Homebrew Faerie Species Details

Standing barely a foot tall, faeries resemble diminutive elves with gossamer wings like those of dragonflies or butterflies, bright as the clear dawn and as luminous as the full moonrise. Curious as cats and shy as deer, faeries go where they please. They like to spy on other creatures and can barely contain their excitement around them. The urge to introduce themselves and strike up a friendship is almost overwhelming; only a faeries fear of being captured or attacked stays its hand. Those who wander through a faeries glade might never see the creatures, yet hear the occasional giggle, gasp, or sigh.  

Faeries array themselves like princes and princesses of the fey, wearing flowing gowns and doublets of silk that sparkle like moonlight on a pond. Some dress in acorns, leaves, bark, and the pelts of tiny woodland beasts. They take great pride in their regalia and beam with joy when they are complimented on their ensembles.

With their innate power of invisibility, faeries rarely appear unless they wish to be seen. In the Feywild and on the Material Plane, faeries etch patterns of frost on winter ponds and rouse the buds in springtime. They cause flowers to sparkle with summer dew, and color the leaves with the blazing hues of autumn.

Faerie Dust

When faeries fly visibly, a shower of sparkling dust follows in their wake like the glittering tail of a shooting star. A mere sprinkle of faerie dust is said to be able to grant the power of flight, confuse a creature hopelessly, or send foes into a magical slumber. Only faeries can use their dust to its full potential, but these fey are constantly sought out by mages and monsters seeking to study or master their power.

Tiny Tricksters

While the arrival of visitors piques their curiosity, faeries are too shy to reveal themselves at first. They study the visitors from afar to gauge their temperament or play harmless tricks on them to measure their reactions. For example, faeries might tie a dwarf’s boots together, create illusions of strange creatures or treasures, or use dancing lights to lead interlopers astray. If the visitors respond with hostility, the faeries give them a wide berth. If the visitors are good natured, the faeries are likely to be emboldened and more friendly. The fey might even emerge and offer to guide their “guests” along a safe route or invite them to a tiny yet satisfying feast prepared in their honor.

Opposed to Violence

Unlike their fey cousins, the sprites, faeries abhor weapons and would sooner flee than get into a physical altercation with any enemy.

Faerie Traits

Your fey nature grants you the following traits

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Charisma score increases by 1. Your Strength score decreases by 2.

Unarmoured defence

Your AC increases by 2 when you are not wearing armour

Diminutive Stature

  • You may occupy the same space as any other creature of your size or larger
  • If you would normally gain half cover, you instead gain three-quarters cover. If you would normally gain three-quarters cover, you instead gain total cover. You also gain half cover from objects that would otherwise be considered incidental, such as rocks or tree saplings
  • Your lifting and carrying capacity is half that normally calculated for your Strength, and you have disadvantage on Strength ability checks, saving throws, and attacks.
  • You may only use diminutive versions of weapons and equipment.
    • Diminutive weapons are specially-crafted for tiny creatures, are ½ their normal weight, and deal ½ their normal damage (minimum 1). Weapons with the heavy, two-handed, or reach properties cannot be made diminutive, and you cannot use them. You do not benefit from weapons with the light property when wielding one in your off-hand when two-weapon fighting, versatile weapons must be wielded in two hands and deal their basic damage rather than their versatile damage, and you only gain the benefits of finesse weapons if they also have the light property.
    • Diminutive armor is specially-crafted for tiny creatures and is ½ its normal weight. Armor that imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks cannot be made diminutive. Using armor you are not proficient with prevents you from being able to fly.
    • You have disadvantage when trying to use non-diminutive versions of weapons or equipment that a small creature could normally use (provided your above restrictions), and cannot use weapons or equipment made for medium creatures or larger.

Naturally Stealthy

Faeries gain proficiency in Stealth

Fey Ancestry

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

Faerie Prowess

You know the druidcraft cantrip. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Fade Away

Because of their connection to the Feywild, faeries can naturally disappear in to their surroundings. You can turn invisible as if you had cast the invisibility on yourself. You can do this 2 times, and regain the ability to do so when you finish long rest. This is neither a spell nor a magical effect that dispelled.
Richard_Hazard