Homebrew Shadar Kai Species Details
Some shadar-kai resembled blighted elves, in a perpetual state between life and death, while others were human-like in appearance. They were usually slender and ranged from slightly taller to slightly shorter than humans, exhibiting graceful movements well suited to stealth.
They had dusky gray skin and colorless complexions that varied from alabaster to dark gray; black hair, with few shadar-kai having pale hair, that ranged within human hair colors; and dark eyes lacking any sclera or clear pupil. Shadows on their bodies or clothing always seemed to be deeper and darker than shadows elsewhere, and shadows seemed to follow them and reach out, especially when they were angry. They were easily lost from view. Many shadar-kai displayed all kinds of iron body piercings in nose, ears, eyebrows, shoulders, and other parts of the body, and purple-inked tattoos on the body, limbs, and face.
Despite having a somewhat youthful appearance while in the Material plane, being in the Shadowfell revealed the shadar-kai's cursed state to those who had made a deal or taken the mark of the Raven Queen: They appeared visibly aged and withered, with swollen joints that gave them an overall corpse-like aspect. For that reason, many shadar-kai wore masks to conceal their decrepit state while in the Shadowfell.
Shadar-kai bred true. Their pairings produced shadar-kai offspring, as well as the pairing between a human and a shadar-kai.
Shadar Kai Traits
Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 5–6 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet
Darkvision
You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
Blessing of the Raven Queen
As a bonus action, you can magically teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Starting at 3rd level, you also gain resistance to all damage when you teleport using this trait. The resistance lasts until the start of your next turn. During that time, you appear ghostly and translucent.
Necrotic Resistence
Because of your time in the shadowfell, you have developed a resistance to necrotic damage, although the cost is your emotions. You look like a corpse yourself if you are in the Shadowfell.
Fey Ancestry
You have Advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the Charmed condition.
Keen Senses
You have proficiency in the Insight, Perception, or Survival skill.
Trance
You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep. You can finish a Long Rest in 4 hours if you spend those hours in a trancelike meditation, during which you retain consciousness.
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