Homebrew Druin Species Details

"Ten thousand life-times is not enough to soak in the beauty of this place,”  Tenserrat said softly, staring out across the sweeping, organic lines of a metropolis swamped by greenery and crowned by a dome-shield that kept out the ten moons of Eriadonna. 

Eight slender spires impaled the sky from the city’s corners like needles, their brilliant white moon-rock marbled with shining silver and accented blue-white fire. Graceful arches, swooping from spire to spire, soared through the air. Crafted by ancient Druin metallurgists, they were strong enough to hold the weight of an army, yet they appeared so delicate that a bird lighting on them might overthrow the balance. These glistening arches were the city’s largest adornments; besides the wall of course. there was no wall around Qualinost. The elven city opened its arms lovingly to the wilderness. His long ears twitched as he sighed regretfully, longingly, as if the very sight had driven into him some iron pitton of melancholy. Tenserrat knew, without a doubt, that he'd never see Eriadonna again- and his daughter, Y'shtola, would forget the face of her forebears. 

— J.B Macleod, Blades of a Vanished Moon

Druin are bound to the stars and are a deep people of literally otherworldly grace, living above the world but not entirely part of it. They live in places of ethereal beauty, in the midst of ancient space-cities or in silvery spires glittering with fey light, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. Druins love the stars and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the mysterious things of the world.

Slender and Graceful

With their unearthly grace, elongated bones, and fine features, Druin appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly taller than humans on average, ranging from well under 6 feet tall to just over 7 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.

Druins’ coloration encompasses the normal human range and also includes skin and fur in shades of copper, bronze, and almost bluish-white, hair of violet or blue, and eyes like pools of liquid gold, silver, magenta- or even some colors we don't have names for. Druin have no facial hair and a little fur in certain specific places. They favor wide, open, flowing clothing in muted monochrome colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

A Timeless Perspective

Druin can live well over 5000 years, giving them a even-wider ranging perspective than even elves on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Druin can be focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.

Like the stone at a mountains heart, Druin are rigid in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence- yet they remain elegantly savage when pushed into combat. They have been known to retreat into forgotten fortresses when pressed, but when the need arises, Druin reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating unbelievable strength that is at odds with their visage.  They prefer to prepare their unholy strength with startling intelligence and strategy.

Hidden Moon Realms

Most Druin dwell in cities. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, though a few Druin make a good living by trading crafted items for metals (which they have no interest in mining). The vast majority of Druin focus their mage-craft on static constructs- in fact, they have the largest magical cities in the multi-verse and are considered heinously powerful mages. 

A select few Rune-wrights are a step-above the average caster and blend the martial with the magical becoming Rune Knights. These are rare- but sought-after.

Druin encountered outside their own lands are commonly traveling minstrels, artists, or sages. Human nobles compete for the services of Druin instructors to teach magic to their children.

Exploration and Adventure

Druin take up adventuring out of need- not want. 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. Druin 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.

HAUGHTY BUT GRACIOUS

Although they can be haughty, Druin are generally gracious even to those who fall short of their high expectations—which is most non-Druin. Still, they can find good in just about anyone.

Dwarves. “Dwarves are dull, clumsy oafs. But what they lack in humor, sophistication, and manners, they make up in valor. And I must admit, their best smiths produce art that approaches elven quality.”

Halflings. “Halflings are people of simple pleasures, and that is not a quality to scorn. They’re good folk, they care for each other and tend their gardens, and they have proven themselves tougher than they seem when the need arises.”

Humans. “All that haste, their ambition and drive to accomplish something before their brief lives pass away—human endeavors seem so futile sometimes. But then you look at what they have accomplished, and you have to appreciate their achievements. If only they could slow down and learn some refinement.”

Druin Names

Druin 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 Druin selects an adult name, although those who knew him or her as a youngster might continue to use the child name. Each Druin’s adult name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every Druin bears a family name, typically a combination of other Druin words. Some Druin traveling among humans translate their family names into Common, but others retain the Druinic 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)

Druin Traits

Your Druin character has a multitude of natural abilities, the result of tens of thousands of years of honed craft.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2.

Age

Although Druin reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the Druin understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. A Druin typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 250 and can live to be 5000 years old.

Alignment

Druin love order, harmony, and self-expression within the bounds of propriety, so they lean strongly toward the gentler aspects of Law. They value and protect others’ freedom as well as their own, and they are more often good than not. 

Except for They-of-Which-We-Do-Not-Speak. They are unmitigated evil.

Size

Druin range from under 6 to over 7 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit moons 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.

Otherworldly Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Druin Ancestry

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

Trance

Druin don’t need to sleep. Instead, they focus 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 and Druin. Druin is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Druin literature is rich and varied, yet most races have never heard any of their greatest works.