Homebrew Merino Fae (Sheep People) Species Details

Merino Fae, or simply Merino for short, are a small race of fae that are known for how they traverse through the Faewild and Material Plane on a regular basis. The land is littered with their keeps, and the ones that are still inhabited are warm and welcoming to people from all walks of life.

SHEEPISH

Merino look like they could be related to halflings, with their short and stout statures. They’re slightly taller, typically ranging from 3 to 4 feet tall, but some clans of Merino have been known to have members reaching up to 5 feet. This gives them a very nonthreatening air around them. Merino are also known for having ram horns, regardless of their sex. Some file down their horns as a way to prevent from hurting others with them.

There are many different colorations of Merino, just as one would expect from typical sheep. The most common coloration is white wool with black skin, but it mostly varies from clan to clan. There are even clans who are known to dye their wool while it is still on their bodies.

Merino typically favor loose, warm clothing. They also have piercings in their ears to help depict what clans they’re from.

FARMERS AND BUILDERS

Merino are well known for their settlements in the Material Plane, and their vast farms in the Faewild. Many Merino find that they are highly skilled in the areas of agriculture, animal husbandry, and architecture, and go into the Material Plane to sell their skills. Many large-scale farms and building developments have a Merino on hand.

DWELLERS OF KEEPS

Many large, stone keeps litter the lands. These keeps are the Material Plane homes of many Merino clans. Merino keeps are home to all fae and non-fae alike, as the Merino see themselves as some sort of ambassadors for both worlds. Some of these keeps are abandoned, but the clan they belonged to will always keep their homes in their hearts, and often have younger members search for them and reclaim them.

CHILDREN OF THE GODDESSES

There are two main goddesses that the Merino follow: Chauntea, the goddess of Agriculture, and Auril, the goddess of Winter. They believe that the two goddesses brought them into creation, and say that Auril gave them their wool to protect them from her cold, and that Chauntea gave them their ability to commune with their livestock.

MERINO FAE NAMES

Merino don’t really have strict naming conventions, and just go with whatever they feel fits their children or themselves the most. Many have nature-themed names.

Name Examples: Woolly, Sunflower, Sunshine, Rain, Cloud, Snowcap

Merino Fae (Sheep People) Traits

Your Merino Fae character has a wide variety of natural abilities, thanks to their existence as Fae.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution increases by 2, and your Dexterity increases by 1.

Age

Merino age faster than humans, but due to them being Fae, they live for hundreds of years. They are considered adults by the age of 12.

Alignment

Almost all Merino lean towards good or neutral alignments. However, due to their Fae backgrounds, some do lean towards the more chaotic alignments.

Size

Merino are very small, ranging from 3 to 4 feet, rarely reaching 5 feet tall. They typically weigh around 50 to 60 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet.

Darkvision

Due to the lower lighting that is common in Merino Keeps, your eyes are accustomed to the dark. 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.

Prey Animal

As you are a sheep person, you have acute senses. Your Perception skill increases by 1.

Chauntea's Gifts

Due to your connection with Chauntea, you know the spell Speak with Animals, and you have proficiency in the Animal Handling skill.

Auril's Gifts

Due to your connection with Auril, you know the cantrip Ray of Frost. You are also resistant to cold damage.

Fae

Because you are a Fae, you have advantage on saving throws against being Charmed, and you cannot be magically put to sleep.

Counting Sheep

Merino are susceptible to narcolepsy. At the will of your DM, you must make a Constitution save that beats a DC 10 or fall asleep for 1d6 minutes.

Languages

You can fluently speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.