Homebrew Darklains Species Details

Darklains are a nasty sort. Sure the pixies play tricks but they're harmless enough, but those of darklains can be down right sinister. Don't let their size fool you either, as there is something inherently dangerous with this lot.

-Excerpt From "A Bard's Guide to Survival"

Bullies And Tormentors

For a darklain the average day consists of playing nasty pranks on that of pixies and sprites. While fey creatures they also hold ties to infernal bloodlines. The offspring of an imp and pixie the darklains are notoriously cruel to other tiny fey creatures. That doesn't mean they won't bully something bigger than they are, as many have reported darklains contaminating water and food supplies of folk that settle on edges of forests. While a darklain's pranks aren't lethal, they are vicious. Mild poisoning, casting terrifying illusions, and and using their infernal tongues to sow creeping madness, albeit temporary. However, there are darklains that don't partake in such activities and seek greater aspirations than to be mean spirited creatures. Those that don't conform to the norm are usually targeted with harsher pranks from their peers.

Life As An Outsider

Many darklains that choose to live more normal lives will often leave their homes and set off for adventure or try to find a new place to belong. For those the strike out on their own life is far from simple as many common folk see a darklain and assume they're up to no good. Those that do find a comfortable life within different communities are still treated with a sort of distance, that can feel alienating. However, cold shoulders is better than constantly waiting for someone to poison your food or put hellish nightmares in head as you dream.

Tiny And Proud

A darklain is a tiny fey creature with bat or moth-like wings. They have skin tones that range from light purples and light reds. Most darklains have white or black hair and large black eyes. Atop their large foreheads sits a single horn that is usually black or ivory. Along their brows lay their thin long eyebrows and they sport oversized elven-like ears. A darklain is no shorter or taller than two feet tall and have wingspans that more than double their physical size. A darklain has rather pronounced forearms and hands, as well as wide calves and feet. Darklain are also far stronger than their sprite and pixie cousins and are capable of wield normal non heavy weapons.

Names

Darklain naming conventions are sporadic and generally are just as chaotic as their their personalities. You will likely never meet a darklain that has a similar name to another darklain.

Darklains Traits

Your darklain character has the following features.

Ability Score Improvements

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, you can choose either Intelligence or Charisma to increase by 2, and your Strength score decreases by 2.

Age

Darklains reach maturity rather quickly at the age of 12 and have a maximum lifespan of 265 years.

Alignment

Most darklains have chaotic alignments that generally fall under Evil. However, there are also darklains that have chaotic alignments that lean towards Good. Darklains are rarely neutral and even more rare to have Lawful alignments.

Size

Darklains are 2 feet tall when they reach maturity and do not vary from this height. They range for 10-15 pounds and have an average wingspan of 4 feet. They are small enough to occupy the same space of something that is small or larger. Your size is Tiny.

Speed

You have a base walking speed of 10 feet and a flying speed of 30 feet.

Stronger Than You Think

Darklains are quite small for their size and this usually comes to the surprise of a would be attacker. You count as small for the purposes of determining your carry weight and how much you can push or pull.

Diminutive Frame

Your small and while you may be stronger than most your size there are still limits.

You are unable to wear any armor that would exceed 20 pounds and cannot wear heavy armor.
You cannot wield weapons that have the heavy property.
When you wield a weapon that has the versatile property you always count wielding it two-handed, but the damage is always the one-handed rating.
When purchasing armor or weapons add a base of 10gp to the total to cover the modifying equipment to your size. (DM Discretion)
You have disadvantage on Strength saving throws.

However, there are some perks to being this small.

You have advantage on Stealth checks.
Your tiny frame makes you hard to hit and grants you a bonus +2 total armor class.
Where you would normally gain half cover you gain full cover instead. Where you normally gain quarter cover you instead gain half cover.
You have advantage of saving throws that rely on Dexterity.

Darkvision

You have darkvision of a range of 60 feet.

Bonus Proficiency

You gain proficiency in the Stealth skill.

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and you can't be put to sleep by the means of magic.

Bonus Cantrip

You can learn either Dancing Lights, Druidcraft, Light, Mage Hand, Message, Prestidigitation, or Thaumaturgy cantrip.

Languages

You can read, speak, and write in Common, Sylvan, and Infernal.