Homebrew Drow Genasi Species Details

Heirs to Elemental Power

Drow Genasi inherit something from both sides of their dual nature. They resemble Elves, or sometimes even look almost more like humans, but they have unusual skin color sometimes... even for Drow. (red, green, blue, gray, or black.) There is something odd about the Drow Genasi, not fitting in with either of their people. The elemental blood flowing through their veins manifests differently in each Drow Genasi, often as magical power.

Drow Genasi are sometimes abandoned by their parents, particularly by their elemental parents. Genies seldom have interest in their mortal offspring, seeing them as accidents, and may feel nothing for their Genasi children at all. Many Genasi will view their children the same way, though there are more exceptions than with the Genies.

Most Drow Genasi live as outcasts, driven into exile for their unsettling appearance and strange magic, or assuming leadership of savage humanoids and weird cults in untamed lands. Others gain positions of great influence, especially where elemental beings or Elves are revered. A few Drow Genasi that were born to Gienies may leave the Material Plane to find refuge in the households of their genie parents. Some will take to the Underdark, yearning acceptance from their own.

Slender and Graceful

The Drow Genasi, though cursed with oddities in their appearance often, do inherity some beauty from their Elvish parent. With their unearthly grace and fine features, some Drow Genasi may appear hauntingly beautiful to some humans and members of other races. They are slightly shorter than humans on average, ranging from under 5 feet tall to just over 6 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

Those of earth or water descent tend to be slightly heavier, while those of air or fire tend to be lighter. The Drow Genasi inherit other features reminiscent of their mortal, Elvish parent. The tend to inherit the pointed ears of their Drow halves, and like elves, have little to no facial or body hair. 

Dark Elf (Drow)

Descended from an earlier subrace of elves, the Drow were banished from the surface world for following the goddess Lolth down the path of evil. Now they have built their own civilization in the depths of the Underdark, patterned after the Way of Lolth. The Drow Genasi may inherit the bitterness of their Drow parent, along with aspects of their physical appearance. The Drow have skin that resembles charcoal or obsidian, as well as stark white or pale yellow hair. They commonly have very pale eyes (so pale as to be mistaken for white) in shades of lilac, silver, pink, red, and blue. They tend to be smaller and thinner than most elves.

A Timeless Perspective

Drow Genasi are blessed, or to some cursed, with the long lifespans of those with Elvin Blood. They can live well over 700 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. As they grow, they become more wise and powerful with time. When pursuing a goal, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Drow Genasi can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance. Like the branches of a young tree, Drow Genasi are flexible in the face of danger. When the need arises, they reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, magic, and strategy.

Wild and Confident

Drow Genasi rarely lack confidence in their abilities, seeing themselves as equal to almost any challenge in their path. This certainty might manifest as graceful self-assurance in one Drow Genasi and as arrogance in another. Such self-confidence can sometimes blind them to risk, and their great plans often get them and others into trouble.

Too much failure can chip away at even a Drow Genasi’s sense of self, so they constantly push themselves to improve, honing their talents and perfecting their craft.

Exploration and Adventure

Drow Genasi often take up adventuring out of wanderlust. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. They dislike the pace of human society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them travel freely and set their own pace. Drow Genasi also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes. Some may turn to other means to grow in power, to reach their fullest potential... 

Drow Genasi Lands

As rare beings, the Drow Genasi might go their entire lives without encountering another one of their kind. There are no great Drow Genasi cities or empires. Drow Genasi seldom have communities of their own and typically must adapt to this reality at a young age. The more strange their appearance, the harder time they will have. Many Drow Genasi lose themselves in teeming cities, where their distinctiveness hardly raises an eyebrow in places accustomed to a variety of different people.

Those living on the frontier, though, have a much harder time. People there tend to be less accepting of differences. Sometimes a cold shoulder and a suspicious glare are the best A Drow Genasi can hope for; in more backward places, they face ostracism and even violence from people who mistake them for fiends.

Facing a hard life, these Drow Genasi seek isolation in the wilds, making their homes in mountains or forests, near lakes. Some Drow Genasi will search for a home underground in the Underdark, among the dark elves and other beings the lie beneath the surface... though most are hardly welcomed there either.

Most air and fire Drow Genasi in the Realms are descendants of the djinn and efreet who once ruled Calimshan. When those rulers were overthrown, their planetouched children were scattered. Over thousands of years, the bloodlines of those Drow Genasi have spread into other lands. Though far from common, air and fire Drow Genasi are more likely to be found in the western regions of Faerûn, along the coast from Calimshan north up to the Sword Coast, and into the Western Heartlands to the east. Some remain in their ancient homeland.

In contrast, water and earth Drow Genasi have no common history. Individuals have difficulty tracing their own lineage, and bloodlines occasionally skip a generation or two. Many earth Drow Genasi originated in the North and spread out from there. Water Drow Genasi come from coastal areas, the largest concentration of them hailing from the regions surrounding the Sea of Fallen Stars.

The distant land of Zakhara is known only in legends to most inhabitants of Faerûn. There, genies and spellcasters enter into bargains, and Drow Genasi can result from such pacts. Those Drow Genasi have been sources of great weal and woe in the history of that land.

Drow Genasi Names

Genasi use the naming conventions of the people among whom they were raised.

If raised by their Drow parents, they will likely continue their Elven naming traditions. Drow are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the hundredth birthday, and before this period they are called by child names.

On declaring adulthood, a Drow Genasi selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each Drow Genasi's adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. They could also assume distinctive names to capture their heritage, such as Flame, Ember, Wave, or Onyx.

Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, It is traditional for the Drow Genasi who are raised to follow these Elvish traditions to bear a family name. It is typically a combination of other Elvish words. Some Drow Genasi traveling among humans will choose to translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Drow's Elvish version.

Child Names: Ara, Bryn, Del, Eryn, Faen, Innil, Lael, Mella, Naill, Naeris, Phann, Rael, Rinn, Sai, Syllin, Thia, Vall

Male Adult Names: Adran, Aelar, Aramil, Arannis, Aust, Beiro, Berrian, Carric, Enialis, Erdan, Erevan, Galinndan, Hadarai, Heian, Himo, Immeral, Ivellios, Laucian, Mindartis, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rolen, Soveliss, Thamior, Tharivol, Theren, Varis

Female Adult Names: Adrie, Althaea, Anastrianna, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Jelenneth, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quelenna, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Shava, Silaqui, Theirastra, Thia, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Family Names (Common Translations): Amakiir (Gemflower), Amastacia (Starflower), Galanodel (Moonwhisper), Holimion (Diamonddew), Ilphelkiir (Gemblossom), Liadon (Silverfrond), Meliamne (Oakenheel), Naïlo (Nightbreeze), Siannodel (Moonbrook), Xiloscient (Goldpetal)

Subraces

Four major subraces of Drow Genasi are found among the worlds of D&D: air, earth, fire, and water. Choose one of these subraces.

GENASI BACKGROUNDS

Each genasi subrace has its own temperament, which might make some backgrounds more suitable than others.

Air Drow Genasi are proud of their heritage, sometimes to the point of haughtiness. They can be flamboyant, and are keen to have an audience. They rarely stay in one place for long, always looking for a new sky to see and breathe. Air Drow Genasi who don’t live in cities favor open lands such as plains, deserts, and high mountains. Fitting backgrounds include charlatan, entertainer, and noble.

Earth Drow Genasi are more withdrawn, and their connection to the earth keeps them from being comfortable in most cities. Their uncommon size and strength makes them natural soldiers, though, and with their stoic demeanor, they can encourage others and become great leaders. Many Earth Drow Genasi live underground, where they can be in their favored element. When they emerge from their caves, they might roam the hills and mountains or lay claim to old ruins.

Appropriate backgrounds for Earth Drow Genasi include hermit, outlander, and soldier.

Fire Drow Genasi often get themselves into difficulty with their fiery tempers. Like their Air Drow Genasi cousins, they sometimes flaunt their perceived superiority over common folk. But they also want others to share their high opinion of themselves, so they constantly seek to enhance their reputations.

Likely backgrounds for a Fire Drow Genasi include criminal, folk hero, and noble.

Water Drow Genasi almost all have some experience aboard or around sea vessels. They make excellent mariners and fishers. Like Earth Drow Genasi, though, Water Drow Genasi prefer quiet and solitude; the wide shores are their natural homes. They go where they want, do what they want, and rarely feel bound to anything. Good backgrounds for Water Drow Genasi include hermit and sailor.

Drow Genasi Traits

Drow Genasi have similar characteristics to both of their ancestral sides.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2 (Genasi)
Your Dexterity score increases by 2 (Elf)
Your Charisma score increases by 1 (Drow)

Age

Drow Genasi reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, however, they live longer than humans do, up to 750 years old.

Alignment

The alignment of the Drow Genasi vary largely depending on their upbringing and backstory. Many Drow Genasi long for freedom freedom, variety, and self-expression, so they lean strongly toward the aspects of chaos. Most are also independent and self-reliant, so many Drow Genasi may lean towards an neutral alignment... but due to the abuse some endure because of their race, some become more hateful, vicious, or even dangerous... leading them down a path of evil.

Size

Drow Genasi range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Superior Darkvision

Due to your Drow ancestors being accustomed to the pitch black of the underdark, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 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.

Sunlight Sensitivity

You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Drow Magic

You know the dancing lights cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the faerie fire spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Drow Weapon Training

You have proficiency with rapiers, shortswords, and hand crossbows.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Fey Ancestry

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

Trance

Drow Genasi 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.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, Undercommon, and Primordial.
Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires.
Undercommon is normally only known by Drow, or other beings that live in the underdark.
Primordial is a guttural language, filled with harsh syllables and hard consonants.