Homebrew FeyTouched Species Details

dear, #####

I thought it would be fine, that’s what they told me. Of course, now I know they were lying— no, that’s not right. They didn’t outright lie, of course, but how could I take it as anything but? They promised me. They promised me they wouldn’t make it any harder than it needed to be, that I would pay them and their services would be over. I didn’t know that payment was a favor. I couldn’t do it, #####, I couldn’t do it. They said I could leave, they promised me I could leave. I didn’t know they meant I would be leaving my humanity behind.

Don’t follow me, #####. Please, please don’t follow me. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.

Sincerely,

Francias

— letters found years after they had been sent. Researchers suspect Francias was fey touched, and his dear friend was as well.

 

Fey touched are humans who were in over their heads. Ambitious (oh, so ambitious. So promising, willing to trudge into danger.) and skilled, oftentimes. However, wielding a blade and your tongue are two different skills, and fey are infinitely wonderful at the latter. And for all of their skills in forgery and battle, many of the fools who wander into fey territories know nothing of their rules, and see only a kind race willing to help them with their hearts desires for nothing more than a favor. Showering them with gifts and food, who would the fools be to refuse? And so they are indebted to the feys, and it is not a debt easily paid. When the fools run, fight, plead for their life back, the feys offer them a deal. They can leave, but it may take more of a toll than expected. The fools accept eagerly of course, and although they may leave the forest, their humanity is gleaned. Too ashamed to return to their families and towns, the fey-touched scatter, wandering the forests and invoking their fury upon unaware travelers.

Humans no more 

When turned, the first punishment is the loss of the fools’ human form. Their ears stretch out and upwards, making them elf-like. Their body will often extend, arms and legs full of thick, lean muscle. Their skin will start to change color, dependent on the fey that punished them, their face shape will often change, too, teeth sharpening (and, for the most unlucky, falling out and being replaced). The last thing to change is their eyes, changing to solid color, dimly glowing.  

Lost to all sides 

Many Fey-touched wander the forest, becoming a plague on all who wander there. These Fey-touched are often regarded as dishonorable to submit others to the same fate they befell. These less honorable Fey-touched tend to be rouges and barbarians, taking work, often violent, wherever they can. Many of these fey have sworn off of magic, seeing the increased talent for it as a curse brought upon them.

By the end of their conversion, the only thing that separates them from usual fey are their plain, dimly glowing eyes. These dishonorable fey tend to bear these eyes akin to both a warning and a cross. They shall be forever plagued by what they did, what the succumbed to. Filled to the brim with self loathing, they often use it to signal to others they are less than, not quite human, not quite fey. Of course, the right party can help them heal. It is also used as a warning, to warn other pure fey they are coming for them, that they have not forgiven them for what they had done. 

Meanwhile, those who accept this fate are regarded as honorable. They are known for being more even tempered, and often settle into human and elven towns and cities. However; they are often still bitter towards pure blood feys- some more than others. These fey, although they may still take paths such as rouges and barbarians, tend to prefer more magic-oriented pursuits. 

These fey-touched are known to hide their eyes behind blindfolds, hiding what they are from the world. Perhaps out of shape, perhaps out of repent or acceptance. However, it is impossible to truly run from your past, and the dim glow from their eyes that often em images from the blindfold immediately gives them away. Regardless the reason, people are often more trusting of Fey-touched with the blindfolds. 

Deserving of a name?

Some keep their human names, while others opt to give them up— seeing their human self as something that has died. Many fey-touched go without a name, instead being given nicknames by their party or others they encounter. Others choose a more elven in nature, accepting life for what it is.

Social Distrust 

Many fey-touched, considered honorable or not, are largely distrusted by the population. If they could not even follow the rules of the fey, could they follow the rules of conventional society? Many are also unnerved by their eyes, choosing to avoid them because of it. Additionally, while mid transformation, they aren’t quite enough of either side to be considered completely human.

 

FeyTouched Traits

Fey-touched share many traits with both humans and fey.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Fey-touched often live to around 100 years. Should a child become a Fey-touched, they mature at the same rate as humans.

Size

Fey-touched are about the same size as humans, but may grow taller, ranging from 5 to 7 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Dimly lit

Due to your glowing eyes, you can act as a “flashlight”, producing a dim light that goes around 5 ft wherever you’re looking. However, it could also attract unnecessary attention.

You may trick me once, but not twice.

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

Skill Versatility

You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Sylvan, and one extra language of your choice.

This lineage ends with me

You don’t want to subject anyone else to this, you don’t want to have a family when you’re like this. You don’t even know if you deserve one anymore. And a partner? How could they stand to look at you?

Needless to say, these are not good date topics, and you pull near to no one.

Feystep

As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. Once you use this trait, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest. When you reach 3rd level, your Fey Step gains an additional effect based on if you are honorable or dishonorable; if the effect requires a saving throw, the DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Dexterity modifier. The effects are as follows:

Dishonorable: Immediately after you use your Fey Step, you can choose to de-buff two creatures near you with blindness for 1 turn OR each creature of your choice that you can see within 5 feet of you takes fire damage equal to your Strength modifier (minimum of 1 damage).

Honorable: Immediately after you use your fey step, you can choose to restore one ally equal to your intelligence + 3 OR each creature of your choice you can see within 8 feet of you is pushed back a number of feet equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 foot)