Homebrew Cygnel Species Details

In the reckonings of most worlds, humans are the youngest of the common races, late to arrive on the world scene and short-lived in comparison to dwarves, elves, and dragons. Perhaps it is because of their shorter lives that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they are given. Or maybe they feel they have something to prove to the elder races, and that’s why they build their mighty empires on the foundation of conquest and trade. Whatever drives them, humans are the innovators, the achievers, and the pioneers of the worlds.

In (insert world here), a subset of humans was stranded the feywild, and over time they became the cygnels. They are called cygnels because the first ones to come about resembled swans, although now the resemble geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, peacocks, peacock-pheasants, and flamingos. However, they are still, in essence, human.

A Broad Spectrum

Cygnels are just as diverse as their human ancestors. There is no typical cygnel. An individual can stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds. Cygnel skin shades cover all human skin tones but also include light blues, light pinks, light gray, and desaturated human skin tones, and hair colors from black, gray, and white to blond (curly, kinky, or straight); males might sport facial hair that is sparse or thick. A lot of cygnels have a dash of nonhuman blood, especially fey, revealing hints of elf, eladrin, or other lineages. Cygnels reach adulthood in their 30s and live a few centuries. 

Variety in All Things

Like their human ancestors, they are among the most adaptable and ambitious people among the common races. Their widely varying tastes, morals, and customs come from their ancestors, but over time they have began to blur with each other. When they settle, though, they stay: they build cities to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for long stretches of time. Although they live longer than their ancestors, they continue to live like humans, creating nations or culture preserves traditions with origins far beyond the reach of any single cygnel’s memory. They live fully in the present—making them well suited to the adventuring life—but also plan for the future, striving to leave a lasting legacy. Individually and as a group, cygnels are adaptable opportunists, and they stay alert to changing political and social dynamics.

Racial Relations 

Their time in the feywild made them grow closer to the fey. They still feel connected to humans, as they remember their ancestors. 

Lasting Institutions

Where a single elf or dwarf might take on the responsibility of guarding a special location or a powerful secret, cygnels found sacred orders and institutions for such purposes. While dwarf clans and halfling elders pass on the ancient traditions to each new generation, human temples, governments, libraries, and codes of law fix their traditions in the bedrock of history. Although they live longer than their human ancestors, they still dream of immortality, but (except for those few who seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death’s clutches) they achieve it by ensuring that they will be remembered when they are gone.

They now understand what it is like to be outcasts and won’t allow anyone to feel unwelcome. 

Beauty of Ballet

In the feywild, they developed a rich culture of ballet and other dances. The use ballet and other dance forms as a form of entertainment, self expression, pastime, competition, and diplomacy. The fey took a liking to their ballets and even let them perform for the archfey. They sometimes even settle disputes through dance, but they still are known to resort to violence. The influence dance has had on them can also be seen in their way of fighting, be it bare fists, sword, staff, or any other melee weapon. They also regularly wear their dance clothing, mostly in the form of leotards for all and tutus for women. Other forms of dance which they partake in are mostly ballroom dances, like waltz and tango, but also flamenco and pole dancing. Their mastery of dance also gives them incredible control over their footsteps, which makes them great at fighting and at sneaking.

Cygnel Names and Ethnicities

Having come from so much more variety than other cultures, cygnels as a whole have no typical names. Some parents give their children names from many languages, such as Dwarvish or Elvish (pronounced more or less correctly), but most parents give names that are linked to their ancestors culture or to the naming traditions of their ancestors.

They’re time together blurred the lines between them, but they still recognize each other’s ancestry. 

Calishite

Shorter and slighter in build than most other humans, Calishites have dusky brown skin, hair, and eyes. They’re found primarily in southwest Faerûn.

Calishite Names: (Male) Aseir, Bardeid, Haseid, Khemed, Mehmen, Sudeiman, Zasheir; (female) Atala, Ceidil, Hama, Jasmal, Meilil, Seipora, Yasheira, Zasheida; (surnames) Basha, Dumein, Jassan, Khalid, Mostana, Pashar, Rein

Chondathan

Chondathans are slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair that ranges from almost blond to almost black. Most are tall and have green or brown eyes, but these traits are hardly universal. Humans of Chondathan descent dominate the central lands of Faerûn, around the Inner Sea.

Chondathan Names: (Male) Darvin, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal, Stedd; (female) Arveene, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri, Lureene, Miri, Rowan, Shandri, Tessele; (surnames) Amblecrown, Buckman, Dundragon, Evenwood, Greycastle, Tallstag

Damaran

Found primarily in the northwest of Faerûn, Damarans are of moderate height and build, with skin hues ranging from tawny to fair. Their hair is usually brown or black, and their eye color varies widely, though brown is most common.

Damaran Names: (Male) Bor, Fodel, Glar, Grigor, Igan, Ivor, Kosef, Mival, Orel, Pavel, Sergor; (female) Alethra, Kara, Katernin, Mara, Natali, Olma, Tana, Zora; (surnames) Bersk, Chernin, Dotsk, Kulenov, Marsk, Nemetsk, Shemov, Starag

Illuskan

Illuskans are tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or steely gray eyes. Most have raven-black hair, but those who inhabit the extreme northwest have blond, red, or light brown hair.

Illuskan Names: (Male) Ander, Blath, Bran, Frath, Geth, Lander, Luth, Malcer, Stor, Taman, Urth; (female) Amafrey, Betha, Cefrey, Kethra, Mara, Olga, Silifrey, Westra; (surnames) Brightwood, Helder, Hornraven, Lackman, Stormwind, Windrivver

Mulan

Dominant in the eastern and southeastern shores of the Inner Sea, the Mulan are generally tall, slim, and amber-skinned, with eyes of hazel or brown. Their hair ranges from black to dark brown, but in the lands where the Mulan are most prominent, nobles and many other Mulan shave off all their hair.

Mulan Names: (Male) Aoth, Bareris, Ehput-Ki, Kethoth, Mumed, Ramas, So-Kehur, Thazar-De, Urhur; (female) Arizima, Chathi, Nephis, Nulara, Murithi, Sefris, Thola, Umara, Zolis; (surnames) Ankhalab, Anskuld, Fezim, Hahpet, Nathandem, Sepret, Uuthrakt

Rashemi

Most often found east of the Inner Sea and often intermingled with the Mulan, Rashemis tend to be short, stout, and muscular. They usually have dusky skin, dark eyes, and thick black hair.

Rashemi Names: (Male) Borivik, Faurgar, Jandar, Kanithar, Madislak, Ralmevik, Shaumar, Vladislak; (female) Fyevarra, Hulmarra, Immith, Imzel, Navarra, Shevarra, Tammith, Yuldra; (surnames) Chergoba, Dyernina, Iltazyara, Murnyethara, Stayanoga, Ulmokina

Shou

The Shou are the most numerous and powerful ethnic group in Kara-Tur, far to the east of Faerûn. They are yellowish-bronze in hue, with black hair and dark eyes. Shou surnames are usually presented before the given name.

Shou Names: (Male) An, Chen, Chi, Fai, Jiang, Jun, Lian, Long, Meng, On, Shan, Shui, Wen; (female) Bai, Chao, Jia, Lei, Mei, Qiao, Shui, Tai; (surnames) Chien, Huang, Kao, Kung, Lao, Ling, Mei, Pin, Shin, Sum, Tan, Wan

Tethyrian

Widespread along the entire Sword Coast at the western edge of Faerûn, Tethyrians are of medium build and height, with dusky skin that tends to grow fairer the farther north they dwell. Their hair and eye color varies widely, but brown hair and blue eyes are the most common. Tethyrians primarily use Chondathan names.

Turami

Native to the southern shore of the Inner Sea, the Turami people are generally tall and muscular, with dark mahogany skin, curly black hair, and dark eyes.

Turami Names: (Male) Anton, Diero, Marcon, Pieron, Rimardo, Romero, Salazar, Umbero; (female) Balama, Dona, Faila, Jalana, Luisa, Marta, Quara, Selise, Vonda; (surnames) Agosto, Astorio, Calabra, Domine, Falone, Marivaldi, Pisacar, Ramondo

Birdlike Features 

They have birdlike wings on their lower back which they can use to fly short distances or to slow their fall. They have birdlike tail feathers in their hair. Although they are great swimmers, they possess the ability to walk on water. Some posses the ability to transform into a bird.

Cygnel Traits

Most cygnels have the following traits.

Bird Form

You can change into a bird as an action. 

Water Walking

You can walk on water.

Fey Influenced

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

Fey Step

You can cast the misty step spell once using this trait. You regain the ability to do so when you finish a short or long rest.

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.

Silent Step

Your foot steps can’t be heard for and hour. You can do this once per day, resets after short or long rests.

Evasion

You can nimbly dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a red dragon's fiery breath or an Ice Storm spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Ability Score Increase

Your ability scores each increase by 1.

Age

Cygnels reach adulthood in their 30s and live a few centuries.

Size

Cygnels vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Sylvan, and another language.