Homebrew Cait Sidhe Species Details

Cunning Tricksters

 

The Cait Sidhe is a well known tricky beast to grandmothers and old wives who tell fables to children too young to comprehend the real moral of the tale. Most of the details are inevitably wrong, but what is always true is that the person who can convince the Cait Sidhe to talk back to them is a special soul indeed.... or simply the next victim of a wonderful prank, or a dastardly trick.Through the mists of the rocky moorlands, the Cait Sidhe walks with an indolent, lazy grace. Coal black from nose to tail, save for a flash of white at the chest, and a 'lantern' of white on the tail tip that may lead the unwary into untold dangers if they dare to follow the faerie cat's beacon.

 

The Cait Sidhe are a cunning, kenning species that have adapted to the planes they walk far better than many of their relatives. Their inherent appearance; which resembles nothing so much as an overly large and potentially dangerous wildcat; has allowed them to sink into human society with few knowing their true nature. Many Cait Sidhe have taken up the position of house guardian, and keep a careful watch on the family within while their own lifespan winds on... and on... and on, through human lifetimes while slipping in and out of their human companions' awareness like an endless chain of startlingly perfect copies of "that crook-tailed barn cat that grandmum so loved and cared for all her days-"

 

Sweet Appearances

The Cait Sidhe is, too the unwary gaze, simply a large cat. A closer look will reveal an almost inhuman intelligence, a knowledge beyond their apparent years even as small kittens, and a staid, posed outlook that reinforces the idea that this beast must be something MORE than meets the eye no matter how sweet their purr. Coal-black fur covers their bodies from nose to tail, with only two white spots at the chest and the end of the tail to break up the void. These patches are such a bright white that they nearly shine like beacons in the dark, unless the Cait Sidhe is very careful indeed.

Ancestral Guardians

The Sentimental type will adopt a family in town or village or farmers' croft and stand guard over the bloodline for generations. Disappearing and reappearing at appropriate intervals to make themselves look as though they are merely copies of an older cat long gone to its rest. This is supplemented by illusions, a sort of natural glamour that is upheld so long as the creature remains on all four paws.

Unlike the Tabaxi, the Cait Sidhe is content with satisfying smaller, more reasonable quests that do not force them to out themselves as a superior intellect; typically content with the slow-paced lives they pick for themselves near to hearth fires and gentle hands that scratch just the right spots.

Feline Grace

Despite the apparent laziness of their typical surroundings, when pushed in a fight, a Cait Sidhe will be the first to draw blood. Their dexterity and keen minds leading many to pursue the ways of Druids or Monks as often as an adventuresome youth will tip-toe their soft paws on the stealth-and-dagger path of the Rogue, or the wanderlust of the Ranger.

Cait Sidhe Names

As with much of their speech, Cait Sidhe names include clicks, purrs, and catlike noise to the point that other peoples have a difficult time pronouncing them. Typically, a name has two to four syllables with the sounds acting as connectors. When interacting with other races, Cait Sidhe may use nicknames gained from people they meet or shortened forms of their full names depending on the level of trust they have reached with their companions.

A Cait Sidhe of any gender may have one of these short names or anything similar to strike your fancy: Anrai, Aya, Breda, Cairbre, Chochi, Eithne, Feis, Fiadh, Gen, Honora, Iarlaith, Kyran, Lachtna, Maire, Neve, Riona, Sareth, Sareid, or Una.

Cait Sidhe Traits

As a Cait Sidhe, you have a few things in common with the Tabaxi, but in a much more compact form. Therefore you take a +2 to Wisdom, and a +1 to Dexterity.

Ability Score Increase

You take +2 to Wisdom and +1 to Dexterity

Age

Cait Sidhe age slowly, reach their maturity at 15, and live an immeasurable lifetime in comparison with most humanoids, with a span of 300-500 years depending on their luck and cunning.

Size

Cait Sidhe are larger than a house pet, and smaller than a Humanoid. They are therefore a Small creature, between 2-3.5 feet, and weighing between 15-35 pounds.

Movement

As a small creature, you can move through the space occupied by a Large creature, and squeeze through a space one size smaller than their own. [Tiny, 2.5ft]

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet, with the ability to use Mobile:

• Your speed increases by 10 feet.

• When you use the Dash action, difficult terrain doesn't cost you extra movement on that turn.

• When you make a melee attack against a creature, you don't provoke opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest of the turn, whether you hit or n

Otherworldly Being

False Appearance: While the Cait Sidhe remains on all fours, it is indistinguishable from a large cat.
Fae Glamour: When the Cait Sidhe is not incapacitated or grappled, and wearing no armor, its AC includes its Charisma modifier.
Keen Senses: The Cait Sidhe has advantage on Perception checks that rely on smell or taste.
Little Beastie: The Cait Sidhe is considered both Beast and Fae for any effects relating to species.

Darkvision

You have darkvision up to 60 feet, and can see in dim light as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in dim light or darkness as shades of gray.

Claws

Your claws are a natural weapon. You may use them as an Unarmed Strike. If you hit, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Dexterity bonus.