Homebrew Darkling Species Details

Physical Description

Darklings are a race of Fey that differ significantly depending on if they have undergone a ritual to become an "elder".

A Darkling's body, due to their curse, absorbs and contains all light that touches their skin, slowly aging the Darkling the longer they are exposed. While this does not cause the darkling physical pain, it does take a physical toll on their body, and continuous exposure to light could strain a Darkling's body to the brink of death. Only by allowing the body time to process the light in a dark environment, does the Darkling recover, similar to a human allowing themselves time to digest a meal. At the time of a Darkling's death the light stored in their bodies are released, violently, in a blast of white light. There are cautionary tales in Darkling societies where a single death, caused a chain reaction throughout a Darkling settlement, leaving only ash and empty houses left.

"Normal" Darklings are squat, ugly humanoids, with light grey skin, pearly glazed eyes, and sickly white hair. However, respected members of Darkling society undergo a ritual that restores the beauty of their race by siphoning the light in their bodies into glowing tattoos. In their Elder form, Darklings are medium-sized fair humanoids that resemble well-built elves, though their grey complexion remains.

History

Long ago, a Seelie fey whose name is lost to time betrayed the Summer Queen, leading to his entire house being cursed by her. These descendants are known as Darklings ("dubh sith" in Sylvan). The curse causes darklings' skin to absorb light and cause a rapid form of aging that can easily kill a darkling who does not cover their entire body or spend their lives in the dark.

Society

Darklings live in close-knit tribes dwelling in caves or under cities of other races, due to their curse. They are known to enjoy art and music, perhaps as a vague recollection of their ancestors' home with the Summer Queen, even risking their vulnerability to light in order to light a candle for a quick glimpse at a priceless work of art, or a glimmering sunset. Mostly, however, this longing for art represents itself in music, and Darkling bards are held in high esteem in their tribes for the beautiful but melancholic melodies they play. Respected members Darkling tribes undergo a ritual to become more resistant to light, transforming from small fey into elf-like humanoids.

Your Darkling character has the following abilities.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

While Darklings are able to live up to 300 years or more, many die sooner due to varied amounts of light exposure.

Alignment

Darklings are typically shunned from their society, leading them to fend for themselves. They tend to be chaotic neutral in alignment.

Size

There are two different kinds of Darklings that are different sizes. There are Darklings that are Small and Darkling Elders that are Medium. Darklings range from 3 to 4 feet tall while Darkling Elders range from 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slightly slender builds.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Enhanced Darkvision

From spending generations hiding from light, your kind has developed incredibly sharp vision in darkness. You can see in dim light within 90 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 Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Darkling Weapon Training

You have proficiency with the shortsword, scimitar, hand crossbow, and light crossbow.

Hold to Darkness

You know the mending cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast  once with this trait. darkness You regain the ability to cast it this way once you finish a long rest. You do not require material components to cast these spells. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Advantageous Precision

When you hit a target with a weapon while you had advantage on the attack roll, you do an extra 1d6 damage to it. You can only apply this damage once per turn. 

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

Light Sensitive

While in bright light, you have disadvantage on ranged attack rolls, opportunity attacks, dexterity and constitution saving throws, and Wisdom (Survival) and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Sylvan

Darkling Traits

Seelie fey whose curse causes them to rapidly age in sunlight, but they make great assassins.

Enhanced Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 90 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.

Fey Ancestry

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

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Elvish, and Sylvan

Size

There are two different kinds of Darklings that are different sizes. There are Darklings that are Small and Darkling Elders that are Medium. Darklings range from 3 to 4 feet tall while Darkling Elders range from 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slightly slender builds. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Alignment

Darklings are typically shunned from their society, leading them to fend for themselves. They tend to be chaotic neutral in alignment.

Age

While Darklings are able to live up to 300 years or more, many die sooner due to varied amounts of light exposure.

Darkling Weapon Training

You have proficiency with the shortsword, scimitar, hand crossbow, and light crossbow.

Hold to Darkness

You know the mending cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast darkness once with this trait. You regain the ability to cast it this way once you finish a long rest. You do not require material components to cast these spells. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Advantageous Precision

When you hit a target with a weapon while you had advantage on the attack roll, you do an extra 1d6 damage to it. You can only apply this damage once per turn.

Light Sensitive

While in bright light, you have disadvantage on ranged attack rolls, opportunity attacks, dexterity and constitution saving throws, and Wisdom (Survival) and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.