Homebrew Woo Drake Species Details

Oberon: Woodrakes and their Close relatives, the mandrakes and coldrakes, are in fact among our fairy kin, though many human scholars are not aware of this lineage. (Note: The elemental drakes are not fairies; they are related, but much more distantly. The Master DM 's Book accurately describes the true drakes' limited shape-changing ability, similar to that
 of some other fairies; but it neglects to mention their ability of invisibility to mortals.)
 The oversight is understandable. The woodrakes and their relatives are rarely encountered; and, being very Chaotic and elusive, they have not been particularly helpful to any sages that might have tried to study them. Their particularly Chaotic nature also steers them away from much involvement in our fairy society, although the bonds of kinship are recognized.
 The drakes have long been considered a branch of the draconian family, which includes dragons and wyverns, on account of their similarity of appearance in their "true" form, like that of a small red dragon. Their shape-changing ability is similar to that of gold dragons, besides. The truth is that the connection With dragon-kind is not one of blood; and their invisibility, shape-changing, and mischievous nature are evidence of fairy descent. The little-known true story of the origin of the drakes, painstakingly investigated and recorded by the sagacious hsiao Tyrk-tyrk-Hsuu (who devoted no less than four decades to the task), is as follows: about 4,000 years ago, the Blackmoor culture was obliterated in the Great Rain of Fire that it unleashed upon itself. The preceding age was not one of particularly good will between fairies and men; human civilization seriously encroached on the secluded areas where we made our homes. The Empire of Thonia was loathed for its vastness, excess and debauchery; and Blackmoor, once favoured by us Good People, became suspect on account of its potent and volatile mixing of magic and technology, which could (and ultimately did) threaten the ecology of the entire planet, of which we the Fair Folk are the protectors. After the Great Rain of Fire proved how dangerous mortals could be to the world, one group of fairies formed With the express purpose of keeping humanity (and its demi-human brethren) from ever becoming capable of repeating the Blackmoor cataclysm. As their symbol, these fairies chose the red dragon: a symbol of wildness, of Chaos, of fire; fire that would oppose the ice age that enveloped the Blackmoor continent, and by burning in small and selective amounts, would prevent the climactic flames of another Great Rain. Chaos was the ideology of the drakes; but not mindlessness, or evil, or necessarily the Chaos of the Immortals of Entropy. Law, they were firmly convinced, was the true evil, for it ultimately led to stagnation, and thence selfdestruction. Chaos was necessary to promote actual progress, to permit the proliferation of life. 

WOODRAKE: To pursue their goals, the Drakes had little to do in fairy society; instead, they infiltrated the societies of men, elves, dwarves, halflings, and gnomes, to promote their philosophy and put it into action. Many of the creatures, particularly woodrakes, remain friendly to their distant fairy kin, but contact has become rare. Over the course of nearly 4,000 years, the drakes have naturally developed and changed, and it's doubtful that even one member of the first generation is still in that incarnation. Their descendants have evolved into the three distinct groups of mandrakes, woodrakes, and coldrakes, according to which communities they exist within; their "natural" Shape has become that of the drake (the Shape which members of the old organization took when they met), and they can all change to the forms of the humans and demi-humans With whom they live. Woodrakes can take the Shapes of halflings and elves, and hide themselves in those communities. The ideology of Chaos is no longer such a conscious concern of drakes; but it has become an integral part of their nature, attitudes, and tendencies. Most woodrakes see no reason not to act any way they wish, and see no need to justify their behaviour. A small number of drakes are aware of the legacy. The mortals sometimes label these beings "good." Such drakes may take it upon themselves to pursue the old ideals through adventuring; they seek out places where corrupt order has taken a firm hold, and try to overthrow it. They still believe that all order is inherently corrupt, and only in anarchy can nature properly assert itself; but the task of destroying all order is far too vast. Therefore, they reason, it is best to concentrate on evil tyranny and the like, places where "law" has obviously already gone bad. Chaotic woodrakes may thus ally themselves temporarily With servants of law, to achieve the shared goal of fighting injustice. But other drakes even more willingly associate With evil beings of Chaotic nature, and may even themselves embrace evil. 1t might be from some perverted conviction or other, but more often these woodrakes,
 like any other imperfect creatures, have been seduced by lust for power or even simpler selfishness. Larceny is the strong suit and favourite pursuit of the drakes. Thieves' abilities developed originally in their activities of spying, theft, and sabotage, executed to destabilize corrupt order. But for many now it is an obsession, like the disorder kleptomania among hu-
 mans. Their urge to steal may be difficult to check. Being fairies, woodrakes' needs are few and easily met; they therefore delight in stealth, deceit, disguise, and theft in themselves, as recreation, not for What might be gained. Objects that might be stolen are appraised not in terms of their monetary value so much as how challenging the theft might be. Thus, nearly worthless trinkets kept under lock, key, and burly guard would be far more desirable than a jewel en crusted golden crown lying beside a road. 

Woo Drake Traits

WooDrake (fey Creature)

Attack

2X Claw: D4 + Strength bonus
Bite:       : D8 + Strength bonus 

Drake cannot use any armour

AC

Natural armour made of dragon scales  AC 18

Movement: Flight

Flight: 30ft

Woodrake have wings

Movement: Walk

Walking: 30 ft

Woodrake are Medium creatures

Height

6 ft and more (human seize)

Woodrakes are slender and high.

Weight

Woodrakes weigh much due to there heavy scales.

prime request

Dexterity + intelligence

All fey folk woodrake love to prank humankinds and love to steal the unstealable. They are natural thiefs. Through the years they have developed their skills based on dexterity.

Age

Immortal

The woodrake matures when the are around 100. When woodrakes get bored with life they go and find a Dryad. with the dryads permission he asks her to place him into a tree so he can start his Fey sleep. The Dryad becomes his keeper. When the fey world is in need of the woodrake the Dryad wakes him. Depending on the tasks and the amount of years he has been in sleep, he wakes up and becomes active for a couple of hundred years until he becomes bored again. When the dryad is in danger  the Woodrake wakes up in rage and fights til death protecting the dryad. Many Woodrakes live a lifetime either as Halfling, Elf or both in one place until people start to ask questions about not aging. Woodrakes dread those days because then they have to give up all they have build up in the common world. At such time woodrakes can get weary with life and decide to go to sleep. But if something exciting happens when leaving their former dwellings they will shake off their weariness and go for it. Woodrakes dont like to live in the Fey world but they loved to visit the splendid parties especially if they are organised by the fauns or the Fey court.

 

Allignment

Either chaotic neutral or chaotic good

If you would discuss alignment with a woodrake, he would laugh. He probably would say that all of you mortals havent got a clue about the true nature of being. Nature is to complex, its a flow not to be understood but to be lived. every situation gives new possibilities and choices have to be made there and not in front or after. Go with the flow cause everything is relative. But in truth Woodrakes cannot be core evil. they can do evil deeds if they think its necessary for restoring the balance in nature. But because of there sensitive connection with nature must this be a big crisis. They will offer their self without questioning if a crisis of epic proportions threatens the balance in nature or the fey world.

Darkvision

Darkvision  60 feet

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 sense

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

 

Fey Ancestry

Fey Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep

 

Invisibility to mortals

Invisibility to mortals. Starts at level 2. Woodrakes can become inv. to mortals at will in all their forms (woodrake, halfling and elf) just like all Fey beings

Shapeshift between woodrake, halfling and elf form.

Shapeshift between woodrake, halfling and elf form.
3 times between 2 long rests. But to Woodrake form at will.

In the original booklet the Woodrake could shapeshift between these forms at will. This would make this race to powerfull, therefor i made this proposition to make this race more balanced.

For the player this means that they have to make to more characters one halfling and one elf with class and etc.. The basic stats are the same for all (woodrake, halfling and elf). But the racial and class benefits will change these stats. 

Example:

Zash the woodrake is a bard of glamour; Ola Smørmage is an halfling arcane trickster and Shinti Silverspear is an elf Merchant\ranger. Here the DM must put down restrictions. There have to be a background history which integrates all three characters. I suggest free choice on the woodrake, one adventure type background and one more based on civilisation and profession. In my case Ola Smørmage has a small shop of trade. His companion Shinti is trader\ranger and is active in the close by big city. Buying, selling, spying after artifacts. Ola and Zash are the traveling party. Important to find the right balance as DM and Player. But if you find it, its very funny to play.

Remember that woodrakes urge to make the perfect heist and his pranking nature are part of all three characters. Woodrakes flaws, traits, ideals and bonds are the same for all of them.

Trance

Trance
Woodrake as all fey folk 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.

Fey inheritage: Druid Kentrips + Spells

Fey inheritage: None of the spells can be battle spells. Spells can only be learned by oral delivery, meaning that the Woodrake have to meet a Fey magic-user\druid or a Druid before they can use it.
start level 0 : 1 Druid cantrip
Level         1 : 2 Druid cantrip + Feary fire Lvl 1
Level         2 : 3 Druid cantrip + Feary fire Lvl 1
Level         3 : 4 Druid cantrip + Feary fire Lvl 1
Level         4:  4 Druid cantrip + Feary fire Lvl 1 + Goodberry
Level         5:  4 Druid cantrip + Feary fire Lvl 1 + Goodberry + speak with animals

After lvl 5 it stops.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity and intelligence score increases by 2