Homebrew Watershifting Elf Species Details

Physical Description:
Watershifting Elves are mesmerizing beings with the ability to navigate both water and land. In their aquatic form, their lower half is a powerful, shimmering tail adorned with iridescent scales. These scales reflect hues of the ocean, ranging from deep blues and vibrant greens from the depths, to the purples, pinks, silvers and yellows of the sun and moon reflecting the surface. Their upper bodies resemble those of their land-dwelling elven cousins, with delicate features, pointed ears, and eyes that reflect the colors of the waters. When they shift to their terrestrial form, their tail transforms into a pair of agile legs, allowing them to move gracefully on land, often with shimmering scales just beneath the surface of the skin.

Ability Score Increase:
+2, +1 of choice.

Age:
Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.

Alignment:
Watershifting Elves tend toward neutral alignments, with a strong respect for the natural world and its balance. They value freedom and personal expression, often aligning with chaotic ideals.

Size:
Medium. In their land form, they stand between 5 and 6 feet tall. In water, their tails add an additional 3 to 4 feet in length.

Speed:
Base walking speed is 30 feet. Swim speed is 60 feet.

Watershift Ability:
As an action, a Watershifting Elf can transform between their aquatic and land forms. This transformation lasts until they take a short rest and requires a one-hour ritual to shift again.

Languages:
You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. You can also communicate simple ideas with aquatic animals through sounds and gestures.

Adventurers:
Curious and adventurous by nature, many Watershifting Elves venture to the surface world to explore its wonders and seek new experiences. They often take up roles as bards, druids, or sorcerers, using their innate magic and charm to aid their companions.

Watershifting Elf Traits

Watershifiting elves have conquered life on both the water and land.

Siren's Charm

You know one cantrip of your choice from the bard spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.

 

Watershift Ability

As an action, a Watershifting Elf can transform between their aquatic and land forms. This transformation lasts until they take a short rest and requires a one-hour ritual to shift again.

Ability Score Increase

You choose two ability scores to increase.

Age

Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the elven understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.

Amphibious

You can breathe both air and water regardless of your form.

 

Size

Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

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.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

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 and Elvish. You can also communicate simple ideas with aquatic animals through sounds and gestures.

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.