Homebrew Siren Species Details

Physical Description

Sirens commonly appear as an amalgamation of a beautiful woman and some form of sea life; typically, they acquire features such as fins, claws, gills, and tails, and wield these features as natural extensions of their own bodies. Some have even been known to possess wings, a trait reminiscent of seafowl, but one used to deadly effect. There is nothing so terrifying as the sight of a siren soaring downward, snatching their entranced victims from the decks of their ships.

Sirens are long-lived, having lifespans documented as long as 300 years in some cases. In addition, sirens are fiercely intelligent, to the point that they are able to speak and comprehend most known languages. Given their lack of socialization, cryptozoologists theorize that their do not communicate with their tongues, but instead with their thoughts; that a siren's song is not a physical one, but instead a manifestation of their desire, projected across the ocean's waves as a form of magic.

Sirens are exclusively female. They procure mates in much the same way as they hunt: by entrancing the object of their desire and taking advantage of the hapless victim. A siren's mating dance is a long, drawn-out process; most victims do not live to tell of the tale, as the intelligence and viciousness of a Siren is comparable only with their cardinal sin of obsession. One documented survivor of a Siren abduction was recovered after forty-one days in captivity; half-drowned, unable to speak and all but catatonic, he passed shortly after his retrieval, as the shock of the Siren's death stopped his heart.

They tend to nest along rocky outcroppings bordering the ocean, although industrial expansion has forced them further into the ocean, relegating them to distant islands, coastal caverns, and the borders of undiscovered lands.

Society

Sirens have very little contact with one another, preferring solitude and uncontested hunting grounds. When sirens do cross paths, they are almost inevitably drawn to fighting; whether this is due to a desire for food, or whether it is born of mutual jealousy, one will eventually overpower the other with their song. If the victim is not slain, they will instead be controlled, assuming a puppet-like disposition until they eventually waste away; additionally, their power will be drawn into the victor, increasing the power and range of her song.

In these instances, the controlling siren is referred to as a Queen. Rather than hunting men, Queens hunt their own kind, subverting them and expanding their territory. Queens are immensely powerful creatures, possessing the ability to manipulate the weather and shift sea currents; they are also psychic powerhouses in their own right, able to inflict compulsions on even the most resilient minds.

 

Siren Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom and Charisma scores each increase by 1.
Age. Sirens have relatively long lifespans. They become physically mature at 20 but can live up to 300 years naturally.
Alignment. Neutral, leaning towards evil. Sirens tend to have obsessive personalities, and the ease of using their Call is a temptation that many fall to.
Size. Siren's vary in height and build, from just over 5 feet to just under 6. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. 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.
Amphibious. You can breathe both air and water.
Siren's Body. As a bonus action, you turn into an amphibious form, your legs becoming a single powerful tail. Your walking speed is reduced to 5 feet and you gain a swimming speed of 40 feet. While in this form, you can use your bonus action to return to normal.
Siren's Call. Siren's have mastered the ability to weave magic into their songs. You have proficiency in the Performance skill, and can when you make a Charisma (Performance) check to sing, you add double your proficiency bonus to the roll. Additionally, once per long rest, you can use an action to begin singing a beguiling song. One humanoid of your choice within 300 feet must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed until the song ends. You must use a bonus action on each turn to continue your song. You may stop singing at any time. The song ends if you are incapacitated or are otherwise unable to continue singing. While charmed, the target is incapacitated and can't hear anything besides your song. The charmed target must use its full movement to move in a direct line towards you. Whenever the target takes damage it can repeat the saving throw, ending the song's effects on a success. The target can also repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns. Any time you take damage while singing, the target can repeat the saving throw with advantage. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this feature.
Charm Resistance. You have advantage against being charmed, being a skilled charmer yourself.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write both Common and Undercommon.

Siren Traits

A merfolk subspecies composed of females, each are masters of charm and beguilement.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom and Charisma scores each increase by 1.

Age

 Sirens have relatively long lifespans. They become physically mature at 20 but can live up to 300 years naturally.

Alignment

Neutral, leaning towards evil. Sirens tend to have obsessive personalities, and the ease of using their Call is a temptation that many fall to.

Size

Siren's vary in height and build, from just over 5 feet to just under 6. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30

Darkvision

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.

Amphibious

You can breathe both air and water.

Siren's Body

As a bonus action, you turn into an amphibious form, your legs becoming a single powerful tail. Your walking speed is reduced to 5 feet and you gain a swimming speed of 40 feet. While in this form, you can use your bonus action to return to normal.

Siren's Call

Siren's have mastered the ability to weave magic into their songs. You have proficiency in the Performance skill, and can when you make a Charisma (Performance) check to sing, you add double your proficiency bonus to the roll. Additionally, once per long rest, you can use the Siren's Call feature. Charisma is your spellcasting modifier.

Charm Resistance

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed.

Languages

You can speak and read Common and Undercommon.