Aethelfaer

Aethelfaer was created by Sara Thompson and is featured in issue 7 of MCDM's Arcadia magazine.

Aethelfaer [pr. eθəɫfeə: / EH-thell-fair] is a male wood elf, committed to the nomadic lifestyle of roaming the forests and grasslands, protecting the wildlife and offering aid to those in need. He’s patient and calm, with an unflappable persona built on years of hunting and tracking. Aethelfaer inherited a genetic condition called meromelia, a syndrome that causes the partial absence of limbs. As a result, Aethelfaer is missing the lower part of his right arm from just above the elbow and has no right foot. Though he can navigate his life just fine on his own, he chooses to wear and make use of prosthetics.

His right arm is crafted from red elm and owlbear teeth, with a hidden compartment inside the wrist where he stores a small container of poison for emergencies. His prosthetic foot is made of yew that has gone through the same magical strengthening and flexibility treatment as his longbow. A formidable warrior and deadly archer, Aethelfaer takes desecration and disrespect of the forest as a grave offence, and hunts his enemies to the end of the world if he must. As an ally, he is loyal, fair, and a true friend. However, once his respect is lost, it is gone forever.

In Combat. Aethelfaer aims to fight at a distance. If he works with the characters, Aethelfaer slips into the shadows to provide ranged support from the flank. If battling the characters, he casts hunter’s mark on a foe with spellcasting prowess and then uses his superior speed to keep firing as he moves away from his enemies. The ranger uses poisoned arrows on enemies who get within 40 feet of him or who need to come down quickly. His spells are supportive and beneficial to both his allies and himself, allowing for stealth, healing, and enhancing combat skill sets.

Common Signs. Unlike thieves’ cant, which is a pidgin of borrowed signs, verbal words, and symbols from multiple languages, Common Signs is a complete sign language, borrowing from Dwarvish, Elvish, and Undercommon. It is considered a universal language and adapted by disabled communities, especially within cities. As such, most people across the realm can communicate using it. Common Signs is designed to be easy to learn, and spellcasters can make use of it to cast their spells. Effects that prevent casting spells with verbal components, such as the area of silence created by the silence spell, are still effective against casters who use Common Signs. While affected by such a spell or effect, the caster forgets the important signs needed to cast spells with verbal components.

Aethelfaer's Disability. Aethelfaer was born with his disability and chooses to wear prosthetics to help him perform certain tasks when adventuring. Unlike someone who may have lost a limb due to injury, illness, or amputation, Aethelfaer doesn’t experience phantom limb syndrome, as his right arm and foot were never there to begin with. This also means that nothing short of a wish spell could reform these append- ages, but Aethelfaer doesn’t seek to “cure” himself. In fact, he would be greatly insulted if offered or forced into a situation where such a spell is brought up as a means to somehow “fix” him. He has no need to be “fixed” or “cured” and little patience for those ignorant enough to think otherwise. The ranger is open about his disability and happy to answer questions others may have, but he doesn’t suffer fools. Aethelfaer is an expert in knowing who is being genuine and who is deliberately ignorant or rude.

Prosthetics. Aethelfaer’s prosthetic arm and foot slot over the stump of each limb and are further secured in place by leather harnesses: one around his shin and calf, and the other around his chest, sitting under his armor. It takes Aethelfaer 2 minutes to secure each harness and roughly 30 seconds to remove them. To prevent chafing or bruising–especially when wearing a prosthetic for long periods of time–Aethelfaer’s stumps are protected by “socks.” These pieces of fabric are rolled up and folded down to cover the skin and protect the area where the stump meets the cup of the prosthetic. At the start and end of each day, Aethelfaer uses powdered talc to keep the skin dry and free from any rashes, uncomfortable chafing, and blistering, particularly on warm days or when the humidity is high. When traveling or in an unknown location, Aethelfaer sleeps with his prosthetics on in case of an ambush or need to escape. However, if he is in a place he knows to be secure and safe, Aethelfaer removes his prosthetics to sleep and uses an underarm crutch under his left arm for support when moving around.

Hidden Compartment. Aethelfaer has a hidden compartment in his prosthetic arm, running the length of the inside of his wrist. By pressing the heel of his thumb (which requires no action), this slot pops open and reveals a metal groove packed with a strange paste. This alchemical component is a personal poison Aethelfaer has created himself, and exposing the compartment allows him to swiftly coat the head of any arrow or blade he draws with a toxic coating to deal extra damage.

Natural Grip. Aethelfaer’s prosthetic foot is crafted to have the general shape of a deer’s hoof. This allows for a greater range of motion in the ankle joint and enables that foot to take significant impact when running, climbing, or performing athletic or dexterous feats. The wedge of the prosthetic’s foot provides a better grip on mountainous and rocky environments, as well as the typical underbrush of the forest and dirt of the grassland. The flexibility of this prosthetic is showcased greatly whenever Aethelfaer is running or if he is lightly bouncing on the balls of his feet—something he does often when nervous or agitated.

Aethelfaer's Craftsmanship. If the characters don’t make an enemy of Aethelfaer, he is happy to craft prosthetic limbs for characters who need them. However, characters need to find and provide him with the materials to do so. To craft a prosthetic arm or hand, Aethelfaer needs wood (any kind), leather straps, owlbear teeth, sinew, and resin. To craft a prosthetic leg or foot, he needs yew wood, leather straps, deer antler (ethically sourced), sinew, and resin. Aethelfaer knows a magical strengthening and flexibility wood treatment that is iconic of wood elf bow crafting and used in the creation of his prosthetics. If a character supplies Aethelfaer with the components, he doesn’t charge them for the service.

Prosthetic Stats. A prosthetic limb presents no advantages or disadvantages whenever you are wearing it, and you can perform all typical motor skills from everyday to fine. Prosthetics require no attunement and are secured to your body using a harness that sits underneath your armor. It takes 2 minutes to don the harness and 30 seconds to remove it. Prosthetic limbs can’t be knocked off unless the harness is somehow destroyed. Custom-made prosthetics, such as the ones worn by Aethelfaer, can provide benefits to you. See “Hidden Compartment” and “Natural Grip” for ideas. It is extremely important for Game Masters and other players to remember that disability isn’t a punishment and shouldn’t be held against a character.

Missing Arm. If you aren’t wearing your prosthetic arm/hand, you have disadvantage on wielding two-handed weapons and on ability checks using fine motor skills if you are only using that arm/hand.

Missing Leg. If you aren’t wearing your prosthetic leg/foot, your walking speed is reduced by 5 feet unless you are using mobility aids such as crutches or a wheelchair.

More Than A Disability. Disabilities are very much a part of our lives, but aren’t what solely define a person. Aethelfaer does and should have interests as a fleshed-out character, with his disability making up only a part of who he is. As such, it’s important to note that Aethelfaer enjoys hunting, whittling animals out of wood, and gathering plants and herbs to produce potions and tinctures he then sells or trades for supplies. He is knowledgeable in the horticulture of forests and grasslands, and is exceedingly fond of ravens and other corvids.