Homebrew Wickerlings Species Details

"I AM PYR! I AM THE SHEPARD OF ALL THINGS PAST; WEILDER OF THE FLAME OF SERENE; THE NEXUS OF ALL KNOWLEDGE OF THE EARTH! AND YOU ARE A MAN, WHOSE LINEAGE IS OF BROKEN KINGS AND BLOOD SPENT ACROSS THE AGES! LEAVE THIS PLACE AND NEVER RETURN; FOR THE REALMS OF MEN ARE NO LONGER PERMITTED IN MY STUDY.”

— Pyr the Everburning One to Geoffrey, King of the Northern Realms

Peoples of Wax

Wickerlings are a species of humanoid constructs that can be distinguished from other races by their slightly tinted and waxy skin. They bear an ethereal flame on their head, emanating from a single point along the midline, similar to a candle's wick. This flame burns like a conventional flame, flickering and waving in response to a wickerling's emotional or physical state. Their eyes resemble lights that gaze out from their waxen faces.

A Timeless Perspective

Wickerlings are a storied race believed to have originated from the realms of old myths and folktales from the very beginning of time. Initially, they were perceived as enchanted objects and mistaken for possessed constructs but later recognized as sentient beings. Over the course of numerous millennia since their emergence, Wickerlings have established extensive libraries that house ancient knowledge spanning the beginning of all creation. They view themselves as custodians of this sacred wisdom and have taken it upon themselves to acquire and safeguard the rituals of the world. Traditional Wickerling societies have no governing leader other than a chief librarian who oversees the collection and preservation of texts. Wickerlings study and gain insight from these ancient tomes and accumulated knowledge and will use their newfound knowledge to collect more.

The Wickerling communities are meticulously sealed off from outsiders by exceptionally powerful enchanted gates, or hidden deep within the earth and forgotten caverns, ensuring only Wickerlings can pass through. Exceptions are made for outsiders accompanied by a Wickerling who maintains physical contact throughout the passage in the delivery of text or writing

Quiet Curiosities

Wickerlings are known to be open-minded but prefer to keep to themselves. They typically have good relationships with the inhabitants of the material world, particularly heirs, due to their inquisitive nature and desire for knowledge. These beings are often very tranquil and peaceful, maintaining their composure even in the face of chaos. Because of their timid and introverted nature, many people who catch a glimpse of Wickerlings mistake them for fairies or ghosts. They move and speak with grace and whimsy, their voices airy, light, and soft-spoken.

The Oldest Librarians 

Wickerlings, ancient and wise spirits, are renowned for their immense knowledge and wisdom. They serve as the most knowledgeable beings among the humans and heirs, gathering information for their Library with a tireless passion for learning new facts and uncovering ancient mysteries. Despite having developed an indifference towards studying human technology since departing the physical world, Wickerlings still collect knowledge from all corners of the globe, displaying it in their library in hopes of improving the world.

Regrettably, the world's oldest librarians' initial goal of sharing knowledge to benefit humanity has long been lost. Instead, Wickerlings are observed to collect information for the sake of collecting it. As a result, they have become the guardians of a vast collection of knowledge that is no longer being utilized to its full potential.

In the past, Wickerlings made their extensive collection of knowledge available to humans. However, humans' use of this knowledge for war eventually incensed the spirits, leading them to ban humans from their library forever

Wickerling Names.

Wickerlings are constructs molded by their community and given a flame long lasting. They mature rather quickly and are given a name by their elders. Each Wickerling name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or Wickerling community groups. Wickerlings tend to combine two shorter names into one name split by a hyphen, including the same name repeated twice, with their flame slightly growing as they say the second name.

Male Wickerling Names: Loomis, Wik, Ign, Fyr, Pyr, Kyn

Female Wickerling Names: Lux, Wix, Lume, Sol, Mir, Vee, Xis, Luna

Wickerlings Traits

Your wickerling character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of refinement by study.

Construct Nature

You are a being molded of wax and imbued with whimsy. Your creature type is construct instead of humanoid. As such, spells like cure wounds don't affect you, and you are immune to spells like crown of madness or dominate person because they specifically target humanoids. You do not need to eat, drink or breathe, though you may do so if you wish. Rather than sleeping, you enter a meditative state for 8 hours each day. You are fully aware of your surroundings and notice approaching enemies and other events as normal.

Knowledge of the Archives

Being the sacred keepers of the great archives of the world, You are proficient in Religion and History, and when making Intelligence (Religion and History) checks made to recall knowledge, your proficiency bonus is doubled for the check

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Wickerlings are born with a finite flame when they are created as small children. Since their creation, Wickerlings mature quickly, completely having their fire under control at the age of 10. With each passing year the flame will begin to wither and burn out, expiring with the wickerling at the age of 200.

Alignment

Wickerlings value knowledge and self meditation. Their isolation from the rest of the world means most of them will trend towards neutral alignments.

Size

Wickerlings range from under 2 to over 3 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Light Wielders

You know the produce flame cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the daylight spell centered on yourself once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the scorching ray spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Hearth Bearers

You have resistance to fire damage, and are immune to the flames of small nonmagical fire, such as candles or torches.

Candlelight

You shed bright light for 15 feet and dim light for another 15 feet. You can use a bonus action on your turn to snuff out this light, or light it again.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, and Ignan. Ignan is a language that sounds like crackling flames, used by fire elementals, which uses the Dwarvish script