Homebrew Shadar Kai Species Details

 

Wraith-like, the shadar-kai seem to draw in shadows around their lithe builds, standing slightly shorter than humans. Their complexion ranges from alabaster to dark gray with eyes that are black and lustrous, lacking any white or clear pupil. Their similarly drab or raven black hair is often died and worn in a variety of elaborate styles. While dull in appearance, they like clothing, jewelry, and weapons that are dark and exotic, decorated with splashes of bright color. They are usually found with tattoos, piercings, and scarification, covering their entire bodies.

The Shadowfell saps living creatures of creativity and the will to live. Not immune to this depression, lore of a shadow curse that drains the will to live and fills the hearts with melancholy and utter sadness is pervasive throughout shadar-kai society. It is believed that those who are overtaken by or who voluntarily surrender to the ennui curse are transformed into shadow-like undead horrors. When such a shadar-kai dies, their bodies are transformed instead into a wraith, while their souls are doomed to be lost in the dark depths of the Shadowfell forever.

To combat the curse, shadar-kai embrace living with gusto, the limits of pleasure and pain distracting them from their dreary surroundings. They welcome difficult tasks, as well as physical and emotional extremes, as a way of life. They learn to channel the darkness around them rather than allowing that darkness to consume them. This struggle defines them as a people and influences every aspect of their culture. These practices, told to be born out of necessity, became traditions over countless generations.

Out of the power and prestige of great deeds, shadar-kai society is meritocratic and a study in pushing boundaries, seen as cruel and pitiless to outsiders. Because of this and their devotion to the Raven Queen, shadar-kai generally have no fear of death, most believing their death is foretold and impossible to change. Their love of battle is so great that they spend most of their time training, sparring, and in search for personal glory so that when they fall, stories of their great deeds will grant them a form of immortality. They ignore comfort and safety, which they consider banalities, continuing to fight even if they are on the verge of death. They are never known to break their word. They do not make promises lightly but when they do they absolutely do not break them. They will kill, steal, and maim to keep their word.

The Raven Queen is the spinner of fate and the patron of winter. She marks the end of each mortal life, and mourners call upon her during funeral rites in the hope that she will guard the departed from the curse of undeath. As a result, most shadar-kai try to punish those who defy fate, however impossible it may be for anyone to truly know what fate holds.

The Raven Queen is a fair mother, though not a sentimental one. When the shadar-kai called upon her in ancient times, she answered; she still does. Through the pact with the Raven Queen, each shadar-kai is an instrument of death and fate. While she spares little love, she also never demands the love or worship of her children. Regardless of other beliefs they may hold, she demands only that shadar-kai observe the pact by keeping her commandments:

- Hold no pity for the dying, for death is the natural end of life.
- Bring down the proud who try to cast off the chains of fate; you must punish hubris where you find it.
- Destroy the cults of Orcus, for the Demon Prince of the Undead seeks to claim the Raven Queen's throne.

Shadar Kai Traits

Dark mirror's of the typical elven races and societies influenced by the power of the Shadowfell and the Raven Queen.

Necrotic Resistance

The influence of the Shadowfell and the Raven Queen on the Shadar Kai as a race has made them resistant to the energies of death.

Blessing of the Raven Queen

 As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

• Starting at 3rd level, you also gain resistance to all damage when you teleport using this trait. The resistance lasts until the start of your next turn. During that time, you appear ghostly and translucent.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Size and Age

Shadar Kai range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Although Shadar Kai reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the Shadar Kai's understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. A Shadar Kai typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, 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.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Trance

Shadar Kai don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep. Whenever you finish this trance, you can gain two proficiencies that you don’t have, each one with a weapon or a tool of your choice selected from the Player’s Handbook. You mystically acquire these proficiencies by drawing them from shared elven memory, and you retain them until you finish your next long rest.

Languages

 Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player’s Handbook offers a list of languages to choose from. The DM is free to modify that list for a campaign.