Homebrew Shade Species Details

 Made from the Stuff of Shadows

 

Shades are humanoid in size and shape, but their bodies are made partly from the essence of darkness itself. They weigh somewhat less than normal creatures their size, and their skin and all their features are a barely-reflective black. Any items they wear or carry soon take on the same appearance. The longer an item has been in close contact with a Shade’s body, the longer it will take to regain its normal color when removed from their presence.

 

Shades have little sense of taste or smell, and as a result they have developed a fiery and pungent cuisine. Members of other races often find shade food and drink noxious, and in turn the fare of other races can seem incredibly bland to shades.

 

Attuned to the gloom of the shadow realms, shades are effectively color-blind, however their sight can penetrate even supernatural darkness. They avoid bright light and broad daylight, and are especially uncomfortable under a noon-day sun.

Fear Not The Night

Because they are at home in the dark, shades accept the unknown as part of the natural order. While some Shades seek to explore and understand, others see the pervasiveness of the dark as proof that existence is inherently meaningless. Still others see darkness as the truest state of being and even worship those who would rule it - or seek to rule it themselves. Regardless, the pervasive and eternal darkness of the cosmos is part and parcel of shade philosophy.

Most Shades see death not as an ending or as a passage to reward or punishment, but as simply rejoining the essence from which their people were born. Shade religion and culture are rife with stories about the pursuit of mysteries and exposing what is hidden. Knowledge and insight are highly valued.

 

The challenges of life in the darkest realms of the cosmos range from seemingly endless drudgery to the mad aspirations of dark lords. Although these regions can breed apathy and hopelessness, there are those who work to keep these domains of dread from spreading, or to keep the extremes of other realms from encroaching.

Shade society values caution, preparedness and courage in the face of harsh unknowns. They tend to respect those who hail from subterranean realms, such as dwarves and drow elves, and any who show bravery even in the face of hopelessness. Relations tend to be poor with high elves, Eladrin, Aasimar, and any who shun the darkness and thereby those who abide there.

Shades are comfortable in the darkest realms and recesses of the worlds, with their inhabitants, and with all secrets mundane and arcane. They venture forth with curiosity, fascination, sometimes foolhardiness, and even single-minded obsession. Acknowledging the dark side within all people, shades can be unusually forgiving of failures of character if such deeds are followed with self-reflection. When they form social bonds, it is with an acceptance of the shadows we all cast.

Shade names

Shades use names common to wherever they are living at the time, but they also have a shade name which is a closely-guarded secret. Shade outcasts are formally stripped of their shade name and all shades are then forbidden to use that name.

 

Female Shade names often end with -el, -em, -en, -eth, and -ith,: Gillel, Kivem, Velen, Seseth, Lillith.
Male Shade names tend to end in -ef, -ek, -en, -eng, -ev, and -ik: Gillef, Kivek, Velen, Seseng, Lillev, Villik.

Shade Traits

As a creature of shadow, you have many unusual abilities.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Shadowsight

You can see normally in dim light and even in total darkness, both normal and magical.

At Home in the Shadows.

 You have proficency with Stealth checks made to hide in shadows.

Sunlight Sensitivity

You have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, your target, or the object of your perception is in direct sunlight.

Deadened.

Because Shades hail from a dark and terrifying realm, you have advantage on saves against fear effects.

Light Aversion

You are not able to cast spells with the ‘radiant’ descriptor.

Shadow Magic

You know one of the following cantrips: Chill Touch, Message, or True Strike. 

When you reach 3rd level, choose one of the following spells: Arms of Hadar, False Life, Inflict Wounds, or Sleep. You can cast this spell once per day using this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. 

When you reach 5th level, choose one of the following spells: Blindness, Darkness, Misty Step, or Shadow Blade. You can cast this spell once per day using this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. 

Wisdom is the spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages

You can read, write, and speak Common, Shadic, and Undercommon.