn are blessed by the Lady of Silver Mists with beguiling charisma, and the form of creeping silver mist.
Ability Score Increase
Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age
Vryloka can live a little over 300 years on average, and powerful Vryloka are known to live longer than even elves. Either way, they retain their health and vigor until their death, though the urge to wander and experience new things grows stronger in many Vryloka as they get above 100 years.
Alignment
Vryloka are often Neutral, though their strong loyalty to family and dedication to tradition makes them more prone to Lawful alignment than Chaotic. Good Vryloka are more common than Evil, but even the most altruistic Vryloka have a dark side.
Size
Vryloka are taller than the average human, standing 6-6 1/2 feet tall on average.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Darkvision
Your people have always been creatures of the night, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
Vampiric Blessing
The ritual which transformed your kin drew upon the blood of your ancestors, making them into living vampiric creatures. Over the centuries, they found that they had many of the benefits of the dhampyr, and indeed the occasional half-vampire has found solace and respite in a Vryloka family. You are both Living and Undead. Whenever an effect on you would change based on whether you are Living or Undead, you can choose which you “are” for the purpose of that effect. Additionally, you have Resistance to Necrotic damage.
Human Likeness
Though your kin have always been a separate race, you look close enough to human to fool most folk who have never heard the name Vryloka. You have advantage on checks to pass as human.
Blood Price
You gain greater vitality when you strike down your enemies. When you reduce an enemy to 0hp, you gain 1 Blood Die. You can only gain 1 Blood Die at level 1. If you have no Blood Dice, you can spend 1 Hit Die to gain a Blood Die, as part of the action used to spend a Blood Die. Your Blood Die is a d6. At level 3 you can have 2 Blood Dice, and at level 6 you can have 3.
If you take a short or long rest and have 1 or more Blood Dice, regardless of the number, your total Blood Dice resets to 1. You do not regain any Blood Dice from resting when you have none.
You can use your Blood Die as a bonus Action, or as a Reaction when you reduce an enemy to 0hp, once per round, to do one of the following:
You can move a number of feet equal to 5 times the result of your Blood Die. Attacks of opportunity made against you during this movement are made with Disadvantage.
You gain a bonus equal to the result of the die roll on your next attack roll, or your next Ability Check to Intimidate or Charm a single target.
Gain Temporary HP equal to your Blood Die + Your Constitution Modifier.
Gain 1 Hit Die, if you have fewer than half your maximum Hit Dice.
Wolfblood Vryloka
Those blessed by the Red Witch came to be known as Wolfblood, for their ability to take the form of a dark red wolf, called a Night Wolf.
Ability Score Improvement
Your Strength score increases by 1.
Blessing of The Red WItch
As an Action, or as a Reaction when you gain a Blood Die, you spend 1 Die. Your body transforms into that of a Night Wolf. This transformation follows the rules of the Druid’s Wild Shape, except that you can only take the form of the Night Wolf. A Night Wolf is a normal Wolf, with glowing eyes, and fur ranging from coal black to crimson red. Additionally, In wolf form your Hit Points are equal to 7 (1d8+2) per level. You can stay in wolf form for a number of hours equal to 1 + 1/3 your level, round down.
Mistborn Vryloka for the Lady of Silver Mist, the silver-haired sister, master of illusion, mists, trickery, and guide through treacherous waters.
Vryloka Traits
The dark ritual of remaking has granted you long life, and many other traits.Blessing of The Sisters
When you choose this race, you also choose from two subraces. The Wolfblood are blessed by the Red Witch with greater strength, and the form of a dark red wolf. The Mistborn are blessed by the Lady of Silver Mists with beguiling charisma, and the form of creeping silver mist.
Ability Score Increase
Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age
Vryloka can live a little over 300 years on average, and powerful Vryloka are known to live longer than even elves. Either way, they retain their health and vigor until their death, though the urge to wander and experience new things grows stronger in many Vryloka as they get above 100 years.
Alignment
Vryloka are often Neutral, though their strong loyalty to family and dedication to tradition makes them more prone to Lawful alignment than Chaotic. Good Vryloka are more common than Evil, but even the most altruistic Vryloka have a dark side.
Size
Vryloka are taller than the average human, standing 6-6 1/2 feet tall on average.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Darkvision
Your people have always been creatures of the night, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
Vampiric Blessing
The ritual which transformed your kin drew upon the blood of your ancestors, making them into living vampiric creatures. Over the centuries, they found that they had many of the benefits of the dhampyr, and indeed the occasional half-vampire has found solace and respite in a Vryloka family. You are both Living and Undead. Whenever an effect on you would change based on whether you are Living or Undead, you can choose which you “are” for the purpose of that effect. Additionally, you have Resistance to Necrotic damage.
Human Likeness
Though your kin have always been a separate race, you look close enough to human to fool most folk who have never heard the name Vryloka. You have advantage on checks to pass as human.
Blood Price
You gain greater vitality when you strike down your enemies. When you reduce an enemy to 0hp, you gain 1 Blood Die. You can only gain 1 Blood Die at level 1. If you have no Blood Dice, you can spend 1 Hit Die to gain a Blood Die, as part of the action used to spend a Blood Die. Your Blood Die is a d6. At level 3 you can have 2 Blood Dice, and at level 6 you can have 3.
If you take a short or long rest and have 1 or more Blood Dice, regardless of the number, your total Blood Dice resets to 1. You do not regain any Blood Dice from resting when you have none.
You can use your Blood Die as a bonus Action, or as a Reaction when you reduce an enemy to 0hp, once per round, to do one of the following:
You can move a number of feet equal to 5 times the result of your Blood Die. Attacks of opportunity made against you during this movement are made with Disadvantage.
You gain a bonus equal to the result of the die roll on your next attack roll, or your next Ability Check to Intimidate or Charm a single target.
Gain Temporary HP equal to your Blood Die + Your Constitution Modifier.
Gain 1 Hit Die, if you have fewer than half your maximum Hit Dice.
Mistborn Vryloka Traits
Ability Score Improvement
Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Blessing of the Lady of Silver Mists
You can spend 1 Blood Die as an Action, or as a Reaction when you gain a Blood Die, to turn into mist. This works the same as the Gaseous Form spell, with some exceptions.
- You retain your speed.
- You have Vulnerability to Radiant Damage, and disadvantage on Concentration checks made as a result from taking Radiant or Fire damage.
