Homebrew Dúrfey'foeg: Elder Evil's Legacy Species Details

“But you do see the way people look at you, devil’s child.”

Those black eyes, cold as a winter storm, were staring right into her heart and the sudden seriousness in his voice jolted her.

“We found what was left of the notes.  What in the Seven Planes were they thinking?  How could they even consider playing God, and with two such races as this?  We have heard of many natural meldings before, but this!! This is beyond stupidity, beyond reason, even beyond belief. 

There is only evidence that one of the poor creatures escaped, but what if there were more.  Lots more.   I shudder to think what could become of us all if that is true”

— Brastin Elgridge, Scientist and Explorer

 

To be met with threats, disdain, and violence, to endure slavery merely based on one's identity and appearance, or to receive feigned respect solely by virtue of being offspring of the matron – such is the fate of the rare and concealed Dúrfey'foeg who dwell in the Underdark. At least, this is the destiny of their kind when they are not merely extinguished at birth by some doctoress.

Plagued by the merciless hand of destiny, the Dúrfey'foeg owe their existence to a nefarious covenant, ritual, or experiment forged by their parents (in most cases) or, in rare instances where the lineage endures, their forebears, with a malevolent Fiends or aberrant Elder Evils, often chosen between the ones that dwells in the Underdark. This sinister alliance, forged in the shadows of the society, bestowed upon the Dúrfey'foeg their unique appearance and abilities. Transformed by the eldritch forces of this ominous agreement, they bear the burden of their lineage, navigating a world that greets them with hostility and hate at best. 

Aberrant Bloodline

While the Dúrfey'foeg can trace their ancestry to the drow bloodlines, only a handful of traits from their fey parent or ancestor endure. They bear a semblance in complexion, eye color, and, on rare occasions, hair hues akin to their Drow relatives.

Dúrfey'foeg born from the Elder Evils display horn-like structures strongly reminiscent of corals, capable of adopting various shapes and sizes, and at times even possessing an ethereal quality. Though when these horns manifest physically, their hair gracefully cascades from behind them or elegantly frames their form. Their hair often bears embellishments in the form of seaweed and tentacles, with some individuals exhibiting bioluminescent qualities in some or all of these adornments. Commonly, they sports gills along the sides of their neck, beneath or on the upper part of the chest, and/or on the shoulders, and, less frequently, they also sports webbed fingers. Their tails can be thin or thick and extend to three to five feet in length, culminating in a caudal fin and it may coil or lash around their legs when they are agitated or anxious. Their canine teeth are notably pointed, and occasionally, they may have a second row of smaller teeth behind the first. On occasions, they may possess multiple eyes, and exceptionally uncommonly, one illicium on the head. Additionally, fins and/or tentacles can occasionally be sparsely distributed across various parts of their body.

Self-Reliant and Suspicious

Dúrfey'foeg are an almost non-existent minority within the Drow population, usually dwelling in the most impoverished districts of Drow cities, where they tragically experience lives defined by insignificance, neglect, torture, and the grim specter of being subjected to the cruel fate of slavery, including the possibility of ritual sacrifices. In the exceptional circumstance where one of them happens to be the rotten fruit of the loins of a Matron, their very survival and lifestyle will be subject to her whims. Yet, even when the mother truly nurtures and cherishes her cursed child, society's aversion to this tainted lineage remains insurmountable. Despite their sincere efforts to conceal it, the repugnance toward this beleaguered race endures. However, within Drow society, where deceit is a refined art, it's possible for this sentiment to remain unnoticed. Nonetheless, evading the notice of a kindred spirit, particularly with intellects as alienly intricate as these, would indeed be a formidable feat.

 

In the previous century, rumors have circulated that deep within the depths of Clawrift, nestled along the inner walls of the cliff, lies the long-forgotten and once-mighty House Oblodra. This peculiar house is said to have established a city, predominantly inhabited by the Dúrfey'foeg, and with the aid of a formidable Elder Evil, they aspire to ascend back to Menzoberranzan, seeking revenge and total dominion over the entire Underdark. Nonetheless, this legend harkens back a century, and despite extensive scrutiny of Clawrift's depths, no tangible evidence exists to corroborate the narrative. Consequently, the Drow populace remains divided; some dismiss it as mere folklore, while others employ it as a pretext to perpetuate their mistreatment of the Dúrfey'foeg. Simultaneously, the latter group, regardless of their own bloodline, regards it as the last glimmer of hope. It is also said that some have fled or have been sent (in kidnapping quests) on the surface, but almost none had ever returned, generally, they all have a found a way to flee their Drow masters or associate, sometimes they've even disappeared in the exact instant they've set foot on the surface. Certainly, at least the ones that doesn't live in this supposed Oblodra society, have learned to survive in an harsh world, and they've learnt that no one can ever be trusted, except if they obtained the allegiancy of another Dúrfey'foeg. Almost all of them are firmly power hungry, some for mere ambition, but others for spirit of survival for oneself or others. They exhibit unwavering loyalty to those they hold dear but can be highly deceitful to others when it serves their interests.

Dúrfey'foeg Names

For the Dúrfey'foeg take inspiration from the names of the creatures and the languages created by H. P. Lovecraft. I'll give you just the exemple of my female character. 

Irlyèhlle Hekfhtagahn, "R'lye" and "fhtagn" are two words from a prayer to Cthulhu.

MET WITH MISTRUST

People tend to be suspicious of Dúrfey'foeg, assuming that their drow or infernal/aberrant heritage has left its mark on their personality and morality, not just their appearance. The reality is that a dúrfey'foeg’s bloodline doesn’t actually affect their personality, but obviously the society in which they grow does.

They are gifted with different types of magic based from their heritage but they can chart their own course in life.

 

Dúrfey'foeg: Elder Evil's Legacy Traits

Dúrfey'foeg share certain racial traits as a result of their aberrant descent.

Aberrant Identity

Your character isn't a humanoid nor a fey, but an aberration

Age

Dúrfey'foeg reach physical maturity at a rate similar to humans, or slightly slower. After reaching an appearance equivalent to their thirties, their physical features remain unchanged until the last two decades of their exceptionally long lives. They are typically considered mature after a century or two and can outlive elves by several centuries, although it is exceedingly rare for no one to manage to kill them before their natural deaths.

Size

Dúrfey'foeg are about the same size and build as drows. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Ability Score Increase

One D&D style, no one, the background gives the boosts.
If you want one and don't want to think about it yourself, edit the race for your own use and add +2 Int and +1 Cha.
It seems to me the most fitting choice narrative wise.

Darkvision

Thanks to your drow heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 27 meters/90 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.

Aberrant Resistance

You have resistance to psychic damage.

Aberrant Legacy

You know the mind sliver cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the silvery barbs spell as a 2nd-level spell 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 darkness and misty step spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Fey Legacy

• Fey Ancestry: You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
• Trance: Elves 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.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Undercommon and Deep Speech.