Homebrew Illyrian ShadowSinger Species Details

"What are...," I tried. "What are Illyrian war-bands?" 
"Arrogant bastards, that's what," he muttered.

"If I had not met a shadowsinger, I would not have known that it is the family you make, not the one you are born into, that matters. I would not have known what it is to truly hope, even when the world tells you to despair."

 

Illyrians are a race of brutal and glory hounding warriors who pledge allegiance and service to the Night Court of Prythian. They live in war camps and train until they are grown, then train even more.

Strong and Beautiful

With their unearthly grace and fine features, Illyrians appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are ranging from typically 5'4" tall to just over 6 feet. They are trained until they bulk, weighing 160 to 250 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

Illyrian coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes skin in shades of copper, and bronze, with hair like onyx or beautiful brown, and eyes like pools of liquid metals, sapphire, ruby, gold, or silver. Illyrians have average facial and some body hair. They favor battle ready clothing in dark colors, and they enjoy simple yet elegant accessories for weapons.

A Timeless Perspective

Illyrians can live well over 700 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Illyrians are focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.

Like the burning heart of a flame, Illyrians are brutal in the face of danger. They trust in brutality and skill to resolve differences to solve their issues. They have been known to face dangers head on, sometimes terribly recklessly, but they always come out on top. But when the need arises, Illyrians can have a diplomatic side, typically handled by the leader of the night court.

Hidden Steppes and Mountains

Most Illyrians dwell in war camps hidden among the steppes. Illyrians hunt game, gather food, and grow vegetables, their skill and magics allow them to support themselves without the need for clearing and plowing land. Their women are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, though a few Illyrians enjoy living outside of the war camps.

Illyrians encountered outside their own lands are commonly traveling mercenaries and are very rare. Fae nobles compete for the services of Illyrians warriors to teach swordplay or magic to their children.

Exploration and Adventure

Illyrians take up adventuring out of requirements for missions. Since they are so long-lived, they tend to see nearly the whole continent. They dislike the pace of human society, which is terribly slow or extremely fast. Illyrians also enjoy competing in their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and combat allows them to do so. Some are much more powerful than others, requiring extra syphons to control their magic.

Hard Teaching, Relentless, and Fiercly Loyal

Illyrians are typically very tough on their trainees, a mistake made is an issue waiting to grow. Illyrians are trained relentlessly and to perfection. They are also Incredibly loyal to their court and people.

 "If I had not met an Illyrian warrior-in-training, I would not have known the true depths of strength, of resilience, of honor and loyalty."

“This could be . . . a very bad idea,"
"Oh, it most certainly is, But this is war. We don't have the luxury of good ideas–only picking between the bad ones.” 

"I can think of no better way to end my existence than to defend those who need it most."

“I would clean my blades, and wash the blood from my skin.
And I would do it again and again and again.” 

Illyrian Names

Illyrians are considered children until they are declared as adults by their camp trainers. Typically when their training is complete

Illyrian names are typically very near to Fae or Human names, having little difference but with more elegance

Male Adult Names: Rhysand, Azriel, Cassian, Varian, Devlon, Enalius, Ares, Curian, Dorian, Chaol, Sartaq, Rowan, Fenrys, Conall, Garrigan, Gavriel, Arian, Lucien, Eris, Theran, Adrian

Female Adult Names: Adria, Althaea, Anastrianna, Azalea, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Emilia, Feyre, Ilenia, Julliett, Keyleth, Lyria, Lia, Meriele, Morgan, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Sillana, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Subrace

Ancient divides among the Illyrian people resulted in three main subraces: The Rare Shadowsinger, Half-fae, and Common Illyrians.. Choose one of the two subraces presented below or one from another source. In some worlds, these subraces are divided still further, so if you wish, you can choose a narrower subrace.

"His shadows wrapped around him until he was one with the night, until even I could not make him out of the darkness.

And then our enemies began to fall."

Illyrian ShadowSinger Traits

Your Illyrian character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of training and refinement.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Superior Training

Your training is the war camps has given you the versitality of a halberd. You can use any weaponry or armor that you can get your hands on.

Age

Although Illyrians reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the Illyrian understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass training experience. An Illyrian typically claims adulthood around the age of 75 and can live to be 750 years old.

Alignment

lllyrians are fiercely loyal fighters for the Night Court, and are constantly oriented toward good. They can, however, range anywhere from Lawful Good to Chaotic good based on personality.

Size

Elves range from 5'4" to over 6 feet tall and have Strong yet Graceful builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Your base flying speed is 50 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.

Survival Senses

You have proficiency in the Survival skill.

Illyirian Discipline

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

Watch

Illyrians are trained to sleep short and effective. Throughout centuries of practice they have mastered techniques which allow them to go into an elven trance-like rest. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires.