Homebrew Siren Species Details

Thylean Siren, The Changed

“There is no denying the beauty of the songs of the sirens. They can be heard miles from shore, joining with the din of the ocean waves to create haunting melodies. Sailors are always blaming them for shipwrecks, of course, but I imagine that’s a convenient excuse when you crash your own ship on the shoals.”
—Chalcodon, philosopher of Mytros

 

Sirens are a race of winged, aquatic humanoids that typically dwell near rocky sea cliffs. They are famed for their beautiful voices, which they use to sing haunting lamentations, captivating listeners and transporting them to a bygone age. Sirens are rarely found very far inland. They prefer to remain near the coasts, as the gentle roar of the ocean waves calms their roiling emotions.
Sirens typically experience fluctuating moods from one day to the next, ranging from extreme joy and hope for the future, to extreme sorrow and pessimism. No matter how a siren feels, she expresses her emotion through song. On good days, she may annoy her companions with chirpy melodies and vocal warm-ups as she glides around on outstretched wings. Bad days, on the other hand, may see her moaning and wailing and dragging her feet.

Legend of the Sirens

The sirens once lived on a great expanse of shoals in the Cerulean Gulf, where they built a city of brilliant white limestone. Its towering spires and pillars thrust out from the rocky waters, allowing the sirens to fly or swim as they pleased. They lived here in joy, singing praises to Sydon, who governed the oceans. Sydon heard this from his throne in Praxys and scowled. “Were they truly grateful, they would not build their towers to rival mine.”
When the sirens learned that Sydon was displeased, they were heartbroken. They dismantled their towers and composed new melodies—songs of repentance—which once more carried on the winds to the ears of the Titan. He was unmoved. “Were they truly repentant, they would not sing so brazenly, but they would go meekly and offer the proper sacrifices in place of songs.”
This time, the sirens were utterly stricken. They had believed that their songs were cherished by the gods. Their voices were stilled, and in the ensuing silence, the brilliance of the city faded into shadow. Stone foundations cracked, and pediments grew heavy. The pillars collapsed, and the city of the sirens sank deep into the ocean, swallowed by churning waters. Even its name was forgotten.
Centuries passed in silence. Eventually, a new song began—an endless lamentation for the city that now sleeps on the ocean floor. When Lutheria learned that the city of the sirens had been destroyed, she laughed. She captured an entire flock of the pitiful creatures and gleefully cursed them, twisting them into something monstrous. These were the first harpies.

Ocean Lovers

Sirens are not amphibious, but they are well-adapted for living in and around water. They are thought to descend from an ancient Nereid who fell in love with an avian celestial. Iridescent scales cover many parts of their body, and their taloned hands and feet are excellent for fishing. They live in small flocks along the shores of the ocean. Siren artwork, poetry, and architecture emphasize their special relationship with both the clouds above and the sea below.

Mournful Singers

.Every siren is born with an abiding sense of sorrow that never fades—a soul-crushing grief caused by the loss of her ancestral home. From an early age, sirens learn to sing the ancient songs of their lost city, which evoke heart-wrenching memories of a time that will never come again. Anyone who hears a siren’s song is immediately mesmerized by the overwhelming emotion conveyed by her beautiful voice. Some are moved to tears—others collapse into catatonia. The siren herself is not exempt from this—the moment she hears her own lamentations, she experiences an intense pang of loss.

Winged Messengers

Sirens have broad, feathered wings growing out of their backs, which allow them to fly like birds. For this reason, sirens are often employed as messengers, tasked with conveying satchels of written letters from one city to another. However, a siren can only fly when her heart is filled with light. On such days, her songs are bright and joyful, no matter what manner of message she carries. Thus the saying, “A siren in good spirits may yet carry ill news.”

Siren Names

Sirens have names that sound lyrical and sad. They are ancient names, carried down from generation to generation, and each is associated with an ancestral song. Sirens choose their own names when they come of age, selecting one from the song that moves them most deeply.
Male Names: Alovar, Celeus, Everean, Gaiar, Helean, Inareus, Leiro, Meiar, Nerean, Oren, Reilan, Taeren
Female Names: Alovarea, Celea, Everea, Gaia, Helena, Inarea, Leira, Meia, Nerea, Orena, Reilana, Taerena

Siren Traits

Thylean Sirens have the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1

Age

Sirens mature at the same rate as humans, but they live about five times as long.

Alignment

From birth, sirens experience deep feelings of sorrow from the loss of their ancestral home. Some wish to prevent another such tragedy from befalling other races, which draws them toward good alignments. Others become bitter and pessimistic, tending toward neutral alignments

Size

Sirens are slightly shorter than humans, and they have a wingspan of about 6 feet. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Celestial.

Fey Heritage

Your bloodline is touched by the magic of the fey, granting you resilience against certain magical effects. The enchantments and illusions that affect others slide off you like water, thanks to your innate connection to the mystical realms of the fey. This heritage provides you with a natural defense against attempts to control or frighten you, as well as protection against magical sleep.

Mechanics:

• Advantage on Saving Throws Against Being Charmed or Frightened: Whenever you make a saving throw to resist being charmed or frightened, you roll two d20s and take the higher result. This reflects your inherent resistance to these types of magical influence.
• Immunity to Magical Sleep: Spells and effects that would put you to sleep, such as the Sleep spell, have no effect on you. Your fey ancestry protects you from these forms of magical slumber.

Enthralling Voice

Your voice carries a magical, captivating quality that enthralls those who hear it. This natural enchantment allows you to perform and persuade with a charisma that is nearly impossible to resist. Whether you are singing a haunting melody, delivering a stirring speech, or simply engaging in casual conversation, your words hold an undeniable power over your audience.

Mechanics:

• Advantage on Performance and Persuasion Checks: Whenever you use your voice to perform or persuade, you roll two d20s and take the higher result. This reflects your innate ability to enchant and influence others through your speech and song.
• Powerful Lungs: Your lungs are exceptionally strong, allowing you to hold your breath for up to 1 hour. This ability can be especially useful in underwater environments or situations where you need to conserve your breath.

Songs of Change

• You can cast the friends cantrip at will.
• You can cast the charm person spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a short rest.
• When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the enthrall spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a short rest.
• When you reach 5th level, you can cast the hold person spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a short rest.

Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells, and the targets of your spells must have the ability to hear you singing.